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Booked Solid: Some Readers' Cherished Collections Have Nowhere to Grow
The Washington Post ^ | March 23, 2006 | Annie Groer

Posted on 03/23/2006 11:53:14 AM PST by Physicist

Law librarian Rick Ramponi's collection of 3,000 regional cookbooks --including "Talk About Good" from the Lafayette, La., Junior League and "Shalom on the Range," which celebrates southwestern Jewish cuisine -- was manageable while he lived in a large house in Kalorama.

But when he moved to a one-bedroom Dupont Circle apartment with a partner who collects large art and architecture books, Ramponi had to exile those cherished culinary texts to a pair of rented storage units several blocks away.

Since 2002, he has spent more than $5,000 to keep them there, which "may be more than they are all worth," he concedes. "But there is a sentimental attachment and I associate them with places I've been, people I know."

Accountant Jennifer Kimball, who is studying for a master's degree in English, and policy analyst Matt Cail, who has a pair of master's degrees, call themselves "huge bibliophiles." Thus their chief requirement when condo shopping two years ago was enough wall space for shelves to hold their books. Already they have run out of space in their Alexandria flat. "Next year we will start looking for a house to buy that has room for children," she says. And books.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: bibliopath; bibliophile; gentlemadness; hobbyanddisease
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To: RadioAstronomer
My God, I love books. The greatest invention of all times IMHO.

Sex is better--but then, that's why people read in bed, to get a "twofer".

Cheers!

301 posted on 03/24/2006 3:56:48 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: kaboom

the words PROBE and DUPONT CIRCLE should NEVER be used in the same sentence... ; )


302 posted on 03/24/2006 3:58:08 PM PST by xsmommy
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To: Dumb_Ox
I tell you, this Ox will bellow so loud that his bellowing will fill the world. -- Albertus Magnus.

Full Disclosure: I've got a copy, too.

Now try Hilaire Belloc, too :-)

Cheers!

303 posted on 03/24/2006 3:58:29 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Physicist

My parents have alot of books. But, I think they began giving some to the local library.


304 posted on 03/24/2006 4:06:30 PM PST by visualops (www.visualops.com)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts; Tokra; Physicist; Hildy
Southwestern Jewish cuisine?????

Reminds me of "The Ballad of Irving"

(Chinese barbecued muskrat?)

Since "The Ballad of Irving" was on Dr. Demento, I feel justified in this segue:

"Hamsters Love" (spoof of Muskrat Love), by Big Daddy.

Sorry, Googled for 10 minutes, couldn't find lyrics...

Cheers!

305 posted on 03/24/2006 4:08:30 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Phsstpok
You caught me. I was grotesquely exaggerating for effect. This is the actual "PROPRETIES" readout for my eBooks directory: 47.1 GB (50,657,410,243 bytes) There, deal with that ...

I'm getting jealouser and jealouser :-0

306 posted on 03/24/2006 4:15:30 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: HKMk23

It's funny about fish tacos. The first time I had one, it was a shrimp taco in Austin, TX, and not very good. The next time was in Cancun and it was so-so. The next time was in San Diego at Rubio's and "aye-yi-yi!" I fell in love with *that* fish taco.

We have a very good place here called Berryhill's that also makes wonderful ones - believe me, I try them everywhere I can, for comparison. Theirs are the best in town, but just a "shade" below Rubio's. Their sauce is whitish, not pink (the combo of the mayo, yogurt and salsa all together), and their cabbage is big wide pieces, not angel hair, but they use a ton of cilantro, which I love. Otherwise, the taste is muy bueno. To each his own, or "each to his own" as some say.

I just have my picky preferences and that's all I want! The good thing is that I have it down pat to make them at home--except I don't like to fry and smell up the kitchen. It's also hard to find large-size wrap tortillas of the corn masa variety, for some reason.


307 posted on 03/24/2006 4:16:15 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Centurion2000
Good Lord, I have thousands of ebooks at home and they only take up a couple of GB.

What the heck is in THAT collection ? >:)

Lot's of duplicates, slightly different versions, but I haven't gone through to figure out which are the good ones and which ones to nuke.

308 posted on 03/24/2006 4:17:01 PM PST by Phsstpok (There are lies, damned lies, statistics and presentation graphics, in descending order of truth)
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To: Rte66

Rubio's is the best, isn't it? I live across the river from Laughlin, NV and my husband and I were just commenting today how any of those casinos would be smart to put a Rubio's in the place. It's simply the best.


309 posted on 03/24/2006 4:32:43 PM PST by Hildy
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To: Physicist

I'm trying to sell mine on eBay ... but it's taking forever.


310 posted on 03/24/2006 4:37:04 PM PST by BunnySlippers
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To: Quilla

Wow, it's gorgeous! Very nice collection too, thanks for indulging my curiousity.


311 posted on 03/24/2006 5:09:21 PM PST by Serb5150 ("Tesla, you don't understand our American humor." —Thomas Edison)
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To: Physicist

"anti-literate philistine.... " ROFL!!


312 posted on 03/24/2006 5:14:17 PM PST by Peanut Gallery
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To: grey_whiskers

Egad, I minored in it in college, under the guise of "Classical Studies," after 4 years of it in HS! It is not spoken. It is only written.

The verbs come at the end, so you can't really speak a sentence until you've already thought it through. Unless you're the Pope, I guess. Oh, wait, his is already written. *never mind* *nunquam mens* *evernay indmay* *ever ever no never bo nana fanna fo fever never! ind ind mo mind bo nana fanna fo find mind!*


313 posted on 03/24/2006 5:27:19 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Hildy

They surely would do a land office business. What's funny to me is that I didn't like the "premium" one with all the extras--guacamole and cheese. The regular is *just* the right combination and layers of flavors, to my tastes. Scrumptious!


314 posted on 03/24/2006 5:33:24 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Rte66

OH NO!! I disagree...whenever I go to Rubio's (which will be next week when I visit San Diego) I get the Supreme Fish Taco WITH the guac and the cheese! It's DEEEEE LICIOUS!!!!


315 posted on 03/24/2006 5:42:54 PM PST by Hildy
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To: Hildy

I agree that it's DEELICIOUS ... however, it is not my IDEEALL fish taco. This is possibly the only realm of life in which I would ever, ever subscribe to the K.I.S.S. theory.

Yes, probably the ONLY one. And you will never see me turn down guac and cheese in, on, over or under ANYTHING else, lol! Put 'em on the side, just this once - I *will* scarf 'em down.


316 posted on 03/24/2006 7:01:45 PM PST by Rte66
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To: Physicist
Bittygirl says, "Books? We don't have no steekin' books!"


317 posted on 03/24/2006 8:18:18 PM PST by Professional Engineer (It's not a real building until it hits 30 stories.)
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To: Physicist

Oh boy! This will be my new favorite ping list!


318 posted on 03/24/2006 9:05:08 PM PST by ntnychik
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To: Quilla

Super Size Version here:

http://www.jenskleemann.de/wissen/bildung/media/0/04/carl_spitzweg_021.jpg

424 kb.


319 posted on 03/24/2006 9:25:30 PM PST by FreedomCalls (It's the "Statue of Liberty," not the "Statue of Security.")
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To: headsonpikes

Thanks for the warning. I hung onto my entire university liberal arts degree collection of books until a few weeks ago. I parted with a few to show I'm not permanently obsessed. I may regret this in the future, though, so will hang on to the rest of the collection for awhile. I donate books to the library sale, and yes, I do sometimes buy a few of my own back.


320 posted on 03/24/2006 9:26:55 PM PST by ntnychik
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