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Sunday Morning Book Thread 05-03-2015 [OregonMuse]: A Space For Rioting Books
(I'm not sure what the building is in today's photo. It's probably a bookstore, and I think it's in the Ukraine, but that's all I know) (Update: Thanks to moron commenter 'Calvin Dodge' this is apparently a school in Tyumen, Russia. More info and photos here). Book Quote
Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
I've been taking a correspondence course, Clickbait: How To Write Stuff On Teh Internets, so I've been trying to put into practice what I've been learning.
This First Book Will Amaze You What do you think was the first book printed in America? If you guessed The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre: Whereunto is Prefixed a Discourse Declaring not Only the Lawfullness, but Also the Necessity of the Heavenly Ordinance of Singing Scripture Psalmes in the Churches of God, congratulations, you're correct! It's commonly known as the "Bay Psalm Book" and this is how it came about:
The Reverend Jesse Glover imported the first printing press to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first English settlers landed at Plymouth Rock. A London printer, Stephen Daye, came with the press and established a printing office in Cambridge. The following year, the residents of the colony asked John Eliot, Thomas Welde, and Richard Mather to undertake a new translation from the Hebrew of the Book of Psalms, for use in the colony's churches. Mather was the principal author and translator, but was assisted by about 30 other New England ministers. The book was printed in 1640. Reissued in successive editions, it remained in use for more than 100 years.As an example of what these men produced, here is the famous 23rd Psalm, as it appears in the King James Version:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.Now, here is the same psalm, as rendered into English meter by Mather and the other translators:
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The LORD to me a shepherd is,Even though some of it is a little awkward ("Want therefore shall not I" sounds positively desperate), overall, I think it works. Not only does the translation capture the meaning of the original, it sounds good. Read it out loud to yourself and you'll hear the rhythm of the lines. Also, a metered body of text is easier to memorize, since the cadence of the words as you say them to yourself is a good mnemonic device, books being expensive back in those days. Pdf versions of the Bay Psalm Book are available all over teh internets, but the scanned-in original text is hard to read, particularly with the 17th-century usage of 'f' instead of 's'. In the above rendition of the psalm, I changed 'f' to 's 'to reflect modern usage, otherwise it would like pretty silly. But here's an open question for the horde: sometimes in these old texts, 's' appears as 'f', but sometimes it's 's' as we are accustomed to. What were the rules governing this, or could you just use whatever you felt like using?
Want therefore shall not I
He in the folds of tender grass
Doth cause me down to lie
To waters calm me gently leads
Restore my soul doth he
He doth in paths of righteousness
For his name's sake lead me
Yea though in valley of death's shade
I walk, none ill I'll fear
Because thou art with me, thy rod
And staff my comfort are
For me a table thou hast spread
In presence of my foes
Thou dost anoint my head with oil
My cup, it overflows
Goodness and mercy surely shall
All my days follow me
And in the Lord's house I shall dwell
So long as days shall be
You'll Be Astounded When You See This English Monarch's Never-Before-Published Book
The more I learn about Queen Victoria, the more I am coming to realize what a remarkable person she was. Not only was she a great queen, but she was also a skilled artist (see also here and also here) and if that weren't enough for one person, she was also a prolific writer:Always a diligent diary writer, Queen Victoria's journals run to 141 volumes comprising 43,000 pages, from which extracts were published in what became a bestseller.But before all that, Victoria wrote her own children's book. And she did this when she herself was a child:
Entitled "The Adventures of Alice Laselles by Alexandrina Victoria Aged 10 and 3/4", and written in an unassuming red composition notebook now in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, it tells the story of a 12-year-old girl sent away to boarding school after her father remarries.The story is about a 12-year-old girl who is sent away to boarding school after her father remarries. Here's a sample:
In one passage, when Alice hears that she is to be sent to Mrs Duncombe's school for girls, the privately-tutored Victoria writes: "'Oh do not send me away dear Pappa', exclaimed Alice Laselles, as she threw her arms around her Pappa's neck; 'don't send me away, O let me stay with you.' And she sobbed bitterly."I think that's pretty good writing for someone who's not yet 11. Me, at that age, I think I was just learning not to pick my nose. The book, illustrated with some of Victoria's own artwork, will published by the Royal Collection Trust in June.
Obama's Favorite Childhood Books - The List May Surprise You Here's an hilariously bad article about Obama's favorite childhood books. The list itself is actually pretty conventional (no biographies of little-known civil rights leaders or novels by distinctly black writers), but the obeisant author has to use each selection to find some way to to explain why it adds to the wonderfulness of her Liege Lord. I was tempted to fisk the whole thing, but it's simply not worth it. So I'll leave you with her comments on the final selection, "Of Mice And Men", a book that she first notes gets banned a lot from libraries, which she then follows up with:
In other words, Obama isn't afraid of making a statement about freedom of speech.AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! This is so unbelievably dumb I have to wonder if I'm being suckered in by some variant of Poe's Law here.
You'll Never Believe What Moronette Author Sabrina Chase Is Giving Away For Free Sabrina Chase's YA novel Jinxers, mentioned in the book thread a few weeks ago, is available on Amazon for FREE starting today and continuing until May 5th. This is a sci-fant story about
a plucky street kid who finds himself suddenly transported from his freezing city to the Sands of Araby (OK, a desert world). He has many adventures hiding out from the Bad Guys, rescuing a secret agent from a fort, convincing his local friend not to kill anyone with her sword, and climbing things. Oh, and figuring out his magical abilities so he can go back to his own world again and rescue *other* people.Sabrina mentioned at the time that she wrote Jinxers after hearing complaints on the book thread that there were few kids books that would interest boys. She hopes this book helps to address this lack. Because boys need books about action, adventure, danger, heroism, overcoming great obstacles, defeating the bad guys, etc., rather than sitting around on bean-bag chairs in a 'safe space' talking about their feelings.
Another Free Book That Will Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat At least it was free as of now (Saturday morning, May 2nd), and I hope it still is today. I'm talking about the political thriller Flower of Heaven by Julien Ayotte, which I haven't read, yet, but according to Amazon, it has won some indie book awards, and it sounds like it might be a good read:
Father Richard Merrill had led a seemingly quiet life as a man of the cloth...Now, the core of his beliefs and his being is propelled into the darkest chaos. What's more, it's all for the sake of his very own flesh and blood, two sons who were long ago given up for adoption. Their mother, Francoise Dupont...has since married an Arab prince...The bloodlines of the sons place them in line to succeed her gravely ill husband, now the king. More than a few of the king's enemies are consumed with stopping them from ascending to the throne.Yeah, I like free, so this one is now on my stack. Via Bookbub. I think this is worth mentioning again: if you do a lot of e-book reading, and haven't signed up for the BookBub daily e-mail, you owe it to yourself to do so. Every day, you get notified of free and cheap e-book deals from Amazon, Kobe, Nook, Google Books, and Smashwords. What's more, you can configure the notifications you'll get by category (i.e. science fiction/fantasy, history, cooking, romance, etc.), so you can filter out the stuff you're not interested in. I usually end up downloading 2-4 books per month from the BookBub daily deal. Contrast this with another notification e-mail I get every day, the Amazon Kindle Daily Deal e-mail, which is pretty much full of crap and I think I've only downloaded one book in the 2-3 years i've subscribed to it. The sequel to FoH, Dangerous Bloodline, is also available, but you'll have to pay for it. This is so unbelievably dumb I have to wonder if I'm being suckered in by some variant of Poe's Law here.
With help from the FBI, the CIA, and an aging mercenary, the race is on.
Books By Morons That Will Provide Hours of Low-Cost Entertainment Amy Lynn: Golden Angel by our own Oldsailors Poet, the much-anticipated sequel to his first book Amy Lynn, is now available from Amazon. Link is to the paperback version. Presumably the Kindle version will be available shortly, and I'll let you all know when that is as soon as I find out.
___________ So that's all for this week. As always, book thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to OregonMuse, Proprietor, AoSHQ Book Thread, at the book thread e-mail address: aoshqbookthread, followed by the 'at' sign, and then 'G' mail, and then dot cee oh emm. What have you all been reading this week? Hopefully something good, because, as you all know, life is too short to be reading lousy books.
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
I'm currently reading, How to Win Friends, Influence People, and Wield a Mean Chainsaw by Nicky Scarfo...
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:12 AM (/4AZU)
2
First?
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at May 03, 2015 09:12 AM (kXoT0)
3
2 Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at May 03, 2015 09:12 AM (kXoT0)
First in the Horde's Heart, and in worthwhile content we'll just ignore my post.
First in the Horde's Heart, and in worthwhile content we'll just ignore my post.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:14 AM (/4AZU)
4
I read Modern Times: The World From the Twenties to the Nineties by Paul Johnson. This book is well researched and rich in details for covering this period in 784 pages. It was refreshing to read a history with a conservative bent for a change. Johnson is no friend of Wilson, FDR, Kennedy or Carter.
The section I liked best was his portrayal of Lenin coming to power. What surprised me from reading this book was the statesmanship of Conrad Adenaur in post-WWII Germany.
I'm looking forward to reading Johnson's A History of the Jews in the near future.
The section I liked best was his portrayal of Lenin coming to power. What surprised me from reading this book was the statesmanship of Conrad Adenaur in post-WWII Germany.
I'm looking forward to reading Johnson's A History of the Jews in the near future.
Posted by: Zoltan at May 03, 2015 09:16 AM (eLZwy)
5
Still slogging through ISIS by Michael Weiss, as well as Devil's Alliance, about the Nazi/Soviet pact in WWII. That one is so bizarre. I read depressing shit.
Posted by: pipandbaby at May 03, 2015 09:16 AM (mSukX)
6
Modern Times: The World From the Twenties to the Nineties by Paul Johnson
Good book. Ought to be a moron favorite.
Good book. Ought to be a moron favorite.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 09:19 AM (VhO+g)
7
OM, Thanks for the mention of "Flower of Heaven" as a freebie. It still is as of 5 minutes ago. The story apparently starts off in Rhode Island and the writer is from there. If nothing else, I'll be curious to se if she uses the letter 'R' correctly. It took me some years to get rid of the accent.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 09:20 AM (FvdPb)
8
First in the Horde's Heart, and in worthwhile content we'll just ignore my post.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:14 AM (/4AZU)
Thanks, Sven, I rarely stop by anymore. My GiveADamnReflex finally gave a last gasp and expired during the Boner/McCorny Capitulation Circus. Discussing the decay and looting of Ammurica is just too damn depressing, but, it is always a treat to "see" you.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:14 AM (/4AZU)
Thanks, Sven, I rarely stop by anymore. My GiveADamnReflex finally gave a last gasp and expired during the Boner/McCorny Capitulation Circus. Discussing the decay and looting of Ammurica is just too damn depressing, but, it is always a treat to "see" you.
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at May 03, 2015 09:20 AM (kXoT0)
9
5 Posted by: pipandbaby at May 03, 2015 09:16 AM (mSukX)
The latter is an interesting read, modern leftists spend a *lot* of emotional and intellectual effort and capital trying to argue that Nazism was a creature of the far right never quite grasping that Fascism is Marxism's non-internationalist cousin more so than Capitalism's stepchild.
http://tinyurl.com/p683whj
2005's Stalin and His Hangmen: The Tyrant and Those Who Killed for Him
might interest you if you are in the mood to continue your dig into the depths of depravity of the human heart under auspices of benign works.
The latter is an interesting read, modern leftists spend a *lot* of emotional and intellectual effort and capital trying to argue that Nazism was a creature of the far right never quite grasping that Fascism is Marxism's non-internationalist cousin more so than Capitalism's stepchild.
http://tinyurl.com/p683whj
2005's Stalin and His Hangmen: The Tyrant and Those Who Killed for Him
might interest you if you are in the mood to continue your dig into the depths of depravity of the human heart under auspices of benign works.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:20 AM (/4AZU)
10
8 Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at May 03, 2015 09:20 AM (kXoT0)
I've been purposefully scarce as well, I'm in a bad mood.
Good as always to see a fellow horde loner though.
I've been purposefully scarce as well, I'm in a bad mood.
Good as always to see a fellow horde loner though.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:21 AM (/4AZU)
11
A little late with this comment on the Oso, Washington landslide. But can you think of a disaster that claimed so many lives that has gotten such consistently feel-good coverage in the media - all about the heroic efforts of the rescuers and the toddler's miraculous survival? Not a word that I can recall about blame for lack of foresight in any of the local, state and federal agencies concerned with natural resources and the environment and public safety. Can any of you morons guess why?
Well it has something to do with what is missing from the chain of responsibility from local fire chief up through state reps and senators to department secretaries to federal reps and senators and governors and former governors and cabinet secretaries of federal departments to vp and president of the United States. What vital ingredient required to make a tragedy into a scandal is strangely absent?
A Republican.
Well it has something to do with what is missing from the chain of responsibility from local fire chief up through state reps and senators to department secretaries to federal reps and senators and governors and former governors and cabinet secretaries of federal departments to vp and president of the United States. What vital ingredient required to make a tragedy into a scandal is strangely absent?
A Republican.
Posted by: Ray Van Dune at May 03, 2015 09:21 AM (a8LEG)
12
I expect the "You Won't Believe" headline meme will soon overtake "But mostly."
So you're saying, Congrefs cannot legislate Happinefs?
"Want therefore shall not I" is going to be either a novel or a rock band soon.
Fat dumb and happy I went through life, wondering at the title of the fine WWII guerilla-kidnap tale, "Ill Met by Moonlight." And then I stumbled across (as did the actors) a performance of "Midsummer Night's Dream." My degree? Wasted.
There's a Battle of The Bulge narrative called "The Shock of War." I have had the quote from Caesar read off from memory by a good Latinist ("They trained with the intensity of war, so that the shock of war, when it came, was as...") but, paging through, cannot find it in the Gallic Commentaries. Anyone know where it is?
So you're saying, Congrefs cannot legislate Happinefs?
"Want therefore shall not I" is going to be either a novel or a rock band soon.
Fat dumb and happy I went through life, wondering at the title of the fine WWII guerilla-kidnap tale, "Ill Met by Moonlight." And then I stumbled across (as did the actors) a performance of "Midsummer Night's Dream." My degree? Wasted.
There's a Battle of The Bulge narrative called "The Shock of War." I have had the quote from Caesar read off from memory by a good Latinist ("They trained with the intensity of war, so that the shock of war, when it came, was as...") but, paging through, cannot find it in the Gallic Commentaries. Anyone know where it is?
Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 03, 2015 09:25 AM (xq1UY)
13
I'd just like to point out that like 10 3/4 yr Queen Victoria-
TFG, the Renaissance Man currently occupying the White House-
also wrote a children's book.
Which i reviewed here:
https://naturalfake.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/excitin
g-first-look-at-barack-obamas-new-childrens-book-of-
thee-i-sing-a-letter-to-my-daughters/
Yup, it's from my crapblog. And yup, it's old. But, the review contains some excerpts from his book which I'm sure you'll find interesting and informative.
TFG, the Renaissance Man currently occupying the White House-
also wrote a children's book.
Which i reviewed here:
https://naturalfake.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/excitin
g-first-look-at-barack-obamas-new-childrens-book-of-
thee-i-sing-a-letter-to-my-daughters/
Yup, it's from my crapblog. And yup, it's old. But, the review contains some excerpts from his book which I'm sure you'll find interesting and informative.
Posted by: naturalfake at May 03, 2015 09:25 AM (KUa85)
14
11 Posted by: Ray Van Dune at May 03, 2015 09:21 AM (a8LEG)
Perversely "Acts of God" with no one to blame are going to become a LOT more prevalent as the Godless Democrats gain more and more sway.
"The Five year Plan failed b/c God kept the rains from falling..." coming soon to the USDA near you.
Perversely "Acts of God" with no one to blame are going to become a LOT more prevalent as the Godless Democrats gain more and more sway.
"The Five year Plan failed b/c God kept the rains from falling..." coming soon to the USDA near you.
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:25 AM (/4AZU)
15
The Pax Britannica trilogy by James Morris (now Jan Morris - yeah) is one of the best popular histories I've ever read.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 09:26 AM (jR7Wy)
16
They aren't actually f's, they're a form of s. You can see the same thing today still in the German "ess-tsett", literally, an s-z letter (or digraph, I guess).
Posted by: t-bird at May 03, 2015 09:27 AM (FcR7P)
17
I wonder what happened to that 1638 printing press. Is it preserved somewhere, or was it unceremoniously dumped in the trash when they acquired newer and more modern presses?
Posted by: rickl at May 03, 2015 09:30 AM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) at May 03, 2015 09:32 AM (95CzI)
19
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:20 AM (/4AZU)
Thank you. I'm always up for depravity and horror. If someone looked at my Kindle...They might jump off a bridge.
Also, spot on with the Marxism/Fascism comparison. I never understand how that is a right/left thing, as opposed categorizing them as totalitarian regimes.
Thank you. I'm always up for depravity and horror. If someone looked at my Kindle...They might jump off a bridge.
Also, spot on with the Marxism/Fascism comparison. I never understand how that is a right/left thing, as opposed categorizing them as totalitarian regimes.
Posted by: pipandbaby at May 03, 2015 09:32 AM (mSukX)
20
Way back when, the the long s (that looks like an f without the crossbar) was usually used at the beginning and in the middle of words, while the short s (or the modern s) was generally used at the end of words.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_s
Posted by: DavidW at May 03, 2015 09:32 AM (ysWFm)
21
17 Posted by: rickl at May 03, 2015 09:30 AM (sdi6R)
Men of the 1600s were not horribly sentimental compared to our modern emos...
Men of the 1600s were not horribly sentimental compared to our modern emos...
Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at May 03, 2015 09:34 AM (/4AZU)
22
Yes, it's eszet. There are two s's (esses, in the SCCA) in Attic Greek, too.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 03, 2015 09:34 AM (xq1UY)
23
I seem to remember that the "long s" dated back to manuscripts, and was rendered as "f" in the era of the printing prefs.
Posted by: rickl at May 03, 2015 09:34 AM (sdi6R)
24
Still reading "No Life for a Lady" by Agnes Morley Cleaveland - a memoir of growing up on a ranch in New Mexico in the 1880s. It's lovely reading so far. She only wrote the one book, it seems - and it was a best-seller in the early 1940s.
Otherwise, still exhausted and slightly sunburned from a day at the Bulverde Spring Market. The Daughter Unit and I had a booth there - for my books, and for her origami jewelry. Sold a set and 2/3s of a set of the Adelsverein Trilogy, and a copy of The Quivera Trail, so the day was not entirely wasted - and the Daughter Unit sold a goodly number of her teeny origami cranes mounted as earrings. But - still have to unpack the car...
Otherwise, still exhausted and slightly sunburned from a day at the Bulverde Spring Market. The Daughter Unit and I had a booth there - for my books, and for her origami jewelry. Sold a set and 2/3s of a set of the Adelsverein Trilogy, and a copy of The Quivera Trail, so the day was not entirely wasted - and the Daughter Unit sold a goodly number of her teeny origami cranes mounted as earrings. But - still have to unpack the car...
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at May 03, 2015 09:35 AM (95iDF)
25
I am reading a not good book and I am feeling a bit guilty. The author has managed to do something I haven't even tried - produce a complete work of fiction - but it's just dreadful. The plot may end up being OK, but the writing is execrable.
I am a member of LibraryThing which I use chiefly to keep track of my books. I signed up for the Early Readers program because, free books. Their intention is that I will post a review of the book thereby attracting other readers.
The first book was a sort of sex-romp-demon-fantasy-Bridget Jones mashup and I only read maybe the first chapter and put it on my "Started and never to be finished" list and reviewed it accordingly: just not my taste.
This book, "Roses are Red ... Violet is Dead," is at least a mystery but, one quarter of the way through it and I have made almost 70 notes of perfectly dreadful writing. Wrong words, things that make no sense at all, missing italics that make the heroine sound stupid, comments that make you wonder if the teen-age heroine ever watches TV, it's just bad. And I suppose that will be my review, but I feel really bad for the writer. As I said, she has done something I haven't even started.
I am a member of LibraryThing which I use chiefly to keep track of my books. I signed up for the Early Readers program because, free books. Their intention is that I will post a review of the book thereby attracting other readers.
The first book was a sort of sex-romp-demon-fantasy-Bridget Jones mashup and I only read maybe the first chapter and put it on my "Started and never to be finished" list and reviewed it accordingly: just not my taste.
This book, "Roses are Red ... Violet is Dead," is at least a mystery but, one quarter of the way through it and I have made almost 70 notes of perfectly dreadful writing. Wrong words, things that make no sense at all, missing italics that make the heroine sound stupid, comments that make you wonder if the teen-age heroine ever watches TV, it's just bad. And I suppose that will be my review, but I feel really bad for the writer. As I said, she has done something I haven't even started.
Posted by: Tonestaple at May 03, 2015 09:36 AM (bFIVB)
Posted by: Brucellosis Jenner at May 03, 2015 09:36 AM (95CzI)
27
Two lines from the above 23rd strike me as good novel titles-
"In the Folds of Tender Grass"
and, possibly-
"Goodness and Mercy Surely Shall"
but these days that one probably need to be used ironically.
"In the Folds of Tender Grass"
and, possibly-
"Goodness and Mercy Surely Shall"
but these days that one probably need to be used ironically.
Posted by: naturalfake at May 03, 2015 09:37 AM (KUa85)
28
One of the best things that I have read recently is The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. It is unabashedly fun, yet, extremely well written and supsensely.
Blurb from Amazon: "Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization and this person wants her dead.
As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy. Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously inventive debut for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime."
Blurb from Amazon: "Myfanwy Thomas awakes in a London park surrounded by dead bodies. With her memory gone, her only hope of survival is to trust the instructions left in her pocket by her former self. She quickly learns that she is a Rook, a high-level operative in a secret agency that protects the world from supernatural threats. But there is a mole inside the organization and this person wants her dead.
As Myfanwy battles to save herself, she encounters a person with four bodies, a woman who can enter her dreams, children transformed into deadly fighters, and an unimaginably vast conspiracy. Suspenseful and hilarious, THE ROOK is an outrageously inventive debut for readers who like their espionage with a dollop of purple slime."
Posted by: Sherry McEvil, Stiletto Corsettes at May 03, 2015 09:37 AM (kXoT0)
29
I came across mention of CS Lewis' "The Discarded Image", which was published shortly after his death. It's based on the lectures he gave in his day job at Cambridge and explains the world view of the medieval world, how it developed and how it was manifested in literature. I thought I had a decent grounding in this material, distant though college is, but It turns out I only scratched the surface. MY God! The depths and levels of materials here is wonderful! This could have been dry reading but Lewis infuses it with his enthusiasm and humor.
Canterbury Tales is on hold while I absorb this book. It should provide a much greater level of appreciation for The Tales once I get back to it.
One of the pleasures of being retired is that I can take my time with complex books such as this; more understanding (I hope) and more appreciation. Just following the many new-to-me references will be a delightful and time consuming endeavor.
Canterbury Tales is on hold while I absorb this book. It should provide a much greater level of appreciation for The Tales once I get back to it.
One of the pleasures of being retired is that I can take my time with complex books such as this; more understanding (I hope) and more appreciation. Just following the many new-to-me references will be a delightful and time consuming endeavor.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 09:37 AM (FvdPb)
30
I'm an Eric Larson fan. I enjoyed his "The Devil In The White City" and "Garden of Beasts."
I've just started his "Thunderstruck" and am enjoying it. Very improbable group of characters.
From Goodreads: "In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men--Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communication--whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time."
Available on Overdrive if your library lends ebooks.
I've just started his "Thunderstruck" and am enjoying it. Very improbable group of characters.
From Goodreads: "In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men--Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communication--whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time."
Available on Overdrive if your library lends ebooks.
Posted by: doug at May 03, 2015 09:38 AM (qYWZ5)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars(TM) at May 03, 2015 09:38 AM (95CzI)
32
As for "s" sometimes written as "f" - I've transcribed a set of 19th century letters where that was used also, so it just wasn't a print convention. The writer was an elderly gentleman in the 1850s and 1860s, so possibly it was a carry over from when he learned to write at the end of the 1700s. None of the other letters in the set from other and younger members of his family had that little quirk, so I'd guess that it was a generational thing.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at May 03, 2015 09:39 AM (95iDF)
Posted by: The Truth, the whole Truth etc. at May 03, 2015 09:41 AM (6jKOp)
34
Psalm-setters had a catastrophic impact on later hymn writers, which continues to the present day. Torturing syntax was not even a minor literary offense to them. It made people think that was a good way to write, and rendered many a theme incomprehensible. It's like what Helen Steiner Rice did to greeting cards.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 03, 2015 09:42 AM (xq1UY)
35
Morning morons. Looks like a good pool day in CLT. Going to be 80 and pool is heated up!
Posted by: Nip Sip at May 03, 2015 09:43 AM (0FSuD)
36
"...the Amazon Kindle Daily Deal e-mail, which is pretty much full of crap..."
Exactly!
I get it and am always puzzled by the incredible dreck that they try to pawn off as literature.
Exactly!
I get it and am always puzzled by the incredible dreck that they try to pawn off as literature.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2015 09:45 AM (Zu3d9)
37
Ahhaha has blown margins I think.
Posted by: Y-not on the phone at May 03, 2015 09:48 AM (9BRsg)
38
>>>"Want therefore shall not I" sounds positively desperate
Sounds fine that sentence does.
Way off base you are.
Sounds fine that sentence does.
Way off base you are.
Posted by: Yoda at May 03, 2015 09:48 AM (XrHO0)
39
Nip you had better be reading a bad book out there or you're OT.
See what you can grab on your way out the door.
See what you can grab on your way out the door.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at May 03, 2015 09:49 AM (xq1UY)
40
The Bay Psalm Book really makes you appreciate Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley.
JTB, I LOVE The Discarded Image! Rec heartily seconded.
JTB, I LOVE The Discarded Image! Rec heartily seconded.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at May 03, 2015 09:51 AM (iuQS7)
41
"The author has managed to do something I haven't even tried - produce a complete work of fiction..."
Posted by: Tonestaple at May 03, 2015 09:36 AM (bFIVB)
This is what keeps me from being too nasty and critical of many authors. As long as there is no political agenda, I will try hard (but often fail) not to be contemptuous of their work.
I remember trying to get into a creative writing class in college. The requirement? A short story submitted to the professor. It was agony. I wrote and wrote and discarded and discarded. My final version sucked.
Writing is hard!
Posted by: Tonestaple at May 03, 2015 09:36 AM (bFIVB)
This is what keeps me from being too nasty and critical of many authors. As long as there is no political agenda, I will try hard (but often fail) not to be contemptuous of their work.
I remember trying to get into a creative writing class in college. The requirement? A short story submitted to the professor. It was agony. I wrote and wrote and discarded and discarded. My final version sucked.
Writing is hard!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 03, 2015 09:52 AM (Zu3d9)
42
A towel around the waist counts as a kilt, right? 'Cuz I forgot where I left my pants. . .
Reading. Finally done with 'At Day's Close'. A slog to the end though packed with information.
Halfway through the 'Book Thief'.
Finished a review copy of John L. Parker's 'Racing the Rain'. Those of you with MS/HS age runners, this is a great book for that age group.
Starting 'Bowerman and the Men of Oregon'. Read 'Jogging' by Bowerman, then interviewed Pat Tyson, XC Coach at Gonzaga University. about an article I'm putting together. Running ain't what it used to be - and it's not better.
Got a spastic twitch in the fingers last night and now four old scifi books are on their way.
Book Bub sends stuff I actually want to read. Amazon sends stuff others think I should read.
Reading. Finally done with 'At Day's Close'. A slog to the end though packed with information.
Halfway through the 'Book Thief'.
Finished a review copy of John L. Parker's 'Racing the Rain'. Those of you with MS/HS age runners, this is a great book for that age group.
Starting 'Bowerman and the Men of Oregon'. Read 'Jogging' by Bowerman, then interviewed Pat Tyson, XC Coach at Gonzaga University. about an article I'm putting together. Running ain't what it used to be - and it's not better.
Got a spastic twitch in the fingers last night and now four old scifi books are on their way.
Book Bub sends stuff I actually want to read. Amazon sends stuff others think I should read.
Posted by: Long Running Fool at May 03, 2015 09:56 AM (/A5gb)
43
Translation better is that than James King's. Like it do I.
Posted by: Yid Yoda at May 03, 2015 09:57 AM (SvnHQ)
44
Dang. @38 Yoda: beat me to it by that much
Posted by: Yid Yoda using Don Adams voice at May 03, 2015 09:58 AM (SvnHQ)
45
Read Abandoned in Hell: the Fight for Vietnam's Firebase Kate by William Albracht and Marvin Wolf. Albracht was the American Special Forces Captain commanding Firebase Kate during a vicious 5 day siege in 1969. He commanded about 150 Montagnards and 30 American artillerists with 3 howitzers fighting an entire NVA regiment.
Most of Albracht's command survived due to a prodigious expenditure of small arms ammo (so much that a resupply amount was halved because a rear-echelon weanie couldn't imagine anyone needing that much ammo at one time, the howitzers engaging by direct fire and massive American air support. At the end, Albracht led his men out on foot during a night-time exfiltration.
Albracht doesn't have much good to say about the American command that put them in that situation. The Americans were unwilling to relieve a technically South Vietnamese SF base and ARVN didn't care if the Montagnards (whom they despised) got slaughtered. A lot of the American survivors were interviewed for the book and give a pretty frank worm's-eye view of the battle.
As a follow-up, I read Incident at Muc Wa by Daniel Ford. This book was written in 1967 about a fictional siege of a Special Forces base in 1964. It is a bit depressing because the career Army officers are only concerned about ticket-punching for the next promotion and the only American to care about Muc Wa is the draftee who becomes the de facto commander that turns down a battlefield commission. The draftee leads his men out on a night-time exfiltration but doesn't have the happy ending since he get killed.
This book is the basis of the Burt Lancaster film Go Tell the Spartans and is typically categorized as an "anti-war" book. However, I'm not completely sold on that because he dedicates the book to the men who fought and died doing what they were told. I actually think Ford was giving an honest assessment of problems facing the American war effort (over-confidence and careerism on the part of the American commanders, corruption on the part of the South Vietnamese commanders and an unwillingness to fight on the part of many of the South Vietnamese soldiers).
Most of Albracht's command survived due to a prodigious expenditure of small arms ammo (so much that a resupply amount was halved because a rear-echelon weanie couldn't imagine anyone needing that much ammo at one time, the howitzers engaging by direct fire and massive American air support. At the end, Albracht led his men out on foot during a night-time exfiltration.
Albracht doesn't have much good to say about the American command that put them in that situation. The Americans were unwilling to relieve a technically South Vietnamese SF base and ARVN didn't care if the Montagnards (whom they despised) got slaughtered. A lot of the American survivors were interviewed for the book and give a pretty frank worm's-eye view of the battle.
As a follow-up, I read Incident at Muc Wa by Daniel Ford. This book was written in 1967 about a fictional siege of a Special Forces base in 1964. It is a bit depressing because the career Army officers are only concerned about ticket-punching for the next promotion and the only American to care about Muc Wa is the draftee who becomes the de facto commander that turns down a battlefield commission. The draftee leads his men out on a night-time exfiltration but doesn't have the happy ending since he get killed.
This book is the basis of the Burt Lancaster film Go Tell the Spartans and is typically categorized as an "anti-war" book. However, I'm not completely sold on that because he dedicates the book to the men who fought and died doing what they were told. I actually think Ford was giving an honest assessment of problems facing the American war effort (over-confidence and careerism on the part of the American commanders, corruption on the part of the South Vietnamese commanders and an unwillingness to fight on the part of many of the South Vietnamese soldiers).
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at May 03, 2015 09:58 AM (8+0sF)
46
Still reading, in dribs and drabs, "Five Years With the Congo Cannibals" by Herbert Ward (1891).
Chapter 7 is on Tippu Tip (real name Humad bin Muhammad bin Jumah, etc. etc.) whose nickname comes from the sound his many guns made with their quick recurring discharge. Guns used in the slave trade to provide laborers for Zanzibar's plantations. Tippu, a Swahili-Zanzibari, was an ivory trader, explorer, and governor who often assisted European explorers.
"...it is possible for a good Musselman (as Tippo claims to be) to be gentle, courteous and considerate of others, when they come to him in the guise of friendship, and yet, at the same time, to pour out the blood of infidels like water -- nay more, his religion commends the faithful son who helps to win over all the world to the true faith, by exterminating unbelievers, and there are surely none more unbelieving and heathen than the savages who come in contact with the Arabs in their marches through Central Africa.
Therefore it is, that, while we find in Tippo Tib a gentleman of bland Eastern politeness in dealing with white men (who, although alas! unbelievers also, are still worthy of much respect) we see him at times ruthlessly cruel in asserting his authority over the savage tribes he finds it necessary to subjugate in his task of growing rich."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippu_Tip#/media/File:TipputipPortrait.jpg
Chapter 7 is on Tippu Tip (real name Humad bin Muhammad bin Jumah, etc. etc.) whose nickname comes from the sound his many guns made with their quick recurring discharge. Guns used in the slave trade to provide laborers for Zanzibar's plantations. Tippu, a Swahili-Zanzibari, was an ivory trader, explorer, and governor who often assisted European explorers.
"...it is possible for a good Musselman (as Tippo claims to be) to be gentle, courteous and considerate of others, when they come to him in the guise of friendship, and yet, at the same time, to pour out the blood of infidels like water -- nay more, his religion commends the faithful son who helps to win over all the world to the true faith, by exterminating unbelievers, and there are surely none more unbelieving and heathen than the savages who come in contact with the Arabs in their marches through Central Africa.
Therefore it is, that, while we find in Tippo Tib a gentleman of bland Eastern politeness in dealing with white men (who, although alas! unbelievers also, are still worthy of much respect) we see him at times ruthlessly cruel in asserting his authority over the savage tribes he finds it necessary to subjugate in his task of growing rich."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tippu_Tip#/media/File:TipputipPortrait.jpg
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 09:58 AM (jR7Wy)
47
I normally don't like free verse, but I think the KJV version works better, even as poetry.
Posted by: G A Riplinger at May 03, 2015 09:59 AM (3F6F8)
48
My modern brain kept correcting the English verse version to the King James version. Work it did correctly not.
Posted by: huerfano at May 03, 2015 09:59 AM (bynk/)
49
OM--
Spelling conventions were not well fixed in English until well into the 1800s--that was one of Webster's primary goals when he created his dictionary. I'm too lazy to find source literature to back this claim up right now, but I'd bet a sawbuck that I'm correct. Webster wished to create a unique--and standardized--American English spelling.
So, we can blame many of our strange spelling conventions on an old dead white guy who wrote something, like, a hundred years ago.
Spelling conventions were not well fixed in English until well into the 1800s--that was one of Webster's primary goals when he created his dictionary. I'm too lazy to find source literature to back this claim up right now, but I'd bet a sawbuck that I'm correct. Webster wished to create a unique--and standardized--American English spelling.
So, we can blame many of our strange spelling conventions on an old dead white guy who wrote something, like, a hundred years ago.
Posted by: Conservative Crank's iPhone at May 03, 2015 10:01 AM (Gosad)
50
@Zoltan,
Take a read of Paul Johnson's "Intellectuals." Mini-bios of some of the world's foremost shits like Rousseau and Brecht plus a few more. Nasty scrunts all.
Take a read of Paul Johnson's "Intellectuals." Mini-bios of some of the world's foremost shits like Rousseau and Brecht plus a few more. Nasty scrunts all.
Posted by: Libra at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (GblmV)
51
Spelling conventions were not well fixed in English until well into the 1800s--that was one of Webster's primary goals when he created his dictionary. I'm too lazy to find source literature to back this claim up right now, but I'd bet a sawbuck that I'm correct.
Yeah, I think this is right. At least, it's what I've always heard.
Either that, or Webster was just imposing his cisnormative patriarchal privilege on the English language to oppress brown people.
Yeah, I think this is right. At least, it's what I've always heard.
Either that, or Webster was just imposing his cisnormative patriarchal privilege on the English language to oppress brown people.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (VhO+g)
52
From Goodreads: "In Thunderstruck, Erik Larson tells the interwoven stories of two men--Hawley Crippen, a very unlikely murderer, and Guglielmo Marconi, the obsessive creator of a seemingly supernatural means of communication--whose lives intersect during one of the greatest criminal chases of all time."
Heard about this case. Crippen was, if I recall correctly, a doctor living in Britain, married and had a squeeze on the side. Wife was in the way, he knocks her off (poison), and hops on a ship bound for the US, with his girlfriend in tow (disguised as a young boy). Scotland Yard was on the ball with this case, finds the body, and tracks Crippen's movements to the ship. They determine that the ship was equipped with this new-fangled device called a wireless, and use it to contact the ship, verifying Crippen's presence on board. When the ships docks in New York, the local constabulary comes on board and immediately slaps the cuffs on Crippen. He is shipped back to the UK, on the same boat, as I recall, where he is tried for murdering his wife, convicted and hung.
Heard about this case. Crippen was, if I recall correctly, a doctor living in Britain, married and had a squeeze on the side. Wife was in the way, he knocks her off (poison), and hops on a ship bound for the US, with his girlfriend in tow (disguised as a young boy). Scotland Yard was on the ball with this case, finds the body, and tracks Crippen's movements to the ship. They determine that the ship was equipped with this new-fangled device called a wireless, and use it to contact the ship, verifying Crippen's presence on board. When the ships docks in New York, the local constabulary comes on board and immediately slaps the cuffs on Crippen. He is shipped back to the UK, on the same boat, as I recall, where he is tried for murdering his wife, convicted and hung.
Posted by: The Oort Cloud - SMOD is inbound at May 03, 2015 10:05 AM (yTMXB)
53
I went out to a used bookstore yesterday and blew eighty bucks on a bag of books.
The first one I started reading is the Satires of Juvenal (in a modern translation because I don't know Latin). Very entertaining; a first-century O'Rourke or Gutfeld. Some of the poems are eerily topical for the present.
It's marred a little bit by the translator "updating" some of the references, so there's a mention of the "morning papers" instead of however Romans got their news. But it's still worth reading.
The first one I started reading is the Satires of Juvenal (in a modern translation because I don't know Latin). Very entertaining; a first-century O'Rourke or Gutfeld. Some of the poems are eerily topical for the present.
It's marred a little bit by the translator "updating" some of the references, so there's a mention of the "morning papers" instead of however Romans got their news. But it's still worth reading.
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 03, 2015 10:06 AM (97vcg)
54
Thunderstruck also has a kickass soundtrack by AC/DC.
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 03, 2015 10:08 AM (97vcg)
Posted by: naturalfake at May 03, 2015 10:09 AM (KUa85)
56
Take a read of Paul Johnson's "Intellectuals." Mini-bios of some of the world's foremost shits like Rousseau and Brecht plus a few more. Nasty scrunts all.
Posted by: Libra at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (GblmV)
---
Likewise "Boswell's Clap and Other Essays: Medical Analyses of Literary Men's Afflictions" by Dr. Owen B. Ober, MD.
Posted by: Libra at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (GblmV)
---
Likewise "Boswell's Clap and Other Essays: Medical Analyses of Literary Men's Afflictions" by Dr. Owen B. Ober, MD.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 10:12 AM (jR7Wy)
57
Translator was Rolfe Humphries. The book is from the early Sixties, as one can tell by the cover art. They don't make 'em like that anymore, thank God.
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 03, 2015 10:12 AM (97vcg)
58
Read A. G. Riddle's The Atlantis Plague (Origin Mystery #2), which has aliens, the lost city of Atlantis, the evolution of the human race, conspiracies, science and "science", religion, explosions and fighting. Silly fun, I'll probably get to book 3 eventually.
Listened to James Corey's Caliban's War (Expanse #2), continuation of a really good sci-fi series. Man has moved out into the solar system, and aliens have arrived that can infect humans and turn them into some sort of zombies. In this book they continue to be a threat. Very good characters and story, plan to pick up book 3 soon.
Listened to James Corey's Caliban's War (Expanse #2), continuation of a really good sci-fi series. Man has moved out into the solar system, and aliens have arrived that can infect humans and turn them into some sort of zombies. In this book they continue to be a threat. Very good characters and story, plan to pick up book 3 soon.
Posted by: waelse1 at May 03, 2015 10:12 AM (RmE44)
59
Son, I am disappoint:
Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale
Alternate history which imagines a world in which the Roman Empire has not fallen and the North American continent has just been discovered. In the year 1218 AD, transported by Norse longboats, a Roman legion crosses the great ocean, enters an endless wilderness, and faces a cataclysmic clash of worlds, cultures, and warriors.
http://tinyurl.com/pkkm7jt
Gave this a try. Bailed outraged by page 100 and skimmed the rest aghast.
The rule for a good alternate history is you get to change one thing up front. So, Smale has some minor Roman dynastic kerfuffle go the other way and as a consequence the Empire keeps it's act together for another 1000 years.
Now, a millennium of political stability has brought no technological progress to the Empire -- it's still the gladius and the pillae for the Legion, but whatever. We also know the Legion is going to get powned by the Natives. it's on the dustjacket, but the how is a question. A big question because nothing will have changed in the New World from our history, so plague and cultural collapse should be racing thru the stone and stick level Native civilization when the Legion arrives.
So how do the Indian wipe out an entire Roman Legion? With their airplanes of course. Squadron after squadron of wood and buckskin hang-gliders and by God TIE bombers raining arrows and fire bombs on the Romans.
And then it's Dances with Lupe for the remaining Roman that goes native, and wise people of the earth, and yes -- a frigging Indian Princess who is also a SJW pilot that falls for the strong brooding Roman stranger with a past and -- god. An utter train-wreck.
If you've even see the old SNL skit "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?", the book is that. In POG form.
Burn the book, throw the author in the snake pit, sell his widow and children to the highest bidder.
Son, I am disappoint:
Clash of Eagles by Alan Smale
Alternate history which imagines a world in which the Roman Empire has not fallen and the North American continent has just been discovered. In the year 1218 AD, transported by Norse longboats, a Roman legion crosses the great ocean, enters an endless wilderness, and faces a cataclysmic clash of worlds, cultures, and warriors.
http://tinyurl.com/pkkm7jt
Gave this a try. Bailed outraged by page 100 and skimmed the rest aghast.
The rule for a good alternate history is you get to change one thing up front. So, Smale has some minor Roman dynastic kerfuffle go the other way and as a consequence the Empire keeps it's act together for another 1000 years.
Now, a millennium of political stability has brought no technological progress to the Empire -- it's still the gladius and the pillae for the Legion, but whatever. We also know the Legion is going to get powned by the Natives. it's on the dustjacket, but the how is a question. A big question because nothing will have changed in the New World from our history, so plague and cultural collapse should be racing thru the stone and stick level Native civilization when the Legion arrives.
So how do the Indian wipe out an entire Roman Legion? With their airplanes of course. Squadron after squadron of wood and buckskin hang-gliders and by God TIE bombers raining arrows and fire bombs on the Romans.
And then it's Dances with Lupe for the remaining Roman that goes native, and wise people of the earth, and yes -- a frigging Indian Princess who is also a SJW pilot that falls for the strong brooding Roman stranger with a past and -- god. An utter train-wreck.
If you've even see the old SNL skit "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?", the book is that. In POG form.
Burn the book, throw the author in the snake pit, sell his widow and children to the highest bidder.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:13 AM (kdS6q)
60
All (or nearly all) of Dickinson's poems were set to that hymn meter. So, by extension, is "The Yellow Rose of Texas."
Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at May 03, 2015 10:13 AM (yxw0r)
61
@52 Yep, that's a pretty good summary. I read about the murder case somewhere else. (Or was it on TV...)
Larson's description of Edwardian science, Marconi, and the murderer is really fascinating. I really enjoy period stuff like this and Carr's "Alienist."
Marconi, to my surprise, is described as not being a scientist. He was more of an obsessive garage mechanic whose family had the means to support his obsession.
The more I learn about early scientific discoveries, the more fascinated I am about the strange people who made the discoveries.
Sir Isaac Newton, for all his mathematical brilliance, is said to also have been an alchemist.
Larson's description of Edwardian science, Marconi, and the murderer is really fascinating. I really enjoy period stuff like this and Carr's "Alienist."
Marconi, to my surprise, is described as not being a scientist. He was more of an obsessive garage mechanic whose family had the means to support his obsession.
The more I learn about early scientific discoveries, the more fascinated I am about the strange people who made the discoveries.
Sir Isaac Newton, for all his mathematical brilliance, is said to also have been an alchemist.
Posted by: doug at May 03, 2015 10:14 AM (qYWZ5)
62
I'm an Eric Larson fan. I enjoyed his "The Devil In The White City"
Great book.
I will have to try the ROOK.
I stay at home with my son so I am looking for Fantasy Audiobooks, because reality stinks
Great book.
I will have to try the ROOK.
I stay at home with my son so I am looking for Fantasy Audiobooks, because reality stinks
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 10:16 AM (CxEX+)
63
@46 I wish Tippu Tip were still around to tell ISIS and Al Qaeda that we're worthy of much repect.
Islam is nothing but a rationalization for violence and xenophobia. The extent to which we've come to reject such things is due to the sayings of Christ, working away in the background of our conscience.
Islam is nothing but a rationalization for violence and xenophobia. The extent to which we've come to reject such things is due to the sayings of Christ, working away in the background of our conscience.
Posted by: High horse (not high diving horse. Knox is innocent) at May 03, 2015 10:16 AM (3F6F8)
64
59
If you've even see the old SNL skit "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?", the book is that. In POG form.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:13 AM (kdS6q)
I loved that. It was hilarious.
Your review sounds better than the book.
If you've even see the old SNL skit "What if Spartacus had a Piper Cub?", the book is that. In POG form.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:13 AM (kdS6q)
I loved that. It was hilarious.
Your review sounds better than the book.
Posted by: rickl at May 03, 2015 10:18 AM (sdi6R)
65
I wish I could consider good books with you guys here, but I keep thinking about all the takeover of the country by organized riots and kangaroo courts with such sage attorneys general as Marilyn Mosby. I am so pissed that it is difficult to get my mind around anything normal.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:23 AM (P+I7L)
66
They just don't title books like they used to.
(Sigh)
(Sigh)
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 03, 2015 10:25 AM (TqyFL)
67
On the want list:
LAtitudes: An Angeleno;s Atlas
This literary and cartographic exploration of Los Angeles is illuminated by boldly conceived and artfully rendered maps and infographics, nineteen essays by LA's most exciting writers reveal complex histories and perspectives of a place notorious for superficiality. This chorus of voices explores wildly different subjects.
heydaybooks.com/book/latitudes
http://www.latitudesbook.com/
And Curbed LA is doing a series of articles this week on the maps in the books:
la.curbed.com/archives/2015/04/los_angeles_street_grid.php
On the want list:
LAtitudes: An Angeleno;s Atlas
This literary and cartographic exploration of Los Angeles is illuminated by boldly conceived and artfully rendered maps and infographics, nineteen essays by LA's most exciting writers reveal complex histories and perspectives of a place notorious for superficiality. This chorus of voices explores wildly different subjects.
heydaybooks.com/book/latitudes
http://www.latitudesbook.com/
And Curbed LA is doing a series of articles this week on the maps in the books:
la.curbed.com/archives/2015/04/los_angeles_street_grid.php
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:27 AM (kdS6q)
68
They just don't title books like they used to.
(Sigh)
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 03, 2015 10:25 AM (TqyFL)
---
Like the downward spiral from "For the World is Hollow, and I Have Touched the Sky" to the bland one-word titles of Next Gen.
(Sigh)
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 03, 2015 10:25 AM (TqyFL)
---
Like the downward spiral from "For the World is Hollow, and I Have Touched the Sky" to the bland one-word titles of Next Gen.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 10:28 AM (jR7Wy)
69
And then it's Dances with Lupe for the remaining Roman that goes native, and wise people of the earth, and yes -- a frigging Indian Princess who is also a SJW pilot
*********
Sounds like that is a cipher for the author, basically saying "please, like me, Native Americans! Please forgive for Andrew Jackson and my light skin tone." Pathetic.
*********
Sounds like that is a cipher for the author, basically saying "please, like me, Native Americans! Please forgive for Andrew Jackson and my light skin tone." Pathetic.
Posted by: Elizabeth Warren at May 03, 2015 10:30 AM (XrHO0)
70
Please would someone define SJW.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:33 AM (P+I7L)
71
I'm reading Eusebius: The Church History. I've been a Christian all my life but don't really know much about the early church or what happened to the apostles and such. I do know many of them were martyrs. That got me to thinking about the disciples and the founding fathers. I'd say the two most important groups of men in the history of the world. And for most of them things did not end well. As we talk of changing back our country, it's hard not to keep this in mind.
Posted by: Beth M at May 03, 2015 10:34 AM (kiy9d)
72
I finished The Perfect Dictator by Ghetau Gh. Florin. It is two-parts a take on Machiavelli's 'The Prince', one-part Johnathan Swift and a good healthy dose of solid review of dictators.
Florin is a Romanian, and the Ceausescu state clearly influences him deeply, and he leans heavily on that history to discuss his topic. He also provides some information on what the dictatorial state is actually doing when it makes it moves.
It was a Smashwords freebie, and the version I have has some issues from being translated from Romanian to English. He does need a final polishing to get the English a bit more legible.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181574
Florin is a Romanian, and the Ceausescu state clearly influences him deeply, and he leans heavily on that history to discuss his topic. He also provides some information on what the dictatorial state is actually doing when it makes it moves.
It was a Smashwords freebie, and the version I have has some issues from being translated from Romanian to English. He does need a final polishing to get the English a bit more legible.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/181574
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2015 10:34 AM (t//F+)
73
Please do not encourage Harlan Ellison on titles... I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream and this is the short version of another of his Hugo winners Adrift Off the Islets of Langerhans because I can't remember the Lat and Long that is also part of the title.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 10:35 AM (wPxCh)
74
I am so pissed that it is difficult to get my mind around anything normal.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:23 AM (P+I7L)
*********
I know that feeling. But ace had a point in his secession tweets. This continual state of anger is not healthy.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:23 AM (P+I7L)
*********
I know that feeling. But ace had a point in his secession tweets. This continual state of anger is not healthy.
Posted by: Lois Lerner at May 03, 2015 10:36 AM (XrHO0)
75
Her boobs big and bouncy did I spy
And to her curvy aff did fly.
- The Big Book of Jamestown Porn.
And to her curvy aff did fly.
- The Big Book of Jamestown Porn.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 03, 2015 10:36 AM (LImiJ)
76
Also on the want list:
Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well: TV Horror Hosts of Southern California - By James M. Fetters (Second Edition)
Jeepers Creepers Theatre in 1962 ignited a love of Los Angeles horror hosts that was the beginning of a life-long addiction for many fans. But as much as the audience loved the shows, they never knew the horror that occurred off-screen -- live adult stage performances, lawsuits and cutthroat competition. What started off as risque and sexy by 1954 standards ended as risque and sexy by 1984 standards. Horror hosts affected 30 years of television history... a phenomenon that is not known by today's generation but well remembered by the Boomers and now chronicled for future generations.
Inside Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well, you will find: little known trivia, over 250 photos, ads and images -- many never seen before, movie listings by date, actual scripts, interviews with the hosts and writers and the hosts identity revealed for the first time.
http://creaturebooks.weebly.com/
http://tinyurl.com/mxem578
Waiting for the second edition to come out, with additional content and in a larger format.
Also on the want list:
Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well: TV Horror Hosts of Southern California - By James M. Fetters (Second Edition)
Jeepers Creepers Theatre in 1962 ignited a love of Los Angeles horror hosts that was the beginning of a life-long addiction for many fans. But as much as the audience loved the shows, they never knew the horror that occurred off-screen -- live adult stage performances, lawsuits and cutthroat competition. What started off as risque and sexy by 1954 standards ended as risque and sexy by 1984 standards. Horror hosts affected 30 years of television history... a phenomenon that is not known by today's generation but well remembered by the Boomers and now chronicled for future generations.
Inside Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well, you will find: little known trivia, over 250 photos, ads and images -- many never seen before, movie listings by date, actual scripts, interviews with the hosts and writers and the hosts identity revealed for the first time.
http://creaturebooks.weebly.com/
http://tinyurl.com/mxem578
Waiting for the second edition to come out, with additional content and in a larger format.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:36 AM (kdS6q)
77
And then it's Dances with Lupe for the remaining
Roman that goes native, and wise people of the earth, and yes -- a
frigging Indian Princess who is also a SJW pilot
*********
Sounds like that is a cipher for the author, basically saying
"please, like me, Native Americans! Please forgive for Andrew Jackson
and my light skin tone." Pathetic.
Posted by: Elizabeth Warren at May 03, 2015 10:30 AM (XrHO0)
I guess the buckskin hang-gliders never show up in archaeological digs because they all crashed into the crater while their pilots were attempting to air-drop virgins into the volcano.
Roman that goes native, and wise people of the earth, and yes -- a
frigging Indian Princess who is also a SJW pilot
*********
Sounds like that is a cipher for the author, basically saying
"please, like me, Native Americans! Please forgive for Andrew Jackson
and my light skin tone." Pathetic.
Posted by: Elizabeth Warren at May 03, 2015 10:30 AM (XrHO0)
I guess the buckskin hang-gliders never show up in archaeological digs because they all crashed into the crater while their pilots were attempting to air-drop virgins into the volcano.
Posted by: Sandra Fluke at May 03, 2015 10:38 AM (QkWlQ)
78
70 Please would someone define SJW.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:33 AM (P+I7L)
"Social Justice Warrior".
Or "Social Justice Wanker".
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:33 AM (P+I7L)
"Social Justice Warrior".
Or "Social Justice Wanker".
Posted by: rickl at May 03, 2015 10:38 AM (sdi6R)
79
70 Please would someone define SJW.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:33 AM (P+I7L)
*********
Social Justice Warrior.
Posted by: annas at May 03, 2015 10:33 AM (P+I7L)
*********
Social Justice Warrior.
Posted by: Lois Lerner at May 03, 2015 10:38 AM (cIoI4)
80
sometimes in these old texts, 's' appears as 'f', but sometimes it's 's' as we are accustomed to. What were the rules governing this, or could you just use whatever you felt like using?
The snarky "google is your friend" comment immediately arose through my bile. But truly, it is usually a lot nicer to talk with people, instead of lugging a know-it-all device around with you all the time.
The snarky "google is your friend" comment immediately arose through my bile. But truly, it is usually a lot nicer to talk with people, instead of lugging a know-it-all device around with you all the time.
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 03, 2015 10:39 AM (TqyFL)
81
Reading Barrett Tillman's Enterprise. It was going along nicely. Gotten to the Battle of Midway. And then had to put the book down after an observation of the modern US Navy by Tillman. During the 2009 Midway Night recounting that battle, somehow Japan was not mentioned at all when the CNO gave a speech.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 10:39 AM (wPxCh)
82
Do others base their reading on a desire to avoid all the political and cultural crap we're drowning in every day? I know I do. Much of the fiction I enjoy is early 20th century or older, especially Victorian era like Rider Haggard or Victorian influenced like ER Burroughs. True, I have more time now for classics I never got around to reading or can now explore in greater depth as I'm doing with The Canterbury Tales.
I wonder if it's because they usually have a resolution. The constant angst that spews out from the news outlets is exhausting and, possibly, destructive to the individual. Those older stories have an end. They have danger, excitement, romance, humor, death, and so on but at least they come to an end instead of being an endless soap opera. I don't mind series with the same characters: Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe, the Lensman books, or Allen Quatermain. (I think of LOTR as one long book.) But at some point in a life time, I want a resolution in the book, not constant cliff hangers.
OK, rant off.
I wonder if it's because they usually have a resolution. The constant angst that spews out from the news outlets is exhausting and, possibly, destructive to the individual. Those older stories have an end. They have danger, excitement, romance, humor, death, and so on but at least they come to an end instead of being an endless soap opera. I don't mind series with the same characters: Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe, the Lensman books, or Allen Quatermain. (I think of LOTR as one long book.) But at some point in a life time, I want a resolution in the book, not constant cliff hangers.
OK, rant off.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
83
Still on the Librivox poet bios. Hadn't realized William Morris was a poet. As a fiber artist myself, I knew of him from his textile design and restarting a lot of the interest in needlework.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 03, 2015 10:41 AM (GDulk)
84
And a couple of youtube book trailers for Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well:
https://youtu.be/c31u4nAY72I
https://youtu.be/6DpbxW7Mn0c
And a couple of youtube book trailers for Creatures of the Night That We Loved So Well:
https://youtu.be/c31u4nAY72I
https://youtu.be/6DpbxW7Mn0c
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:42 AM (kdS6q)
85
38 >>>"Want therefore shall not I" sounds positively desperate
Sounds fine that sentence does.
Way off base you are.
Posted by: Yoda at May 03, 2015 09:48 AM (XrHO0)
Lol.
Sounds fine that sentence does.
Way off base you are.
Posted by: Yoda at May 03, 2015 09:48 AM (XrHO0)
Lol.
Posted by: Gem at May 03, 2015 10:47 AM (c+gwp)
86
Try the Destroyermen series,
The plot
In Into The Storm, the story begins during the Second Battle of the Java Sea. The USS Walker (DD-163) is a destroyer of the United States Asiatic Fleet, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy. The Walker was a part of the surviving ABDACOM fleet, consisting of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Exeter, HMS Encounter, and the United States Navy destroyers Pope and Mahan, all of which were fleeing from Japanese Naval forces. However, the Japanese forces closed range, and opened up on the small Allied fleet. The Exeter took a major hit, and ordered the remaining four destroyers to leave the crippled cruiser.
The destroyers were systematically sunk, starting with the Encounter, followed by the Pope shortly thereafter just as happened in the real naval battle. The surviving destroyers, Walker and Mahan then encountered the Japanese battlecruiser Amagi. Seeing no other option, Lieutenant Commander Reddy commanded the pair of destroyers to stage a torpedo attack, which sinks an accompanying destroyer, and badly damages the battlecruiser, before the ships were enveloped in a freak squall, and transported to an alternate world, where humans never evolved.
There are two races, the Lemurians, evolved giant lemurs from Madagascar, who are peaceful farmers and fishermen, and live on huge oceangoing houseboats called Homes. Walker's captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, meets with the Lemurian leadership, and forms an alliance with them to fight the other race, the Grik, who are at war with the Lemurians. The Grik are possible descendants of the dinosaur genus, Velociraptor.
The plot
In Into The Storm, the story begins during the Second Battle of the Java Sea. The USS Walker (DD-163) is a destroyer of the United States Asiatic Fleet, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy. The Walker was a part of the surviving ABDACOM fleet, consisting of the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Exeter, HMS Encounter, and the United States Navy destroyers Pope and Mahan, all of which were fleeing from Japanese Naval forces. However, the Japanese forces closed range, and opened up on the small Allied fleet. The Exeter took a major hit, and ordered the remaining four destroyers to leave the crippled cruiser.
The destroyers were systematically sunk, starting with the Encounter, followed by the Pope shortly thereafter just as happened in the real naval battle. The surviving destroyers, Walker and Mahan then encountered the Japanese battlecruiser Amagi. Seeing no other option, Lieutenant Commander Reddy commanded the pair of destroyers to stage a torpedo attack, which sinks an accompanying destroyer, and badly damages the battlecruiser, before the ships were enveloped in a freak squall, and transported to an alternate world, where humans never evolved.
There are two races, the Lemurians, evolved giant lemurs from Madagascar, who are peaceful farmers and fishermen, and live on huge oceangoing houseboats called Homes. Walker's captain, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, meets with the Lemurian leadership, and forms an alliance with them to fight the other race, the Grik, who are at war with the Lemurians. The Grik are possible descendants of the dinosaur genus, Velociraptor.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 10:48 AM (CxEX+)
87
Laurie David, if you want alternate history Rome. Try Kirk Mitchell's Procurator. Rome exists and is technologically advanced because Pontus Pilate's wife convinced him to spare Jesus and the Roman Legions were not massacred by the Germanic barbarians. But now the Romans are having to battle masses of suicidal zombies in Anatolia. Book came out in 1984.
http://tinyurl.com/lvljmry
http://tinyurl.com/lvljmry
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 10:48 AM (wPxCh)
88
Ace, it's not a bookstore, and it's in Tyumen, Russia.
My thanks to the magic of the Internet, especially TinEye (image search) and Chrome Translation.
http://ibigdan.livejournal.com/11789709.html
My thanks to the magic of the Internet, especially TinEye (image search) and Chrome Translation.
http://ibigdan.livejournal.com/11789709.html
Posted by: Calvin Dodge at May 03, 2015 10:50 AM (BL16f)
89
Translator was Rolfe Humphries. The book is from the early Sixties, as one can tell by the cover art. They don't make 'em like that anymore, thank God.
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 03, 2015 10:12 AM (97vcg)
Thanks, a good translation is always nice for these Greek and Roman writers.
For instance, I love Aristophanes, but man, some of the translations beat every single bit of humor out of his plays.
However, a good translation and a sympathetic sense of humor (i.e.. rude)-
and you're in for a fun time.
Posted by: Trimegistus at May 03, 2015 10:12 AM (97vcg)
Thanks, a good translation is always nice for these Greek and Roman writers.
For instance, I love Aristophanes, but man, some of the translations beat every single bit of humor out of his plays.
However, a good translation and a sympathetic sense of humor (i.e.. rude)-
and you're in for a fun time.
Posted by: naturalfake at May 03, 2015 10:51 AM (KUa85)
90
I want a resolution in the book, not constant cliff hangers.
OK, rant off.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
******
People need closure. It's very wearying, being jerked around all the time by an evil, incompetent omnipotent bueacracy.
OK, rant off.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
******
People need closure. It's very wearying, being jerked around all the time by an evil, incompetent omnipotent bueacracy.
Posted by: Franz Kafka at May 03, 2015 10:51 AM (XrHO0)
91
But now the Romans are having to battle masses of suicidal zombies in Anatolia.
-
Boy, if it's not one thing it's another.
-
Boy, if it's not one thing it's another.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 03, 2015 10:52 AM (LImiJ)
92
The snarky "google is your friend" comment immediately arose through my bile. But truly, it is usually a lot nicer to talk with people, instead of lugging a know-it-all device around with you all the time.
Exactly right. The purpose of the book thread is to facilitate a discussion of books and literature and writing and the various secondary topics that arise from those, which is why I throw out these sorts of questions to the Horde.
Also, lazy.
Exactly right. The purpose of the book thread is to facilitate a discussion of books and literature and writing and the various secondary topics that arise from those, which is why I throw out these sorts of questions to the Horde.
Also, lazy.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 10:54 AM (VhO+g)
93
Ace, it's not a bookstore, and it's in Tyumen, Russia.
I'm not Ace, but thank you for digging up that information for me.
I'm not Ace, but thank you for digging up that information for me.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (VhO+g)
94
In regards to escapist reading, absolutely!
I'm reading/listening to instructive stuff, but also going alphabetically through, and spending the majority of my time on, Librivox's "detective fiction" catalog. I'm up to Batwing by Sax Rhoemer.
I'm reading/listening to instructive stuff, but also going alphabetically through, and spending the majority of my time on, Librivox's "detective fiction" catalog. I'm up to Batwing by Sax Rhoemer.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (GDulk)
95
I read Sarah Hoyt's Darkship Thieves for fun. I haven't signed up for the Hugo convention as I don't know if I'd get all the books read but its fun to support the rebels against the SJW hegemony, plus I enjoy Hoyt's writing. Her characters are so well done I zoom through a book and only at the end think 'but some of the science part feels incorrect to me.' But its fiction and I don't have to believe in the tech bits to enjoy it.
Started "when Christ and the Saints slept' about English civil war after the death of first king Henry back in the 1100s. I don't recall if it was recommended here or by Amazon when I bought other historical fiction. I'm enjoying it. It is not at all the dour read the title implies, might be a bit too chic lit for guys but I am an 'ette, so it works for me.
Started "when Christ and the Saints slept' about English civil war after the death of first king Henry back in the 1100s. I don't recall if it was recommended here or by Amazon when I bought other historical fiction. I'm enjoying it. It is not at all the dour read the title implies, might be a bit too chic lit for guys but I am an 'ette, so it works for me.
Posted by: PaleRider at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (7w/kf)
96
My tenth grade class studied The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre: Whereunto is Prefixed a Discourse Declaring not Only the Lawfullness, but Also the Necessity of the Heavenly Ordinance of Singing Scripture Psalmes in the Churches of God, and enjoyed it greatly. Our teacher said that The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre: Whereunto is Prefixed a Discourse Declaring not Only the Lawfullness, but Also the Necessity of the Heavenly Ordinance of Singing Scripture Psalmes in the Churches of God should be made part of the statewide curriculum.
Posted by: Average Joe at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (CiLUq)
Posted by: Sax Walrustein at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (wrqSA)
98
Try Rally Cry, the Lost Regiment.
The plot revolves around a Union Army regiment from the American Civil War which gets transported to an alien world. The 35th Maine Infantry is being transported by ship from Virginia late in the war when they encounter a mysterious electrical storm and end up on a distant planet. The region they are in is populated by descendants of medieval Russians who still live a feudal existence at a medieval level of technology. They learn from their new hosts that there are various civilizations on this world made up of the descendants of people from various eras of Earth history.
The Union soldiers eventually discover a terrible secret that their Rus hosts have been keeping from them when the Tugar arrive. The Tugar are ten foot tall aliens with a culture and technology similar to that of the Mongol Horde. They ride a never-ending circuit around the planet. They have subjugated the human populations in their territory and use them as food. The Tugar visit each human society once a generation and cull part of the population for food. This culling keeps the humans docile and compliant and the Tugar make sure that none of the human societies become advanced enough to challenge them. The Union men are horrified by this revelation and kill the Tugar advanced scouts. They then support a peasant rebellion against the Tugar appointed lords and begin modernizing the Rus society. When the Tugar arrive they encounter a modern army equipped with cannon and rifled muskets. In a hard-fought battle the humans manage to prevail, weakening the Tugar Horde forever.
The plot revolves around a Union Army regiment from the American Civil War which gets transported to an alien world. The 35th Maine Infantry is being transported by ship from Virginia late in the war when they encounter a mysterious electrical storm and end up on a distant planet. The region they are in is populated by descendants of medieval Russians who still live a feudal existence at a medieval level of technology. They learn from their new hosts that there are various civilizations on this world made up of the descendants of people from various eras of Earth history.
The Union soldiers eventually discover a terrible secret that their Rus hosts have been keeping from them when the Tugar arrive. The Tugar are ten foot tall aliens with a culture and technology similar to that of the Mongol Horde. They ride a never-ending circuit around the planet. They have subjugated the human populations in their territory and use them as food. The Tugar visit each human society once a generation and cull part of the population for food. This culling keeps the humans docile and compliant and the Tugar make sure that none of the human societies become advanced enough to challenge them. The Union men are horrified by this revelation and kill the Tugar advanced scouts. They then support a peasant rebellion against the Tugar appointed lords and begin modernizing the Rus society. When the Tugar arrive they encounter a modern army equipped with cannon and rifled muskets. In a hard-fought battle the humans manage to prevail, weakening the Tugar Horde forever.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 10:57 AM (CxEX+)
99
They aren't the letter F. If you love ok closely, the crossbar is missing. They are a taller S. And the form depends on the following letter. If it's S followed by T, for example, it's taller. I think it was just an aesthetic decision intended the make print look more like handwriting.
Posted by: PC at May 03, 2015 10:57 AM (kgUmS)
100
I would like to think that by age 10 3/4 I could pick my nose like a boss.
Posted by: Insert Clever Name Here at May 03, 2015 10:57 AM (1WydT)
101
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
---
Me too. I sometimes think it's because writers of that era typically had to do all manner of work to survive, real physical labor, in their youth, so 1) they could draw from actual experience, and 2) they probably wouldn't dwell on the petty injustices that so enthrall modern writers. Sure it's pulpy, but ERB's John Carter saying "I still live!" and vowing to hack on resonates more with me than any WisCon award-winning crap. Modern Human Wave SF has that same triumphant spirit.
---
Me too. I sometimes think it's because writers of that era typically had to do all manner of work to survive, real physical labor, in their youth, so 1) they could draw from actual experience, and 2) they probably wouldn't dwell on the petty injustices that so enthrall modern writers. Sure it's pulpy, but ERB's John Carter saying "I still live!" and vowing to hack on resonates more with me than any WisCon award-winning crap. Modern Human Wave SF has that same triumphant spirit.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 10:58 AM (jR7Wy)
102
I'm entering finals week of my second to last trimester of student teaching. So, perhaps next week I can resume reading something other than textbooks, journals and horribly written essays. Can't take the last trimester until after Summer, after all. Clearly I must start with something mindless and fun.
Posted by: Graves at May 03, 2015 10:58 AM (3MEXB)
103
Please say the joke is over with the clickbait headings. Thought I had stumbled over to theblaze there for a minute.
Anyhow, ugh. Too little time for reading but I'm still trying to plow through Mises' _Human Action_. Always going on about 'economic calculation' but zero math... and so far he is making it work. Haven't found Frankfort or Chicago school economics entirely satisfying so giving Austrian another shot by going to the really deep end.
Anyhow, ugh. Too little time for reading but I'm still trying to plow through Mises' _Human Action_. Always going on about 'economic calculation' but zero math... and so far he is making it work. Haven't found Frankfort or Chicago school economics entirely satisfying so giving Austrian another shot by going to the really deep end.
Posted by: John Morris at May 03, 2015 10:59 AM (JiDdW)
104
Kirk Mitchell's Procurator.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Read that back in the day. Decent, all I recall.
There's also the wikipedia Roman Empire Alt Histories:
http://tinyurl.com/pu9zh65
And the extensive and invaluable Uchronia alt history site for true fans of the genre:
http://www.uchronia.net/
Kirk Mitchell's Procurator.
Posted by: Anna Puma
Read that back in the day. Decent, all I recall.
There's also the wikipedia Roman Empire Alt Histories:
http://tinyurl.com/pu9zh65
And the extensive and invaluable Uchronia alt history site for true fans of the genre:
http://www.uchronia.net/
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 10:59 AM (kdS6q)
105
Some really good recs today! Thanks, OM and horde!
One of the reasons I drifted away from sci fi and fantasy was because I was sick to death of "Eight years from now you will read the thrilling conclusion of this story! Maybe!"
One of the reasons I drifted away from sci fi and fantasy was because I was sick to death of "Eight years from now you will read the thrilling conclusion of this story! Maybe!"
Posted by: Gem at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (c+gwp)
106
Look. Frigging autocorrect.
Posted by: PC at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (kgUmS)
107
Patrick from Ohio if you liked that book, you should probably read Poul Anderson's The High Crusade from 1960. From the Year of Our Lord 1354 aliens pluck a small English army. Things go angly wrong for the aliens from that moment on.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (wPxCh)
108
71 I'm reading Eusebius: The Church History. I've been a Christian all my life but don't really know much about the early church or what happened to the apostles and such. I do know many of them were martyrs. That got me to thinking about the disciples and the founding fathers. I'd say the two most important groups of men in the history of the world. And for most of them things did not end well. As we talk of changing back our country, it's hard not to keep this in mind.
Posted by: Beth M at May 03, 2015 10:34 AM (kiy9d)
*********
Eusebius' name reminds me of this administration (You See BS). It is good to have some knowledge of early chuch fathers, if only to refute bozotic conspiracy theorists like Dan Brown or Elaine Pagels.
Posted by: Beth M at May 03, 2015 10:34 AM (kiy9d)
*********
Eusebius' name reminds me of this administration (You See BS). It is good to have some knowledge of early chuch fathers, if only to refute bozotic conspiracy theorists like Dan Brown or Elaine Pagels.
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:02 AM (cIoI4)
109
103 Please say the joke is over with the clickbait headings. Thought I had stumbled over to theblaze there for a minute.
************
Far fewer basic copy editing errors here.
************
Far fewer basic copy editing errors here.
Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at May 03, 2015 11:02 AM (yxw0r)
110
Please say the joke is over with the clickbait headings. Thought I had stumbled over to theblaze there for a minute.
Don't worry, it's over. I was just making fun of clickbait headlines, which I absolutely hate.
Don't worry, it's over. I was just making fun of clickbait headlines, which I absolutely hate.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:04 AM (VhO+g)
111
28
Good news..sequel to "The Rook", "Stiletto", coming soon. Bad news..we have to wait until next January. It's been a long wait. I could swear that when I pre-ordered it from Amazon that the original due date was sometime this summer. Sad face.
I finished "Superego", a moron recommended book, this week. Fun scifi noir about a genetically programmed killer finding his humanity through love and maybe God. We'll have to wait and see because the ending left room for, you guessed it, a sequel. Everything I read these days has a sequel. I have so many on pre-order but it's fun when one pops into my library.
Good news..sequel to "The Rook", "Stiletto", coming soon. Bad news..we have to wait until next January. It's been a long wait. I could swear that when I pre-ordered it from Amazon that the original due date was sometime this summer. Sad face.
I finished "Superego", a moron recommended book, this week. Fun scifi noir about a genetically programmed killer finding his humanity through love and maybe God. We'll have to wait and see because the ending left room for, you guessed it, a sequel. Everything I read these days has a sequel. I have so many on pre-order but it's fun when one pops into my library.
Posted by: Tuna at May 03, 2015 11:06 AM (JSovD)
112
Watch out for Marcion, Origen, Pelagius and Arius. They are not ECFs, as much as liberal Christians would have you believe it. I've seen an Episcopal bishop (not Spong) actually try to rehabilitate Pelagius. Couldn't believe my eyes.
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:08 AM (cIoI4)
113
From my biased viewpoint, the whole sequel craze from writers who put online 20,000 word stories is simple - they want more money.
As opposed to David Weber or Elizabeth Moon, who when they write a sequel is another full fledged novel stuffed full of good stuff.
As opposed to David Weber or Elizabeth Moon, who when they write a sequel is another full fledged novel stuffed full of good stuff.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:09 AM (wPxCh)
114
Some really good recs today! Thanks, OM and horde!
One of the reasons I drifted away from sci fi and fantasy was because I was sick to death of "Eight years from now you will read the thrilling conclusion of this story! Maybe!"
Posted by: Gem at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (c+gwp)
Hey, fuck you.
And pass the mashed potatoes, please.
Some really good recs today! Thanks, OM and horde!
One of the reasons I drifted away from sci fi and fantasy was because I was sick to death of "Eight years from now you will read the thrilling conclusion of this story! Maybe!"
Posted by: Gem at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (c+gwp)
Hey, fuck you.
And pass the mashed potatoes, please.
Posted by: George RR Martin at May 03, 2015 11:10 AM (ynQIy)
115
Speaking of e-wandering thru uchronia.net, this sounds interesting:
Rosenfeld, Gavriel D. (ed.). "If Only We Had Died In Egypt!" What ifs of Jewish History from Abraham to Zionism
Summary: Collection of scholarly counterfactuals by historians, including René Bloch's "What if the Temple of Jerusalem Had not Been Destroyed by the Romans?", Derek Penslar's "What If a Christian State Had Been Established in Palestine?", Jeffrey Veidlinger's "What if Russian Jewry Had Never Been Confined to the Pale of Jewish Settlement?", Adam L. Rovner's "What If the 'Uganda Plan' Had Succeeded?", Gavriel D. Rosenfeld's "What If Adolf Hitler Had Been Assassinated in 1939?", David N. Myers's "What if Musa Alami and David Ben-Gurion Agreed on a Jewish-Arab State?", Kenneth W. Stein's "What If the Arabs Had Been Willing to Compromise Before 1948?",.
Published: Not yet published; expected from Cambridge University Press.
Speaking of e-wandering thru uchronia.net, this sounds interesting:
Rosenfeld, Gavriel D. (ed.). "If Only We Had Died In Egypt!" What ifs of Jewish History from Abraham to Zionism
Summary: Collection of scholarly counterfactuals by historians, including René Bloch's "What if the Temple of Jerusalem Had not Been Destroyed by the Romans?", Derek Penslar's "What If a Christian State Had Been Established in Palestine?", Jeffrey Veidlinger's "What if Russian Jewry Had Never Been Confined to the Pale of Jewish Settlement?", Adam L. Rovner's "What If the 'Uganda Plan' Had Succeeded?", Gavriel D. Rosenfeld's "What If Adolf Hitler Had Been Assassinated in 1939?", David N. Myers's "What if Musa Alami and David Ben-Gurion Agreed on a Jewish-Arab State?", Kenneth W. Stein's "What If the Arabs Had Been Willing to Compromise Before 1948?",.
Published: Not yet published; expected from Cambridge University Press.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 11:10 AM (kdS6q)
116
99 If you love ok closely.....
Sounds like relationship advice that was badly translated.
Only a spellchecker could do this.
99 If you love ok closely.....
Sounds like relationship advice that was badly translated.
Only a spellchecker could do this.
Posted by: Stuck Bertha tunneler under Seattle at May 03, 2015 11:10 AM (uPxUo)
117
Patrick from Ohio if you liked that book, you should probably read Poul Anderson's The High Crusade from 1960. From the Year of Our Lord 1354 aliens pluck a small English army. Things go angly wrong for the aliens from that moment on.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (wPxCh)
Thank You
Saved to my wish list.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (wPxCh)
Thank You
Saved to my wish list.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 11:10 AM (CxEX+)
118
Were any bookstores burned or looted in the production of this thread? They never seem to be a target of protesters/rioters/looters. You'd think they'd be busting the doors down to empty the shelves of free 'self-help', 'how-to', and 'diy' genre books.
Posted by: Emotional Protestor at May 03, 2015 11:14 AM (xQX/f)
119
82 Do others base their reading on a desire to avoid all the political and cultural crap we're drowning in every day?
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
This. No point getting worked up over what you can't control, and few if any Repubs in Washington care what conservatives want.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 10:40 AM (FvdPb)
This. No point getting worked up over what you can't control, and few if any Repubs in Washington care what conservatives want.
Posted by: waelse1 at May 03, 2015 11:14 AM (RmE44)
120
I've seen an Episcopal bishop (not Spong) actually try to rehabilitate Pelagius
Wow, Episcopalian, seriously? I thought Pelagius' schtick only appealed to gonzo Protestant evangelical types like Charles Finney and his followers.
Wow, Episcopalian, seriously? I thought Pelagius' schtick only appealed to gonzo Protestant evangelical types like Charles Finney and his followers.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:14 AM (VhO+g)
121
But now the Romans are having to battle rescue masses of suicidal zombies in Anatolia from Libya.
http://tinyurl.com/lvljmry
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 10:48 AM (wPxCh)
*********
FIFY
http://tinyurl.com/lvljmry
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 10:48 AM (wPxCh)
*********
FIFY
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:16 AM (XrHO0)
122
I thought they were going to make a movie, where a Marine Regiment gets transported to Rome.
I can't remeber the book but it deals with a task force that gets transported back to WWII, I saw that the aircraft carrier was named the USS Hillary, no way I would spend money on that.
I can't remeber the book but it deals with a task force that gets transported back to WWII, I saw that the aircraft carrier was named the USS Hillary, no way I would spend money on that.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 11:16 AM (CxEX+)
123
Get where I can a English to Yoda, Yoda to English Translator online?
Posted by: Luap Nor's last brain cell at May 03, 2015 11:17 AM (Vyg9x)
124
If BTH shows up while I'm gone,
One of the biographies of Robert E. Lee says something about Lee's grandfather (or great grand-father maybe) having a favorite *Arabic* quote from well before the time of Christ. I don't remember anything about the Arabs even writing at all at that point, but it's more your area and I was hoping you could fill me in on what they were up to at the time.
One of the biographies of Robert E. Lee says something about Lee's grandfather (or great grand-father maybe) having a favorite *Arabic* quote from well before the time of Christ. I don't remember anything about the Arabs even writing at all at that point, but it's more your area and I was hoping you could fill me in on what they were up to at the time.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 03, 2015 11:18 AM (GDulk)
125
test
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:18 AM (XrHO0)
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2015 11:19 AM (t//F+)
127
82
Answer.. I most certainly do.
Answer.. I most certainly do.
Posted by: Tuna at May 03, 2015 11:20 AM (JSovD)
128
I recently read that when the Norsemen discovered and explored New Foundland around 1000 AD, there were skirmishes with the Indians. I think the visuals of that would be amazing, and I'm surprised no one has made a movie depicting that. It would be epic. Ridley Scott, or Mel Gibson could do it...
Posted by: JoeF. at May 03, 2015 11:21 AM (qlAhM)
129
Heh. So I'm using the bing translator to read that page where today's photo came from, and here's one of the paragraphs:
Here is what the colors of Dmitry Zelenin City»: "The two years I drove their children to prestigious gymnasium. Two years in a row I vomited eye wild inconsistency of internal peace and external content yard grammar school. Naked grey back to school children was a terrible strange building. 1 September, graduation, all other holiday lineup took place against the background of this.
I think I saw Eye Vomit open for Content Yard in Posnan, 1987.
Here is what the colors of Dmitry Zelenin City»: "The two years I drove their children to prestigious gymnasium. Two years in a row I vomited eye wild inconsistency of internal peace and external content yard grammar school. Naked grey back to school children was a terrible strange building. 1 September, graduation, all other holiday lineup took place against the background of this.
I think I saw Eye Vomit open for Content Yard in Posnan, 1987.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:21 AM (VhO+g)
130
I'm reading The High Graders by Louis L'Amour. Its one of his pulpier books, and the version I have feels pretty rough, even though it was written in 1965 when he was a more skilled author and wasn't writing for magazines. Still a good book and an interesting read, and you really can't go wrong with L'Amour's storytelling.
One of the things I appreciate about his writing is that L'Amour didn't have a whole book planned out in his head, just a general sketch, and then he just started writing and saw what came out. It gives the book a less predictable feel even if in the end you know the hero gets the girl and the bad guy is defeated. Its the road that gets you there that matters most, not the end.
One of the things I appreciate about his writing is that L'Amour didn't have a whole book planned out in his head, just a general sketch, and then he just started writing and saw what came out. It gives the book a less predictable feel even if in the end you know the hero gets the girl and the bad guy is defeated. Its the road that gets you there that matters most, not the end.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:22 AM (39g3+)
131
128
Mel could do it justice,maybe even play a Viking.
Mel could do it justice,maybe even play a Viking.
Posted by: Tuna at May 03, 2015 11:23 AM (JSovD)
132
Vikings and Indians? Wasn't there a movie called Pathfinder?
Aircraft carrier traveling back in time? The Final Countdown about USS Nimitz vs the First Air Fleet. As for the Marine MEU in Rome, yes its getting the movie treatment. Yeah they will be like gods on the battlefield until their fuel and bullets run out.
Aircraft carrier traveling back in time? The Final Countdown about USS Nimitz vs the First Air Fleet. As for the Marine MEU in Rome, yes its getting the movie treatment. Yeah they will be like gods on the battlefield until their fuel and bullets run out.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:24 AM (wPxCh)
133
Watch out for Marcion, Origen, Pelagius and Arius.
Origen wasn't so bad but the other two were seriously heretical. And particularly Arius, modern writers luuurrvve and put into books all the time as being so wonderful. If only Christians had followed him, things would have been so much better! they insist. It even showed up in the recent King Arthur movie with the amazing soundtrack and weak storytelling.
When non-Christians begin to lecture Christians on how they ought to believe, its time to giggle at them.
Origen wasn't so bad but the other two were seriously heretical. And particularly Arius, modern writers luuurrvve and put into books all the time as being so wonderful. If only Christians had followed him, things would have been so much better! they insist. It even showed up in the recent King Arthur movie with the amazing soundtrack and weak storytelling.
When non-Christians begin to lecture Christians on how they ought to believe, its time to giggle at them.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:25 AM (39g3+)
134
recently read that when the Norsemen discovered and explored New Foundland around 1000 AD, there were skirmishes with the Indians. I think the visuals of that would be amazing, and I'm surprised no one has made a movie depicting that. It would be epic.
-
The Norseman starring Lee Majors is kind of like that. Not a very good movie, though.
-
The Norseman starring Lee Majors is kind of like that. Not a very good movie, though.
Posted by: The Great White Snark at May 03, 2015 11:26 AM (LImiJ)
135
Luap Nor, I don't know about the Yoda translator, but there is the Cumbrianator:
http://babelsheep.com/
It gives you such wonderful translations as:
The more A learn abou' Que"en Victoria, the more A am comin' ter realize wha' a remarkable person she wuz. No' only wuz she a grea' queen, bu' she wuz also a skilled artis' (see also 'ere an' also 'ere) an' if tha' weren't enough fur yan person, she wuz also a prolific writer"
http://babelsheep.com/
It gives you such wonderful translations as:
The more A learn abou' Que"en Victoria, the more A am comin' ter realize wha' a remarkable person she wuz. No' only wuz she a grea' queen, bu' she wuz also a skilled artis' (see also 'ere an' also 'ere) an' if tha' weren't enough fur yan person, she wuz also a prolific writer"
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2015 11:27 AM (t//F+)
136
I recently read that when the Norsemen discovered and explored New Foundland around 1000 AD, there were skirmishes with the Indians. I think the visuals of that would be amazing, and I'm surprised no one has made a movie depicting that. It would be epic.
Posted by: JoeF.
Pathfinder 2007. Not epic. Dances with Fenrir:
https://youtu.be/YfYzE4KPQDI
I recently read that when the Norsemen discovered and explored New Foundland around 1000 AD, there were skirmishes with the Indians. I think the visuals of that would be amazing, and I'm surprised no one has made a movie depicting that. It would be epic.
Posted by: JoeF.
Pathfinder 2007. Not epic. Dances with Fenrir:
https://youtu.be/YfYzE4KPQDI
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 11:27 AM (kdS6q)
137
Is Elizabeth Moon's Paladin stuff any good? I loved the Paksenarion trilogy and prequel "Legacy of Gird", but found "Oath of Fealty" drab. I only finished a third of the book. Tell me the series gets better.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 11:27 AM (jR7Wy)
138
From my biased viewpoint, the whole sequel craze from writers who put online 20,000 word stories is simple - they want more money.
Well, that, and readers love sequels. They get to love a character and setting and want more of it. They clamor for more of that character they wanted. And authors are no less inclined to be pleased by that than anyone else.
I don't write series - at least not in the sense people think of - and so I have to disappoint people who want more stories of Erkenbrand or Stoce, or to see how the romantic hints in Old Habits works out in the next book. There isn't a next book.
Well, that, and readers love sequels. They get to love a character and setting and want more of it. They clamor for more of that character they wanted. And authors are no less inclined to be pleased by that than anyone else.
I don't write series - at least not in the sense people think of - and so I have to disappoint people who want more stories of Erkenbrand or Stoce, or to see how the romantic hints in Old Habits works out in the next book. There isn't a next book.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:27 AM (39g3+)
139
How about a Roman legion travelling to the future, our present? And seeing the actual Roman ruins that remain--Bath, England; the Coliseum; scattered segments of Hadrian's war? What would they make of our panty-waist world? And metro-sexuals?
No doubt they would snicker when the got a load of Obama.
No doubt they would snicker when the got a load of Obama.
Posted by: JoeF. at May 03, 2015 11:30 AM (qlAhM)
140
I think Romans would, once they were caught up to speed, find our culture and government all too familiar depending on the time period they came from.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:32 AM (39g3+)
141
My spidey sense tells me that I am going to be spending a lot of time this summer with a step-granddaughter -- 11 yo who has been bounced around the Chicago Public Schools. So I need horde recommendations for books for her to read to me. I insisted on my kids reading to me in the morning while doing kitchen duty and all of them were competent readers. Her only interests as far as I can tell are fashion and Barbie. Anything that I can give her without it seeming like punishment would be appreciated.
Posted by: mustbequantum at May 03, 2015 11:32 AM (MIKMs)
142
The Norseman starring Lee Majors is kind of like that.
Posted by: The Great White Snark
And there's Kings of the Sun (1963). Exile Mayas vs Indians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_the_Sun
With Yul Brenner and Richard "Voyage to the Botton of the Sea" Basehart.
Fun, in a wacky way.
The Norseman starring Lee Majors is kind of like that.
Posted by: The Great White Snark
And there's Kings of the Sun (1963). Exile Mayas vs Indians.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_the_Sun
With Yul Brenner and Richard "Voyage to the Botton of the Sea" Basehart.
Fun, in a wacky way.
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 03, 2015 11:33 AM (kdS6q)
143
I'm reading the latest Queen Victoria biography, that I believe was recommended here. It's very good. Getting the political machinations of Europe which ended up leading to world war one.
The f instead of s seems to appear more when the word has a double s.
The f instead of s seems to appear more when the word has a double s.
Posted by: Auntie Doodles at May 03, 2015 11:33 AM (hSV7k)
144
All Hail Eris, it gets seriously complicated after Oath. The elves are revealed to be quite capable of ignoring stuff that does not fit their world view and thus causing plenty of grief. Plus more hints of the reasons behind the sundering of Sinyin and Iyinsin, trust me it makes the elves seem even more childish.
I would never ask Elizabeth, but I get the impression she is using the elves as stand ins for the Social Justice Wankers who got the vapors at WisCon because she pointed out how Islam mistreats women.
But the ending in Crown of Renewal leaves plenty of room for improvement. I was going 'that's it? Where are the storms and crashing waves?'
I would never ask Elizabeth, but I get the impression she is using the elves as stand ins for the Social Justice Wankers who got the vapors at WisCon because she pointed out how Islam mistreats women.
But the ending in Crown of Renewal leaves plenty of room for improvement. I was going 'that's it? Where are the storms and crashing waves?'
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:33 AM (wPxCh)
145
@138 "Well, that, and readers love sequels. They get to love a character and setting and want more of it. They clamor for more of that character they wanted. And authors are no less inclined to be pleased by that than anyone else."
Hmm, Turtledove pretty much cured me of that. (Not to mention W. E. B. Griffin and son.)
I avoid SciFi because of the threat of sequels and the SJWs.
Of course, I'm looking forward to Cussler's next Isaac Bell book. (Who said I have to be consistent?)
Hmm, Turtledove pretty much cured me of that. (Not to mention W. E. B. Griffin and son.)
I avoid SciFi because of the threat of sequels and the SJWs.
Of course, I'm looking forward to Cussler's next Isaac Bell book. (Who said I have to be consistent?)
Posted by: doug at May 03, 2015 11:34 AM (qYWZ5)
146
The snarky "google is your friend" comment immediately arose through my bile.
What the bloody deuce is a "sriend"?
What the bloody deuce is a "sriend"?
Posted by: Weirddave at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (WvS3w)
147
Polly - The origins of the classical Arabic language used to be a puzzle, but it's been solved VERY recently.
So. Um. Book thread! Here's one - Ahmad al-Jallad, "An Outline of the Grammar of the Safaitic Inscriptions".
Safaitic is one of several Semitic languages which have been scrawled on rockfaces all over Arabia. Others include Sabaean, Lihyanite and a grab-bag of stuff under the label "Thamudic". A batch of those latter has been identified as a coherent whole, and these are labeled "Hismaic".
Al-Jallad has identified a number of isoglosses, that is consistent changes from old Semitic, that identify Safaitic (and Hismaic) is forms of Arabic. Not just Arabic-like (a lot of Thamudic isn't Arabic) but actually look like what a middle stage from Semitic to Arabic should look like.
So, yes, Arabs were very literate. It wasn't classical Arabic which they spoke, but then I don't think anyone ever actually spoke classical Arabic (any more than the average Joe spoke King James English). But they needed to read and write and - most of all - do math, if they were going to be trading across the desert. And, honestly, what else is there to *do* in the desert?
Back to the original question: I don't know Lee's quote, but there *was* a tradition of Bedouin proverb and witty poetry before Islam; al-Jallad sees a lot of, er, "expressions of love and lust" at least in Hismaic. Outside the inscriptions lot of secular Arab poetry survived Islam to enter the poetic collections; presumably many of these had survived Christianity before that.
So. Um. Book thread! Here's one - Ahmad al-Jallad, "An Outline of the Grammar of the Safaitic Inscriptions".
Safaitic is one of several Semitic languages which have been scrawled on rockfaces all over Arabia. Others include Sabaean, Lihyanite and a grab-bag of stuff under the label "Thamudic". A batch of those latter has been identified as a coherent whole, and these are labeled "Hismaic".
Al-Jallad has identified a number of isoglosses, that is consistent changes from old Semitic, that identify Safaitic (and Hismaic) is forms of Arabic. Not just Arabic-like (a lot of Thamudic isn't Arabic) but actually look like what a middle stage from Semitic to Arabic should look like.
So, yes, Arabs were very literate. It wasn't classical Arabic which they spoke, but then I don't think anyone ever actually spoke classical Arabic (any more than the average Joe spoke King James English). But they needed to read and write and - most of all - do math, if they were going to be trading across the desert. And, honestly, what else is there to *do* in the desert?
Back to the original question: I don't know Lee's quote, but there *was* a tradition of Bedouin proverb and witty poetry before Islam; al-Jallad sees a lot of, er, "expressions of love and lust" at least in Hismaic. Outside the inscriptions lot of secular Arab poetry survived Islam to enter the poetic collections; presumably many of these had survived Christianity before that.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (AVEe1)
148
The Romans were actually very inclusive when you think about it. Very diverse. They would conquer Gaulish or German tribes and turn some of them into Roman soldiers. They were familiar with Jews, Arabs, Persians, Huns--pretty much everyone in the world. Even sub-Saharan Africans were not unknown to them.
I think they might even feel at home in Brooklyn....
I think they might even feel at home in Brooklyn....
Posted by: JoeF. at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (qlAhM)
149
I think I saw Eye Vomit open for Content Yard in Posnan, 1987.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:21 AM (VhO+g)
*********
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" was translated into Russian, and back to English during the early days of AI.
It came back as "the vodka is strong but the meat is rotten". Sounds like things haven't really improved much. But they can supposedly detect snarkiness now.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:21 AM (VhO+g)
*********
"The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" was translated into Russian, and back to English during the early days of AI.
It came back as "the vodka is strong but the meat is rotten". Sounds like things haven't really improved much. But they can supposedly detect snarkiness now.
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (cIoI4)
150
Hey, Long Running Fool. Curious what your thoughts are on Daniels' Running Formula book. Bought it two weeks ago.
Posted by: NCKate at May 03, 2015 11:36 AM (yle2t)
151
Its depressing and surprising to read how often rumors and ominous expectations of war came up in Sherlock Holmes stories. Arthur Conan Doyle knew the world politics and grudges well and it keeps coming up that Holmes prevents war, or at least something that would be used as a causus belli.
As for Viking movies dealing with natives, there's a film called Valhalla Rising which is incredibly misleading in its title and various blurbs. You expect Viking war and badassness, and instead get an incredibly low budget film of surreal LSD-like imagery and brutal combat with everyone constantly caked in filth and barely human dealing with superpowered Indians who always win. It wasn't just annoying, it was just so bizarre and confusing it was terrible. The filming and cinematography etc was very well done but they spent zero dollars on sets, costuming, or location. Its all outdoors, with a few very rickety huts made of sticks and furs from roadkill they discovered.
As for Viking movies dealing with natives, there's a film called Valhalla Rising which is incredibly misleading in its title and various blurbs. You expect Viking war and badassness, and instead get an incredibly low budget film of surreal LSD-like imagery and brutal combat with everyone constantly caked in filth and barely human dealing with superpowered Indians who always win. It wasn't just annoying, it was just so bizarre and confusing it was terrible. The filming and cinematography etc was very well done but they spent zero dollars on sets, costuming, or location. Its all outdoors, with a few very rickety huts made of sticks and furs from roadkill they discovered.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:38 AM (39g3+)
152
I should probably read this again from Elizabeth Moon about getting rejection notices as I puzzle over how to make this thousand word story more grabbing.
http://www.paksworld.com/blog/?p=2380#more-2380
http://www.paksworld.com/blog/?p=2380#more-2380
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:41 AM (wPxCh)
153
Back to the original question: I don't know Lee's
quote, but there *was* a tradition of Bedouin proverb and witty poetry
before Islam; al-Jallad sees a lot of, er, "expressions of love and
lust" at least in Hismaic. Outside the inscriptions lot of secular Arab
poetry survived Islam to enter the poetic collections; presumably many
of these had survived Christianity before that.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (AVEe1)
Over my head.. That's one smart Moron!
quote, but there *was* a tradition of Bedouin proverb and witty poetry
before Islam; al-Jallad sees a lot of, er, "expressions of love and
lust" at least in Hismaic. Outside the inscriptions lot of secular Arab
poetry survived Islam to enter the poetic collections; presumably many
of these had survived Christianity before that.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (AVEe1)
Over my head.. That's one smart Moron!
Posted by: Nip Sip at May 03, 2015 11:42 AM (0FSuD)
Posted by: Fox2! at May 03, 2015 11:43 AM (brIR5)
155
By the way, the Psalm translation and info on the book is great stuff I swiped and posted on my facebook page so I seem all literate and historicalized.
I swiped and posted on my facebook page so I seem all literate and historicalized.Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:44 AM (39g3+)
156
So that unbelievably dumb line was in the post twice, but I don't think it was meant to be.
Anyway, started reading some classics I never got around to, so The Count of Monte Cristo actually should be called a classic. I enjoyed that immensely.
Finally, my wife's Scottish friends daughter started a kickstarter for her books which she does all the writing, drawing and even makes the plush doll toys. Pretty talented. Looks like stories for pre-teens, but if you want to support a new author with a couple of bucks and get an e-book for your kids, here ya go:
http://tinyurl.com/ntnskpq
So that unbelievably dumb line was in the post twice, but I don't think it was meant to be.
Anyway, started reading some classics I never got around to, so The Count of Monte Cristo actually should be called a classic. I enjoyed that immensely.
Finally, my wife's Scottish friends daughter started a kickstarter for her books which she does all the writing, drawing and even makes the plush doll toys. Pretty talented. Looks like stories for pre-teens, but if you want to support a new author with a couple of bucks and get an e-book for your kids, here ya go:
http://tinyurl.com/ntnskpq
Posted by: Guy Mohawk at May 03, 2015 11:44 AM (ODxAs)
157
Ye gods, avert your eyes from "Valhalla Rising". It's like a bad Berserker acid trip, which sounds very metal and cool, but isn't.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 11:45 AM (jR7Wy)
158
I'm going to gently, respectfully dissent on the quality of that translation of the Psalms, which sounds like the work of people who know the language as a technical matter but don't have a feel for it. It might just be that I am accustomed to the King James translation but the Bay Psalm translation just sounds like people who tried to make it work but eventually threw up their hands and just tried to make it consistent.
Posted by: joncelli at May 03, 2015 11:47 AM (ENczY)
159
Werner Kuesternmacher (tr. Peter Constantine), "The Moon: A Guide for First-Time Visitors".
This is, no kidding, the Frommer's guide to traveling on the frickin' MOON. Yes, it's a joke, but the author plays it straight: how to get there, what to see (craters mostly), various plans for building bases and hotels there - that sort of thing.
It was published in 1999, but not much has changed in our knowledge of the Moon since then. As the book notes, the US's cash ran out in the early 1970s - at least, as far as going to the Moon was concerned. For instance in 1999 the consensus on the Moon's formation was already agreed on the "big splat".
The book is good for outlining various aspects of the Apollo missions. It also points out that the Moon is very very DARK; it looks bright in the sky because it's being irradiated directly by the Sun.
I got it used for $2.25, pretty good deal.
This is, no kidding, the Frommer's guide to traveling on the frickin' MOON. Yes, it's a joke, but the author plays it straight: how to get there, what to see (craters mostly), various plans for building bases and hotels there - that sort of thing.
It was published in 1999, but not much has changed in our knowledge of the Moon since then. As the book notes, the US's cash ran out in the early 1970s - at least, as far as going to the Moon was concerned. For instance in 1999 the consensus on the Moon's formation was already agreed on the "big splat".
The book is good for outlining various aspects of the Apollo missions. It also points out that the Moon is very very DARK; it looks bright in the sky because it's being irradiated directly by the Sun.
I got it used for $2.25, pretty good deal.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:48 AM (AVEe1)
160
And it looks like Elizabeth Moon is going to lighten my wallet again with Deeds of Honor.
http://tinyurl.com/ngsmd8x
http://tinyurl.com/ngsmd8x
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:48 AM (wPxCh)
161
Wow, Episcopalian, seriously? I thought Pelagius' schtick only appealed to gonzo Protestant evangelical types like Charles Finney and his followers.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:14 AM (VhO+g)
*********
The original link seems to be gone, but standfirm (conservative Anglican site) grabbed the text of the resolution (was back in 2011). And yep, Finney was Pelagian to the core, even rejected substitutionary atonement.
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/27952
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:14 AM (VhO+g)
*********
The original link seems to be gone, but standfirm (conservative Anglican site) grabbed the text of the resolution (was back in 2011). And yep, Finney was Pelagian to the core, even rejected substitutionary atonement.
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/27952
Posted by: Teenage Montanist Ninja Tertullian at May 03, 2015 11:49 AM (3F6F8)
162
I can only conclude that tutu wearing is permitted today. Even for those who like to identify as "men".
Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 03, 2015 11:49 AM (IN7k+)
163
Wrinkle in Time series and Little House series are great reads for 11 year old girls.
Posted by: NCKate at May 03, 2015 11:52 AM (yle2t)
164
Some great prospects for summer reading, above -- thanks, all.
Read Mark Vonnegut's, "The Eden Express," this week. It's mainly about his descent into madness, as he had a schizoid-break in '71, but the beginning of the book details his hippie-quest to find and live a completely alternative, communal lifestyle, away from the "Horror Of America." There is so much leftist-dogma and drivel included in this part of the book, it's a vivid glimpse into the delusional mind of the space-kids of the '60's. I got some good chuckles. The real insanity comes in pretty quick, and that part was also very interesting -- I have a niece who's struggling with schizophrenia.
I was born in '59, so I missed out on "the good part" of the hippie movement. My older brother was drafted but escaped Vietnam, serving stateside his entire stint.
Read Mark Vonnegut's, "The Eden Express," this week. It's mainly about his descent into madness, as he had a schizoid-break in '71, but the beginning of the book details his hippie-quest to find and live a completely alternative, communal lifestyle, away from the "Horror Of America." There is so much leftist-dogma and drivel included in this part of the book, it's a vivid glimpse into the delusional mind of the space-kids of the '60's. I got some good chuckles. The real insanity comes in pretty quick, and that part was also very interesting -- I have a niece who's struggling with schizophrenia.
I was born in '59, so I missed out on "the good part" of the hippie movement. My older brother was drafted but escaped Vietnam, serving stateside his entire stint.
Posted by: Octopus at May 03, 2015 11:52 AM (gnD2y)
165
And it looks like Elizabeth Moon is going to lighten my again with Deeds of Honor.
A cross-over into David Weber's Honorverse?
A cross-over into David Weber's Honorverse?
Posted by: Worf, Lt, Star Fleet at May 03, 2015 11:54 AM (brIR5)
166
Don't worry, it's over. I was just making fun of clickbait headlines, which I absolutely hate.
I thought it was an hilarious affectation. Made me smile.
Don't worry, it's over. I was just making fun of clickbait headlines, which I absolutely hate.
I thought it was an hilarious affectation. Made me smile.
Posted by: Weirddave at May 03, 2015 11:54 AM (WvS3w)
167
It also points out that the Moon is very very DARK; it looks bright in the sky because it's being irradiated directly by the Sun.
"There's no dark side of the moon, in fact its all dark."
-old guy on Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Finney was Pelagian to the core, even rejected substitutionary atonement.
Most modern "Arminians" are actually more or fully Pelagian. Jacobus Arminius was very close to Calvinism, with some slight differences that loomed large in theological significance.
"There's no dark side of the moon, in fact its all dark."
-old guy on Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
Finney was Pelagian to the core, even rejected substitutionary atonement.
Most modern "Arminians" are actually more or fully Pelagian. Jacobus Arminius was very close to Calvinism, with some slight differences that loomed large in theological significance.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:54 AM (39g3+)
168
I can only conclude that tutu wearing is permitted today. Even for those who like to identify as "men".
As I was putting together the book thread this week, somehow the standard greeting got lost in the shuffle, and I never noticed. It'll be back next week, though, so put your tutus away.
As I was putting together the book thread this week, somehow the standard greeting got lost in the shuffle, and I never noticed. It'll be back next week, though, so put your tutus away.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:55 AM (VhO+g)
169
*jabs Worf with a pain stick*
Nope, short stories set in the world of Paksenarrion. Besides I really really don't want to think what the saving throws for a paladin would be against a laser head.
Nope, short stories set in the world of Paksenarrion. Besides I really really don't want to think what the saving throws for a paladin would be against a laser head.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:55 AM (wPxCh)
170
Finished Monster Hunter Alpha. An entertaining read like the others in the series. Surprised Correia switched main characters in book three. Still slogging through a Comptia A+ study guide.
Posted by: Achilles at May 03, 2015 11:55 AM (TpeIH)
171
My next book Life Unworthy should be out for Summer 2015; its a supernatural historic thriller set in WW2 Poland. Werewolves and Nazis and Pianists, oh my!
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 11:55 AM (39g3+)
172
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/?/sf/page/27952
Holy crap, that's just too bizarre. I read it and kept thinking it was an April Fool's joke.
Holy crap, that's just too bizarre. I read it and kept thinking it was an April Fool's joke.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 11:58 AM (VhO+g)
173
Christopher, are you self publishing?
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:58 AM (wPxCh)
174
don't want to think what the saving throws for a paladin would be against a laser head.
I think it involves multiple D20.
I think it involves multiple D20.
Posted by: Worf, Lt, Star Fleet at May 03, 2015 11:59 AM (brIR5)
175
Where to loot during a day of prayer?
Posted by: RWC - Team BOHICA at May 03, 2015 11:59 AM (XAFOu)
176
Chris, shoot me an e-mail when Life Unworthy comes out and I'll pimp it here on the book thread.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 12:00 PM (VhO+g)
177
147 Polly - The origins of the classical Arabic language used to be a puzzle, but it's been solved VERY recently.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:48 AM (AVEe1)
*********
hi, question: I've heard in the past from source I believe are trustworthy (such as apologist James White), that much of the Koran is incomprehensible, even to Islamists, because the language used is so ancient and arcane, and therefore the hadith is main source of doctrine.
Is that basically correct, and if so, have these recent discoveries about arabic origins changed our knowledge of the contents of the Koran?
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:48 AM (AVEe1)
*********
hi, question: I've heard in the past from source I believe are trustworthy (such as apologist James White), that much of the Koran is incomprehensible, even to Islamists, because the language used is so ancient and arcane, and therefore the hadith is main source of doctrine.
Is that basically correct, and if so, have these recent discoveries about arabic origins changed our knowledge of the contents of the Koran?
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 12:01 PM (XrHO0)
178
Yeah, this will be my 3rd self-pubbed book. I think its likely to be a better seller due to its broader appeal and sexy premise. It was a lot of work to write because while in fantasy I can pretty much make up details I want (and save the for use in my games later), historical stuff I had to research. I think I spent a good two hours researching for every hour writing. Wish I could have flown to Poland and talk to people there. I tried reaching out to some profs and historians but I got no response.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 12:01 PM (39g3+)
179
Either that, or Webster was just imposing his cisnormative patriarchal privilege on the English language to oppress brown people.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (VhO+g)
I say Alternative Number Two.
Because it just makes sense. Plus, it's what I'd do.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 10:04 AM (VhO+g)
I say Alternative Number Two.
Because it just makes sense. Plus, it's what I'd do.
Posted by: jwpaine at May 03, 2015 12:03 PM (0bXhD)
180
15 The Pax Britannica trilogy by James Morris (now Jan Morris - yeah) is one of the best popular histories I've ever read.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 09:26 AM (jR7Wy)
Yes, that's really a great history. Morris, whether James or Jan, is an excellent writer.
And "Modern Times" played in a big part in my gradual transformation from liberal to conservative. It was the first time I had ever read - or even heard- the conservative take on the 20th century. I had never read an account before which treated FDR and Gandhi as anything less than saviors.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at May 03, 2015 09:26 AM (jR7Wy)
Yes, that's really a great history. Morris, whether James or Jan, is an excellent writer.
And "Modern Times" played in a big part in my gradual transformation from liberal to conservative. It was the first time I had ever read - or even heard- the conservative take on the 20th century. I had never read an account before which treated FDR and Gandhi as anything less than saviors.
Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (+XMAD)
181
And my book of short stories and the incomplete Sluggor story is still available for purchase.
http://astore.amazon.com/aoshq-20/detail/B00K9GTQP0
http://astore.amazon.com/aoshq-20/detail/B00K9GTQP0
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (wPxCh)
182
Is that basically correct, and if so, have these recent discoveries about arabic origins changed our knowledge of the contents of the Koran?
It would be interesting to get one of those really super old copies of the Koran and apply this information to it. I suspect a lot would be different.
It would be interesting to get one of those really super old copies of the Koran and apply this information to it. I suspect a lot would be different.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (39g3+)
183
Also halfway through Jerry Pournelle, "There Will Be War volume IV".
These collections are of essays and short-stories, mainly military, to do with future warfare. I found out about them because Calastia House is currently reissuing the lot, and is also putting out Pournelle's new volume in the series.
This fourth one is called "Day Of The Tyrant". Pournelle promises to discuss tyranny and strongmen: how they rise to power, what life is like under them, and how to resist them.
Unfortunately, in those days Pournelle was dealing with the Cold War; which offered the perfect tyranny in the form of the Soviet Union. So the tyranny being explored here most often is the tyranny of a foreign invader. Since we are now living under Obama's homegrown tyranny-in-the-making, I'd really like to see how we can stop or resist THAT. There's nothing on political-correctness either (if the book had come out even a decade later, I think there would have been).
Also, the publisher stuck a "THE SAGA CONTINUES" byline under the title. This is ... facepalmingly stupid. A collection of work under a theme is not the same as a saga (duh!). Not Pournelle's fault, though.
The stories and essays are good, for all that. I mentioned how Pournelle puts a beating on a "nuclear disarmament" commie Brit last night, here:
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?blog=86&post=356502#c23587755
Also laughed out loud at the (very) short story "Emergency Rations" although it had little to do with tyranny as such.
The best story so far is Gordon "Dorsai" Dickson's "The Cloak and the Staff", on the theme of resistance to an arrogant alien overlord.
These collections are of essays and short-stories, mainly military, to do with future warfare. I found out about them because Calastia House is currently reissuing the lot, and is also putting out Pournelle's new volume in the series.
This fourth one is called "Day Of The Tyrant". Pournelle promises to discuss tyranny and strongmen: how they rise to power, what life is like under them, and how to resist them.
Unfortunately, in those days Pournelle was dealing with the Cold War; which offered the perfect tyranny in the form of the Soviet Union. So the tyranny being explored here most often is the tyranny of a foreign invader. Since we are now living under Obama's homegrown tyranny-in-the-making, I'd really like to see how we can stop or resist THAT. There's nothing on political-correctness either (if the book had come out even a decade later, I think there would have been).
Also, the publisher stuck a "THE SAGA CONTINUES" byline under the title. This is ... facepalmingly stupid. A collection of work under a theme is not the same as a saga (duh!). Not Pournelle's fault, though.
The stories and essays are good, for all that. I mentioned how Pournelle puts a beating on a "nuclear disarmament" commie Brit last night, here:
http://acecomments.mu.nu/?blog=86&post=356502#c23587755
Also laughed out loud at the (very) short story "Emergency Rations" although it had little to do with tyranny as such.
The best story so far is Gordon "Dorsai" Dickson's "The Cloak and the Staff", on the theme of resistance to an arrogant alien overlord.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (AVEe1)
184
If I had to recommend a book for an 11 year old girl that liked Barbies, I would try Dotty Smith's original The One Hundred and One Dalmatians, not anything Disney, and not the sequel which I am told is.....weird. Heroic dogs, missing puppies...she might just eat it up. I know that I love that book from when I was about that age, I read it maybe 101 times. Even today, approaching 50, I still pick it up every few years and reread it.
Posted by: Weirddave at May 03, 2015 12:07 PM (WvS3w)
185
A Kosher WWII
An Israeli nuclear sub gets transported back in time during the war with Iran and they end up at the start of WWII, it's an Ohio class sub that is part of the deal to keep Isreal from nuking Iran but they pull the trigger first.
That's all I got so far.
Would missiles even work in the 40's with out GPS? Satellites
An Israeli nuclear sub gets transported back in time during the war with Iran and they end up at the start of WWII, it's an Ohio class sub that is part of the deal to keep Isreal from nuking Iran but they pull the trigger first.
That's all I got so far.
Would missiles even work in the 40's with out GPS? Satellites
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 12:08 PM (CxEX+)
186
I wouldn't even know where to begin picking books for little girls, but I suspect a good rule of thumb is to offer nothing written after 1970.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 12:09 PM (39g3+)
187
Sunni LeBeouf - It is true that many of the shorter suras of the Koran / Qur'an are incomprehensible. Ibn Warraq's collections, most recently "Christmas in the Koran", collects several essays exploring how these suras *could* make sense, if they had been re-edited.
(Mind you, even intelligent speculation is still speculation.)
If al-Jallad is right, then Arabic origins have pretty much been sorted out in the last few months, so it's too early to say what they imply for the Qur'an.
Scholars like Arthur Jeffery have done great work despite not having access to the history of Arabic, simply by looking for words that aren't Arabic in the first place. For instance, Semitic words in Arabic that don't have those Arabic "isoglosses" will be loanwords. Some are from Ethiopic; most are from Syriac (neoAramaic). A lot of obscure Arabic vocabulary becomes less obscure if they're looked up in a Syriac dictionary instead.
(Mind you, even intelligent speculation is still speculation.)
If al-Jallad is right, then Arabic origins have pretty much been sorted out in the last few months, so it's too early to say what they imply for the Qur'an.
Scholars like Arthur Jeffery have done great work despite not having access to the history of Arabic, simply by looking for words that aren't Arabic in the first place. For instance, Semitic words in Arabic that don't have those Arabic "isoglosses" will be loanwords. Some are from Ethiopic; most are from Syriac (neoAramaic). A lot of obscure Arabic vocabulary becomes less obscure if they're looked up in a Syriac dictionary instead.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 12:16 PM (AVEe1)
188
It would be interesting to get one of those really super old copies of the Koran and apply this information to it. I suspect a lot would be different.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (39g3+)
*********
One of the early caliphs, Uthman, rounded up and burned all "heretical" versions of the Koran, so yeah, that would be interesting.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (39g3+)
*********
One of the early caliphs, Uthman, rounded up and burned all "heretical" versions of the Koran, so yeah, that would be interesting.
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 12:17 PM (cIoI4)
189
@187 BTH thank you. It will be interesting to see if Islamists will be forced to do a major rethinking of their theology, and the implications of that for the ME (and Europe). Fascinating stuff.
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 12:22 PM (cIoI4)
190
If any budding or blocked writers are looking for ideas, it occurs to me that The Great American Brony Novel has yet to be written. You're welcome.
Posted by: Octopus at May 03, 2015 12:24 PM (gnD2y)
191
NCKate -- thank you, I had totally forgotten those. When I go to stock up I'll try to see if she will try.
Posted by: mustbequantum at May 03, 2015 12:24 PM (MIKMs)
192
Maybe Nancy Drew for the 11 year old girl into fashion? I went binging and the most modern Drew version is a younger read, possibly too young for 11 but maybe easy read is ok? I believe I remember the books always had a few fashion details as well as the mysteries, possibly the period fashion info would appeal as the books get older and higher reading level if she enjoys the mystery concept.
Posted by: PaleRider at May 03, 2015 12:26 PM (7w/kf)
193
Like, what if the Koran really said, "Do NOT kill all the Jews and Christians you can reach with your scimitar." Things might be a lot different over there.
Posted by: Octopus at May 03, 2015 12:26 PM (gnD2y)
194
Also laughed out loud at the (very) short story "Emergency Rations" although it had little to do with tyranny as such.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (AVEe1)
Emergency Rations was written by Theodore Cogswell, who mostly was an Analog author. His other really fascinating novella was The Spectre General. He had two short story collections, The Wall Around the World, and The Third Eye, and some other short stories I have never found outside of listings.
Cogswell was another of those authors who wrote in the 50's and 60's what would be considered to be "classic liberal" fiction, and it is amazing how relevant it can be to today. (Cogswell, I had forgotten until I just looked it up, had been an ambulance driver with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War)
One of these days I want to do an anthology of Christopher Anvil, Randall Garrett, Cogswell and Murry Leinster. Probably try to throw in H. Beam Piper too.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 12:05 PM (AVEe1)
Emergency Rations was written by Theodore Cogswell, who mostly was an Analog author. His other really fascinating novella was The Spectre General. He had two short story collections, The Wall Around the World, and The Third Eye, and some other short stories I have never found outside of listings.
Cogswell was another of those authors who wrote in the 50's and 60's what would be considered to be "classic liberal" fiction, and it is amazing how relevant it can be to today. (Cogswell, I had forgotten until I just looked it up, had been an ambulance driver with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War)
One of these days I want to do an anthology of Christopher Anvil, Randall Garrett, Cogswell and Murry Leinster. Probably try to throw in H. Beam Piper too.
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2015 12:31 PM (t//F+)
195
Like, what if the Koran really said, "Do NOT kill
all the Jews and Christians you can reach with your scimitar." Things
might be a lot different over there.
Posted by: Octopus at May 03, 2015 12:26 PM (gnD2y)
I wonder if at this point they would just grow longer arms.
all the Jews and Christians you can reach with your scimitar." Things
might be a lot different over there.
Posted by: Octopus at May 03, 2015 12:26 PM (gnD2y)
I wonder if at this point they would just grow longer arms.
Posted by: Kindltot at May 03, 2015 12:32 PM (t//F+)
196
"Here's an hilariously bad article about Obama's favorite childhood books."
Gotta object to using "an" before the word "hilariously"
Do you wish someone "an happy birthday"? No. Then why say "an hilariously"? It's wrong.
You put "an" before an h-word IF the h is silent, like "honor". It is "an honor", not "a honor" because "a honor" has two vowel sounds in a row.
"An hilarious" has a hard breathy H sound, so "a hilariously" is correct - unless you pronounce it "an 'ilariously" ... in which case, don't do that either.
Gotta object to using "an" before the word "hilariously"
Do you wish someone "an happy birthday"? No. Then why say "an hilariously"? It's wrong.
You put "an" before an h-word IF the h is silent, like "honor". It is "an honor", not "a honor" because "a honor" has two vowel sounds in a row.
"An hilarious" has a hard breathy H sound, so "a hilariously" is correct - unless you pronounce it "an 'ilariously" ... in which case, don't do that either.
Posted by: objection at May 03, 2015 12:35 PM (fG412)
197
"She was an hero" became an internet meme. Don't become a meme.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo just saw 'unfriended' yesterday at May 03, 2015 12:39 PM (AVEe1)
198
Late to the party, as usual. I am reading "With Christ in the School of Prayer "by Andrew Murray who was 19th century Dutch Reformed minister. It is one of those classics of the Christian life which has had a big impact on people in their life of discipleship and prayer.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 12:43 PM (DXzRD)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 12:47 PM (DXzRD)
200
"The Wolves of Willoughby Chase"
http://tinyurl.com/ljxx3cn
which isn't about fashion and Barbie, but is about a a bunch of English kids about 11, a wicked governess and a mystery.
http://tinyurl.com/ljxx3cn
which isn't about fashion and Barbie, but is about a a bunch of English kids about 11, a wicked governess and a mystery.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 12:54 PM (DXzRD)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 12:55 PM (DXzRD)
202
And that school picture looks great!
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 12:59 PM (DXzRD)
203
Objection Man, thoo pu' an 'aitch before any vowel, or unvoiced consonan' precedin' a vowel. I' is a way ov no' elidin' the two vowel sounds together, much in the way the British pu' in tha' spurious "r". Jus' we 'ave rules, they jus' toss them in by feel.
Posted by: Kindltot - Now Cunbrianated for greater humor! at May 03, 2015 01:14 PM (t//F+)
204
Elaine Pagels----Uggggh.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 01:23 PM (DXzRD)
205
FenelonSpoke: are you aware of the recent work on the Gospel of Thomas? review article here -
http://tinyurl.com/lqhyg7m
Spoiler: Thomas is a redacted "jefferson bible" of Jesus's sayings, mostly from the canonical Gospels. Given that, it's very difficult to take seriously the *non* canonical material in it.
"Uggggh" is about right.
http://tinyurl.com/lqhyg7m
Spoiler: Thomas is a redacted "jefferson bible" of Jesus's sayings, mostly from the canonical Gospels. Given that, it's very difficult to take seriously the *non* canonical material in it.
"Uggggh" is about right.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 01:30 PM (AVEe1)
206
I believe that "f" is used for "s" in the middles of words, while "s" is "s" for ends.
And, sorry, this is a hit-n-run, so I don't know if someone already got it.
And, sorry, this is a hit-n-run, so I don't know if someone already got it.
Posted by: cthulhu at May 03, 2015 01:33 PM (T1005)
207
After reading "Southern Fried Sci-Fi", a collection of short stories by Dan Thompson, Scott Hancock and the North Alabama Science Fiction and Cake Appreciation Society (nerds, go figure), I started going through the authors that I liked and reading their other works. This week's bedtime reading was Michael Guillebeau and his murder mystery "A Study in Detail". Pretty good so far.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at May 03, 2015 01:35 PM (A8ZgE)
208
I haven't read that Bolder Terlit Hobo Thanks. I will look at it. Elaine Pagels-every single book is a knock on some aspect of Orthodox Christianity-which just gets kind of boring after a while. I feel the same way about her as I do about John Shelby Spong-why don't they just call themselves "Unitarian Universalists" and get it over with? I mean it's fine to be a UU but don't claim to be a Christian if you think there's basically nothing unique about Christianity or that Jesus' resurrection was just a "Feeling" of the apostles , that Paul was s self loathing gay (Evidence?!!), that Jesus-was a great humanist. and think almost everything in the Bible (except what can be fit in a progressive political /social paradigm) should be thrown out. So the NT was oppressive of women, Elaine but the Gospel of Thomas makes the cut.? That's obviously very limited and dismissive but I think I've read most of her books (and that of Spong) and I just say "Meh" I was standing behind her in a coffee shop in Princeton once. I thought to myself, "Is this to time to critique major points of whatever book I had just read?" but then I decided-no just let her get her coffee and scone and go back to the bubble a Princeton U where they lap us this stuff,
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 01:51 PM (DXzRD)
209
Just finished listening to "Hitman," an account of John Martarano's criminal career. The book covers organized crime in the Boston area from the "Irish gang wars" of '60s through the early 2000s, ending with Whitey Bulger still at large. Brrr. Chicago has a well-deserved reputation for corruption, but Boston is right up there. The cops and FBI office were bent as hell.
The author, Howie Carr, also takes a lot of shots at BulgeBulger's brother William and The Boston Globe. A good read, but you'll go nuts trying to keep track of all the killings.
The author, Howie Carr, also takes a lot of shots at BulgeBulger's brother William and The Boston Globe. A good read, but you'll go nuts trying to keep track of all the killings.
Posted by: Weak Geek at May 03, 2015 01:57 PM (K7u45)
210
Thanks for the suggestions. I have forgotten most of these, so I hope that something will strike her so I am not some kind of punishment type. Forgot about Wolves and Little house, so maybe something will resonate with the poor kid.
So far, we have a great relationship and she does not want to mess that up. Let's see how far both of us can push as far as 'stealth' education.
So far, we have a great relationship and she does not want to mess that up. Let's see how far both of us can push as far as 'stealth' education.
Posted by: mustbequantum at May 03, 2015 01:59 PM (MIKMs)
211
mustbequantum, I second NCKate on the Little House books and would also add anything by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson, Kane Chronicles), Harry Potter, and the Sisters Grimm series. My daughter also liked the Goddess Girls books, but they seemed like cashing in on the Percy Jackson series to me.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at May 03, 2015 02:02 PM (A8ZgE)
212
For girls of boys I also like the novels of Susan Copper with it's themes of goods. evil and connection to Arthurian legends
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 02:06 PM (DXzRD)
213
Sorry; Girls and boys.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 02:06 PM (DXzRD)
214
And I really appreciate how an orthodox scholar such as Dr, Ben Witherington can take apart people like Pagels and Dan Brown and do it in a "nice" way. He has other articles about her specific works, but bI'm not finding any right now:
http://tinyurl.com/m5paouq
http://tinyurl.com/m5paouq
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 02:15 PM (DXzRD)
215
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 01:51 PM (DXzRD)
******
Yes, the gospel of Thomas ends with the implication that women need to become male, in order to attain enlightenment. And yet liberal feminist Christians like Pagels still push this stuff.
Liberal Christians like some parts of the bible as conforming to their literary tastes, cultural upbringing and political beliefs. But that's not really Christianity is it? It makes some pretty strong claims about what is true, and if you don't believe them, you've no business calling yourself a Christian (Gal 1).
******
Yes, the gospel of Thomas ends with the implication that women need to become male, in order to attain enlightenment. And yet liberal feminist Christians like Pagels still push this stuff.
Liberal Christians like some parts of the bible as conforming to their literary tastes, cultural upbringing and political beliefs. But that's not really Christianity is it? It makes some pretty strong claims about what is true, and if you don't believe them, you've no business calling yourself a Christian (Gal 1).
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 02:28 PM (XrHO0)
216
American Assassin by Vince Flynn
Read a few of FLynn's books over the years, but decided to start at the beginning and re-read. Quick read and nice setup for the rest..
Read a few of FLynn's books over the years, but decided to start at the beginning and re-read. Quick read and nice setup for the rest..
Posted by: Charlotte at May 03, 2015 02:29 PM (VRwlD)
217
Read a few of FLynn's books over the years, but decided to start at the beginning and re-read. Quick read and nice setup for the rest..
Posted by: Charlotte at May 03, 2015 02:29 PM (VRwlD)
*********
Excellent. Or Term Limits. It spells out in clear detail why our elected officials always betray us. And it was published in 1998. Things haven't gotten any better.
Posted by: Charlotte at May 03, 2015 02:29 PM (VRwlD)
*********
Excellent. Or Term Limits. It spells out in clear detail why our elected officials always betray us. And it was published in 1998. Things haven't gotten any better.
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 02:33 PM (XrHO0)
218
Although I used to not always like Mitch Rapp all the time, lately I'm starting to think, maybe he's right after all, in how he treats our elected officials.
Flynn is prophetic.
Flynn is prophetic.
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 02:37 PM (XrHO0)
219
I would just like to go OT and talk about something I just encountered while working with a bunch of Confirmation students this morning. Two of them are in the 9th grade. I brought up something related to the French revolution (and how revolution didn't spread to Britain at that time- part because of the evangelical Christian movement of John Wesley. They looked at me blankly. and I said, "Do you know about the French revolution?" They hadn't. Now I knew about the French Revolution in the 9th grade and probably before, Even my son had a section on it in his 9th grade World Studies Class. What are they teaching these kids?!
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 02:45 PM (DXzRD)
220
I was soo sorry to hear about Vince Flynn and his passing.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at May 03, 2015 02:47 PM (CxEX+)
221
192
Maybe Nancy Drew for the 11 year old girl into fashion? I went binging
and the most modern Drew version is a younger read, possibly too young
for 11 but maybe easy read is ok? I believe I remember the books
always had a few fashion details as well as the mysteries, possibly the
period fashion info would appeal as the books get older and higher
reading level if she enjoys the mystery concept.
Had a niece who was not into reading but liked fashion. She liked Different Like Coco (about Coco Chanel and it has lots of pictures of fashion in it as well). Small steps...
Maybe Nancy Drew for the 11 year old girl into fashion? I went binging
and the most modern Drew version is a younger read, possibly too young
for 11 but maybe easy read is ok? I believe I remember the books
always had a few fashion details as well as the mysteries, possibly the
period fashion info would appeal as the books get older and higher
reading level if she enjoys the mystery concept.
Had a niece who was not into reading but liked fashion. She liked Different Like Coco (about Coco Chanel and it has lots of pictures of fashion in it as well). Small steps...
Posted by: Charlotte at May 03, 2015 02:49 PM (VRwlD)
222
The French revolution always gives me an eerie, surreal revulsion. I'm not even sure I really understand it now. But it seems to br the same kind of garbage the left advocates for now: you give enlightened secularists omnipotent power, and they will bring about utopia, after breaking a few eggs to make the quiche. Renaming July to Thermidor, and guillotining political foes.
Knowledge of this time is important to give us an intinct to worry about what is happening now. Where we are going.
Knowledge of this time is important to give us an intinct to worry about what is happening now. Where we are going.
Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at May 03, 2015 02:59 PM (cIoI4)
223
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 11:35 AM (AVEe1)
Thanks, I tend to think of Arabs as raiders and pillagers as opposed to merchants. Found the passage but can't copy/paste from the Kindle app. So will do my best to transcribe correctly.
"...the beautiful Arab couplet, written three centuries before Christ, announced the duty of every good man, even in the moment of destruction, not only to forgive, but to benefit the destroyer, as the sandal tree, in the instant of its overthrow, sheds perfume on the axe that fells it".
Thanks, I tend to think of Arabs as raiders and pillagers as opposed to merchants. Found the passage but can't copy/paste from the Kindle app. So will do my best to transcribe correctly.
"...the beautiful Arab couplet, written three centuries before Christ, announced the duty of every good man, even in the moment of destruction, not only to forgive, but to benefit the destroyer, as the sandal tree, in the instant of its overthrow, sheds perfume on the axe that fells it".
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 03, 2015 02:59 PM (GDulk)
224
Thank you all. How outrageous that I am having trouble finding interesting and literary books for my step grandie to read -- she is a girl so why I am having so much trouble? Guess the real problem is interesting and engaging fiction -- not aimed at either sex. I remember how grateful I was for the Captain Underpants series (and getting yelled at for dumbing down my son), but girls appear to be easier as far as programmatic reading.
I really hope that I am not going to have to enforce any reading program over the summer, but I need to have stuff here to be prepared. Still can't believe that I am watching 8mo grandson, but kids and parental work schedules are beyond my pay grade.
I really hope that I am not going to have to enforce any reading program over the summer, but I need to have stuff here to be prepared. Still can't believe that I am watching 8mo grandson, but kids and parental work schedules are beyond my pay grade.
Posted by: mustbequantum at May 03, 2015 03:06 PM (MIKMs)
225
I mean even my son's book remarked about what a nutcase Robespierre was (while also speculating if anything in his childhood background contributed to that, which I could have done without) so I'm wondering whether other schools in the same school district have very different curriculum.
And here's a book related question-A girl I know is about 10 and she enjoys history about the 17th century. Are the "American Girls"books any good or is there something in that time period someone could recommend suitable for that age range?
And here's a book related question-A girl I know is about 10 and she enjoys history about the 17th century. Are the "American Girls"books any good or is there something in that time period someone could recommend suitable for that age range?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 03:15 PM (DXzRD)
226
Meant "other schools in the same state..."
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 03:16 PM (DXzRD)
227
I wouldn't do American Girl stuff because there was no way I could afford the dolls and stuff (mostly the stuff). Barbie is hideous, but cheaper (and easy for aunts and uncles).
One positive thing -- she does not seem to like touching and emotional stuff -- at least I won't have to suffer through high drama.
One positive thing -- she does not seem to like touching and emotional stuff -- at least I won't have to suffer through high drama.
Posted by: mustbequantum at May 03, 2015 03:21 PM (MIKMs)
228
The mention of sandalwood is suspiciously Indian, and not Arabic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalwood
The first attestation of that sandalwood parable I can find is to the Hindus ("Pandits"):
https://books.google.com/books?id=TMDkAAAAMAAJ
But it might actually stem from the seventh Sikh Guru:
https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA578
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalwood
The first attestation of that sandalwood parable I can find is to the Hindus ("Pandits"):
https://books.google.com/books?id=TMDkAAAAMAAJ
But it might actually stem from the seventh Sikh Guru:
https://books.google.com/books?id=vZFBp89UInUC&pg=PA578
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 03:24 PM (AVEe1)
229
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 03:24 PM (AVEe1)
Thanks. The sentiment in general seemed so terribly un-Arabic. It seems a little odd coming from a Sikh for that matter, since my understanding is that they are very strong believers in self-defense and the defense of others.
Thanks. The sentiment in general seemed so terribly un-Arabic. It seems a little odd coming from a Sikh for that matter, since my understanding is that they are very strong believers in self-defense and the defense of others.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at May 03, 2015 03:30 PM (GDulk)
230
FenelonSpoke, try the Royal Diaries series or Dear America series. My daughter doesn't care much for history, but my goddaughter read all of them.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at May 03, 2015 03:34 PM (A8ZgE)
231
Aargh, I'm always late when a conversation I want to participate in happens.
The "Gospel of Thomas" was known and decisively rejected by the early Church. Ireneaus mentions it as being the product of some goofball gnostic sect, as I recall.
And it really chaps my butt to hear the MSM treating Elaine Pagels, a virulent hater of orthodox Christianity, as some kiud of neutral, impartial scholar.
The "Gospel of Thomas" was known and decisively rejected by the early Church. Ireneaus mentions it as being the product of some goofball gnostic sect, as I recall.
And it really chaps my butt to hear the MSM treating Elaine Pagels, a virulent hater of orthodox Christianity, as some kiud of neutral, impartial scholar.
Posted by: OregonMuse at May 03, 2015 03:44 PM (VhO+g)
232
225... Fenelon, The little girl might like the first Limbaugh kids' history book: "Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims". I thought it was fun. At least it is about the 17th century.
Others fiction titles might include The Prince and the Pauper, Treasure Island, and Robinson Crusoe.
My familiarity with 10 year olds is limited so take the suggestions with as much salt as needed.
Others fiction titles might include The Prince and the Pauper, Treasure Island, and Robinson Crusoe.
My familiarity with 10 year olds is limited so take the suggestions with as much salt as needed.
Posted by: JTB at May 03, 2015 03:45 PM (FvdPb)
233
Thanks, roamingfirehydrant.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 03:46 PM (DXzRD)
234
Tnanks, JTB
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 03:47 PM (DXzRD)
235
Yeah, Elaine Pagels, a neutral, impartial scholar. LOL.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 03, 2015 03:48 PM (DXzRD)
236
The pagan Arabs would probably get along fine in the HQ. Their poems are mainly about doing sex with hotties, drinking booze and getting in fights. Sometimes they complained about fate.
I've probably mentioned the Mufaddaliyat before; certainly I've mentioned the Iqd al-Farid. (Both in handy English translations!)
I've probably mentioned the Mufaddaliyat before; certainly I've mentioned the Iqd al-Farid. (Both in handy English translations!)
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at May 03, 2015 03:58 PM (AVEe1)
237
Mustbequantum: I second the Susan Cooper "Dark is Rising" series. I would also recommend A Wrinkle in Time, Anne of Green Gables, the Green Knowe books, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Hatchet, Island of the Blue Dolphins, Sarah Crewe/The Secret Garden. There are so many classic novels for children that age.
Posted by: Rana at May 03, 2015 04:01 PM (uFm1t)
238
@ NCKate
I consider the Daniel's Running Formula to be the "Bible" of race training. Love his materials and the science enough that the two daughters that are runners got their own copies of the newest edition. I never used his programs since they didn't fit my work schedules but adapted them. All my key interval work is a variation on his stuff.
Some of the workouts that I put into my first book came from his stuff, just disguised in story.
If you want a complete program book, I also like Jeff Galloway's book. For marathon training for mere mortals, I think his is better.
Good luck with your running!
I consider the Daniel's Running Formula to be the "Bible" of race training. Love his materials and the science enough that the two daughters that are runners got their own copies of the newest edition. I never used his programs since they didn't fit my work schedules but adapted them. All my key interval work is a variation on his stuff.
Some of the workouts that I put into my first book came from his stuff, just disguised in story.
If you want a complete program book, I also like Jeff Galloway's book. For marathon training for mere mortals, I think his is better.
Good luck with your running!
Posted by: Long Running Fool at May 03, 2015 04:34 PM (/A5gb)
239
Columbia Multicultural Advisors: Put Trigger Warning on Ovid's Metamorphoses
http://tinyurl.com/nl65bue
http://tinyurl.com/nl65bue
Posted by: The Political Hat at May 03, 2015 04:56 PM (7YlUk)
240
239
Columbia Multicultural Advisors: Put Trigger Warning on Ovid's Metamorphoses
Heh. I'll have to figure out how to share that with my Latin prof; we're using a textbook based on the Metamorphoses, "Latin via Ovid".
Columbia Multicultural Advisors: Put Trigger Warning on Ovid's Metamorphoses
Heh. I'll have to figure out how to share that with my Latin prof; we're using a textbook based on the Metamorphoses, "Latin via Ovid".
Posted by: Anachronda at May 03, 2015 04:58 PM (o78gS)
241
207 roamingfirehydrant, you might be interested to know that north Alabama contains Huntsville, where Werner von Braun settled with his crew and made rockets, and which today hosts NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Stands to reason there would be scifi aficionados. And believe it or not, engineers love to cook anything, but also to decorate cakes. Go figure. A psychologist told me once (one of my kids was so afflicted) it's about the hands. They can't help it, they're just compelled to build things with their hands.
Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at May 03, 2015 04:59 PM (5f5bM)
242
Just catching up... I enjoyed the first four American Girls series (Felicity, Kirsten, Samantha, and Molly), but I was already pretty well out of the right age bracket when Addy and Josephina came along, and I haven't looked at any of the more recent dolls or their books. Little House is definitely good stuff; when I was ten, I used to re-read that series and the Chronicles of Narnia every summer. I also second the Rush Revere rec. Another series that's great for stretching the imagination is The Indian in the Cupboard--British boy finds a magic cupboard that brings his action figures to life, only to find out that it's far more complicated than that. And on the less historical-fiction side, there are the Mary Poppins books, which are great fun (and illustrated, IIRC, by the wife of the man who did the original illustrations for Winnie-the-Pooh).
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at May 03, 2015 05:12 PM (iuQS7)
Posted by: ChrisP at May 03, 2015 05:29 PM (jjMlv)
244
Caesar North, I live in Huntsville and work at Marshall. I am not part of the Cake Appreciation Society but am thinking about it once the kids are out of the house.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at May 03, 2015 06:00 PM (A8ZgE)
245
185
Would missiles even work in the 40's with out GPS? Satellites
Sure. Where they come down is someone else's department.
Would missiles even work in the 40's with out GPS? Satellites
Sure. Where they come down is someone else's department.
Posted by: Wernher von Braun at May 03, 2015 06:09 PM (o78gS)
246
139 How about a Roman legion travelling to the future, our present? And seeing the actual Roman ruins that remain--Bath, England; the Coliseum; scattered segments of Hadrian's war?
Posted by: JoeF. at May 03, 2015 11:30 AM (qlAhM)
==========
You might try "The Far Arena" (by Sapir). A Roman gladiator, exiled, marched to the North Sea and tossed in. 2,000 years later his body is found --- to be in suspended animation. Revived in the 20th century, and forced to deal with it.
I don't know the accuracy of the world that he remembers, but I thought it was a heck of good yarn.
Posted by: JoeF. at May 03, 2015 11:30 AM (qlAhM)
==========
You might try "The Far Arena" (by Sapir). A Roman gladiator, exiled, marched to the North Sea and tossed in. 2,000 years later his body is found --- to be in suspended animation. Revived in the 20th century, and forced to deal with it.
I don't know the accuracy of the world that he remembers, but I thought it was a heck of good yarn.
Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 03, 2015 06:11 PM (TqyFL)
247
59
So how do the Indian wipe out an entire Roman Legion? With their airplanes of course.
Nonsense. Everyone knows they used hot air balloons, navigating by the Nazca lines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines#Alternative_explanations
So how do the Indian wipe out an entire Roman Legion? With their airplanes of course.
Nonsense. Everyone knows they used hot air balloons, navigating by the Nazca lines.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines#Alternative_explanations
Posted by: Anachronda at May 03, 2015 06:38 PM (o78gS)
248
Would missiles even work in the 40's with out GPS? Satellites
How the fuck do you think we got the GPS satellites UP there?
How the fuck do you think we got the GPS satellites UP there?
Posted by: XBradTC at May 03, 2015 07:49 PM (jkYGf)
249
Read Mark Vonnegut's, "The Eden Express," this week.
Posted by: Octopus
---------------
Rather late to the thread, but I read that back in the day, decades ago now, maybe 30 years. There are a couple of passages that remain in my head yet.
Paraphrasing; "Knowing that you are going crazy, won't make the crazy stuff stop happening", and, "The great thing about having a college education is that you don't spend the rest of your life thinking (wrongly) that, 'Things would have been different, if only I had gone to college."
Ah.., another one, "The thing about a liberal arts degree, is that you can make conversation at cocktail parties, which is what your parents wanted in the first place".
That last one made me wonder about what, exactly, Kurt Vonnegut expected of his son. I suspect, way too much.
Posted by: Octopus
---------------
Rather late to the thread, but I read that back in the day, decades ago now, maybe 30 years. There are a couple of passages that remain in my head yet.
Paraphrasing; "Knowing that you are going crazy, won't make the crazy stuff stop happening", and, "The great thing about having a college education is that you don't spend the rest of your life thinking (wrongly) that, 'Things would have been different, if only I had gone to college."
Ah.., another one, "The thing about a liberal arts degree, is that you can make conversation at cocktail parties, which is what your parents wanted in the first place".
That last one made me wonder about what, exactly, Kurt Vonnegut expected of his son. I suspect, way too much.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2015 08:21 PM (F2IAQ)
250
They can't help it, they're just compelled to build things with their hands.
Posted by: Caesar
-------------
The "knack".
It is a curse.
Dilbert cartoon : http://tinyurl.com/mxy79r6
Posted by: Caesar
-------------
The "knack".
It is a curse.
Dilbert cartoon : http://tinyurl.com/mxy79r6
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 03, 2015 08:25 PM (F2IAQ)
251
Recently finished Rex Stout's "Fer de Lance" the first of the Nero Wolfe books. Pretty good. Started off slow, but I took to it in the second half of the book.
Just started "The Beautiful thing that awaits us all" by Laird Barron on recommendation by one of the horde. It is a collection of 9 short stories. The first two are kind of meh, but the third is shaping up to be pretty interesting. Will let you know how the rest are once done.
Recently finished Rex Stout's "Fer de Lance" the first of the Nero Wolfe books. Pretty good. Started off slow, but I took to it in the second half of the book.
Just started "The Beautiful thing that awaits us all" by Laird Barron on recommendation by one of the horde. It is a collection of 9 short stories. The first two are kind of meh, but the third is shaping up to be pretty interesting. Will let you know how the rest are once done.
Posted by: Darth Randall at May 03, 2015 08:51 PM (KlVdw)
252
The Kindle version of Golden Angel is live.
Posted by: BornLib at May 05, 2015 11:02 PM (zpNwC)
253
95 I read Sarah Hoyt's Darkship Thieves for fun. I haven't signed up for the Hugo convention as I don't know if I'd get all the books read but its fun to support the rebels against the SJW hegemony, plus I enjoy Hoyt's writing.
Posted by: PaleRider at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (7w/kf)
Hoyt isn't one of the nominated authors, just FYI.
As for what nominated books you'll get, the answer is most of them. Orbit don't include the whole book in the voter packet but Tor, Castalia House, and Analog will.
Posted by: PaleRider at May 03, 2015 10:56 AM (7w/kf)
Hoyt isn't one of the nominated authors, just FYI.
As for what nominated books you'll get, the answer is most of them. Orbit don't include the whole book in the voter packet but Tor, Castalia House, and Analog will.
Posted by: BornLib at May 06, 2015 06:05 AM (zpNwC)
254
107 Patrick from Ohio if you liked that book, you should probably read Poul Anderson's The High Crusade from 1960. From the Year of Our Lord 1354 aliens pluck a small English army. Things go angly wrong for the aliens from that moment on.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (wPxCh)
One of Anderson's better books and a great one overall.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at May 03, 2015 11:01 AM (wPxCh)
One of Anderson's better books and a great one overall.
Posted by: BornLib at May 06, 2015 05:32 PM (zpNwC)
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