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Sunday Morning Book Thread 07-31-2016: Up Against The Wall [OregonMuse]
Rose Reading Room, New York Public Library
A good Booke is the pretious life-blood of a mafter fpirit, imbalm'd and treafur'd up on purpofe to a life beyond lifeThat reading room is breathtaking. Unfortunately, the tiny pic doesn't do it justice. Click on it for a yuuge version to get the full effect.
John Milton, Areopagitica
(Sign above the entrance to the Rose Reading Room)
Good morning to all of you morons and moronettes and bartenders everywhere and all the ships at sea. Welcome to AoSHQ's stately, prestigious, internationally acclaimed and high-class Sunday Morning Book Thread, where men are men, all the 'ettes are lovely, safe spaces are for losers, and nobody cares about what kind of snowflake you are, so suck it up, buttercup. And unlike other AoSHQ comment threads, the Sunday Morning Book Thread is so hoity-toity, pants are required. And anything you buy in this store doesn't count.
Reduction of the Innocent "Why do we have so many people in jail?" I found myself asking this question a few days ago. Pretty much all of the statistical data I've been able to find puts the United States at or near the top of all of the countries in the world, ranked in order of incarceration rates (number of prisoners per 100,000 population). For example:
In October 2013, the incarceration rate of the United States of America was the highest in the world, at 716 per 100,000 of the national population. While the United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners. Corrections (which includes prisons, jails, probation, and parole) cost around $74 billion in 2007 according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics.I'm not sure what happened in 1975, but as you can see from the chart on this page, that was when a hitherto stable (more or less) incarceration rate started going up, and up, and up. Oh, now I see. According to this advocacy group, this was about the start of the "War on Drugs". I thought the WoD was a Reagan initiative, but it actually comes from the Nixon administration. Either way, it hasn't been a resounding success. "Highest in the world". Ugh. This is supposed to be the land of the free, but it is increasingly becoming the land of the jailed. I must admit there were some conservative policy initiatives back in the 90s that I'm having second thoughts about. Tired of rising crime rates and of liberal judges handing out lenient sentences to hardened criminals, a number of states passed mandatory sentencing, "three strikes and you're out" laws, and other get-tough-on-crime statutes, supported by conservatives. I'm not sure I can criicize these measures without getting smacked by the Butterfield Fallacy, but I think what be an unintended consequence of all of this is a new breed of hyper-aggressive prosecutor, as in the Duke Lacross and George Zimmerman cases, who will, in fact, indict a ham sandwich. And as lawyers are many times asked "would you defend a man you knew was guilty?", perhaps these state-appointed attornies should be asked if they would prosecute someone they knew was innocent. And, of course, one of the dirty little secrets of the American prison system is the high recidivism rate, i.e. prisoners tend to keep coming back as repeat offenders. I have worked a little with convicts and ex-convicts over the years and I'm more than a little convinced that for many of them, three hots and a cot provided by the state penal system suits them fine. They may not like prison, but taking responsibility for yourself on the outside is a lot more work. Solzhenitsyn famously complained that the Soviet legal system was so constructed that any citizen would be guilty of something or other at any time, which made arresting them more convenient. We're heading in that direction. The overcriminalization of America is the subject of One Nation Under Arrest: How Crazy Laws, Rogue Prosecutors, and Activist Judges Threaten Your Liberty by Paul Rosenzweig.
Just when you thought it was safe to leave your home, the federal government may have made you a criminal for very innocent actions. This book includes staggering true stories and information that make Kafka novels sound like Dr. Seuss...Literally thousands of laws exist that most people don't know about and which penalize conduct that few would even imagine was criminal. This book tells the story of ordinary Americans who were prosecuted and even jailed for everyday activities that ran afoul of the multitude of statutes and regulations that can be used by governments to trap the unwary.There's also Go Directly to Jail: The Criminalization of Almost Everything by Gene Healy, which looks like it covers much of the same ground:
The American criminal justice system is becoming ever more centralized and punitive, owing to rampant federalization and mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines. Go Directly to Jail examines these alarming trends and proposes reforms that could rein in a criminal justice apparatus at war with fairness and common sense.Martha Stewart just e-mailed me and said "I know, right?" The Kindle edition is $6.99. Also of interest is False Justice: Eight Myths that Convict the Innocent, Revised Edition, by former Attorney General of Ohio Jim Petro. Spoiler: the eight myths are
Myth 1: Everyone in prison claims innocence.But on the other hand, if Hillary! is elected, perhaps some the innocents will be freed since they'll have to make room for climate change deniers, Tea Partiers, regret rapists, and other political criminals.
Myth 2: Our system almost never convicts an innocent person.
Myth 3: Only the guilty confess.
Myth 4: Wrongful conviction is the result of innocent human error.
Myth 5: An eyewitness is the best testimony.
Myth 6: Conviction errors get corrected on appeal.
Myth 7: It dishonors the victim to question a conviction.
Myth 8: If the justice system has problems, the pros will fix them.
We're All Deviants Now
Are any of you morons pack rats? I'm not a pack rat in meat space, but on my computer? That's a completely different story. Over the years, I've come to absolutely detest deleting any file for any reason whatsoever because hey, who knows, I might find some use for it later. And you can imagine what my Outlook "Inbox" folder is like. I like to think of it as kind of like a company refrigerator, only without the funny smells and weird growths on the items way in the back. So I was poking around the other day seeing what's there I had forgotten about, and I found an e-mail from 2004(!) that contained a book recommendation from a friend of mine, who is actually now deceased. The rec was for The Politics of Deviance by Anne Hendershott:"In The Politics of Deviance, Anne Hendershott (Moving for Work), a sociologist at the University of San Diego, laments the death of deviance as a concept within sociology, along with a consequent "destigmatizing [of] deviant behaviors" within the real social world. In chapters like "Medicalizing the Deviance of Drug Abuse," "Expanding the Market for Mental Illness" and "Postmodern Pedophilia," Hendershott details a process whereby, in her view, "all behaviors are created equal" within the culture, and a market model of what is desirable in a society (i.e., that a kind of manufactured demand for rebellion drives permissiveness) rules to society's detriment. An indictment of what Hendershott feels has taken place within her field over the last 30 years, this book, published by a California think tank, attempts nothing less than a rearticulation of social conservatism."The progressive left has made a fetish out of deviance because they are at war with normal life. In fact, if you look at their policy preferences, they're actually at war with life, period. As grammie winger said in a Thursday thread, "[T]hey want dead people. Dead babies, dead old people that are in the way, dead military people, dead cops, dead disabled. Party of (D) is Party of Death."
Stereotypes? What Stereotypes? And speaking of hating normal life, one my e-book discount spotting services presented me with this one on Saturday, Transformed: San Francisco (Quirky Queer Spy Novels Book 1) by Suzanne Falter, and I thought I had my filters set to stop that kind of crap from coming through. Dang. Anyway, the Amazon blurb is a laugh riot:
Charley McElroy is a handsome, well-heeled travel writer and CIA informant who also happens to be an F-to-M transman. And he’s been recently benched by the Agency for not paying his taxes. On the other side of San Francisco, Electra, a Manhattan socialite-turned-dominatrix has just arrived to rebuild her life. Meanwhile Frankie is a lesbian police sergeant on the outs with the SFPD and trying to recover from the death of her wife. Against all odds, the three meet and uncover a Christian fundamentalist’s plot to destroy the ‘hedonists’ of San Francisco. Together, they set out to foil the terrorist's plot – but can they get anyone to listen to them?Sheesh. It's as if the author didn't so much write this novel as checked all of the boxes on a list: Let's see here, trans guy/gal? Check. Lesbo cop? Check. Kinky prostitute? Check. Evil fundy Xtianist bad guys? Check. Utter lack of moral restraints depicted as virtuous? Check. Traditional moral structures depicted as evil? Check. This is the same old boring story that progressives have been telling for decades, to wit: happy innocent hedonism vs. harmful social restraints. You'd think tht after they've dominated the culture for so long, they'd be able to come up with something new. I think the progressives have to do this, have to keep reassuring themselves that their manifold deviances are all just peachy-dandy, that nothing bad will happen no matter how long they operate their bodies and minds outside of design specs, and they have to keep telling themselves this so reality won't bite them on the butt. So they have to believe, for example, that grammie winger praying and reading her Bible in her kitchen is a dire threat to their existence, moreso than a religion whose adherents want to throw them off the roofs of buildings. But they really ought to want to keep grammie around, though, because then they'll have someone to blame when it all falls apart on them, and they're all standing dumbfounded in the ruins, wondering what happened, and looking like Wile E. Coyote after the failure of his new Acme™ rocket sled.
Dick Morris Does The Hokey Pokey Political pundit Dick Morris has a new book out: Armageddon: How Trump Can Beat Hillary. For those of you who don't know, Morris was a lackey and a servant for the Clintons back in the 90s (a footman, if you will). But since then, he has been toe-ing the line for the Republican party. Morris is not the sole author of this heavily footnoted book, he was given a leg up by his co-author Eileen McGann. This latest book has obviously been released to stomp on the political ambitions of Hillary Clinton. She must think Morris has become quite the GOP ankle-biter, but will this effort bring her to heel, or will readers conclude that this is just another retread and give it the boot? Only time will tell if this book has legs.
Conspiracy I first mentioned Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK back in 2012. At that time, only dead tree versions were available. But this book came up on one of the weekday morning threads and that's when I discovered that there's a Kindle edition that has been published. Posner's argument is that the Warren Commission's findings were essentially correct. That is, Oswald was a mentally unbalanced left-wing kook who acted alone and who didn't need anyone to pull his strings to get him to do what he did. There are two great things about this new Kindle edition: 1) If you click on the "Look Inside" link on Amazon for a sample, you'll get the first 2 chapters complete and a substantial part of the 3rd. That's extremely generous. 2) It only costs $2.99.
Call for Short Stories I like science fiction publisher TANSTAAFL Press because their logo is a teddy bear holding an M-16. 'Ette Anna Puma informed me that they have an open call for short story submissions for their "Enter the..." series of anthologies.
We will accept submissions up until June 15, 2016 for Enter the Apocalypse, Sept 15, 2016 for Enter the Aftermath, and Dec 15, 2016 for Enter the Rebirth.So one deadline is already past, but there are still two others. Interested writers should click this link for more info on TANSTAAFL's submission guidelines.
Moron Recommendations Again dipping into ace's book rec thread (which I've been dining out on for weeks now): "LJIm (Lets Go Pens)" recommends the 'Magic 2.0' series by Scott Mayer, which he rates as "a fun and medium-light read." The first book is called Off To Be the Wizard:
Martin Banks is just a normal guy who has made an abnormal discovery: he can manipulate reality, thanks to reality being nothing more than a computer program. With every use of this ability, though, Martin finds his little “tweaks” have not escaped notice. Rather than face prosecution, he decides instead to travel back in time to the Middle Ages and pose as a wizard.This reminds me of Rick Cook's "Wizardry" series I read back in the 90s which main character as a computer geek thrown into a magic-rich environment where little spells work pretty reliably, but the big ones not so much. So he figures out how to make spells for the magic equivalents of "1" and "0" which, being tiny spells, work 100% of the time. With these binary tools, he can use software engineering techniques to construct big spells as reliable as small ones, the same way he wrote computer programs. The Wiz Biz is a compilation of the 'Wizardry' series, sold without DRM, for $6.99. Or you can buy it directly from Baen Books.
What could possibly go wrong?
What I'm Reading Bless Me, Father was a BookBub freebie awhile back, and I finished it up last week. I enjoyed this first-in-a-series memoir of a young Catholic priest, fresh out of seminary, starting out in his first assignment at St. Jude's parish in a corner of London full of Irish immigrants. There is 1978-1980 British TV series adapted from the Bless Me father series, which really captures well the flavor of the books. ___________
Moronette @votermom has asked me to remind all of you goodreads peeps that Sunday is the last day to vote for the next Moron-written group read (for September). She is also is putting together a list of moron authors over on the Goodreads site which is intended to be acessible to non-members. Here is the list she has compiled so far. Let her know if there's an author she's missing. http://www.bookhorde.org/p/aoshq-authors.html ___________ Don't forget the AoSHQ reading group on Goodreads. It's meant to support horde writers and to talk about the great books that come up on the book thread. It's called AoSHQ Moron Horde and the link to it is here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/175335-aoshq-moron-horde. ___________ 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
Good morning bookworms
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 09:08 AM (bksJQ)
2
Milton spelled like a fag
Posted by: ghost of hallelujah at July 31, 2016 09:11 AM (oAY8z)
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:12 AM (7lVbc)
4
I read "Bless Me, Father". I enjoyed it. I didn't know there were other follow up books
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at July 31, 2016 09:12 AM (HXQyP)
5
Still reading Company Commander by Col Charles B. MACDONALD. It's interesting to follow somewhat on Google maps his travels. As a reader of Napoleonic Wars it's much harder to do that. Places in eastern Europe have changed names for the most part, especially in Prussia which is now Poland.
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 09:12 AM (bksJQ)
6
FYI for history readers: my blog post today is about Lafayette (link in nic)
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:13 AM (7lVbc)
7
Morris was a lackey and a servant for the Clintons back in the 90s (a footman, if you will).
Bravo.
Bravo.
Posted by: Grump928(C) says Free Soothie! at July 31, 2016 09:15 AM (rwI+c)
8
Good morning and thank you OregonMuse for this fine thread.I started reading "The Making of America" by W.Skousen. His writing style is easy to read. The book starts with short bios of the founders. Im where he's describing that founders knew their enterprise was no mere accident and much to do with a plan by divine providence. So far, it's good.
Posted by: fastfreefall at July 31, 2016 09:16 AM (o2wPk)
9
Reading about the French Revolution I think his involvement in the American Revolution saved him. Everyone associated with the American were raised in stature by the French Revolutionaries. Washington was almost a God like figure.
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 09:18 AM (bksJQ)
10
Areopagitica is well worth the read, especially if you need a solid defense of freedom of speech/press. And that is one gorgeous reading room.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 31, 2016 09:19 AM (m2sZd)
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 09:19 AM (C9pBZ)
12
Do the book threads really have to contain so many words? It's like a dang movie review!
Posted by: Weasel at July 31, 2016 09:20 AM (zNvaH)
13
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 09:18 AM (bksJQ)
He survived The Terror and Napoleon. Lucky and smart.
He survived The Terror and Napoleon. Lucky and smart.
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:21 AM (7lVbc)
Posted by: Seamus Muldoon at July 31, 2016 09:22 AM (mvenn)
15
The whole Morris section in Oregon's post has me giggling.
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:23 AM (7lVbc)
16
Been reading, of all things, Ansel Adams' 'The Negative,' in preparation for an upcoming PAID photo-gig.
Client has me shooting in a low-light environment that has, nonetheless, a few areas of fairly intense lighting (bar/music venue). Quite the technical challenge.
(Staying sober til the end of the assignment, I mean.)
Client has me shooting in a low-light environment that has, nonetheless, a few areas of fairly intense lighting (bar/music venue). Quite the technical challenge.
(Staying sober til the end of the assignment, I mean.)
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:27 AM (Q0lcJ)
17
I was watching some propaganda recently that claimed that 20 years after Roe v Wade the jails were empty. The generation who would have lived in poverty and taken their rage out on society were 'spared' a life of crime.
It's funny how people can look at the same set of numbers and come to opinions 180 degrees apart. Not funny, actually, more annoying than anything.
It's funny how people can look at the same set of numbers and come to opinions 180 degrees apart. Not funny, actually, more annoying than anything.
Posted by: free range sort of conservative at July 31, 2016 09:27 AM (ZnIt3)
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 09:28 AM (C9pBZ)
19
I'm guessing the pause in comments is the horde reading content.
My kid sent a super long beta reader response to whippersnapper, it's her first time doing it so I hope she didn't go overboard.
My kid sent a super long beta reader response to whippersnapper, it's her first time doing it so I hope she didn't go overboard.
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:28 AM (7lVbc)
20
Hurrah! Book Thread!
Today's the last day to buy
"Wearing the Cat - Part Two: The Fox's Den"
at the low, low introductory price of $0.99.
Such a bargain!
Why you couldn't even get to smell a Starbuck's Venti Half-DeCaf, Half Soy-Half Skim, Low Sugar White Chocolate Macchiato for that Price!
Tomorrow the price will rise to the still Moron-Friendly price of $1.99 for one more week.
Thanks to al you good people with good taste and discerning intellects who have bought Part One and/or Part Two of "Wearing the Cat".
Y'all rock!
Today's the last day to buy
"Wearing the Cat - Part Two: The Fox's Den"
at the low, low introductory price of $0.99.
Such a bargain!
Why you couldn't even get to smell a Starbuck's Venti Half-DeCaf, Half Soy-Half Skim, Low Sugar White Chocolate Macchiato for that Price!
Tomorrow the price will rise to the still Moron-Friendly price of $1.99 for one more week.
Thanks to al you good people with good taste and discerning intellects who have bought Part One and/or Part Two of "Wearing the Cat".
Y'all rock!
Posted by: natualfake at July 31, 2016 09:29 AM (HGtd0)
21
OT- Bernie Eccleston's (Formula 1 supremo)mother in Brazil has been kidnapped and they are asking for a extensive about of money.Bernie is a very very wealthy man.
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 09:30 AM (bksJQ)
22
This week I read Eye of the Raven by Eliot Pattison. Pattison is the author of the Inspector Shan series set in Tibet. He now turns his focus to colonial America nearing the end of the French-Indian war in the wilderness of Pennsylvania. David McCallum is an indentured Scot on the run and is serving along with an Iroquois shaman, Conawago, as a scout for the English. Conawago is accused unjustly for a series of ritualistic murders. Large land grants from the natives are at stake. It's up to Duncan to sort out the tangled web of intrigues and free his friend. I enjoyed the story and learned a little of the complex social structure and religion of the woodland Indians. Pattison lives in rural Pennsylvania on a colonial-era farm.
I also read Life At The Bottom by Theodore Dalrymple which was highlighted by OM a few weeks ago. Dalrymple is a psychiatrist working with the English underclass. This work, told through case histories, is an eye-opening account of what progressivism/socialism does to ruin people's lives. This book shows a bleak picture for the lives for a broad swath of people; but then one realizes that these histories were written in the late 90's and early 2000's, and one knows that by now things have grown much worse and much more wide spread.
Finally, (it was a slow week for "honey-dos", known in our home as "you cans") I finally read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I'm sorry I waited so long to read it. I enjoyed it very much and the twist near the end caught me by surprise.
I also read Life At The Bottom by Theodore Dalrymple which was highlighted by OM a few weeks ago. Dalrymple is a psychiatrist working with the English underclass. This work, told through case histories, is an eye-opening account of what progressivism/socialism does to ruin people's lives. This book shows a bleak picture for the lives for a broad swath of people; but then one realizes that these histories were written in the late 90's and early 2000's, and one knows that by now things have grown much worse and much more wide spread.
Finally, (it was a slow week for "honey-dos", known in our home as "you cans") I finally read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I'm sorry I waited so long to read it. I enjoyed it very much and the twist near the end caught me by surprise.
Posted by: Zoltan at July 31, 2016 09:32 AM (JYer2)
23
Hmmm.
This Dick Morris fellow sounds like an arch-villain.*
*That may be the only pun OM missed. Sterling work!
This Dick Morris fellow sounds like an arch-villain.*
*That may be the only pun OM missed. Sterling work!
Posted by: natualfake at July 31, 2016 09:32 AM (HGtd0)
24
Reading the second installment of "Wearing the Cat". Reading this book is like eating the richest food imaginable. It's packed with laugh, grins, chuckles and guffaws on almost every page.
Posted by: creeper at July 31, 2016 09:33 AM (Nhjs9)
25
In 1975 Veitnam ended. The money was shifted to create a prison industrial complex. The War on Drugs is bullshit. People were getting intoxicated before they invented fire.
Companies build and own these prisons are traded publically and have contracts to guarantee 95% capacity.
Just another area our country has lost the moral high ground.
Companies build and own these prisons are traded publically and have contracts to guarantee 95% capacity.
Just another area our country has lost the moral high ground.
Posted by: Cactus of Liberty at July 31, 2016 09:34 AM (a94gW)
26
Just started Eric Ambler's "Background to Danger," published in 1937. Germans, Russians, everybody smokes.
I miss the everybody smokes era.
I miss the everybody smokes era.
Posted by: the littl shyning man at July 31, 2016 09:34 AM (gzBkl)
27
I've given up on Ryals' "Mark of the Mage" about halfway through - it's the first of a series of four, and it's shaping up like it's one of those "gotta read all in the series and in order" to get the story. Maybe I'll come back to it, maybe not. I skipped over to a book by an indy author from the on-line author group that was active a couple of years ago - Kris Jackson "Above the Frey" - about the baloonists for the Union during the Civil War. We all talked about each others' books all the time in the group, and only just now I am getting interested in reading his.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at July 31, 2016 09:36 AM (xnmPy)
28
17 I was watching some propaganda recently that claimed that 20 years after Roe v Wade the jails were empty. The generation who would have lived in poverty and taken their rage out on society were 'spared' a life of crime.
It's funny how people can look at the same set of numbers and come to opinions 180 degrees apart. Not funny, actually, more annoying than anything.
Posted by: free range sort of conservative at July 31, 2016 09:27 AM (ZnIt3
The pre-crime argument for the genocide of babies.
It's funny how people can look at the same set of numbers and come to opinions 180 degrees apart. Not funny, actually, more annoying than anything.
Posted by: free range sort of conservative at July 31, 2016 09:27 AM (ZnIt3
The pre-crime argument for the genocide of babies.
Posted by: Cactus of Liberty at July 31, 2016 09:36 AM (a94gW)
29
Finished 'Stuka Pilot,' turning now to 'Time for Trumpets' (again), as i continue research into The Bulge and the related activities of my grandfather the combat engineer. Next on the list, I found 'Ultra in the West' which has a section on SIGINT during The Bulge, which I am hoping will provide a few more tidbits about how critical (and narrow) stopping Peiper was.
Posted by: goatexchange at July 31, 2016 09:37 AM (ptIWW)
30
The Ansel Adams books are treasure troves for film buffs. They let you know what is possible. I haven't developed or printed any film in a long time but still have the gear. I hope the film and chemicals continue to be available. The resolution of good quality black and white film in large or even medium format is astonishing.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 09:38 AM (V+03K)
31
About that "War on Drugs" and incarceration rate. I'd like to dig into those numbers. Most people in jail didn't have just one charge. It's DUI plus possession. Or assault plus possession. Or theft plus possession. Or homicide plus possession. The vast vast majority of all crime, especially crimes against persons, involve an intoxicant of some kind
It's almost never just "possession".
About that "War on Drugs" and incarceration rate. I'd like to dig into those numbers. Most people in jail didn't have just one charge. It's DUI plus possession. Or assault plus possession. Or theft plus possession. Or homicide plus possession. The vast vast majority of all crime, especially crimes against persons, involve an intoxicant of some kind
It's almost never just "possession".
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:39 AM (zOTsN)
32
Heather MacDonald might have a thing to say about incarceration rates.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 09:40 AM (7qAYi)
33
So I read "CTRL-ALT-Revolt" by Nick Cole per several of the Hordes' recommendation. Pretty good. Best stuff concerned the in game story of Starfleet Empires. The real world story was also fairly interesting, but it suffers from Steven King syndrome: great premise, weak ending. All in all I would rate it a 3, maybe 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Posted by: Darth Randall at July 31, 2016 09:41 AM (6n332)
34
[formatting info redacted]
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking
laws.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/aynrand125008.html
The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking
laws.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/aynrand125008.html
Posted by: Ayn Rand at July 31, 2016 09:41 AM (pCH3f)
35
JTB -
I'm still using rodinal doped with borax.
Chemicals - there are diy alternatives out there, the most famous being 'caffenol,' a developer using washing soda and instant coffee.
I'm scrounging CL these days for an enlarger. Photo paper will be with us a while, but good enlargers are getting hard to find at valu-rite budget prices.
I'm still using rodinal doped with borax.
Chemicals - there are diy alternatives out there, the most famous being 'caffenol,' a developer using washing soda and instant coffee.
I'm scrounging CL these days for an enlarger. Photo paper will be with us a while, but good enlargers are getting hard to find at valu-rite budget prices.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:42 AM (hUP7B)
36
There is a saying about domestic relationships. Men go to jail/prison. Women get counseling.
Posted by: Cactus of Liberty at July 31, 2016 09:42 AM (a94gW)
Posted by: Teh Barrel at July 31, 2016 09:43 AM (Nhjs9)
38
Ayn Rand, please report to barrel. Ayn Rand, please report to the barrel.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:43 AM (hUP7B)
39
I just got in the mail from Jolly Old England "The Encyclopedia of French Tanks and Armored Vehicles 1914-1940." I had it on my Amazon wish list for a while, and decided to pull the trigger & get it, only to find that it was sold out & out of print, and it's selling on the secondary market for $100 or more. I was lucky enough to track down a bookseller in the UK who still had one copy in stock & I got it for the cover price + shipping (around $50). It's the only one volume work on French armor & is filled with wonderful color illustrations. Very glad to get that.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 09:44 AM (7qAYi)
40
My kid sent a super long beta reader response to whippersnapper, it's her first time doing it so I hope she didn't go overboard.
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:28 AM (7lVbc)
I just started reading it and it's great. I'll send her a longer thank you later on, but she had some interesting insights, and it's always fun to see what someone else thinks of a piece of writing (mine or anyone else's).
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:28 AM (7lVbc)
I just started reading it and it's great. I'll send her a longer thank you later on, but she had some interesting insights, and it's always fun to see what someone else thinks of a piece of writing (mine or anyone else's).
Posted by: right wing whippersnapper at July 31, 2016 09:44 AM (26lkV)
41
The bitter truth is that drunks and druggies cause accidents, get in fights and steal stuff. It's never just possession or use
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:44 AM (zOTsN)
42
Wow. Thank you, creeper.
*blushes, rubs toe in the dirt*
If you would, when you're finished reading WTC: PT: TFD,
please write a review on Amazon.
For us regular, job-working but writing morons(Anna Puma, Christopher Taylor, myself and others),
it really is the best advertisement/way to reach a wider audience and get Amazon's attention for better placement.
And , thank you, creeper again for your previous review of WTC - PO: FH. You're very kind.
*blushes, rubs toe in the dirt*
If you would, when you're finished reading WTC: PT: TFD,
please write a review on Amazon.
For us regular, job-working but writing morons(Anna Puma, Christopher Taylor, myself and others),
it really is the best advertisement/way to reach a wider audience and get Amazon's attention for better placement.
And , thank you, creeper again for your previous review of WTC - PO: FH. You're very kind.
Posted by: natualfake at July 31, 2016 09:45 AM (HGtd0)
43
Uncle Palpatine, you're a film photographer?
Where do you buy film these days?
Where do you buy film these days?
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:45 AM (7lVbc)
44
It's almost never just "possession".
Hush, now. That doesn't support the "Reagan hated black people" meme.
BTW, back to OM's question (and my response, which, while short, is not flippant), I refer to the landmark (at the time) but now memory holed study on "diversity" (01 or 02, IIRC) that noted a very strong correlation between "diversity" and "internal conflict" in nation/states.
Naturally, any such indication was quickly squelched. Good luck trying to find any follow up info.
Hush, now. That doesn't support the "Reagan hated black people" meme.
BTW, back to OM's question (and my response, which, while short, is not flippant), I refer to the landmark (at the time) but now memory holed study on "diversity" (01 or 02, IIRC) that noted a very strong correlation between "diversity" and "internal conflict" in nation/states.
Naturally, any such indication was quickly squelched. Good luck trying to find any follow up info.
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 09:46 AM (C9pBZ)
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 09:46 AM (7lVbc)
Posted by: free range sort of conservative at July 31, 2016 09:47 AM (ZnIt3)
47
In the middle of "God or Nothing" by Cardinal Robert Sarah (Or is it Robert Cardinal Sarah, which is a formation I have seen but never understood). It's quite good. He was just ordained but his mother had to miss it because if she traveled out of Guinea to be there, the new dictator would have known her son was a priest and that would have endangered her.
"Gone to Sea in a Bucket" is still going on. It seemed a little too easy the way Our Hero fit in on the submarine crew, not wigging out when they took their boat for a test drive after repairs. But maybe being a submariner is like that: strictly either/or. I doubt if I could stand being stuck inside one of those things for very long, if at all. The knowledge of all that water over me might drive me mad.
And I started reading what I suspect is a mystery (cozy, maybe)/romance involving two police officers (one man, one woman so it's not set in SF) and a border collie. So far, I'm seeing way too much telling and not enough showing. I think it's called "Flash" which is the name of the border collie.
"Gone to Sea in a Bucket" is still going on. It seemed a little too easy the way Our Hero fit in on the submarine crew, not wigging out when they took their boat for a test drive after repairs. But maybe being a submariner is like that: strictly either/or. I doubt if I could stand being stuck inside one of those things for very long, if at all. The knowledge of all that water over me might drive me mad.
And I started reading what I suspect is a mystery (cozy, maybe)/romance involving two police officers (one man, one woman so it's not set in SF) and a border collie. So far, I'm seeing way too much telling and not enough showing. I think it's called "Flash" which is the name of the border collie.
Posted by: Tonestaple at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (VsZJP)
48
Up to volume 3 of The History of the English Speaking Peoples. I am at about chapter five. So far it has been "John Churchill was a badass."
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (tEDMc)
49
Want to commit felonies and get off scott free? Simple. Pose as an illegal or a Muslim.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (rDxLs)
50
Votermom -
There are few specialty shops here In Austin that still stock the good stuff.
Freestyle Photo and B&H are my go-to guys for the hard to find stuff.
Developing, there are three guys in town who do color for me. B&W, I develop the negatives myself and then scan - most clients like that - but there's still one old timer here what does real wet-prints, and he gets my negatives for those.
There are few specialty shops here In Austin that still stock the good stuff.
Freestyle Photo and B&H are my go-to guys for the hard to find stuff.
Developing, there are three guys in town who do color for me. B&W, I develop the negatives myself and then scan - most clients like that - but there's still one old timer here what does real wet-prints, and he gets my negatives for those.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (hUP7B)
51
Any nation with higher levels of immigration, young people, and drug use is going to have higher rates of incarceration
since forever
since forever
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:49 AM (zOTsN)
52
And , thank you, creeper again for your previous review of WTC - PO: FH. You're very kind.
Posted by: natualfake at July 31, 2016 09:45 AM (HGtd0)
***Well, I should be. You've given me more laughs in the last month than any other author.
Your mind is a strange and wonderful place.
Posted by: natualfake at July 31, 2016 09:45 AM (HGtd0)
***Well, I should be. You've given me more laughs in the last month than any other author.
Your mind is a strange and wonderful place.
Posted by: creeper at July 31, 2016 09:50 AM (Nhjs9)
53
>>>Want to commit felonies and get off scott free? Simple. Pose as an illegal or a Muslim.<<<
Or a Clinton.
Or a Clinton.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:50 AM (tEDMc)
54
I'm not sure what happened in 1975
We were in the middle of a crime wave.
Incarceration rates would mean more to me if most nations didn't also have high crime rates. If we're limiting it to developed nations, yes, I believe other Western countries are often safer. There are a few reasons I think they aren't comparable. Over the last couple years, we've been trying out the theory that we can lower incarceration rates in the U.S. without affecting crime. It ain't working too well.
We were in the middle of a crime wave.
Incarceration rates would mean more to me if most nations didn't also have high crime rates. If we're limiting it to developed nations, yes, I believe other Western countries are often safer. There are a few reasons I think they aren't comparable. Over the last couple years, we've been trying out the theory that we can lower incarceration rates in the U.S. without affecting crime. It ain't working too well.
Posted by: AD at July 31, 2016 09:51 AM (78/wG)
55
Damn, Milton needs to turn on spellcheck.
Posted by: Mr. Peebles at July 31, 2016 09:51 AM (vP09u)
56
Votermom -
Most of my stuff is medium format - 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9, shot on 120 film. Kodak Portra for color shots of people, Acros 100 for b&w portraits, and cheapo Fomapan for just-because
Most of my stuff is medium format - 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9, shot on 120 film. Kodak Portra for color shots of people, Acros 100 for b&w portraits, and cheapo Fomapan for just-because
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:51 AM (OgmHd)
57
48 Up to volume 3 of The History of the English Speaking Peoples. I am at about chapter five. So far it has been "John Churchill was a badass."
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (tEDMc)
If that suits your fancy, try Churchill's 2 volume history/biography of Marlborough's life & times
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (tEDMc)
If that suits your fancy, try Churchill's 2 volume history/biography of Marlborough's life & times
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 09:52 AM (7qAYi)
58
51 Any nation with higher levels of immigration, young people, and drug use is going to have higher rates of incarceration
since forever
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:49 AM (zOTsN)
Especially when the young people are growing up without fathers.
since forever
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:49 AM (zOTsN)
Especially when the young people are growing up without fathers.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 09:53 AM (7qAYi)
59
Up to volume 3 of The History of the English Speaking Peoples. I am at about chapter five. So far it has been "John Churchill was a badass."
I would never of expected it to have that take.
I would never of expected it to have that take.
Posted by: AD at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (78/wG)
60
I started reading, "The Naturalist", which is a biography of Teddy Roosevelt that focuses on his hunter/naturalist life.
"Bully!!!"
"Bully!!!"
Posted by: scrood at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (3b9U4)
61
120 cameras are all over the place, still, and dirt-cheap. 35mm - even the really good ones - they're almost giving away.
Even with developing and all the rest of it, way cheaper, and way better, than digital.
Even with developing and all the rest of it, way cheaper, and way better, than digital.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (WUOv+)
62
Never *have
Posted by: AD at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (78/wG)
63
So I read "CTRL-ALT-Revolt" by Nick Cole per several of the Hordes' recommendation. Pretty good. Best stuff concerned the in game story of Starfleet Empires. The real world story was also fairly interesting, but it suffers from Steven King syndrome: great premise, weak ending. All in all I would rate it a 3, maybe 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Posted by: Darth Randall at July 31, 2016 09:41 AM (6n332)
I'd give it a 4 because I thought the ending (except for the naive view of corporations) was pretty good in that once the AI flipped the switch, what could humanity do?
**** SPOILER ****
Loved the lesbian security guard, skilled in hand to hand combat who lasted about 15 seconds before the pack of dogs got her. His line following her death had me laughing.
Posted by: Darth Randall at July 31, 2016 09:41 AM (6n332)
I'd give it a 4 because I thought the ending (except for the naive view of corporations) was pretty good in that once the AI flipped the switch, what could humanity do?
**** SPOILER ****
Loved the lesbian security guard, skilled in hand to hand combat who lasted about 15 seconds before the pack of dogs got her. His line following her death had me laughing.
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (Ee2nz)
64
I'm not sure what happened in 1975, but as you can see from the chart on this page, that was when a hitherto stable (more or less) incarceration rate started going up, and up, and up.
Oh, now I see. According to this advocacy group, this was about the start of the "War on Drugs".
Perhaps its also worth noting that is when the father-hostile War on Poverty would have been starting to bear fruit.
Oh, now I see. According to this advocacy group, this was about the start of the "War on Drugs".
Perhaps its also worth noting that is when the father-hostile War on Poverty would have been starting to bear fruit.
Posted by: Mr. Peebles at July 31, 2016 09:54 AM (vP09u)
65
Ayn Rand is in the barrel? We certainly get an upscale clientele here. No wonder we have to wear pants in the book thread.
Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 09:55 AM (sdi6R)
66
Busy today, but here's a couple links:
Not sure everyone knows about RealClearPolitics Books section:
http://www.realclearbooks.com/
This sounded interesting. Beer is really delicious to cook with:
The Craft Beer Bites Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Sliders, Skewers, Mini Desserts, and More--All Made with Beer
by Jacquelyn Dodd
Link: https://amzn.com/1440581673
Have a wonderful, fun and joy filled Sunday. Get some sun. Smell a flower.
Busy today, but here's a couple links:
Not sure everyone knows about RealClearPolitics Books section:
http://www.realclearbooks.com/
This sounded interesting. Beer is really delicious to cook with:
The Craft Beer Bites Cookbook: 100 Recipes for Sliders, Skewers, Mini Desserts, and More--All Made with Beer
by Jacquelyn Dodd
Link: https://amzn.com/1440581673
Have a wonderful, fun and joy filled Sunday. Get some sun. Smell a flower.
Posted by: artisanal 'ette at July 31, 2016 09:55 AM (qCMvj)
67
Homogenous population understand the societies mores in a uniform way and therefore have less crime
Heterogenous populations do not share mores and culture Ina uniform way and therefore have more crime
Older populations commit less crime than younger populations
People who are addicted to drugs nearly always go to jail at some point, often repeatedly. For things like theft and crimes against persons like assault and murder. And of course DUI
Any nation that has a younger population, a large influx of immigrants, and a culture that celebrates drug use and binge drinking will have higher incarceration rates
There is little sense comparing the US to say, Switzerland which has a largely homogenous population, and an old population.
Homogenous population understand the societies mores in a uniform way and therefore have less crime
Heterogenous populations do not share mores and culture Ina uniform way and therefore have more crime
Older populations commit less crime than younger populations
People who are addicted to drugs nearly always go to jail at some point, often repeatedly. For things like theft and crimes against persons like assault and murder. And of course DUI
Any nation that has a younger population, a large influx of immigrants, and a culture that celebrates drug use and binge drinking will have higher incarceration rates
There is little sense comparing the US to say, Switzerland which has a largely homogenous population, and an old population.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (zOTsN)
68
I'm about to begin Mary Roach's Grunt: the Curious Science of Humans at War.
I casually opened the book and happened upon this: "Chapter 8 - Leaky Seals: Diarrhea as a threat to national security." And now I can't stop reading about IBS and cholera and MRE toilet paper. Mary learned more than she ever needed to about the color, grammage, weight, fiber, and absorption of the stuff, and notes "If your anus is as securely clamped as the anus of whoever is in charge of 'toilet tissue used as a component of operational rations', ASTM D-3905, you probably don't need much."
"On a long sortie out of Diego Garcia island, the only crew member capable of operating the plane's defensive equipment abruptly left his post to use the chemical toilet -- while flying over Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. On the return flight, a faulty seal combined with the pressure differential between the toilet's tiered chambers caused the contents to spew into the crew cabin. "Be assured", he deadpanned, "this blue-brown precipitation affected the navigator's ability to concentrate on his duties"".
I casually opened the book and happened upon this: "Chapter 8 - Leaky Seals: Diarrhea as a threat to national security." And now I can't stop reading about IBS and cholera and MRE toilet paper. Mary learned more than she ever needed to about the color, grammage, weight, fiber, and absorption of the stuff, and notes "If your anus is as securely clamped as the anus of whoever is in charge of 'toilet tissue used as a component of operational rations', ASTM D-3905, you probably don't need much."
"On a long sortie out of Diego Garcia island, the only crew member capable of operating the plane's defensive equipment abruptly left his post to use the chemical toilet -- while flying over Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. On the return flight, a faulty seal combined with the pressure differential between the toilet's tiered chambers caused the contents to spew into the crew cabin. "Be assured", he deadpanned, "this blue-brown precipitation affected the navigator's ability to concentrate on his duties"".
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (jR7Wy)
69
I asked this on every book thread since I've never had a response. I am not a big Sci Fi fan but one of my all time favorite fun read books is Armor by John Steakley .
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (MNgU2)
70
There's a lot of corruption in the legal system. Private jails, and judges being bribed to fill them. That's not going to change anytime soon.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 09:58 AM (rDxLs)
71
Crossing Nebraska day before yesterday, eastbound I-80, a little past Grand Island, the Colorado border way behind me, I see a pair of orange warning signs.
"Drug Dog Ahead."
I think, did I read that right?
Then after a few miles more, "State police inspection point ahead. Expect delays."
Well, it must have been a ruse, because nothing was there.
But the signs indicate what I've experienced before, traveling east out of Colorado.
"Drug Dog Ahead."
I think, did I read that right?
Then after a few miles more, "State police inspection point ahead. Expect delays."
Well, it must have been a ruse, because nothing was there.
But the signs indicate what I've experienced before, traveling east out of Colorado.
Posted by: the littl shyning man at July 31, 2016 10:00 AM (gzBkl)
72
I think what be an unintended consequence of all of this is a new breed of hyper-aggressive prosecutor, as in the Duke Lacross and George Zimmerman cases, who will, in fact, indict a ham sandwich.
==============
Zimmerman wasnt indicted, remember? The DA canceled the scheduled GJ bc she didnt think she could get an indictment.
Anyway, an indictment is not a trial. Purpose is to determine if there is some proof (not proof beyond a reasonable doubt) of each element of a crime and some proof that the defendant did it.
Also, the purpose of mandatory minimum is to have consistency in sentencing. The ranges werent pulled out of people's butts, either.
==============
Zimmerman wasnt indicted, remember? The DA canceled the scheduled GJ bc she didnt think she could get an indictment.
Anyway, an indictment is not a trial. Purpose is to determine if there is some proof (not proof beyond a reasonable doubt) of each element of a crime and some proof that the defendant did it.
Also, the purpose of mandatory minimum is to have consistency in sentencing. The ranges werent pulled out of people's butts, either.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:00 AM (iQIUe)
73
Remove a particular ethnic group and America's crime, murder and incarceration rates are as good as, or better than, any in the world. We have an entire subculture that has been lead astray by a certain party dedicated to their enslavement. This must end.
Posted by: Grump928(C) denounces himself so you don't have to at July 31, 2016 10:00 AM (rwI+c)
74
Any of the Horde looking into real photography, here's my advice -
Get a tripod and a cable release, and use them for every shot.
I've done a few freehands, with the lighter cameras in good light with fast film, and I've managed to get away with it. Sometimes...... but there's no comparing the tripod shots.
Get a tripod and a cable release, and use them for every shot.
I've done a few freehands, with the lighter cameras in good light with fast film, and I've managed to get away with it. Sometimes...... but there's no comparing the tripod shots.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:00 AM (dYYDX)
75
47 In the middle of "God or Nothing" by Cardinal Robert Sarah (Or is it Robert Cardinal Sarah, which is a formation I have seen but never understood). Posted by: Tonestaple at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (VsZJP)
-----------------
My husband is reading that too, and likes it very much.
Robert Cardinal Sarah would be the formal (and correct) way to refer to him. It comes from the olden days when people referred to others by their first name and then occupation, before the widespread use of last names. So in the old days, he would have been "Robert, the Cardinal." But as there became more Roberts who were cardinals, he would therefore be "Robert, the Cardinal, Sarah" when last names began to be used.
So, let's say your first name is Joe. Early on, you would be Joe, the Moron. As more Joes became Morons, you would pick up your surname. So you would be Joe, the Moron, Tonestaple. Or, in today's parlance, Moron Joe Tonestaple.
-----------------
My husband is reading that too, and likes it very much.
Robert Cardinal Sarah would be the formal (and correct) way to refer to him. It comes from the olden days when people referred to others by their first name and then occupation, before the widespread use of last names. So in the old days, he would have been "Robert, the Cardinal." But as there became more Roberts who were cardinals, he would therefore be "Robert, the Cardinal, Sarah" when last names began to be used.
So, let's say your first name is Joe. Early on, you would be Joe, the Moron. As more Joes became Morons, you would pick up your surname. So you would be Joe, the Moron, Tonestaple. Or, in today's parlance, Moron Joe Tonestaple.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 10:02 AM (805dc)
76
Well, it must have been a ruse, because nothing was there.
The inspection point was on one of the exits shortly after the sign.
Getting criminals to self-select, if you will.
Well, it must have been a ruse, because nothing was there.
The inspection point was on one of the exits shortly after the sign.
Getting criminals to self-select, if you will.
Posted by: Mr. Peebles at July 31, 2016 10:02 AM (vP09u)
77
As a nation we are far younger than most western countries, we prolly have the highest rate of immigration of any western country, and we have a culture that embraces drug use and binge drinking
Of course we have the highest incarceration rate in the west
Of course we have the highest incarceration rate in the west
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:02 AM (zOTsN)
78
I currently have two male relatives (a brother and a cousin) that are convicted felons. One spent about 6 years in prison and the other (my cousin) will probably be locked up for a couple of decades, thanks to my aunt and uncle hiring a completely incompetent attorney (it involved an organized theft ring and my cousin pretty much took the fall for the whole thing).
Warehouses for Stupid People. That is what our prison system really is. We have a large portion of the population that is literally too fucking dumb to follow the simple rules of society ("Wow dude, so, like, having a kilo of cocaine in my car is illegal? Who knew?")
Warehouses for Stupid People. That is what our prison system really is. We have a large portion of the population that is literally too fucking dumb to follow the simple rules of society ("Wow dude, so, like, having a kilo of cocaine in my car is illegal? Who knew?")
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:02 AM (b5yHT)
79
There is little sense comparing the US to say, Switzerland"
Well, there goes the Bern candidacy plans...
But yes, it's completely foolish to compare "rates" across such populations. Doesn't stop those who wish to lecture others, though.
BTW, note that several Euro crime data sets mysteriously stop/disappear/suffer from severe editing post 2013.
I'd wonder why, but that would just expose me as some sort of conspiracy crank...
Heh.
Well, there goes the Bern candidacy plans...
But yes, it's completely foolish to compare "rates" across such populations. Doesn't stop those who wish to lecture others, though.
BTW, note that several Euro crime data sets mysteriously stop/disappear/suffer from severe editing post 2013.
I'd wonder why, but that would just expose me as some sort of conspiracy crank...
Heh.
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 10:03 AM (C9pBZ)
80
Against all odds, the three meet and uncover a Christian fundamentalist's plot to destroy the 'hedonists' of San Francisco.
Sounds like the author is in need of a good dose of karma. May she believe her own lies and wander the streets of Cologne, alone on New Year's eve.
Sounds like the author is in need of a good dose of karma. May she believe her own lies and wander the streets of Cologne, alone on New Year's eve.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 10:03 AM (rDxLs)
81
Everybody in prison is innocent don't you know.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:04 AM (MNgU2)
82
European stats are all spun to get the most favorable result to be able to lie to their own population and turn their nose up at the United States. Look at infant mortality rates for one example.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (MNgU2)
83
I am happy about the war on drugs. If you lived thru the 70s, 80s, early 90s, you would have seen how drugs and the violence and crime associated with them devastated communities.
I am happy about the war on drugs. If you lived thru the 70s, 80s, early 90s, you would have seen how drugs and the violence and crime associated with them devastated communities.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (iQIUe)
84
Joe Hallenbeck.
I've read "Armor". Thought it was okay. It is essentially two stories and jumps back and forth between them. I prefered the armor combat portion similar to "Starship Troopers" by Heinlein. Your opinion may differ.
I preferred Stakeley's "Vampire$" To "Armor".
I've read "Armor". Thought it was okay. It is essentially two stories and jumps back and forth between them. I prefered the armor combat portion similar to "Starship Troopers" by Heinlein. Your opinion may differ.
I preferred Stakeley's "Vampire$" To "Armor".
Posted by: Darth Randall at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (6n332)
85
69 I asked this on every book thread since I've never had a response. I am not a big Sci Fi fan but one of my all time favorite fun read books is Armor by John Steakley .
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (MNgU2)
It has pretty positive reviews on Amazon. Looks interesting. I'll check it out some time.
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (MNgU2)
It has pretty positive reviews on Amazon. Looks interesting. I'll check it out some time.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (3ZoRf)
86
Didn't get a lot of reading done this week. I did read a collection of Oscar Wilde short stories, including "The Canterville Ghost." Fun stuff, riding the edge of whimsical without being twee.
One thing a lot of modern portrayals of Wilde miss is his obviously devout Christianity. He seems to get shoehorned into the role of "bitchy old queer guy" but I don't think that's correct.
One thing a lot of modern portrayals of Wilde miss is his obviously devout Christianity. He seems to get shoehorned into the role of "bitchy old queer guy" but I don't think that's correct.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (dhjcf)
87
Got to post and run. Today is just not my day. First company and now wifey wants house cleaning. Will come back later and read the comments.
Working
on the last book of the Wen Spenser Alien Taste series. It's a good
read in the SF action venue. Amazon has the whole 4 book series for $31
so it is reasonably priced.
Working
on the last book of the Wen Spenser Alien Taste series. It's a good
read in the SF action venue. Amazon has the whole 4 book series for $31
so it is reasonably priced.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 10:07 AM (mpXpK)
88
wander the streets of Cologne, alone on New Year's eve."
I think you mean "by herself" instead of "alone"...
and sure, NYE works fine, but if she misses that, perhaps a solo stroll on the last PM of Ramadan?
I think you mean "by herself" instead of "alone"...
and sure, NYE works fine, but if she misses that, perhaps a solo stroll on the last PM of Ramadan?
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 10:07 AM (C9pBZ)
89
"Three Felonies a Day", Harvey Silverglate
"Rise of the Warrior Cop", Radley Balko
The problem is mala in se crime (crime that is evil in nature, like theft, assault, rape, murder) versus mala prohibita "crime" ( nanny-staters telling other folks what is best for them, and throwing them in jail for not behaving "properly").
Remember, the assault on American liberty began with Prohibition with progressives and temperance folks joining up with corrupt politicians (baptists and bootleggers) to say it is OK to kick in somebody's door over a beer.
Make it simple, jail is ONLY for mala in se crime.
The War on Drugs is stupid; it has had no effect on drug use, and it wastes police resources, but most importantly your own door can be kicked in for a joint.
"Rise of the Warrior Cop", Radley Balko
The problem is mala in se crime (crime that is evil in nature, like theft, assault, rape, murder) versus mala prohibita "crime" ( nanny-staters telling other folks what is best for them, and throwing them in jail for not behaving "properly").
Remember, the assault on American liberty began with Prohibition with progressives and temperance folks joining up with corrupt politicians (baptists and bootleggers) to say it is OK to kick in somebody's door over a beer.
Make it simple, jail is ONLY for mala in se crime.
The War on Drugs is stupid; it has had no effect on drug use, and it wastes police resources, but most importantly your own door can be kicked in for a joint.
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 10:07 AM (swEzU)
90
The '"War on Drugs" needs to end. Decriminalize, take the profits out of the drugs, gangs and cartels go away, lots of police go away, jails empty out, and treat the addicted and educate people about the dangers of drug addiction with the money saved.
Let the police worry about the real criminals like Hillary the Extortionist and Billy Jeff the Rapist, and muggers and thieves and the rest of the democrat party.
Let the police worry about the real criminals like Hillary the Extortionist and Billy Jeff the Rapist, and muggers and thieves and the rest of the democrat party.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 10:08 AM (ej1L0)
91
I do often hear or read that there are too many people in prisons. Yet it is also painfully obvious that there are too many people who have committed horrible crimes that are let out - for example, all the stories about the illegals who murder and rape and yet are let out to go and do the same again.
I wonder if it is too easy to get convictions on certain white-collar or other lesser crimes while too difficult to get long enough prison sentences for hard-boiled criminals. I really don't know.
I wonder if it is too easy to get convictions on certain white-collar or other lesser crimes while too difficult to get long enough prison sentences for hard-boiled criminals. I really don't know.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 10:08 AM (805dc)
92
Gotta go do some real world running around.
Catch y'all later.
Catch y'all later.
Posted by: @votermom at July 31, 2016 10:08 AM (7lVbc)
93
I'm going to be highly un-PC here for a moment: how do incarceration rates for white Americans compare with European rates? And how do rates for black Americans match up with Africa (might have to be crime rates rather than jail rates, since a lot of African countries don't have very effective justice systems)? And Hispanics here vs. Mexico?
Because America seems to be a white European country with sections of Mexico and Africa pasted into it.
Because America seems to be a white European country with sections of Mexico and Africa pasted into it.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:09 AM (dhjcf)
94
If I were King my prison system would have prisons separated by the crime committed. The rehabilitation programs would then be applied appropriately.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:10 AM (MNgU2)
95
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I seem to be in the midst of a confluence of medieval literature, the rise of progressivism, and the astonishing importance of CS Lewis, Tolkien, and Chesterton. It started with trying to better understand 'Paradise Lost' which led to Lewis' book on it. Then the book 'A Hobbit, A Wardrobe and a Great War' and , somewhat related, 'The Devil's Pleasure Palace' which the goodreads group is doing for August. These discuss how Lewis and company rose above the flood of progressive attitude to reemphasize the importance of earlier literature and the philosophy behind them. Add in other works by Milton, 'The Faerie Queen', Dante's Inferno, and others. I haven't read them all cover to cover but their importance to literature and life is becoming more apparent with every line.
Very briefly (I know, too late) and superficially, progressivism is concerned with improving 'mankind' but cares less about the individual. In fact, the individual is an impediment or at best a useful idiot, to be denigrated on the way to a secular, centralized utopia. Lewis and the others reintroduced the importance of individuals and the influences that make them matter.
Sorry for the wall of words. Believe me, I cut it way back. There are worlds of material for contemplation here.
Very briefly (I know, too late) and superficially, progressivism is concerned with improving 'mankind' but cares less about the individual. In fact, the individual is an impediment or at best a useful idiot, to be denigrated on the way to a secular, centralized utopia. Lewis and the others reintroduced the importance of individuals and the influences that make them matter.
Sorry for the wall of words. Believe me, I cut it way back. There are worlds of material for contemplation here.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 10:10 AM (V+03K)
96
I follow a few of these death penalty cases. ProTip: watching a documentary or reading bullshite from an advocacy group is no substitute for reading the actual opinions and findings of fact. These groups and documentaries lie their asses off. Reason is a big offender as is Reprieve and the Innocence Project. The latest lefty darlings are:
Linda Carty - guilty
Robert Pruett - guilty
Hank Skinner - guilty
Rodney Reed - guilty
Linda Carty - guilty
Robert Pruett - guilty
Hank Skinner - guilty
Rodney Reed - guilty
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:12 AM (iQIUe)
97
I love that photo at the top of the post. Like the Library of Congress, it expresses the glory that books and learning and personal improvement should mean to a culture. Interesting and sad that they aren't being made anymore.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 10:14 AM (V+03K)
98
Look at infant mortality rates for one example."
Indeed. The Mrs mouse was involved in that very field back in the day, and ran across the differences in calculation.
There was one attempt a few years back to "normalize" some of the data sets, but it died a quick death when the US matched (or even led) W. Europe and Canada.
So much for "big data"
Indeed. The Mrs mouse was involved in that very field back in the day, and ran across the differences in calculation.
There was one attempt a few years back to "normalize" some of the data sets, but it died a quick death when the US matched (or even led) W. Europe and Canada.
So much for "big data"
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 10:14 AM (C9pBZ)
99
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:06 AM (dhjcf)
Oscar Wilde - The only thing I cannot resist is temptation.
Oscar Wilde - The only thing I cannot resist is temptation.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:14 AM (MNgU2)
100
Shoot, forgot
"Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition", Daniel Okrent
This one goes into great detail about the political processes that led up to Prohibition.
I never thought I could despise FDR more until I read that book
"Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition", Daniel Okrent
This one goes into great detail about the political processes that led up to Prohibition.
I never thought I could despise FDR more until I read that book
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 10:14 AM (swEzU)
101
Heterogenous populations do not share mores and culture Ina uniform way and therefore have more crime
Hence the "Do not grope" "Do not defecate in pool" fliers in Germany, complete with pictures and diagrams.
Maybe we need to print out "Do not drive drunk" fliers for the benefit of our Mexican illegals. Homogeneity is starting to sound like a nice option, at this point.
Hence the "Do not grope" "Do not defecate in pool" fliers in Germany, complete with pictures and diagrams.
Maybe we need to print out "Do not drive drunk" fliers for the benefit of our Mexican illegals. Homogeneity is starting to sound like a nice option, at this point.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 10:15 AM (rDxLs)
102
[The company's clearing house. ]
AAAAAGGHHHHH! I'm going to get back to my Stalin biography this morning and STAY there. Nothing like a good book (I hope) to get one away from a Twitter war on an early Sunday morning.
AAAAAGGHHHHH! I'm going to get back to my Stalin biography this morning and STAY there. Nothing like a good book (I hope) to get one away from a Twitter war on an early Sunday morning.
Posted by: iforgot says God bless Fleegle at July 31, 2016 10:15 AM (5o5ek)
103
I'm also just finishing up Leviathan Wakes, by "James S.A. Corey", the first book of the series which has become the TV show The Expanse.
It's a fun space opera, not as sciencey as I'd like, slightly repetitive in places (the book has two viewpoint characters, and sometimes we get the same scene from different angles, but the characters aren't actually different enough to make that an interesting device).
There's a lot of standard furniture in it: the inevitable Evil Corporation, a Burned-Out Tough Cop, a Stalwart Space Captain, etc.
Graded strictly as a science fiction novel, it's a B+ or A- effort. The fact that it has become such a massive hit should suggest to publishers that maybe they've been failing to satisfy audience demand.
It's a fun space opera, not as sciencey as I'd like, slightly repetitive in places (the book has two viewpoint characters, and sometimes we get the same scene from different angles, but the characters aren't actually different enough to make that an interesting device).
There's a lot of standard furniture in it: the inevitable Evil Corporation, a Burned-Out Tough Cop, a Stalwart Space Captain, etc.
Graded strictly as a science fiction novel, it's a B+ or A- effort. The fact that it has become such a massive hit should suggest to publishers that maybe they've been failing to satisfy audience demand.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:16 AM (dhjcf)
104
(Read Dick Morris jokes, gives OM an arch look.)
Read Starship Grifters (Rex Nihilo #1) by Robert Kroese, Very funny wacky space adventure starring the grifter Tex Nihilo and his
robot sidekick Sarah. Rex wins a planet in a card game but all is not what it seems.
Also read Mercury Falls (Mercury #1) by the same author, where a 37-year-old videogame-playing dweller of his mom's attic turns out to be the anti-Christ. Religion journalist Christine gets pulled into this tongue-in-cheek impending apocalypse with various demonic and angelic personalities including a cherub named Mercury. Not as funny as Grifters but entertaining.
Read Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor where Falstaff sends identical love letters to two married women. They decide to have fun with him while the husbands are out for blood. It was OK but may play better onstage than onpage.
Read Starship Grifters (Rex Nihilo #1) by Robert Kroese, Very funny wacky space adventure starring the grifter Tex Nihilo and his
robot sidekick Sarah. Rex wins a planet in a card game but all is not what it seems.
Also read Mercury Falls (Mercury #1) by the same author, where a 37-year-old videogame-playing dweller of his mom's attic turns out to be the anti-Christ. Religion journalist Christine gets pulled into this tongue-in-cheek impending apocalypse with various demonic and angelic personalities including a cherub named Mercury. Not as funny as Grifters but entertaining.
Read Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor where Falstaff sends identical love letters to two married women. They decide to have fun with him while the husbands are out for blood. It was OK but may play better onstage than onpage.
Posted by: waelse1 at July 31, 2016 10:17 AM (IGchI)
105
When Stalin is your refuge from the world...
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 10:17 AM (jR7Wy)
106
how do incarceration rates for white Americans compare with European rates"
Again with questions one should not ask...
Fairly close, IIRC. Even closer when the data set is "White Americans of European ancestry" .
But that's raceyss, so no, no real research in the past decade or so
Again with questions one should not ask...
Fairly close, IIRC. Even closer when the data set is "White Americans of European ancestry" .
But that's raceyss, so no, no real research in the past decade or so
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 10:17 AM (C9pBZ)
107
The rise in prison population tracks uniformly with the increase in single parent households. The greatest predictor of incarceration is growing up in a house without a father.
Posted by: IanDeal at July 31, 2016 10:18 AM (teGBX)
108
Yuimetal -
Forget about the flyers. A good many of them are illiterate in any language, and wouldn't care in any case.
Forget about the flyers. A good many of them are illiterate in any language, and wouldn't care in any case.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:18 AM (WUOv+)
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 10:19 AM (C9pBZ)
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:19 AM (MNgU2)
111
Crime rates have also been going down as incarceration rates have gone up, so there's that.
Posted by: JohnJ at July 31, 2016 10:19 AM (TF/YA)
112
Attention to all you pot-heads and meth-freaks. If you believe it should be legal to use drugs, then work to change the laws or move to a place where no one gives a shit (I, for one, have no problem with Colorado and Washington having legalized pot. It's their state, their laws)
However, just saying "well, fuck the law, I'll do what I want", especially when it comes to shoving most of your paycheck up your nose gets you zero sympathy from me.
But apparently expecting people to actually obey the law is just crazy talk for out-of-touch old people. I guess I'm the sucker for all these years. Kind of disappointed to see this attitude infecting this particular website.....
However, just saying "well, fuck the law, I'll do what I want", especially when it comes to shoving most of your paycheck up your nose gets you zero sympathy from me.
But apparently expecting people to actually obey the law is just crazy talk for out-of-touch old people. I guess I'm the sucker for all these years. Kind of disappointed to see this attitude infecting this particular website.....
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
113
Stalin was big on confessions. They would torture it out of people. Once they confessed they were tried within a day or two and shot the next. If people refused to confess, they were often tortured to death. People would often confess with a promise their family would be spared. They would kill them anyway. Teenaged children were not spared, either and be shot. Young kids would end up in state orphanages for the enemies of the state. As you can guess it, their treatment was abysmal.
In medieval/renaissance England, if you confessed, all your property was seized and your family was left destitute. If you refused to confess, they couldnt take away your property, but of course, you died under torture. They were really into breaking backs.
There is a scene in The Tudors where a cook who poisoned a bunch of people in order to get dowries for his daughters, reused to confess and was boiled in oil.
Stalin was big on confessions. They would torture it out of people. Once they confessed they were tried within a day or two and shot the next. If people refused to confess, they were often tortured to death. People would often confess with a promise their family would be spared. They would kill them anyway. Teenaged children were not spared, either and be shot. Young kids would end up in state orphanages for the enemies of the state. As you can guess it, their treatment was abysmal.
In medieval/renaissance England, if you confessed, all your property was seized and your family was left destitute. If you refused to confess, they couldnt take away your property, but of course, you died under torture. They were really into breaking backs.
There is a scene in The Tudors where a cook who poisoned a bunch of people in order to get dowries for his daughters, reused to confess and was boiled in oil.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (iQIUe)
114
Another content-rich Book Thread. Thanks, OM!
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2016 10:21 AM (9mTYi)
115
TANSTAAFL also means 'There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.' The phrase has linkage to Robert Heinlein and Milton Friedman.
So they have that going for them also. Bought the Kindle version of Lady Hornet and found it a fun read. 457 pages later finished it. Super heroes and super villains in New York City. Human beings making mistakes and trying to make amends. Love and danger. Plus cultural references; for example the super hero Kid Genius rides a hoverboard and calls his favorite gadget a sonic screwdriver.
So they have that going for them also. Bought the Kindle version of Lady Hornet and found it a fun read. 457 pages later finished it. Super heroes and super villains in New York City. Human beings making mistakes and trying to make amends. Love and danger. Plus cultural references; for example the super hero Kid Genius rides a hoverboard and calls his favorite gadget a sonic screwdriver.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:22 AM (3d5xg)
116
Speaking off books (of a sort) I'm going to a comic book show down by the airport. I usually get some good buys there. Play nice.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 10:22 AM (7qAYi)
117
Stereotypes? What Stereotypes?
***
The odd thing about Christians and politics, is that if Christians approached politics as the left claims they do...like Muslims do...this country would be significantly more Christian politically. So when the left writes these sort of books, I wonder if in some small way they know they have gone to far, and know that this would be one way to rein them in....
***
The odd thing about Christians and politics, is that if Christians approached politics as the left claims they do...like Muslims do...this country would be significantly more Christian politically. So when the left writes these sort of books, I wonder if in some small way they know they have gone to far, and know that this would be one way to rein them in....
Posted by: 18-1 at July 31, 2016 10:22 AM (pibXr)
118
Yeah, the prison system kinda blows. Got killed for cutting the heads off of parking meters. Got to eat 50 eggs though on a bet.
Posted by: Zombie Cool Hand Luke at July 31, 2016 10:23 AM (JO9+V)
119
One thing a lot of modern portrayals of Wilde miss is his obviously devout Christianity. He seems to get shoehorned into the role of "bitchy old queer guy" but I don't think that's correct.
Posted by: Trimegistus
If he doesn't agree with its rather clear articulation of sexual ethics, how devout could he be? A lot of homosexuals claim to be Christian, and "love Jesus", but seem to be doing it mostly to further the Cause. Kind of like the Muslim father at the DNC claiming to love the Constitution.
Posted by: Trimegistus
If he doesn't agree with its rather clear articulation of sexual ethics, how devout could he be? A lot of homosexuals claim to be Christian, and "love Jesus", but seem to be doing it mostly to further the Cause. Kind of like the Muslim father at the DNC claiming to love the Constitution.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 10:23 AM (rDxLs)
120
I think the prison population is growing for a number of reasons but one of the main ones IMO is as old as history itself. Idle hands are the devil's workshop.
Unemployment of the black male is a recipe for disaster. Of course that brings up the egg or chicken debate.
Unemployment of the black male is a recipe for disaster. Of course that brings up the egg or chicken debate.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:23 AM (MNgU2)
121
G'morn, bookkeepers. I'm just back at Vic's news, but thought I'd drop a hello here anyway. It's like being in two temporal dimensions simultaneously. Sorta kinda not really. Hello.
Posted by: mindful webworker - slowly I turned, word by word, page by page... at July 31, 2016 10:24 AM (JWzxO)
122
Maria Bartoromo just shredded the CT governor citing the DNC downing Bernie and the Dem platform's bullshit.
Posted by: the littl shyning man at July 31, 2016 10:24 AM (gzBkl)
123
116 Speaking off books (of a sort) I'm going to a comic book show down by the airport. I usually get some good buys there. Play nice.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 10:22 AM (7qAYi)
---
I misread this as "comic book showdown". Much better mental imagery.
Posted by: josephistan at July 31, 2016 10:22 AM (7qAYi)
---
I misread this as "comic book showdown". Much better mental imagery.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 10:25 AM (jR7Wy)
124
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
No infection. Same posters whenever this conversation comes up.
No infection. Same posters whenever this conversation comes up.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:26 AM (MNgU2)
125
>>I wonder if it is too easy to get convictions on certain white-collar or other lesser crimes while too difficult to get long enough prison sentences for hard-boiled criminals. I really don't know.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 10:08 AM (805dc)
It's probably a lot easier to convict people for things with a paper trail, and caught in the act stuff like drugs in the car, than for rape or murder, if the criminal is the least bit smart. They don't even look for petty thieves.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 10:08 AM (805dc)
It's probably a lot easier to convict people for things with a paper trail, and caught in the act stuff like drugs in the car, than for rape or murder, if the criminal is the least bit smart. They don't even look for petty thieves.
Posted by: Lea at July 31, 2016 10:26 AM (fzFHR)
126
Hairyback guy
The very best rehab centers in the country still have a 50 to 60 percent relapse rate, especially among young people
The number one drug that young people are addicted to now is smoking Heroin. They started with pot, they ended with heroin. And it isn't because they got prescribed Oxy first and got hooked
Pot is no longer the Mexican cartels cash cow. Too much competition. So they are pushing Mexican brown heroin a to terrific result
Should the government get in the business of selling heroin? When we send all these people, millions of them,to rehab and they relapse, then what? One month of rehab is about 40,000$. Did you know that? And most need far more than 30 days. 30 days is just enough to detox but not enough to change
I like the use of specialized "drug courts" to handle some users. But that's about it
The very best rehab centers in the country still have a 50 to 60 percent relapse rate, especially among young people
The number one drug that young people are addicted to now is smoking Heroin. They started with pot, they ended with heroin. And it isn't because they got prescribed Oxy first and got hooked
Pot is no longer the Mexican cartels cash cow. Too much competition. So they are pushing Mexican brown heroin a to terrific result
Should the government get in the business of selling heroin? When we send all these people, millions of them,to rehab and they relapse, then what? One month of rehab is about 40,000$. Did you know that? And most need far more than 30 days. 30 days is just enough to detox but not enough to change
I like the use of specialized "drug courts" to handle some users. But that's about it
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:27 AM (zOTsN)
127
Since conspiracy theories were mentioned, I ran into a "Flat-earther" for the first time last week. I eventually had to tell her I thought she was completely crazy and to stop talking to me since I had made the mistake of smiling and nodding when she first started talking to me.
The scariest part? I don't disagree with her on *everything* (I agree that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as possibly paranoid
.
The scariest part? I don't disagree with her on *everything* (I agree that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as possibly paranoid
.Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2016 10:28 AM (xoTYj)
128
CS Lewis wrote in a book I cannot remember the name of, that a nation's level of lawlessness can be determined by the number of its laws.
Laws are what is used to try to restrain and control a people who are not restrained and controlled from within by virtue.
Laws are what is used to try to restrain and control a people who are not restrained and controlled from within by virtue.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 31, 2016 10:29 AM (39g3+)
129
Wilde knew he was a sinner.
Also, how much did he actually sin? Again, there's this assumption that because he was gay he must have acted like the incredibly promiscuous queers of modern San Francisco, with a different boy in bed every night. I don't think that's accurate. He fooled around with Lord Alfred Douglas, and probably Robert Ross, but by modern queer standards he was practically celibate.
Also, how much did he actually sin? Again, there's this assumption that because he was gay he must have acted like the incredibly promiscuous queers of modern San Francisco, with a different boy in bed every night. I don't think that's accurate. He fooled around with Lord Alfred Douglas, and probably Robert Ross, but by modern queer standards he was practically celibate.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:30 AM (dhjcf)
130
But apparently expecting people to actually obey the law is just crazy talk for out-of-touch old people. I guess I'm the sucker for all these years. Kind of disappointed to see this attitude infecting this particular website.....
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
There used to be a time when "laws" were made out of the common sense need to make society safe and orderly for the majority of the people in it. Nowadays "laws" are made to shut down competition, supply graft and grift to those who pass them and apply only to those persons unable to afford or too stupid to employ protection. So yes, many laws today are being ignored. Like our "Immigration" and "Security Clearance" laws to name a few......
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
There used to be a time when "laws" were made out of the common sense need to make society safe and orderly for the majority of the people in it. Nowadays "laws" are made to shut down competition, supply graft and grift to those who pass them and apply only to those persons unable to afford or too stupid to employ protection. So yes, many laws today are being ignored. Like our "Immigration" and "Security Clearance" laws to name a few......
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 10:30 AM (ej1L0)
131
Picked up a remaindered copy of Soda Pop Soldier by Nick Cole (same guy that wrote CTRL-ALT-Revolt). The premise is quite interesting: future mega corporations fight digital battles for prime advertising spots. The protagonist is a professional gamer playing for ColaCorp that uncovers a plot to manipulate the world's economy and ends up on the run.
The book starts out strong with a lot of digital combat and the Colonial Marines from Aliens make an appearance. The ending is a bit rushed and the bad guy is presumed to have made his escape in a colony ship.
Some loose ends don't seem to be tied-up to my liking, but, over-all a decent read. I give it 3.5-4.0 out of 5.0.
The book starts out strong with a lot of digital combat and the Colonial Marines from Aliens make an appearance. The ending is a bit rushed and the bad guy is presumed to have made his escape in a colony ship.
Some loose ends don't seem to be tied-up to my liking, but, over-all a decent read. I give it 3.5-4.0 out of 5.0.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at July 31, 2016 10:31 AM (5Yee7)
132
Totes off topic, but Chris Wallace was just interviewing Granny Clinton.
He had her pinned down on the e-mail thing, cutting in and out of questions by Trey Gowdy with Comey, and Clinton outright lying, but then he let off the gas and moved on.
She cackled a lot.
He had her pinned down on the e-mail thing, cutting in and out of questions by Trey Gowdy with Comey, and Clinton outright lying, but then he let off the gas and moved on.
She cackled a lot.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative...pondering the future at July 31, 2016 10:31 AM (S6Pax)
133
126 Man, wouldn't that be a hell of a way to control the population. I mean, if a government was ever interested in such a thing.
Posted by: Weasel at July 31, 2016 10:31 AM (zNvaH)
134
Oregon Muse, that Transformed story set in SF. Sounds like the author took the main plot from the Dragnet movie and played with it.
PAGAN -> People Against Goodness And Normalcy.
PAGAN -> People Against Goodness And Normalcy.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:32 AM (3d5xg)
135
We're reading "This House of Sky" by Ivan Doig. It's a gritty account of growing up in Montana during the 40's and 50's. In the forward, he talks about submitting his first draft to his publisher. He thought the text was going to get chopped up beyond all recognition. She changed 3 words.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at July 31, 2016 10:32 AM (SeD0w)
136
A good polity would have few laws and change them seldom because they should just reflect what the vast majority of the citizenry are going to do anyway.
Posted by: Grump928(C) denounces himself so you don't have to at July 31, 2016 10:32 AM (rwI+c)
137
hairyback guy
The people in prison for drug use did something else. Assault no theft. Murder.
It's not as simple as you suggest
The people in prison for drug use did something else. Assault no theft. Murder.
It's not as simple as you suggest
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:33 AM (zOTsN)
138
From Voter Mom links earlier in the week, two submission deadlines are today.
Calliope - http://talnexus.com/calliope-authors-workshop/
Cisco Writers Club - http://www.ciscowritersclub.org/contest/
Calliope - http://talnexus.com/calliope-authors-workshop/
Cisco Writers Club - http://www.ciscowritersclub.org/contest/
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:34 AM (3d5xg)
139
Combining two topics (drugs and deviance) mentioned above -
I used to work in a place where practically everyone was a pot smoker. I'm not; whatever. But when word got out that I don't use marijuana, I noticed that my coworkers started to stigmatize my non-use.
(It wasn't a big deal, and my coworkers weren't what I'd call political - just something I noticed.)
I used to work in a place where practically everyone was a pot smoker. I'm not; whatever. But when word got out that I don't use marijuana, I noticed that my coworkers started to stigmatize my non-use.
(It wasn't a big deal, and my coworkers weren't what I'd call political - just something I noticed.)
Posted by: FireHorse at July 31, 2016 10:34 AM (qF2sM)
140
The court system expects people to have relapses.
Some of these luxury rehabs are cash cows and not very serious. One in LA was in the news because they had several rich clients OD on the premises. They were bending the rules for the wealthy and it has disastrous effects.
The rehab Scott Disick went to in Malibu doesnt even use the 12 step program. Whatever you feel about 12 step, the people who are in it will call out their fellow addicts since they are wise to all the tricks and lies addicts tell themselves. So, that alone makes it therapeutic.
The court system expects people to have relapses.
Some of these luxury rehabs are cash cows and not very serious. One in LA was in the news because they had several rich clients OD on the premises. They were bending the rules for the wealthy and it has disastrous effects.
The rehab Scott Disick went to in Malibu doesnt even use the 12 step program. Whatever you feel about 12 step, the people who are in it will call out their fellow addicts since they are wise to all the tricks and lies addicts tell themselves. So, that alone makes it therapeutic.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:35 AM (iQIUe)
141
"Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition", Daniel Okrent
This one goes into great detail about the political processes that led up to Prohibition.
Wait, did you say Daniel Okrent? Is that the same Okrent who was "public editor" of the NY Times a few years ago? The public editor who once said "gee maybe conservatives who say this newspaper is liberally biased might, maybe, ever so slightly, have a point" and then lost his job afterwards?
This one goes into great detail about the political processes that led up to Prohibition.
Wait, did you say Daniel Okrent? Is that the same Okrent who was "public editor" of the NY Times a few years ago? The public editor who once said "gee maybe conservatives who say this newspaper is liberally biased might, maybe, ever so slightly, have a point" and then lost his job afterwards?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:35 AM (Dq9FL)
142
You may be surprised at the number of the laws on the books which are no longer enforced. It's continues to be one step forward , one step back.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:36 AM (MNgU2)
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2016 10:36 AM (9mTYi)
144
Should the government get in the business of selling heroin? When we send all these people, millions of them,to rehab and they relapse, then what? One month of rehab is about 40,000$. Did you know that? And most need far more than 30 days. 30 days is just enough to detox but not enough to change
I like the use of specialized "drug courts" to handle some users. But that's about it
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:27 AM (zOTsN)
Good points!...the government should not be in the business of selling anything. Rehab is not for everyone and you will always have a certain percent of people your gonna lose no matter what you do. But continuing the "War on Drugs" is not the answer.
I like the use of specialized "drug courts" to handle some users. But that's about it
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:27 AM (zOTsN)
Good points!...the government should not be in the business of selling anything. Rehab is not for everyone and you will always have a certain percent of people your gonna lose no matter what you do. But continuing the "War on Drugs" is not the answer.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 10:37 AM (ej1L0)
145
Hazelden in MN and CA have a very good, rigorous program and incorporate the 12 step program as well
40k a month
40k a month
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 10:38 AM (zOTsN)
146
128 CS Lewis wrote in a book I cannot remember the name of, that a nation's level of lawlessness can be determined by the number of its laws.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 31, 2016 10:29 AM (39g3+)
Nitpick: I don't recognize this as a Lewis quote. Sounds more like Chesterton.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 31, 2016 10:29 AM (39g3+)
Nitpick: I don't recognize this as a Lewis quote. Sounds more like Chesterton.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:39 AM (Dq9FL)
147
The scariest part? I don't disagree with her on *everything* (I agree that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as possibly paranoid .
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette
No you don't have to revisit that.
There's empirical evidence that the earth is a sphere. We don't need to rely on the government (via space probes) to know that.
Otoh, there is hard evidence, too numerous to cite that the government is a cesspool of turpitude and derpitude, so there is no reason to doubt that.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette
No you don't have to revisit that.
There's empirical evidence that the earth is a sphere. We don't need to rely on the government (via space probes) to know that.
Otoh, there is hard evidence, too numerous to cite that the government is a cesspool of turpitude and derpitude, so there is no reason to doubt that.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 10:39 AM (rDxLs)
148
Alas, it appears the Kindle edition of Posner's JFK book is now $9.49, not $2.99.
Posted by: AetherCzar at July 31, 2016 10:41 AM (NhF/Q)
149
Came to say "HI!" so I'll get OK'd over at the goodreads site. And while I'm here I'll point out that Eileen McGann is not just Dick Morris's co-author but also his wife. And she stuck with him while he was down at the heel. (OK that's not good but I tried!)
Posted by: jocon307 at July 31, 2016 10:41 AM (4WPdG)
Posted by: Arnold Peigmister at July 31, 2016 10:42 AM (0LmgR)
151
I've a theory that societies are molded by their drug of choice. For the first half of its history America was Liquor Country: specifically hard liquor. That encouraged a "work hard play hard" mentality, Prohibition movements, a tolerance for drunken fistfights, and a large established criminal class linked to political machines.
Beginning in the Sixties we turned into Pot Country. That encourages a "why work?" mentality, Zero-Tolerance policies, a tolerance for good-natured goofoffs, and a large established political radical class linked to media.
What will happen when we turn into Smack Nation? It will encourage a "whatever you can steal" mentality, lifelong monitoring, a tolerance for casual prostitution, and a large established class of dead people.
Beginning in the Sixties we turned into Pot Country. That encourages a "why work?" mentality, Zero-Tolerance policies, a tolerance for good-natured goofoffs, and a large established political radical class linked to media.
What will happen when we turn into Smack Nation? It will encourage a "whatever you can steal" mentality, lifelong monitoring, a tolerance for casual prostitution, and a large established class of dead people.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:43 AM (dhjcf)
152
Admittedly, my experience is out of date but anyone interested in using film should listen to Uncle Palpatine. He knows what he's talking about.
Besides, it's fun to really control all parts of the process.
Besides, it's fun to really control all parts of the process.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 10:45 AM (V+03K)
153
OT, but important -
My friend who was supposed to go ballooning yesterday in Lockhart finally answered. She waved off the planned flight the night before, since the forecast called for morning haze.
My friend who was supposed to go ballooning yesterday in Lockhart finally answered. She waved off the planned flight the night before, since the forecast called for morning haze.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:45 AM (UEViK)
154
93 I'm going to be highly un-PC here for a moment: how do incarceration rates for white Americans compare with European rates?...
Because America seems to be a white European country with sections of Mexico and Africa pasted into it.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:09 AM (dhjcf)
Some famous conservative (I think it might have been Milton Friedman) recounted discussions he'd used to get into with his liberal friends and they'd tell him how wonderful socialist Sweden was because the crime rate was so low, and his reply was "yes, that's right, the crime rate among Swedes here in America is equally low".
Because America seems to be a white European country with sections of Mexico and Africa pasted into it.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:09 AM (dhjcf)
Some famous conservative (I think it might have been Milton Friedman) recounted discussions he'd used to get into with his liberal friends and they'd tell him how wonderful socialist Sweden was because the crime rate was so low, and his reply was "yes, that's right, the crime rate among Swedes here in America is equally low".
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:46 AM (Dq9FL)
155
I was reading the courier chess link from yesterday's chess thread and found that it is a subset of a larger site, AncientChess.com.
http://ancientchess.com/index.htm
(autoplay video on the home page)
There are pages devoted to the original game, shatranj, which probably originated in India and spread to the Arab world, as well as several variants played in Asia. There are videos explaining the rules, and links to all sorts of beautiful and exotic sets and boards available for purchase.
I said yesterday that I would like to play the ancient game, shatranj. It must have been much slower than modern chess, and the strategies and tactics would have been very different. Since the odds of finding another human player with a similar interest are low, what I need is computer software that plays shatranj.
http://ancientchess.com/index.htm
(autoplay video on the home page)
There are pages devoted to the original game, shatranj, which probably originated in India and spread to the Arab world, as well as several variants played in Asia. There are videos explaining the rules, and links to all sorts of beautiful and exotic sets and boards available for purchase.
I said yesterday that I would like to play the ancient game, shatranj. It must have been much slower than modern chess, and the strategies and tactics would have been very different. Since the odds of finding another human player with a similar interest are low, what I need is computer software that plays shatranj.
Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 10:47 AM (sdi6R)
156
My buddy Stan and I were saved from ol' Sparky in Ala-kcufin-bama only due to the tenaciousness of our unrefined grit-eating attorney, the photos taken by his smoking hot girlfriend, and her expert automotive knowledge of the essential differences between a 1964 Buick Skylark convertible and a 1963 Pontiac Tempest, both available in identical metallic mint green GM paint and both shod with Michelin Model XGV tires, size 75-R-14, the most popular size of the most popular tire in the country.
Posted by: Bill Gambini at July 31, 2016 10:48 AM (JO9+V)
157
What will happen when we turn into Smack Nation? It will encourage a "whatever you can steal" mentality, lifelong monitoring, a tolerance for casual prostitution, and a large established class of dead people Democratic voters.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:43 AM (dhjcf)
Fixed.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:43 AM (dhjcf)
Fixed.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:48 AM (Dq9FL)
158
153
My friend who was supposed to go ballooning yesterday in Lockhart finally answered. She waved off the planned flight the night before, since the forecast called for morning haze.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:45 AM (UEViK)
That's good to hear. What a relief.
My friend who was supposed to go ballooning yesterday in Lockhart finally answered. She waved off the planned flight the night before, since the forecast called for morning haze.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:45 AM (UEViK)
That's good to hear. What a relief.
Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 10:48 AM (sdi6R)
159
Thank you for the kind words, JTB.
Much of what I know, I learned from a very good 'friend' of my mother's from her days as a single woman. He got to ne a mentor to me. The rest, from reading, and shooting as much film as possible, and noting the results. Lotta trial and error. ...
Much of what I know, I learned from a very good 'friend' of my mother's from her days as a single woman. He got to ne a mentor to me. The rest, from reading, and shooting as much film as possible, and noting the results. Lotta trial and error. ...
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 10:49 AM (UEViK)
160
We're reading "This House of Sky" by Ivan Doig. It's
a gritty account of growing up in Montana during the 40's and 50's. In
the forward, he talks about submitting his first draft to his publisher.
He thought the text was going to get chopped up beyond all recognition.
She changed 3 words.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at July 31, 2016 10:32 AM (SeD0w)
I read Ivan Doig's Sea Runners, which was about a couple of, I guess indentured workers, running from Russian Sitka by stealing a dugout canoe and traveling south to make it to British possessions near Vancouver.
It reminded me a lot of Walt Morey.
a gritty account of growing up in Montana during the 40's and 50's. In
the forward, he talks about submitting his first draft to his publisher.
He thought the text was going to get chopped up beyond all recognition.
She changed 3 words.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at July 31, 2016 10:32 AM (SeD0w)
I read Ivan Doig's Sea Runners, which was about a couple of, I guess indentured workers, running from Russian Sitka by stealing a dugout canoe and traveling south to make it to British possessions near Vancouver.
It reminded me a lot of Walt Morey.
Posted by: Kindltot at July 31, 2016 10:49 AM (ry34m)
161
Posted by: Bill Gambini at July 31, 2016 10:48 AM (JO9+V)
Oh yeah? Your honor, everything that man said is bullsh*t.
Oh yeah? Your honor, everything that man said is bullsh*t.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:50 AM (Dq9FL)
162
Kitchen assistant in Kuwait pees in the fruit juice of the infidels.
https://goo.gl/Y2RrHJ
=================
From now on, everything I drink in a restaurant I will insist be served in a can or a bottle.
https://goo.gl/Y2RrHJ
=================
From now on, everything I drink in a restaurant I will insist be served in a can or a bottle.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 10:50 AM (iQIUe)
163
Good points!...the government should not be in the
business of selling anything. Rehab is not for everyone and you will
always have a certain percent of people your gonna lose no matter what
you do. But continuing the "War on Drugs" is not the answer.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy
My niece and her former "boyfriend" were both heroin addicts and spent time in the graybar hotel. Her boyfriend was tied into some black drug gang in Cincinnati, and they were out in force in the little rural town during the time the trial was held. She has gone through re-hab, and appears to be staying clean and sober now. Her emotional development was stunted, and at 29, she is about as emotionally mature as a 19 year old. She married a guy with similar emotional pathologies, who has had four kids by four different women, one who is 18 now (he's 3
.
My 65 year old sister (her mother) is raising her two kids fathered by her boyfriend. Her husband (my BiL) fights deep depression about the whole thing by sometimes drinking too much.
Her oldest son (now 12) used to have night terrors because as a small child, he witnessed people in there house having heroin OD's. He's really a pretty good kid now. My sister and BiL saved him. Really.
I know two families personally that have lost their kids to heroin OD. There are a boatload more here, basically due to cheap brown heroin from Mexico, and the easy transit of the border by smugglers.
Obama and his policies of the open border helped ruin my niece's life (she was always a rebelious screw up) and helped kill countless kids through easy and cheap heroin.
Consider that 716 out of 100,000 people are incarcerated, helping to keep 99,284 people out of 100,000 semi-free to go about their lives in peace.
business of selling anything. Rehab is not for everyone and you will
always have a certain percent of people your gonna lose no matter what
you do. But continuing the "War on Drugs" is not the answer.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy
My niece and her former "boyfriend" were both heroin addicts and spent time in the graybar hotel. Her boyfriend was tied into some black drug gang in Cincinnati, and they were out in force in the little rural town during the time the trial was held. She has gone through re-hab, and appears to be staying clean and sober now. Her emotional development was stunted, and at 29, she is about as emotionally mature as a 19 year old. She married a guy with similar emotional pathologies, who has had four kids by four different women, one who is 18 now (he's 3
. My 65 year old sister (her mother) is raising her two kids fathered by her boyfriend. Her husband (my BiL) fights deep depression about the whole thing by sometimes drinking too much.
Her oldest son (now 12) used to have night terrors because as a small child, he witnessed people in there house having heroin OD's. He's really a pretty good kid now. My sister and BiL saved him. Really.
I know two families personally that have lost their kids to heroin OD. There are a boatload more here, basically due to cheap brown heroin from Mexico, and the easy transit of the border by smugglers.
Obama and his policies of the open border helped ruin my niece's life (she was always a rebelious screw up) and helped kill countless kids through easy and cheap heroin.
Consider that 716 out of 100,000 people are incarcerated, helping to keep 99,284 people out of 100,000 semi-free to go about their lives in peace.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative...pondering the future at July 31, 2016 10:51 AM (S6Pax)
164
In medieval/renaissance England, if you confessed, all your property was
seized and your family was left destitute. If you refused to confess,
they couldnt take away your property, but of course, you died under
torture. They were really into breaking backs.
=====
The man pressed to death as a 'witch' in the US endured and died to ensure that his property was not taken from his heirs.
Again, inquisitorial (civil) systems of law are so different from common law that my response is Houston, we have a problem -- especially with immigrants coming from civil systems. The whole concept of innocent until proven guilty is incomprehensible.
Insty has been publicizing the 'Ham Sandwich Nation' for years.
seized and your family was left destitute. If you refused to confess,
they couldnt take away your property, but of course, you died under
torture. They were really into breaking backs.
=====
The man pressed to death as a 'witch' in the US endured and died to ensure that his property was not taken from his heirs.
Again, inquisitorial (civil) systems of law are so different from common law that my response is Houston, we have a problem -- especially with immigrants coming from civil systems. The whole concept of innocent until proven guilty is incomprehensible.
Insty has been publicizing the 'Ham Sandwich Nation' for years.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 10:51 AM (MIKMs)
165
Should I pony up $5 to submit a short story to Cisco Writers Group???
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:51 AM (3d5xg)
166
OT but Morning Consult (?) had a poll out that shows Hillary with +3 over Trump but with a 36% Dem, 32% Ind and 30% Rep sample breakdown..and I am thinking aren't there more registered Ind these days? And with a +6% voter advantage, she is up only by 3%? Something is not computing.
Posted by: IC at July 31, 2016 10:53 AM (KTFfX)
167
Anna: no. Never pay.
You can get an absolutely FREE evaluation of your story from a real professional editor. Just submit it to a print or online magazine.
You can get an absolutely FREE evaluation of your story from a real professional editor. Just submit it to a print or online magazine.
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 10:54 AM (dhjcf)
168
This is a personal plea. Save the Hillary and Trump stuff for other threads.
Can't I have at least one safe harbor from that miasmatic onslaught? Is that too much to ask?
Can't I have at least one safe harbor from that miasmatic onslaught? Is that too much to ask?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM (3d5xg)
169
Up to volume 3 of The History of the English Speaking Peoples. I am at about chapter five. So far it has been "John Churchill was a badass."
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (tEDMc)
Winston Churchill was at pains to bury the earlier more critical assessment of his famous ancestor by Thomas Macaulay. He would later go on to write a four volume biography of Marlborough (reprinted in the U.S. in six volumes) to hammer his point home. There is also an abridged one volume version of this work, although it was somewhat controversial because it had to cut so much material to get down to the target length.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 09:48 AM (tEDMc)
Winston Churchill was at pains to bury the earlier more critical assessment of his famous ancestor by Thomas Macaulay. He would later go on to write a four volume biography of Marlborough (reprinted in the U.S. in six volumes) to hammer his point home. There is also an abridged one volume version of this work, although it was somewhat controversial because it had to cut so much material to get down to the target length.
Posted by: HTL at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM (81EcS)
170
Tri, the group is having a writing contest. The entry fee is $5.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM (3d5xg)
171
>>death as a 'witch' in the US endured and died to ensure that his property was not taken from his heirs.
The women who confessed to being witches were not killed by the state (i don't remember if some died in prison), whereas the ones who refused to confess were put to death. That little factoid has always stuck with me.
The women who confessed to being witches were not killed by the state (i don't remember if some died in prison), whereas the ones who refused to confess were put to death. That little factoid has always stuck with me.
Posted by: Lea at July 31, 2016 10:56 AM (fzFHR)
172
Kitchen assistant in Kuwait pees in the fruit juice of the infidels.
https://goo.gl/Y2RrHJ
=================
From now on, everything I drink in a restaurant I will insist be served in a can or a bottle.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang!
Even the Coke?? Anything but that.
https://goo.gl/Y2RrHJ
=================
From now on, everything I drink in a restaurant I will insist be served in a can or a bottle.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang!
Even the Coke?? Anything but that.
Posted by: me Chinese at July 31, 2016 10:56 AM (rDxLs)
173
What will happen when we turn into Smack Nation? It
will encourage a "whatever you can steal" mentality, lifelong
monitoring, a tolerance for casual prostitution, and a large established
class of dead people.
Posted by: Trimegistus
It's here. Look around you.
See all the tatted up people, body piercings, weird colored hair.
These kids have all marked themselves. They have willingly entered the permanent underclass. These are all outward signals of the pervasive drug culture overcoming the normal civic culture..
will encourage a "whatever you can steal" mentality, lifelong
monitoring, a tolerance for casual prostitution, and a large established
class of dead people.
Posted by: Trimegistus
It's here. Look around you.
See all the tatted up people, body piercings, weird colored hair.
These kids have all marked themselves. They have willingly entered the permanent underclass. These are all outward signals of the pervasive drug culture overcoming the normal civic culture..
Posted by: Bossy Conservative...pondering the future at July 31, 2016 10:57 AM (S6Pax)
174
rickl, Thanks for the link to the ancient chess site. I find the history of chess and how the game changed over the centuries to be of real interest.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (V+03K)
175
"Wait, did you say Daniel Okrent? Is that the same Okrent who was "public editor" of the NY Times a few years ago?"
I dunno. Picked up the book at the airport for a flight, and it was pretty good, although I do remember the guy frequently defending the do-gooder perspective even as he was listing how the policy failed
so probably
I dunno. Picked up the book at the airport for a flight, and it was pretty good, although I do remember the guy frequently defending the do-gooder perspective even as he was listing how the policy failed
so probably
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (swEzU)
176
Mary learned more than she ever needed to about the color, grammage, weight, fiber, and absorption of the stuff, and notes "If your anus is as securely clamped as the anus of whoever is in charge of 'toilet tissue used as a component of operational rations', ASTM D-3905, you probably don't need much."
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (jR7Wy)
This is kinda sorta related, but then again maybe not. But it is funny. In the movie Operation Petticoat, a WW2 sub movie that is one of the best sub movies ever made, there is a scene when the CO Cary Grant is frustrated because his request for toilet paper has been 'cancelled, cannot identify.'
That scene is faithful to what happened to the CO of the USS Skipjack during 1941 and 1942. Here's the actual letter the CO wrote.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (jR7Wy)
This is kinda sorta related, but then again maybe not. But it is funny. In the movie Operation Petticoat, a WW2 sub movie that is one of the best sub movies ever made, there is a scene when the CO Cary Grant is frustrated because his request for toilet paper has been 'cancelled, cannot identify.'
That scene is faithful to what happened to the CO of the USS Skipjack during 1941 and 1942. Here's the actual letter the CO wrote.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (hgwL9)
177
Thanks! 75 bluebell. It's always, "Ask a question, get an answer" around here.
Posted by: Tonestaple at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (VsZJP)
178
Can't I have at least one safe harbor from that miasmatic onslaught? Is that too much to ask?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM (3d5xg)
I agree, but can someone put up an open thread, for those that want to discuss other things?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM (3d5xg)
I agree, but can someone put up an open thread, for those that want to discuss other things?
Posted by: spypeach at July 31, 2016 10:59 AM (nyYhO)
179
If there is one thing I've learned in my life (I'm retired now) is that...people forget. Whether it is individuals or organizations, people do forget, which often has the result of the same sorts of things happening over again. Or things are just...forgotten.
Take the JFK assassination. Yes, I remember the Posner book that came out some years ago on this. Didn't read it, but then I didn't need to. Because back in 1993, the 30th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, multiple large news organizations (CBS, CNN, others) did big news specials on what happened back then.
They all used the latest forensic techniques to analyze and indeed recreate in detail what happened. And they all reached the same conclusion. Lee Harvey Oswald, a looney Communist, and actually a pretty damned good shot, knocked off Kennedy all by himself. And indeed it was pretty easy for him to do. And no, there was no "magic bullet", no "grassy knoll second shooter", or any of that nonsense either.
There was no conspiracy, indeed there was nothing all that unusual or difficult, given Oswald's proven skill set with a rifle, about what happened that day. And this was demonstrated, by the bloody MFM of all groups, over 20 odd years ago to nine decimal places. Yet here we are today and there are STILL idiots running around claiming some soft of half baked conspiracy, invariably involving the usual leftist bugaboos (FBI, CIA, Republicans, the "right", etc).
Occam's Razor, boys and girls. Occam's Razor.
Take the JFK assassination. Yes, I remember the Posner book that came out some years ago on this. Didn't read it, but then I didn't need to. Because back in 1993, the 30th anniversary of the assassination of JFK, multiple large news organizations (CBS, CNN, others) did big news specials on what happened back then.
They all used the latest forensic techniques to analyze and indeed recreate in detail what happened. And they all reached the same conclusion. Lee Harvey Oswald, a looney Communist, and actually a pretty damned good shot, knocked off Kennedy all by himself. And indeed it was pretty easy for him to do. And no, there was no "magic bullet", no "grassy knoll second shooter", or any of that nonsense either.
There was no conspiracy, indeed there was nothing all that unusual or difficult, given Oswald's proven skill set with a rifle, about what happened that day. And this was demonstrated, by the bloody MFM of all groups, over 20 odd years ago to nine decimal places. Yet here we are today and there are STILL idiots running around claiming some soft of half baked conspiracy, invariably involving the usual leftist bugaboos (FBI, CIA, Republicans, the "right", etc).
Occam's Razor, boys and girls. Occam's Razor.
Posted by: The Oort Cloud - Source of all SMODs at July 31, 2016 11:02 AM (2pIEi)
180
Don delilo's 'Libra' was one of the best fictional treatments of the JFK assassination. The theory it sets out is plausible, and the style of narration is amazing.
Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (UEViK)
181
177 Thanks! 75 bluebell. It's always, "Ask a question, get an answer" around here.
Posted by: Tonestaple at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (VsZJP)
----------------
You're quite welcome. And you're lucky you got me - around here, it's quite often "ask a question, get a smart-ass answer."
Posted by: Tonestaple at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (VsZJP)
----------------
You're quite welcome. And you're lucky you got me - around here, it's quite often "ask a question, get a smart-ass answer."
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (805dc)
182
Read THREE FELONIES A DAY
WSJ review:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704471504574438900830760842
WSJ review:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704471504574438900830760842
Posted by: NO criminal charges at July 31, 2016 11:06 AM (kBCdJ)
183
70 There's a lot of corruption in the legal system. Private jails, and judges being bribed to fill them. That's not going to change anytime soon.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 09:58 AM (rDxLs)
Wasn't thier a documentary about how in Pennsylvania some judges got kickbacks from the Prisons and sent kids to jail.
Posted by: Yuimetal at July 31, 2016 09:58 AM (rDxLs)
Wasn't thier a documentary about how in Pennsylvania some judges got kickbacks from the Prisons and sent kids to jail.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at July 31, 2016 11:07 AM (dKiJG)
184
This is kinda sorta related, but then again maybe
not. But it is funny. In the movie Operation Petticoat, a WW2 sub movie
that is one of the best sub movies ever made, there is a scene when the
CO Cary Grant is frustrated because his request for toilet paper has
been 'cancelled, cannot identify.'
That scene is faithful to what happened to the CO of the USS
Skipjack during 1941 and 1942. Here's the actual letter the CO wrote.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (hgwL9)
Funny stuff indeed. Also loved the sub's warshot on the truck.
not. But it is funny. In the movie Operation Petticoat, a WW2 sub movie
that is one of the best sub movies ever made, there is a scene when the
CO Cary Grant is frustrated because his request for toilet paper has
been 'cancelled, cannot identify.'
That scene is faithful to what happened to the CO of the USS
Skipjack during 1941 and 1942. Here's the actual letter the CO wrote.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (hgwL9)
Funny stuff indeed. Also loved the sub's warshot on the truck.
Posted by: Count de Monet at July 31, 2016 11:08 AM (JO9+V)
185
Considering this is the book thread here is somethings worth reading for free! Islam is not that hard to figure out...
1. The Quran
http://quran.com/
2. The Hadith
http://sunnah.com/
3. If you read anything in the Quran that contradicts something else in the Quran, Muslims have already figured out a solution in 9th century - Abrogation (Naskh).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naskh_(tafsir)
Here is a handy chart!
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Abrogations_in_the_Qur'an
There is more, but this gets to the point for those whose "conscience" (like Allahpundit of Hotair) gets in the way of reading.
Why should read all this stuff?
SunTzu - "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle".
Right now we are losing, losing badly...
1. The Quran
http://quran.com/
2. The Hadith
http://sunnah.com/
3. If you read anything in the Quran that contradicts something else in the Quran, Muslims have already figured out a solution in 9th century - Abrogation (Naskh).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naskh_(tafsir)
Here is a handy chart!
https://wikiislam.net/wiki/List_of_Abrogations_in_the_Qur'an
There is more, but this gets to the point for those whose "conscience" (like Allahpundit of Hotair) gets in the way of reading.
Why should read all this stuff?
SunTzu - "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle".
Right now we are losing, losing badly...
Posted by: William Eaton at July 31, 2016 11:09 AM (KhJh8)
186
JackS - classic, funny stuff. And Operation Petticoat is one of my fave movies. The extended scene with the pig is perfect.
Posted by: goatexchange at July 31, 2016 11:10 AM (ptIWW)
187
Sea Lion war patrol report - Sighted truck, sank same.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:11 AM (3d5xg)
188
Not everything I read is 'serious'. I made the right choice about books to read during the conventions. The John Carter of Mars books and Ned Roberts' 'Muzzle-loadingCap Lock Rifle' are just plain fun.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 11:13 AM (V+03K)
189
There was no conspiracy, indeed there was nothing all that unusual or difficult, given Oswald's proven skill set with a rifle, about what happened that day. And this was demonstrated, by the bloody MFM of all groups, over 20 odd years ago to nine decimal places. Yet here we are today and there are STILL idiots running around claiming some soft of half baked conspiracy, invariably involving the usual leftist bugaboos (FBI, CIA, Republicans, the "right", etc).
Occam's Razor, boys and girls. Occam's Razor.
Posted by: The Oort Cloud - Source of all SMODs at July 31, 2016 11:02 AM (2pIEi)
=================
It's a personality disorder and in some a mental illness. I mentioned the other day the mother of an acquaintance who was behind all the JFK conspiracy nonsense. Her kids told me that she was okay but the day after JFK was shot, she then believed everyone was out to get them. Everything was connected, etc. It resulted in a very unhappy and disruptive home life. She's been dead for 30 years and people still treat her like a prophet. It's sick.
Occam's Razor, boys and girls. Occam's Razor.
Posted by: The Oort Cloud - Source of all SMODs at July 31, 2016 11:02 AM (2pIEi)
=================
It's a personality disorder and in some a mental illness. I mentioned the other day the mother of an acquaintance who was behind all the JFK conspiracy nonsense. Her kids told me that she was okay but the day after JFK was shot, she then believed everyone was out to get them. Everything was connected, etc. It resulted in a very unhappy and disruptive home life. She's been dead for 30 years and people still treat her like a prophet. It's sick.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:13 AM (iQIUe)
190
Uncle Palpatine,
I've got a late 1970's, early 1980's Vivatar enlarger with Nikon glass somewhere in the attic. I don't know if it's what you are looking for, it served me well back in the day.
If you want it, you can certainly have it as I'm quite certain digital is all I'm going to use in the future.
I've got a late 1970's, early 1980's Vivatar enlarger with Nikon glass somewhere in the attic. I don't know if it's what you are looking for, it served me well back in the day.
If you want it, you can certainly have it as I'm quite certain digital is all I'm going to use in the future.
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:13 AM (qG0hz)
191
Kids for cash
Two judges, President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan, were convicted of accepting money from Robert Mericle, builder of two private, for-profit youth centers for the detention of juveniles, in return for contracting with the facilities and imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles brought before their courts to increase the number of residents in the centers.
Two judges, President Judge Mark Ciavarella and Senior Judge Michael Conahan, were convicted of accepting money from Robert Mericle, builder of two private, for-profit youth centers for the detention of juveniles, in return for contracting with the facilities and imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles brought before their courts to increase the number of residents in the centers.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at July 31, 2016 11:13 AM (dKiJG)
192
Probably old news to you book hounds but try Fluke by Mazur, about the math of coincidence - timely given things just seem to happen around Madame Pantsuit
Posted by: Patrick Henry at July 31, 2016 11:13 AM (sh3RV)
193
My favorite part in Operation Petticoat is the witch doctor blessing the sub.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at July 31, 2016 11:14 AM (tEDMc)
194
This is the best scene in Operation Petticoat. Jump to 47:00 minutes.
'Anybody ever asks you what you're fighting for, there it is.'
https://youtu.be/0p2JpYJpcFM
'Anybody ever asks you what you're fighting for, there it is.'
https://youtu.be/0p2JpYJpcFM
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 11:14 AM (hgwL9)
195
Morris and McGann churn out these books. They are very entertaining but nothing they say pans out.
Morris and McGann churn out these books. They are very entertaining but nothing they say pans out.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:14 AM (iQIUe)
196
You're quite welcome. And you're lucky you got me - around here, it's quite often "ask a question, get a dozen smart-ass answers."
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (805dc)
Fixed.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (805dc)
Fixed.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:15 AM (Dq9FL)
197
>>The scariest part? I don't disagree with her on *everything* (I agree
that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as
possibly paranoid
Heh. My Abnormal Psych professors liked to remind us that most times, crazy isn't bizarre behavior, it's normal behavior taken to bizarrre extremes (washing hands regularly vs. washing hands hundreds of times a day). So...I wouldn't be too worried.
that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as
possibly paranoid
Heh. My Abnormal Psych professors liked to remind us that most times, crazy isn't bizarre behavior, it's normal behavior taken to bizarrre extremes (washing hands regularly vs. washing hands hundreds of times a day). So...I wouldn't be too worried.
Posted by: Lizzy at July 31, 2016 11:15 AM (NOIQH)
198
Morris and McGann churn out these books. They are very entertaining but nothing they say pans out.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:14 AM (iQIUe
So you're saying they're all kind of flat-footed, then?
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:14 AM (iQIUe
So you're saying they're all kind of flat-footed, then?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:16 AM (Dq9FL)
199
CO Cary Grant's looks, glances, and expressions were never better captured than in Petticoat. I swear that movie would have been just as effective and funny without any dialogue.
Posted by: goatexchange at July 31, 2016 11:16 AM (ptIWW)
200
Wasn't thier a documentary about how in Pennsylvania some judges got kickbacks from the Prisons and sent kids to jail. Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at July 31, 2016 11:07 AM (dKiJG)
=====
Forty-odd years ago, I clerked for a republican guy doing Public Defender work. (Yes, classical liberals are republicans.) Even back then, it was striking the difference in incarceration rates between 'rural' and 'urban' counties. The upshot was that juveniles who were 'status' offenders (truancy, drinking, runaway) were put into the system with real hardcore Cook County murderers under 18. What the parents and kids had to do to keep their kids out of the system was astonishing -- the most common was police using kids with sketchy backgrounds given fake IDs to buy beer and parents consenting to it to keep the kids out of 'juvie'. Terrifying.
=====
Forty-odd years ago, I clerked for a republican guy doing Public Defender work. (Yes, classical liberals are republicans.) Even back then, it was striking the difference in incarceration rates between 'rural' and 'urban' counties. The upshot was that juveniles who were 'status' offenders (truancy, drinking, runaway) were put into the system with real hardcore Cook County murderers under 18. What the parents and kids had to do to keep their kids out of the system was astonishing -- the most common was police using kids with sketchy backgrounds given fake IDs to buy beer and parents consenting to it to keep the kids out of 'juvie'. Terrifying.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:19 AM (MIKMs)
201
There's a potential gold mine in neuro/psych research if someone could talk conspiracy theorists into getting their heads inside an FMRI scanner.
Because it's obviously a brain malfunction: they can operate perfectly normally in society, but somehow have an irresistible need or addiction to believing something false.
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?
Because it's obviously a brain malfunction: they can operate perfectly normally in society, but somehow have an irresistible need or addiction to believing something false.
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 11:20 AM (dhjcf)
202
The scariest part? I don't disagree with her on *everything* (I agree that the government is untrustworthy) and now have to revisit that as possibly paranoid .
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2016 10:28 AM (xoTYj)
Just because the government is untrustworthy doesn't mean the earth is flat. I encourage you to remember this when you start doubting yourself.
In my life, I've met and spoken with chem-trailers, ancient astronauters, UFO-ologists, New Age nutbars, several species of mystics and assorted religious cranks so I know that what I've told you can help you maintain your sanity.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2016 10:28 AM (xoTYj)
Just because the government is untrustworthy doesn't mean the earth is flat. I encourage you to remember this when you start doubting yourself.
In my life, I've met and spoken with chem-trailers, ancient astronauters, UFO-ologists, New Age nutbars, several species of mystics and assorted religious cranks so I know that what I've told you can help you maintain your sanity.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:22 AM (Dq9FL)
203
a friend on fb posted this .....thought it was pretty cool for writers......a game that encourages you to write..... http://tinyurl.com/gt763ca "elegy for a dead world"
Posted by: phoenixgirl you must fight for independence EVERYDAY at July 31, 2016 11:23 AM (0O7c5)
204
Can't I have at least one safe harbor from that miasmatic onslaught? Is that too much to ask?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM
Hillary overturns Citizens United you'll have your wish as no books will be permitted to speak untoward her.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 10:55 AM
Hillary overturns Citizens United you'll have your wish as no books will be permitted to speak untoward her.
Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2016 11:24 AM (bksJQ)
205
I used to work in a place where practically everyone
was a pot smoker. I'm not; whatever. But when word got out that I don't
use marijuana, I noticed that my coworkers started to stigmatize my
non-use.
(It wasn't a big deal, and my coworkers weren't what I'd call political - just something I noticed.)
Posted by: FireHorse at July 31, 2016 10:34 AM (qF2sM)
I had a similar experience in the restaurant industry. The running joke was that if employment was based on drug testing, I would be the only employee left.
was a pot smoker. I'm not; whatever. But when word got out that I don't
use marijuana, I noticed that my coworkers started to stigmatize my
non-use.
(It wasn't a big deal, and my coworkers weren't what I'd call political - just something I noticed.)
Posted by: FireHorse at July 31, 2016 10:34 AM (qF2sM)
I had a similar experience in the restaurant industry. The running joke was that if employment was based on drug testing, I would be the only employee left.
Posted by: Country Singer at July 31, 2016 11:24 AM (GUBah)
206
mustbequantum,
I never understood why they would throw the status offenders in with the violent kids, or even throw the property offenders in with the predators. should be a tiered approach
I never understood why they would throw the status offenders in with the violent kids, or even throw the property offenders in with the predators. should be a tiered approach
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 11:25 AM (swEzU)
207
In my life, I've met and spoken with chem-trailers, ancient astronauters, UFO-ologists, New Age nutbars, several species of mystics and assorted religious cranks so I know that what I've told you can help you maintain your sanity.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:22 AM (Dq9FL)
Yup...I have a neighbor, an old lefty, who will argue for hours how the Vietnam War was about all the oil the republican controlled oil companies wanted to get at in the Gulf of Tonkin and in the South China Sea area.
College educated, Notre Dame grad in fact, millionaire, etc, etc. But a whackadoodle when it came to that topic.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:22 AM (Dq9FL)
Yup...I have a neighbor, an old lefty, who will argue for hours how the Vietnam War was about all the oil the republican controlled oil companies wanted to get at in the Gulf of Tonkin and in the South China Sea area.
College educated, Notre Dame grad in fact, millionaire, etc, etc. But a whackadoodle when it came to that topic.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 11:26 AM (ej1L0)
208
200 Wasn't thier a documentary about how in Pennsylvania some judges got kickbacks from the Prisons and sent kids to jail. Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at July 31, 2016 11:07 AM (dKiJG)
=====
Forty-odd years ago, I clerked for a republican guy doing Public Defender work. (Yes, classical liberals are republicans.) Even back then, it was striking the difference in incarceration rates between 'rural' and 'urban' counties. The upshot was that juveniles who were 'status' offenders (truancy, drinking, runaway) were put into the system with real hardcore Cook County murderers under 18. What the parents and kids had to do to keep their kids out of the system was astonishing -- the most common was police using kids with sketchy backgrounds given fake IDs to buy beer and parents consenting to it to keep the kids out of 'juvie'. Terrifying.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:19 AM (MIKMs)
Charming. Then you get cases like the young-looking cop who went undercover in a high school, singled out an Aspie kid and pretended to be his friend (he didn't have any friends), cajoled him into finding him some weed, then had him arrested when the kid finally gave in.
=====
Forty-odd years ago, I clerked for a republican guy doing Public Defender work. (Yes, classical liberals are republicans.) Even back then, it was striking the difference in incarceration rates between 'rural' and 'urban' counties. The upshot was that juveniles who were 'status' offenders (truancy, drinking, runaway) were put into the system with real hardcore Cook County murderers under 18. What the parents and kids had to do to keep their kids out of the system was astonishing -- the most common was police using kids with sketchy backgrounds given fake IDs to buy beer and parents consenting to it to keep the kids out of 'juvie'. Terrifying.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:19 AM (MIKMs)
Charming. Then you get cases like the young-looking cop who went undercover in a high school, singled out an Aspie kid and pretended to be his friend (he didn't have any friends), cajoled him into finding him some weed, then had him arrested when the kid finally gave in.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:27 AM (0mRoj)
209
196 You're quite welcome. And you're lucky you got me - around here, it's quite often "ask a question, get a dozen smart-ass answers."
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (805dc)
Fixed.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:15 AM (Dq9FL)
-----------------
Ha ha! Agreed!
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:04 AM (805dc)
Fixed.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:15 AM (Dq9FL)
-----------------
Ha ha! Agreed!
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:27 AM (805dc)
210
In my life, I've met and spoken with chem-trailers,
ancient astronauters, UFO-ologists, New Age nutbars, several species of
mystics and assorted religious cranks so I know that what I've told you
can help you maintain your sanity.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:22 AM (Dq9FL)
So, you've met my ex, then, have you? Poor devil.
ancient astronauters, UFO-ologists, New Age nutbars, several species of
mystics and assorted religious cranks so I know that what I've told you
can help you maintain your sanity.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:22 AM (Dq9FL)
So, you've met my ex, then, have you? Poor devil.
Posted by: Count de Monet at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (JO9+V)
211
Actually, space aliens abducted JFK the day before the staged assassination in Dallas (it was a Jewish stand-in in the limo). He escaped on Sept. 10th, 2001, and was hiding in the World Trade Center when the Aliens used a tractor beam to steer the jets into the towers.
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (qG0hz)
212
You can come across the most unexpected things on AOSHQ. The other day there developed a discussion about Catholicism triggered by a Mel Gibson thread. That led me to do research on saying the Rosary, the differences among the modern and Latin masses, and downloading a copy of the 'Dolorous Passion'. These are not topics I would normally read about.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (V+03K)
213
The vast majority of people sentenced to prison in the united states are for violent and property crimes, not for drugs. You could legalize all forms of drugs tomorrow and prison population in the US would still be the largest, by a large margin.
If you go look at a state like Vermont or Maine their incarceration rates are about 300 per 100,000. It should be fairly obvious the difference between the US average and states like Maine/Vermont.
Still higher than Europe. The next big difference then comes to how crimes are handled between Europe and the US. If you look at a country like Germany, which has only a rate of approx 80 per 100,000, the main difference between a Maine/Vermont is that in Germany prosecutors can simply give a fine for a crime with a sentence profile of less than 6 years instead of imprisonment. The people of Germany are ok with that. Not so sure that would fly here.
If you go look at a state like Vermont or Maine their incarceration rates are about 300 per 100,000. It should be fairly obvious the difference between the US average and states like Maine/Vermont.
Still higher than Europe. The next big difference then comes to how crimes are handled between Europe and the US. If you look at a country like Germany, which has only a rate of approx 80 per 100,000, the main difference between a Maine/Vermont is that in Germany prosecutors can simply give a fine for a crime with a sentence profile of less than 6 years instead of imprisonment. The people of Germany are ok with that. Not so sure that would fly here.
Posted by: JeffreyL at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (M0TCd)
214
206 mustbequantum,
I never understood why they would throw the status offenders in with the violent kids, or even throw the property offenders in with the predators. should be a tiered approach
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 11:25 AM (swEzU)
I'm pretty sure that's standard practice. Thieves and druggies get thrown in with the armed robbers, murderers and rapists.
I never understood why they would throw the status offenders in with the violent kids, or even throw the property offenders in with the predators. should be a tiered approach
Posted by: Grad School Fool at July 31, 2016 11:25 AM (swEzU)
I'm pretty sure that's standard practice. Thieves and druggies get thrown in with the armed robbers, murderers and rapists.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:29 AM (0mRoj)
215
Has this method worked for anyone?
http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html
http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:29 AM (3d5xg)
216
Speaking of love of country, I always loved this speech by General Grove in the series Oppenheimer. Leftys thought he was a rube but with out General Grove, we would not have gotten the bomb in time to end the war with Japan when we did and save so many lives:
https://youtu.be/EX0fvoPHOZM?t=2521
Speaking of love of country, I always loved this speech by General Grove in the series Oppenheimer. Leftys thought he was a rube but with out General Grove, we would not have gotten the bomb in time to end the war with Japan when we did and save so many lives:
https://youtu.be/EX0fvoPHOZM?t=2521
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:30 AM (iQIUe)
217
Nitpick: I don't recognize this as a Lewis quote. Sounds more like Chesterton.
It might be Chesterton, the two sort of blend together in my head. The principle is sound though. A virtuous nation does not need a zillion laws to restrain behavior.
What we've done in the USA as a culture is destroy all internal mechanisms to proper behavior, encouraged immorality, then passed a zillion laws to try to control the consequences.
It might be Chesterton, the two sort of blend together in my head. The principle is sound though. A virtuous nation does not need a zillion laws to restrain behavior.
What we've done in the USA as a culture is destroy all internal mechanisms to proper behavior, encouraged immorality, then passed a zillion laws to try to control the consequences.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 31, 2016 11:31 AM (39g3+)
218
There would not have been all the loony conspiracy theories had Oswald been say a right wing John Bircher.
But because he was a fellow lefty, the media at large has to indulge in all sorts of conspiracies.
But because he was a fellow lefty, the media at large has to indulge in all sorts of conspiracies.
Posted by: Utopia at July 31, 2016 11:32 AM (BCelo)
219
I am the law.
Posted by: Judge Dredd at July 31, 2016 11:32 AM (0mRoj)
220
Everywhere has a pretrial diversion program for first time offender where they do not go to jail and their records are expunged
First timers do not go to jail
First timers do not go to jail
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:32 AM (zOTsN)
221
There was a judge in Penn that had some fetish about washing people's hair. He gave reduced sentences if the defenadants allowed him to wash their hair. I shite you not!
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:33 AM (iQIUe)
222
Because it's obviously a brain malfunction: they can operate perfectly
normally in society, but somehow have an irresistible need or addiction
to believing something false.
There's a reason Chesterton includes conspiracy theorists as an example in the chapter of Orthodoxy entitled "The Maniac."
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?
In point of fact, the Baylor Surveys of Religion showed a very strong correlation between professed atheism and belief in ghosts, aliens, and the like. Committed Christians were far less likely to believe in such things. For more info, see Rodney Stark, What Americans Really Believe. And to cite Chesterton again, "It's the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense."
normally in society, but somehow have an irresistible need or addiction
to believing something false.
There's a reason Chesterton includes conspiracy theorists as an example in the chapter of Orthodoxy entitled "The Maniac."
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?
In point of fact, the Baylor Surveys of Religion showed a very strong correlation between professed atheism and belief in ghosts, aliens, and the like. Committed Christians were far less likely to believe in such things. For more info, see Rodney Stark, What Americans Really Believe. And to cite Chesterton again, "It's the first effect of not believing in God that you lose your common sense."
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 31, 2016 11:34 AM (m2sZd)
223
If you changed the demographics of the US to look like Canada , you would see similar incarceration rates.
Make of that what you will, but I don't think a soft on crime strategy would bear fruit. We simply have a different population.
Make of that what you will, but I don't think a soft on crime strategy would bear fruit. We simply have a different population.
Posted by: Utopia at July 31, 2016 11:35 AM (BCelo)
224
Gobsmacked one of the night managers yesterday at Wally World. He asked if I had heard of the knife attack in Japan.
I paraphrased Shakespeare when answering - "The fault dear Horatio lies within us, not in our tools."
It took him a few seconds to process that and he went away muttering about crazy humans. Nyah.
I paraphrased Shakespeare when answering - "The fault dear Horatio lies within us, not in our tools."
It took him a few seconds to process that and he went away muttering about crazy humans. Nyah.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:35 AM (3d5xg)
225
Charming. Then you get cases like the young-looking
cop who went undercover in a high school, singled out an Aspie kid and
pretended to be his friend (he didn't have any friends), cajoled him
into finding him some weed, then had him arrested when the kid finally
gave in. Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:27 AM (0mRoj)
=====
My impression now is that kids in some kind of trouble are psychoanalyzed to to the point of parental blame and parents will put their kids in disgusting danger to 'get' child pornographers. Most current social media seems nasty to me, but the parents will always try to save their children -- and if it means that the kids are put into disgusting situations, the attitude is that it would save them from worse.
cop who went undercover in a high school, singled out an Aspie kid and
pretended to be his friend (he didn't have any friends), cajoled him
into finding him some weed, then had him arrested when the kid finally
gave in. Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:27 AM (0mRoj)
=====
My impression now is that kids in some kind of trouble are psychoanalyzed to to the point of parental blame and parents will put their kids in disgusting danger to 'get' child pornographers. Most current social media seems nasty to me, but the parents will always try to save their children -- and if it means that the kids are put into disgusting situations, the attitude is that it would save them from worse.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:35 AM (MIKMs)
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2016 11:36 AM (805dc)
227
221 There was a judge in Penn that had some fetish about washing people's hair. He gave reduced sentences if the defenadants allowed him to wash their hair. I shite you not!
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:33 AM (iQIUe)
How dare you say anything against our robed gods and masters.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:33 AM (iQIUe)
How dare you say anything against our robed gods and masters.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:36 AM (0mRoj)
228
Having had my son be a "party" to the penal system (very short for a DWAI) I think a large piece of the problem has been missed. Everything from telephone service ($3.00 a minute in some cases) to jails to prisons to probation and parole are now privatized. What this means is that they are compensated for how many "participants" are in the system. Follow the money.
Posted by: Astro at July 31, 2016 11:36 AM (whLYG)
229
I asked this on every book thread since I've never had a response. I am not a big Sci Fi fan but one of my all time favorite fun read books is Armor by John Steakley .
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (MNgU2)
This was brought up awhile back.
Yeah, I thought Armor was pretty good. The movie "John Carpenter's Vampires" was based on
Steakley's book Vampires and like Darth Randall, I liked it better than Armor.
Has any Sci Fi avicienado read Armor and is it considered a top Sci Fi book?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 09:57 AM (MNgU2)
This was brought up awhile back.
Yeah, I thought Armor was pretty good. The movie "John Carpenter's Vampires" was based on
Steakley's book Vampires and like Darth Randall, I liked it better than Armor.
Posted by: JT at July 31, 2016 11:37 AM (KREV5)
230
217 ... " A virtuous nation does not need a zillion laws to restrain behavior."
I can't recall which of the founding fathers stated that the new government depended a moral population to succeed. So true and depressing that that approach has been long abandoned.
I can't recall which of the founding fathers stated that the new government depended a moral population to succeed. So true and depressing that that approach has been long abandoned.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 11:38 AM (V+03K)
231
My impression now is that kids in some kind of trouble are psychoanalyzed to to the point of parental blame and parents will put their kids in disgusting danger to 'get' child pornographers. Most current social media seems nasty to me, but the parents will always try to save their children -- and if it means that the kids are put into disgusting situations, the attitude is that it would save them from worse.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:35 AM (MIKMs)
It's awful and exploitative for parents to be placed in that position.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:35 AM (MIKMs)
It's awful and exploitative for parents to be placed in that position.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:38 AM (0mRoj)
232
Speaking of love of country, I always loved this speech by General Grove in the series Oppenheimer. Leftys thought he was a rube but with out General Grove, we would not have gotten the bomb in time to end the war with Japan when we did and save so many lives:
https://youtu.be/EX0fvoPHOZM?t=2521
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:30 AM (iQIUe)
---
I seem to recall in a bio of Oppenheimer that the scientists thought he was a rube too, until he spotted an error in one of their equations on the blackboard and corrected it.
https://youtu.be/EX0fvoPHOZM?t=2521
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:30 AM (iQIUe)
---
I seem to recall in a bio of Oppenheimer that the scientists thought he was a rube too, until he spotted an error in one of their equations on the blackboard and corrected it.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:39 AM (jR7Wy)
233
I've sent boys younger than you Danny to the gas chamber. Felt I owed it to them.
Posted by: Judge Smails at July 31, 2016 11:39 AM (JO9+V)
234
211 Actually, space aliens abducted JFK the day before the staged assassination in Dallas (it was a Jewish stand-in in the limo). He escaped on Sept. 10th, 2001, and was hiding in the World Trade Center when the Aliens used a tractor beam to steer the jets into the towers.
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (qG0hz)
I knew it! That has to be it! But what about the Illuminati?
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (qG0hz)
I knew it! That has to be it! But what about the Illuminati?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:40 AM (Dq9FL)
235
Regarding laws and incarceration, do you really think we have a vast swath of people in prison that don't belong there?
Most of this "people are in prison for smoking a joint" is bullshit propaganda.
We definitely have too many laws, but much of this is in the form of regulation on a civil level.
Most of this "people are in prison for smoking a joint" is bullshit propaganda.
We definitely have too many laws, but much of this is in the form of regulation on a civil level.
Posted by: Utopia at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (BCelo)
236
I am against the use of drugs, personally. But after billions of wasted dollars and the shocking abuse of civil liberties that have resulted from the 'War on Drugs,' (civil asset forfeiture without a trial or even charges, the prosecution of people for 'structuring' their own bank deposits without criminal intent) I think the Federal war on drugs should be ended, the DEA dismantled, and I think legalization should be a matter for the states.
I also think that decriminalizing drug use should go hand-in-hand with dismantling the welfare state.
Also, I am OK with the generic idea of Prison Reform, but not if it's just a euphemism for emptying the prisons. (See also "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" as a euphemism for Mass Amnesty).
I also think that decriminalizing drug use should go hand-in-hand with dismantling the welfare state.
Also, I am OK with the generic idea of Prison Reform, but not if it's just a euphemism for emptying the prisons. (See also "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" as a euphemism for Mass Amnesty).
Posted by: V the K at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (O7MnT)
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (zOTsN)
238
I knew it! That has to be it! But what about the Illuminati?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:40 AM (Dq9FL)
---
We were too busy operating the Rat Line to our secret base on the dark side of the moon to trifle with mere Earthbound conspiracies.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:40 AM (Dq9FL)
---
We were too busy operating the Rat Line to our secret base on the dark side of the moon to trifle with mere Earthbound conspiracies.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (jR7Wy)
239
Did you hear the recent one about the guy who was sent up for meth possession? The "meth" was a piece of donut glaze that fell off in his car. I shit you not. He spent a few months in jail waiting for actual lab tests to show it was donut glaze. Another guy got jammed up for crack cocaine. The crack cocaine was actually handmade artisanal soap.
*facepalm*
*facepalm*
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:43 AM (0mRoj)
Posted by: fluffy at July 31, 2016 11:44 AM (eiFlk)
241
211 Actually, space aliens abducted JFK the day before the staged assassination in Dallas (it was a Jewish stand-in in the limo). He escaped on Sept. 10th, 2001, and was hiding in the World Trade Center when the Aliens used a tractor beam to steer the jets into the towers.
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (qG0hz)
For the 2nd Star Trek movie, Gene Roddenberry wanted to put Spock on the grassy knoll to resolve a time paradox. Kinda explains why he didn't have a lot to do with the movies after that.
Posted by: Subterranean JT at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (qG0hz)
For the 2nd Star Trek movie, Gene Roddenberry wanted to put Spock on the grassy knoll to resolve a time paradox. Kinda explains why he didn't have a lot to do with the movies after that.
Posted by: Gran at July 31, 2016 11:44 AM (lcUJ5)
242
227 221 There was a judge in Penn that had some fetish about washing people's hair. He gave reduced sentences if the defenadants allowed him to wash their hair. I shite you not!
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:33 AM (iQIUe)
Well, then there was that other judge, the subject of much laughter her at the HQ, who was caught, uh, erm, stimulating himself with a, uh, device affixed to his, ah, private parts under his robes, and it was his custom to engage in this, uh, activity while hearing cases in open court.
Judicial appointments are frequently for life, too. That always gives me a warm feeling inside.
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:33 AM (iQIUe)
Well, then there was that other judge, the subject of much laughter her at the HQ, who was caught, uh, erm, stimulating himself with a, uh, device affixed to his, ah, private parts under his robes, and it was his custom to engage in this, uh, activity while hearing cases in open court.
Judicial appointments are frequently for life, too. That always gives me a warm feeling inside.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (Dq9FL)
243
Again. People don't go to jail for simple possession. They assaulted someone, they stole, they murdered. It's not just possession.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (zOTsN)
244
>>> 228 Everything from telephone service ($3.00 a minute in
some cases) to jails to prisons to probation and parole are now
privatized. What this means is that they are compensated for how many
"participants" are in the system. Follow the money.
Posted by: Astro at July 31, 2016 11:36 AM (whLYG)<<<
I say, good business is where you find it.
some cases) to jails to prisons to probation and parole are now
privatized. What this means is that they are compensated for how many
"participants" are in the system. Follow the money.
Posted by: Astro at July 31, 2016 11:36 AM (whLYG)<<<
I say, good business is where you find it.
Posted by: Dick Jones at July 31, 2016 11:47 AM (jV8Mq)
245
Again. People don't go to jail for simple possession. They assaulted someone, they stole, they murdered. It's not just possession.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (zOTsN)
****
Yep. It is often pleaded down to posession as the charge.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (zOTsN)
****
Yep. It is often pleaded down to posession as the charge.
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at July 31, 2016 11:47 AM (BlaJc)
246
Donald Thompson, for all his faults, didn't involve his defendants in his kinks.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at July 31, 2016 11:48 AM (/pUiX)
247
I can't say I'm for the war on drugs, but I do think it's a valuable tool when making charges stick and cutting deals
It's like the death penalty, so many people confess to murder if a deal can be struck to take that off the table.
if you decriminalized most drugs we'd have a lot of very bad people among the general population.
It's like the death penalty, so many people confess to murder if a deal can be struck to take that off the table.
if you decriminalized most drugs we'd have a lot of very bad people among the general population.
Posted by: Utopia at July 31, 2016 11:51 AM (BCelo)
248
I am against the use of drugs, personally. But after
billions of wasted dollars and the shocking abuse of civil liberties
that have resulted from the 'War on Drugs,' (civil asset forfeiture
without a trial or even charges, the prosecution of people for
'structuring' their own bank deposits without criminal intent) I think
the Federal war on drugs should be ended, the DEA dismantled, and I
think legalization should be a matter for the states.
I also think that decriminalizing drug use should go hand-in-hand with dismantling the welfare state.
Also, I am OK with the generic idea of Prison Reform, but not if
it's just a euphemism for emptying the prisons. (See also "Comprehensive
Immigration Reform" as a euphemism for Mass Amnesty).
Posted by: V the K at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (O7MnT)
=====
You said it much better than I could. In my darker moments, the abomination that is RICO should be applied to the idiots who advocate for some generic 'war on whatever' (like the Clintoon and 2/3 of the GOPe) and take the nastiness to its illogical SMOD conclusion.
billions of wasted dollars and the shocking abuse of civil liberties
that have resulted from the 'War on Drugs,' (civil asset forfeiture
without a trial or even charges, the prosecution of people for
'structuring' their own bank deposits without criminal intent) I think
the Federal war on drugs should be ended, the DEA dismantled, and I
think legalization should be a matter for the states.
I also think that decriminalizing drug use should go hand-in-hand with dismantling the welfare state.
Also, I am OK with the generic idea of Prison Reform, but not if
it's just a euphemism for emptying the prisons. (See also "Comprehensive
Immigration Reform" as a euphemism for Mass Amnesty).
Posted by: V the K at July 31, 2016 11:42 AM (O7MnT)
=====
You said it much better than I could. In my darker moments, the abomination that is RICO should be applied to the idiots who advocate for some generic 'war on whatever' (like the Clintoon and 2/3 of the GOPe) and take the nastiness to its illogical SMOD conclusion.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 11:51 AM (MIKMs)
249
Here is a link to my friend's mom, the conspiracy nut. People worship her and she was nuts.
https://goo.gl/hjJEf5
Here is a link to my friend's mom, the conspiracy nut. People worship her and she was nuts.
https://goo.gl/hjJEf5
Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at July 31, 2016 11:52 AM (iQIUe)
250
Bookses, ACK! Movieses bessst!
Posted by: Gollum at July 31, 2016 11:52 AM (mkppl)
251
Obviously the Illuminati have fashionable shoes and smashing uniforms, or All Hail Eris would not be a member.
It is amazing how many have missed one of the larger conspiracy industries that still chugs along - FDR knew the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbor.
It is amazing how many have missed one of the larger conspiracy industries that still chugs along - FDR knew the Japanese would attack Pearl Harbor.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:53 AM (3d5xg)
252
That scene is faithful to what happened to the CO of the USS Skipjack during 1941 and 1942. Here's the actual letter the CO wrote.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (hgwL9)
---
Very funny! Also shows the two-tier TP hierarchy, which Mary touches upon:
"Sergeant Robinson...would like to have a word with the people responsible for the packet of toilet paper in the combat field rations, or MREs. 'It's like this much.' He tears off a piece of napkin the size of a drink ticket. 'To wipe your ass!' Riddle volunteers that the Navy guys pack baby wipes. He may regret saying this, because Robinson counters that Marines just cut off a piece of their t-shirt. Which probably sums up the whole Marine Corps-Navy relationship."
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j4qpjh5
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 10:58 AM (hgwL9)
---
Very funny! Also shows the two-tier TP hierarchy, which Mary touches upon:
"Sergeant Robinson...would like to have a word with the people responsible for the packet of toilet paper in the combat field rations, or MREs. 'It's like this much.' He tears off a piece of napkin the size of a drink ticket. 'To wipe your ass!' Riddle volunteers that the Navy guys pack baby wipes. He may regret saying this, because Robinson counters that Marines just cut off a piece of their t-shirt. Which probably sums up the whole Marine Corps-Navy relationship."
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (jR7Wy)
253
Again. People don't go to jail for simple possession. They assaulted someone, they stole, they murdered. It's not just possession.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (zOTsN)
Not in all cases.....one young lady I know got popped for possession of meth. Put on probation and house monitoring. Broke probation and cut the ankle bracelet. Popped for VOP and Grand Theft of the monitoring device (when it was cut). Felony time. Serving 2 and a half years in State prison now. All stemmed from the meth possession arrest.
Not so simple as you mentioned earlier.
Posted by: ThunderB at July 31, 2016 11:45 AM (zOTsN)
Not in all cases.....one young lady I know got popped for possession of meth. Put on probation and house monitoring. Broke probation and cut the ankle bracelet. Popped for VOP and Grand Theft of the monitoring device (when it was cut). Felony time. Serving 2 and a half years in State prison now. All stemmed from the meth possession arrest.
Not so simple as you mentioned earlier.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (ej1L0)
254
Do some research about Richard Paey.
It's a small snapshot about how fracked up the War on Drugs is.
It's a small snapshot about how fracked up the War on Drugs is.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (hgwL9)
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (3d5xg)
256
Problem with "three strikes" laws, is they are doing it wrong. Strike 3 should be a bullet in the back of the head.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 31, 2016 11:57 AM (f3Uae)
257
255 Wait a minute, they are letting the Marines play with sharp objects???
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (3d5xg)
---
Isn't that pretty much all they do? Knives and boom-sticks?
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (3d5xg)
---
Isn't that pretty much all they do? Knives and boom-sticks?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:58 AM (jR7Wy)
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 31, 2016 11:58 AM (9ym/8)
259
254 Do some research about Richard Paey.
It's a small snapshot about how fracked up the War on Drugs is.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (hgwL9)
Small price to pay for the law and order uber alles crowd to keep feeling smugly superior.
/sarc
It's a small snapshot about how fracked up the War on Drugs is.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 11:56 AM (hgwL9)
Small price to pay for the law and order uber alles crowd to keep feeling smugly superior.
/sarc
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 11:59 AM (0mRoj)
260
Not in all cases.....one young lady I know got popped for possession of meth. Put on probation and house monitoring. Broke probation and cut the ankle bracelet. Popped for VOP and Grand Theft of the monitoring device (when it was cut). Felony time. Serving 2 and a half years in State prison now. All stemmed from the meth possession arrest.
Not so simple as you mentioned earlier.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (ej1L0)
The meth charge got her probation and house monitoring. The 2.5 years was for being stupid. Zero sympathy.
Not so simple as you mentioned earlier.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (ej1L0)
The meth charge got her probation and house monitoring. The 2.5 years was for being stupid. Zero sympathy.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (f3Uae)
261
OM, Thanks for another wonderful book thread. I'm sure there are many others who look forward to it each week as I do.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (V+03K)
262
Everybody needs to just chill out with some herbicide, man.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (jR7Wy)
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (3d5xg)
Posted by: Ricardo Kill at July 31, 2016 12:01 PM (9ym/8)
265
Enter the Kraken
Posted by: Dr. Varno at July 31, 2016 12:02 PM (GdFQh)
266
262 Everybody needs to just chill out with some herbicide, man.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (jR7Wy)
Round Up time!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:00 PM (jR7Wy)
Round Up time!
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 12:03 PM (0mRoj)
267
New one.
Posted by: Insomniac at July 31, 2016 12:04 PM (0mRoj)
268
'Sergeant Robinson...would like to have a word with the people responsible for the packet of toilet paper in the combat field rations, or MREs.'
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (jR7Wy)
Many years ago I bought some MREs for hurricane/camping food. The TP provided wasn't enough to wipe a runny nose, let alone a bum.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 11:55 AM (jR7Wy)
Many years ago I bought some MREs for hurricane/camping food. The TP provided wasn't enough to wipe a runny nose, let alone a bum.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 12:04 PM (hgwL9)
269
I can't recall which of the founding fathers stated that the new government depended a moral population to succeed.
pretty much ALL of them said that.
pretty much ALL of them said that.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at July 31, 2016 12:08 PM (39g3+)
270
I think I have finally found the central flaw in Zimm's book on the Pearl Harbor attack. He left the Navy as a Commander and is now an analyst with John Hopkins. He apparently has a degree wall festooned with physics, operations research, and public administration diplomas.
Posted by: Anna Puma at July 31, 2016 12:08 PM (3d5xg)
271
Does the German incarceration rate include those charming "relocation" camps?
Color me doubtful...
Color me doubtful...
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at July 31, 2016 12:11 PM (C9pBZ)
272
Many years ago I bought some MREs for hurricane/camping food. The TP provided wasn't enough to wipe a runny nose, let alone a bum.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 12:04 PM (hgwL9)
---
I remember reading in Guderian's book how impressed they were with the toilet paper found in a GI's kit (yes, that's the kind of stuff I remember).
And in a U.S. Army officer's recollections, he was impressed with the condoms in a German's kit, much thinner than the bulky sheaths provided to the Americans (which he never used because the only women he saw were hordes of emaciated civilians fleeing the fighting).
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 12:04 PM (hgwL9)
---
I remember reading in Guderian's book how impressed they were with the toilet paper found in a GI's kit (yes, that's the kind of stuff I remember).
And in a U.S. Army officer's recollections, he was impressed with the condoms in a German's kit, much thinner than the bulky sheaths provided to the Americans (which he never used because the only women he saw were hordes of emaciated civilians fleeing the fighting).
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:11 PM (jR7Wy)
273
About that Milton quote, words like "mafter fpirit" - (never mind "pretious" - pre-Daniel Webster spelling). 
Was there some rule (m/l) about using the lower-case "s" and the taller "ʃ"? Like, short s only on the ends of words?
As in the Declaration, "...becomes deʃtructive of theʃe ends..." and "...their Safety and Happineʃs..."?
(Note: This comment won't cut-and-paste properly on acecomments.mu.nu. I'm using & # 6 4 3 ; and I'm not even sure that the "Latin small letter Esh" is the right character, but it looks sorta right.)
Was there some rule (m/l) about using the lower-case "s" and the taller "ʃ"? Like, short s only on the ends of words?
As in the Declaration, "...becomes deʃtructive of theʃe ends..." and "...their Safety and Happineʃs..."?
(Note: This comment won't cut-and-paste properly on acecomments.mu.nu. I'm using & # 6 4 3 ; and I'm not even sure that the "Latin small letter Esh" is the right character, but it looks sorta right.)
Posted by: mindful webworker - mafter fpirit?? at July 31, 2016 12:13 PM (pREVk)
274
30 "The Ansel Adams books are treasure troves for film buffs. They let you know what is possible. I haven't developed or printed any film in a long time but still have the gear. I hope the film and chemicals continue to be available. The resolution of good quality black and white film in large or even medium format is astonishing."
Photographer's Formulary is still in business, and is particularly recommended if you have an interest in alternative processes and more esoteric developers.
http://stores.photoformulary.com/film/
***
61 "Even with developing and all the rest of it, way cheaper, and way better, than digital."
Digital is different than film, not necessarily better, not necessarily worse. There are things you can do easily with DSLRs and computers that have no counterpart with film, e.g., stacked focus and spherical panoramas. The learning curve to using digital well is just as steep as for film, and you usually do need a tripod and cable release for good results.
Photographer's Formulary is still in business, and is particularly recommended if you have an interest in alternative processes and more esoteric developers.
http://stores.photoformulary.com/film/
***
61 "Even with developing and all the rest of it, way cheaper, and way better, than digital."
Digital is different than film, not necessarily better, not necessarily worse. There are things you can do easily with DSLRs and computers that have no counterpart with film, e.g., stacked focus and spherical panoramas. The learning curve to using digital well is just as steep as for film, and you usually do need a tripod and cable release for good results.
Posted by: Don at July 31, 2016 12:14 PM (R8iLy)
275
The meth charge got her probation and house monitoring. The 2.5 years was for being stupid. Zero sympathy.
=====
Aaaaand, think about people on some kind of probation/parole. Wasn't that how they used the video maker to create a 'villain' for Benghazi? There is nothing wrong with someone completing their probation/parole and petitioning for restoration of their civil rights. There is something wrong about using a population under incarceration threat for political purposes.
The meth charge got her probation and house monitoring. The 2.5 years was for being stupid. Zero sympathy.
=====
Aaaaand, think about people on some kind of probation/parole. Wasn't that how they used the video maker to create a 'villain' for Benghazi? There is nothing wrong with someone completing their probation/parole and petitioning for restoration of their civil rights. There is something wrong about using a population under incarceration threat for political purposes.
Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2016 12:14 PM (MIKMs)
276
Good morning! This week I read right wing whippersnapper's draft--it's a good, exciting read. (rws, I emailed my comments to you this morning). Also read Wearing the Cat...writing style is great; I love the vocabulary, and the pell-mell adventures of the main character. But, it is definitely boy humor, and I am undecided on whether to read the second.
Posted by: April at July 31, 2016 12:15 PM (e8PP1)
277
LOL! I'm still looking at the AncientChess.com link, and in the video about how to play modern chess, the guy's little daughter photobombs the video. Cute.
http://ancientchess.com/page/play-chess.htm
http://ancientchess.com/page/play-chess.htm
Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 12:20 PM (sdi6R)
278
MWW, yes, you've nailed it. And that rule goes clear back to Anglo-Saxon times; I was surprised to discover it documented in insular miniscule in a book on medieval calligraphy. The main exception I know of is that when writing/printing "ss," you would use the tall s followed by the short s, which is how German developed the essett.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 31, 2016 12:24 PM (m2sZd)
279
You may be surprised at the number of the laws on the books which are no longer enforced. It's continues to be one step forward , one step back.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:36 AM (MNgU2)
Si.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at July 31, 2016 10:36 AM (MNgU2)
Si.
Posted by: Juan Carlos deJesus at July 31, 2016 12:26 PM (YeKKY)
280
There are, in fact, too many laws and too many ways to violate them. And while I'm usually a big fan of privatization,, privatized jails are wrong; incarceration is truly one of the things the state should handle. Conservatives need to take responsibility for bonehead moves like prison privatization and mandatory minimums.
The thing to do now is to roll back the most onerous and intrusive aspects of the War on Drugs. The emphasis should be on border control, treatment for addiction, reducing the prison population, and working to repair families. The last part is the hardest.
The thing to do now is to roll back the most onerous and intrusive aspects of the War on Drugs. The emphasis should be on border control, treatment for addiction, reducing the prison population, and working to repair families. The last part is the hardest.
Posted by: joncelli at July 31, 2016 12:27 PM (1FhAQ)
281
This reminds me of Rick Cook's "Wizardry" series I read back in the 90s
which main character as a computer geek thrown into a magic-rich
environment where little spells work pretty reliably, but the big ones
not so much. So he figures out how to make spells for the magic
equivalents of "1" and "0" which, being tiny spells, work 100% of the
time. With these binary tools, he can use software engineering
techniques to construct big spells as reliable as small ones, the same
way he wrote computer programs.
The Wiz Biz is a compilation of the 'Wizardry' series, sold without DRM, for $6.99.
___________________________________
I have that series in paperback and on the Kindle. It is a great series and extremely humorous through out.
This reminds me of Rick Cook's "Wizardry" series I read back in the 90s
which main character as a computer geek thrown into a magic-rich
environment where little spells work pretty reliably, but the big ones
not so much. So he figures out how to make spells for the magic
equivalents of "1" and "0" which, being tiny spells, work 100% of the
time. With these binary tools, he can use software engineering
techniques to construct big spells as reliable as small ones, the same
way he wrote computer programs.
The Wiz Biz is a compilation of the 'Wizardry' series, sold without DRM, for $6.99.
___________________________________
I have that series in paperback and on the Kindle. It is a great series and extremely humorous through out.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:30 PM (mpXpK)
282
256 Problem with "three strikes" laws, is they are doing it wrong. Strike 3 should be a bullet in the back of the head.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 31, 2016 11:57 AM (f3Uae)
I had to cut this out of the "prison" section of today's book thread to save space, but I have often thought that maybe there are some habitual criminals that we just need to give up on: "Sorry, you've made it clear by your actions over the last 20 years that you have no intention of living a normal, productive life. So say hello to your new friend, Mr. Sparky."
But we couldn't propose this without hordes of do-gooders and ACLU-types bellowing about civil rights and "that's not who we are!"
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at July 31, 2016 11:57 AM (f3Uae)
I had to cut this out of the "prison" section of today's book thread to save space, but I have often thought that maybe there are some habitual criminals that we just need to give up on: "Sorry, you've made it clear by your actions over the last 20 years that you have no intention of living a normal, productive life. So say hello to your new friend, Mr. Sparky."
But we couldn't propose this without hordes of do-gooders and ACLU-types bellowing about civil rights and "that's not who we are!"
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 12:32 PM (Dq9FL)
283
There are pages devoted to the original game, shatranj, which probably originated in India and spread to the Arab world, as well as several variants played in Asia...Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 10:47 AM (sdi6R)
I may do a bit about old-school chess on an upcoming chess thread. It sounds like there might be some interest. Shoot me an email if there's anything in particular you think I should mention.
I may do a bit about old-school chess on an upcoming chess thread. It sounds like there might be some interest. Shoot me an email if there's anything in particular you think I should mention.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 12:36 PM (Dq9FL)
284
can come across the most unexpected things on AOSHQ. The other day there developed a discussion about Catholicism triggered by a Mel Gibson thread. That led me to do research on saying the Rosary, the differences among the modern and Latin masses, and downloading a copy of the 'Dolorous Passion'. These are not topics I would normally read about.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (V+03K)
If you ever get the chance go to a Eastern Rite Catholic Church, very old school, they do the communion with the "bread and wine" together, they use a spoon you tilt your head back and the priest dumps it in your mouth. I just can't do the wine, I just can't do it.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 11:28 AM (V+03K)
If you ever get the chance go to a Eastern Rite Catholic Church, very old school, they do the communion with the "bread and wine" together, they use a spoon you tilt your head back and the priest dumps it in your mouth. I just can't do the wine, I just can't do it.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at July 31, 2016 12:37 PM (dKiJG)
285
My long-running joke is that when you become President you get an envelope sealed by your predecessor containing (1) real alien autopsy photos from Area 51, (2) secret 8mm film of Marilyn Monroe with JFK, and (3) proof that the Cubans and Soviets turned Lee Harvey into the JFK shooter.
I actually put low odds on #3. The proof is quite strong that Oswald did it and was the lone shooter, but there are many curious connections between Oswald and both the Soviets and Cubans, and Castro and Khruschev had motive. So how can you rule out #3? I'd say that you can't.
There's evidence that higher ups in the Saudi hierarchy had a role in the 9/11, but we wound up invading Iraq, a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11. And that senior members of our government knew this before the invasion. With hindsight, how do you explain that without resort to a conspiracy theory?
I've started reading the new book on TWA 800 by Jack Cashill. I've gotten far enough to be convinced that the investigation was spiked to ignore hundreds of eye witness accounts that differ 180 degrees from the official account.
So am I crazy?
I actually put low odds on #3. The proof is quite strong that Oswald did it and was the lone shooter, but there are many curious connections between Oswald and both the Soviets and Cubans, and Castro and Khruschev had motive. So how can you rule out #3? I'd say that you can't.
There's evidence that higher ups in the Saudi hierarchy had a role in the 9/11, but we wound up invading Iraq, a nation that had nothing to do with 9/11. And that senior members of our government knew this before the invasion. With hindsight, how do you explain that without resort to a conspiracy theory?
I've started reading the new book on TWA 800 by Jack Cashill. I've gotten far enough to be convinced that the investigation was spiked to ignore hundreds of eye witness accounts that differ 180 degrees from the official account.
So am I crazy?
Posted by: Ignoramus at July 31, 2016 12:38 PM (bQxkN)
286
Posted by: Ignoramus at July 31, 2016 12:38 PM (bQxkN)
Well yeah probably. But not because of this.
Well yeah probably. But not because of this.
Posted by: weirdflunkyonatablet at July 31, 2016 12:45 PM (dPrPG)
287
Touche
Posted by: Ignoramus at July 31, 2016 12:49 PM (bQxkN)
288
I told a federal judge during jury voir dire that I did not believe the Consitution gave the federal government the authority to regulate/outlaw drugs. And I wasn't trying to get out of jury duty.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:50 PM (mpXpK)
289
I told a federal judge during jury voir dire that I did not believe the Consitution gave the federal government the authority to regulate/outlaw drugs. And I wasn't trying to get out of jury duty.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:50 PM (mpXpK)
Heh. How did that topic even come up?
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:50 PM (mpXpK)
Heh. How did that topic even come up?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 12:57 PM (Dq9FL)
290
I remember reading in Guderian's book how impressed they were with the toilet paper found in a GI's kit (yes, that's the kind of stuff I remember). And in a U.S. Army officer's recollections, he was impressed with the condoms in a German's kit, much thinner than the bulky sheaths provided to the Americans (which he never used because the only women he saw were hordes of emaciated civilians fleeing the fighting).
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:11 PM (jR7Wy)
I've been told some of my history interest is really weird. Which it is, but so what. Simple things like tasty food, clean water, and basic human functions.
Wars, or at least battles were fought for spices to make the crappy food taste better. Beer and alcohol was better than the water, which caused a lot of alcoholics, but helped prevent diseases like cholera. And just normal toilet facilities which we take for granted. In the Palace of Versailles they used to do their business in the corners and stairwells. In WW2 we used condoms to cover the muzzles of rifles to help keep out seawater.
History is more than just a date and an event. It's the little everyday things that make it interesting.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 12:11 PM (jR7Wy)
I've been told some of my history interest is really weird. Which it is, but so what. Simple things like tasty food, clean water, and basic human functions.
Wars, or at least battles were fought for spices to make the crappy food taste better. Beer and alcohol was better than the water, which caused a lot of alcoholics, but helped prevent diseases like cholera. And just normal toilet facilities which we take for granted. In the Palace of Versailles they used to do their business in the corners and stairwells. In WW2 we used condoms to cover the muzzles of rifles to help keep out seawater.
History is more than just a date and an event. It's the little everyday things that make it interesting.
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 01:01 PM (hgwL9)
291
Posted by: JackS at July 31, 2016 01:01 PM (hgwL9)
---
Very true! You can tell much about a civilization by their plumbing, and distribution of that plumbing among the great (un)washed.
---
Very true! You can tell much about a civilization by their plumbing, and distribution of that plumbing among the great (un)washed.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 01:06 PM (jR7Wy)
292
Charles McCarry develops an interesting and unusual conspiracy theory about the JFK assassination in his novel The Tears of Autumn.
It hasn't gotten as much press as the other conspiracy theories, probably because it causes liberal heads to explode on contact.
It hasn't gotten as much press as the other conspiracy theories, probably because it causes liberal heads to explode on contact.
Posted by: cool breeze at July 31, 2016 01:06 PM (ckvus)
293
289
I told a federal judge during jury voir dire that I did not believe
the Consitution gave the federal government the authority to
regulate/outlaw drugs. And I wasn't trying to get out of jury duty.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:50 PM (mpXpK)
Heh. How did that topic even come up?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 12:57 PM (Dq9FL)
It was a question in the jury questionnaire they mailed out. The trial was for a multi-time drug dealer and possession of a gun by a felon. So she asked me about it. When I had replied that on the questionnaire.
I told a federal judge during jury voir dire that I did not believe
the Consitution gave the federal government the authority to
regulate/outlaw drugs. And I wasn't trying to get out of jury duty.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 12:50 PM (mpXpK)
Heh. How did that topic even come up?
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 12:57 PM (Dq9FL)
It was a question in the jury questionnaire they mailed out. The trial was for a multi-time drug dealer and possession of a gun by a felon. So she asked me about it. When I had replied that on the questionnaire.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 01:08 PM (mpXpK)
294
I was about to write this comment when the new thread went up, and thought of putting it there, but that one has gone off in a different direction.
I used to use drugs when I was younger, and luckily never got into serious trouble with them. I got arrested for possession once but didn't go to jail. Today the only drugs I use are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. If marijuana was legalized in my state I wouldn't go back to it, because I've lost interest.
As far back as I can remember, I was in favor of legalization. Drug users tend to associate with criminals because what they're doing is illegal. That would seem to be a no-brainer. Eliminate the legal proscription, and there's no reason why drug users should associate with criminals any more than cigarette smokers do.
I didn't grow up with guns, and back during that time, I supported gun control. I figured that smoking pot didn't hurt anybody, so if it was illegal, then why should guns be legal?
One day in the early 90s I had an epiphany. It literally stopped me in my tracks. I suddenly realized that a "War on Guns" would be just like the "War on Drugs", if not worse. It would make criminals out of perfectly decent people who owned guns, and spur a black market in guns which would enrich and empower organized crime.
I was like, "Ohhhh. Now I get it. Now I understand."
And I've been opposed to gun control ever since.
I used to use drugs when I was younger, and luckily never got into serious trouble with them. I got arrested for possession once but didn't go to jail. Today the only drugs I use are caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. If marijuana was legalized in my state I wouldn't go back to it, because I've lost interest.
As far back as I can remember, I was in favor of legalization. Drug users tend to associate with criminals because what they're doing is illegal. That would seem to be a no-brainer. Eliminate the legal proscription, and there's no reason why drug users should associate with criminals any more than cigarette smokers do.
I didn't grow up with guns, and back during that time, I supported gun control. I figured that smoking pot didn't hurt anybody, so if it was illegal, then why should guns be legal?
One day in the early 90s I had an epiphany. It literally stopped me in my tracks. I suddenly realized that a "War on Guns" would be just like the "War on Drugs", if not worse. It would make criminals out of perfectly decent people who owned guns, and spur a black market in guns which would enrich and empower organized crime.
I was like, "Ohhhh. Now I get it. Now I understand."
And I've been opposed to gun control ever since.
Posted by: rickl at July 31, 2016 01:09 PM (sdi6R)
295
What was funny was the judge asked me if I could render a "just" verdict in the trial and I said yes. The guy's lawyer looked at me funny and my name was one of the first ones struck by the defense.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at July 31, 2016 01:10 PM (mpXpK)
296
215
Has this method worked for anyone?
http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html
Can't speak for that, but the one time I had to write a short story in school, I based it on a science-fiction story flowchart printed in OMNI magazine (you know, one of those joke things complaining that all science fiction stories are alike).
At grading time, my teacher showed me the grade he had given it, but did not give me the story back; he stuffed it in a drawer in the bottom of his desk.
I count that as a success.
Has this method worked for anyone?
http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html
Can't speak for that, but the one time I had to write a short story in school, I based it on a science-fiction story flowchart printed in OMNI magazine (you know, one of those joke things complaining that all science fiction stories are alike).
At grading time, my teacher showed me the grade he had given it, but did not give me the story back; he stuffed it in a drawer in the bottom of his desk.
I count that as a success.
Posted by: Anachronda at July 31, 2016 01:14 PM (Oi5b2)
297
I'm not so sure ending the war on drugs would turn out so great. Charles Bowden, the author of "Down by the River" notes how utterly dependent Mexico's economy is on illegal drugs, it's their biggest industry by far. Legalization would mean even more rural poverty and a huge exodus of that population ...somewhere.
I also remember when Mexican officials cried like hell when Colorado and Washington legalized pot. Didn't like the competition?
I also remember when Mexican officials cried like hell when Colorado and Washington legalized pot. Didn't like the competition?
Posted by: JHW at July 31, 2016 01:17 PM (kn0BL)
298
Very true! You can tell much about a civilization by their plumbing, and distribution of that plumbing among the great (un)washed.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 01:06 PM (jR7Wy)
TX historian David Barton occasionally points out that it's only Christian-founded countries that are down with sanitation and hygiene. The concept of economies/investment also seems to have escaped the muzz.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 01:06 PM (jR7Wy)
TX historian David Barton occasionally points out that it's only Christian-founded countries that are down with sanitation and hygiene. The concept of economies/investment also seems to have escaped the muzz.
Posted by: RushBabe at July 31, 2016 01:18 PM (YeKKY)
299
241
For the 2nd Star Trek movie, Gene Roddenberry wanted to put Spock on
the grassy knoll to resolve a time paradox. Kinda explains why he
didn't have a lot to do with the movies after that.
Red Dwarf, naturally, did it right. They put JFK on the grassy knoll to resolve a time travel paradox.
For the 2nd Star Trek movie, Gene Roddenberry wanted to put Spock on
the grassy knoll to resolve a time paradox. Kinda explains why he
didn't have a lot to do with the movies after that.
Red Dwarf, naturally, did it right. They put JFK on the grassy knoll to resolve a time travel paradox.
Posted by: Anachronda at July 31, 2016 01:19 PM (Oi5b2)
300
273 Was there some rule (m/l) about using the lower-case "s" and the taller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S#Long_s
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S#Long_s
Posted by: Anachronda at July 31, 2016 01:25 PM (Oi5b2)
301
Also read Wearing the Cat...writing style is great; I love the vocabulary, and the pell-mell adventures of the main character. But, it is definitely boy humor, and I am undecided on whether to read the second.
Posted by: April at July 31, 2016 12:15 PM (e8PP1)
Hey April,
Thank you for your kind words!
If you feel the urge to put a positive review on Amazon, please do so. That really helps tremendously.
As far as the humor goes, I think you might want to continue with WTC.
With Part Two, a spritz of P G Wodehouse-ish and Evelyn Waugh-ish enters the mix, and without getting into spoiler territory, expands throughout the rest of the novel due to the changes in locale, circumstances, and characters.
In any event, best of luck and I hope you choose to continue your literary forays into "Wearing the Cat".
Cheers!
Posted by: April at July 31, 2016 12:15 PM (e8PP1)
Hey April,
Thank you for your kind words!
If you feel the urge to put a positive review on Amazon, please do so. That really helps tremendously.
As far as the humor goes, I think you might want to continue with WTC.
With Part Two, a spritz of P G Wodehouse-ish and Evelyn Waugh-ish enters the mix, and without getting into spoiler territory, expands throughout the rest of the novel due to the changes in locale, circumstances, and characters.
In any event, best of luck and I hope you choose to continue your literary forays into "Wearing the Cat".
Cheers!
Posted by: H D Woodard - "Wearing the Cat - Part Two: The Fox's Den" at July 31, 2016 01:31 PM (0cMkb)
Posted by: H D Woodard - "Wearing the Cat - Part Two: The Fox's Den" at July 31, 2016 01:33 PM (0cMkb)
303
130
But apparently expecting people to actually obey the law is just crazy
talk for out-of-touch old people. I guess I'm the sucker for all these
years. Kind of disappointed to see this attitude infecting this
particular website.....
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
There used to be a time when "laws" were made out of the common
sense need to make society safe and orderly for the majority of the
people in it. Nowadays "laws" are made to shut down competition, supply
graft and grift to those who pass them and apply only to those persons
unable to afford or too stupid to employ protection. So yes, many laws
today are being ignored. Like our "Immigration" and "Security Clearance"
laws to name a few......
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 10:30 AM (ej1L0)
I blame permanent legislatures.
Look, it's only obvious. You've got a group of people who exist to make laws. The first year they meet is gangbusters: "Thou shall not kill"; "Thou shall not steal"; "Thou shall not bear false witness."
The second year, there's still some good stuff to deal with: "Beer should be comprised of water, barley, yeast, and hops"; "Motor-powered vehicles must yield to those powered by animals or wind"; "Transactions involving real estate must be in writing."
By year 10, you're down to, "when making ketchup, tomatoes may include up to 3% mold"; and "after stopping for a red light, you may make a right turn as traffic permits".
And after 200 years, all that's left to legislate are horrendously awful ideas like Sarbanes-Oxley, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and banning light bulbs.
But apparently expecting people to actually obey the law is just crazy
talk for out-of-touch old people. I guess I'm the sucker for all these
years. Kind of disappointed to see this attitude infecting this
particular website.....
Posted by: Pave Low John at July 31, 2016 10:20 AM (b5yHT)
There used to be a time when "laws" were made out of the common
sense need to make society safe and orderly for the majority of the
people in it. Nowadays "laws" are made to shut down competition, supply
graft and grift to those who pass them and apply only to those persons
unable to afford or too stupid to employ protection. So yes, many laws
today are being ignored. Like our "Immigration" and "Security Clearance"
laws to name a few......
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at July 31, 2016 10:30 AM (ej1L0)
I blame permanent legislatures.
Look, it's only obvious. You've got a group of people who exist to make laws. The first year they meet is gangbusters: "Thou shall not kill"; "Thou shall not steal"; "Thou shall not bear false witness."
The second year, there's still some good stuff to deal with: "Beer should be comprised of water, barley, yeast, and hops"; "Motor-powered vehicles must yield to those powered by animals or wind"; "Transactions involving real estate must be in writing."
By year 10, you're down to, "when making ketchup, tomatoes may include up to 3% mold"; and "after stopping for a red light, you may make a right turn as traffic permits".
And after 200 years, all that's left to legislate are horrendously awful ideas like Sarbanes-Oxley, Obamacare, Dodd-Frank, and banning light bulbs.
Posted by: cthulhu at July 31, 2016 02:11 PM (EzgxV)
304
Fourth grade teacher here. The new school year is upon us, and I'm trying to stock my classroom library with books that I know my kids will love. However, the latest books for kids are so watered down or filled with politics. I've started hunting down old classics that my parents or grandparents may have grown up with. I've had great success with Jack London, H.G. Wells, and a few others. I was just wondering if anyone could recommend a great book or series from the past that still holds up today.
Posted by: Joekenha at July 31, 2016 02:18 PM (bEFNc)
305
What age range are we talking here, Joekenha?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 02:23 PM (jR7Wy)
306
Oh duh, just read the comment in full, as is not my wont.
Well, The Chronicles of Narnia, for starters.
Some others I remember:
James and the Giant Peach (our teacher read this to us)
The Chronicles of Prydain (still a great read as an adult)
Any good books on classical mythology
A Wrinkle in Time
The Laura Ingalls Wilder stories
Well, The Chronicles of Narnia, for starters.
Some others I remember:
James and the Giant Peach (our teacher read this to us)
The Chronicles of Prydain (still a great read as an adult)
Any good books on classical mythology
A Wrinkle in Time
The Laura Ingalls Wilder stories
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 02:35 PM (jR7Wy)
307
304
Fourth grade teacher here. The new school year is upon us, and I'm
trying to stock my classroom library with books that I know my kids will
love. However, the latest books for kids are so watered down or filled
with politics. I've started hunting down old classics that my parents or
grandparents may have grown up with. I've had great success with Jack
London, H.G. Wells, and a few others. I was just wondering if anyone
could recommend a great book or series from the past that still holds up
today.
Posted by: Joekenha at July 31, 2016 02:18 PM (bEFNc)
The Phantom Tollbooth?
Fourth grade teacher here. The new school year is upon us, and I'm
trying to stock my classroom library with books that I know my kids will
love. However, the latest books for kids are so watered down or filled
with politics. I've started hunting down old classics that my parents or
grandparents may have grown up with. I've had great success with Jack
London, H.G. Wells, and a few others. I was just wondering if anyone
could recommend a great book or series from the past that still holds up
today.
Posted by: Joekenha at July 31, 2016 02:18 PM (bEFNc)
The Phantom Tollbooth?
Posted by: cthulhu at July 31, 2016 02:50 PM (EzgxV)
308
http://www.nea.org/grants/teachers- top-100-books-for-children.html
Posted by: cthulhu at July 31, 2016 03:00 PM (EzgxV)
309
(22: ... Everything from telephone service ($3.00 a minute in some cases) to jails to prisons to probation and parole are now privatized. What this means is that they are compensated for how many "participants" are in the system. Follow the money."
We are all public citizens and private individuals. State (government, generally) operation of an industry does not change this. Consider the VA. Consider government schools. Enrollment determines the budget that government schools receive. This explains the counter-productive expansion of the compulsory attendance interval. 8-14 => 5-18.
PS: In Hawaii, juvenile arrests FALL when school is NOT in session. Juvenile hospitalizations for human-induced trauma FALL when school is NOT in session. Schools do not prevent crime; they cause it.
: ... Everything from telephone service ($3.00 a minute in some cases) to jails to prisons to probation and parole are now privatized. What this means is that they are compensated for how many "participants" are in the system. Follow the money."
We are all public citizens and private individuals. State (government, generally) operation of an industry does not change this. Consider the VA. Consider government schools. Enrollment determines the budget that government schools receive. This explains the counter-productive expansion of the compulsory attendance interval. 8-14 => 5-18.
PS: In Hawaii, juvenile arrests FALL when school is NOT in session. Juvenile hospitalizations for human-induced trauma FALL when school is NOT in session. Schools do not prevent crime; they cause it.
Posted by: Malcolm Kirkpatrick at July 31, 2016 03:02 PM (IbUUZ)
310
Fourth grade! In fourth grade I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia and the Little House books every summer, so definite second to those and to A Wrinkle in Time. Also The Hobbit, The Sword in the Stone, The Wind in the Willows, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, and most of Twain's better-known fiction. Series: Encyclopedia Brown, Hank the Cowdog, Rush Revere (new, yes, but very good), and a British series that starts with The Indian in the Cupboard. That age group would probably also like Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and the Boxcar Children, and maybe Five Little Peppers and How They Grew and Misty of Chincoteague and its sequels. And I'd also recommend the books of Thornton W. Burgess--they're full of genuine facts about the critters portrayed, and they're similar in terms of characters and adventures to The Wind in the Willows.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at July 31, 2016 03:05 PM (m2sZd)
311
have been reading The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton. It is very well written with incredible detail. It is easy to hope the war might have been avoided since it began out of stupidity, greed, ambition, and deceit. A young lieutenant ambitious for glory began the war when he attacked the wrong band of Apaches trying to recover a kidnapped boy and he did so treacherously. Nor did it help that his tactics were as bad as his strategy. Not that the Apaches were entirely innocent. They had kidnapped the boy while on a plunder raid and blamed the boy they had kidnapped for starting the war. They had engaged in plunder raids for centuries and that was not likely to endear them to their neighbors. It is interesting to note also that when the first Spanish explorers came to the area there were no Apaches there. When the Spanish returned forty years later, they found the Apaches had moved in but it was Europeans who first claimed the land.
After the war first broke out, many Apache bands joined together in armies of perhaps 1000 to drive the whites out. They largely succeeded but not for the reason they thought. The Confederates had attacked Fort Sumter and the soldiers left to fight on either side of the Civil War. Without the soldiers, the civilians had little choice but to leave. After the war the whites had some scores to settle but the Apaches never again joined in large armies and were eventually defeated. One wonders if there had been an Apache Ghengis Kahn to unite all the tribes, Comanche, Ute, Arapaho etc., as Ghengis unified the Mongols, whether the Indian Wars might have ended much differently.
This book is like a trip to the time of The Searchers.
One interesting language/ literary note. I hate the term "Native American" because it's too precious and if you use the word Indian it msans you are a racist pig and deserve to die. This author avoids the dilemma by always using the specific; I.e. Mescalero Apache or Chiacahua Apache. I don't know if that was a happy coincidence or a conscious decision.
After the war first broke out, many Apache bands joined together in armies of perhaps 1000 to drive the whites out. They largely succeeded but not for the reason they thought. The Confederates had attacked Fort Sumter and the soldiers left to fight on either side of the Civil War. Without the soldiers, the civilians had little choice but to leave. After the war the whites had some scores to settle but the Apaches never again joined in large armies and were eventually defeated. One wonders if there had been an Apache Ghengis Kahn to unite all the tribes, Comanche, Ute, Arapaho etc., as Ghengis unified the Mongols, whether the Indian Wars might have ended much differently.
This book is like a trip to the time of The Searchers.
One interesting language/ literary note. I hate the term "Native American" because it's too precious and if you use the word Indian it msans you are a racist pig and deserve to die. This author avoids the dilemma by always using the specific; I.e. Mescalero Apache or Chiacahua Apache. I don't know if that was a happy coincidence or a conscious decision.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at July 31, 2016 03:07 PM (UJYgF)
312
I will also note that A Wrinkle in Time is but the first in an excellent series, and you get to watch the children in Wrinkle grow into adulthood and help other youngsters.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 03:14 PM (jR7Wy)
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 03:14 PM (jR7Wy)
314
*dances on lip of barrel*
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at July 31, 2016 03:15 PM (jR7Wy)
315
Must comment on the sidebar links...
Apparently, I've been practicing "lion protection" the whole time...
)
Apparently, I've been practicing "lion protection" the whole time...
)Posted by: Scott at July 31, 2016 03:46 PM (df5yj)
316
Fourth-grade reading suggestions:
Ender's Game by OS Card
Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloan
Robert Heinlein's juvenile novels: The Rolling Stones, Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Farmer in the Sky, Time for the Stars, Starman Jones, Tunnel in the Sky
Ender's Game by OS Card
Carry On Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
The Jungle Books by Rudyard Kipling
Diary of an Early American Boy by Eric Sloan
Robert Heinlein's juvenile novels: The Rolling Stones, Have Spacesuit Will Travel, Farmer in the Sky, Time for the Stars, Starman Jones, Tunnel in the Sky
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 03:47 PM (OLgc9)
317
I will also note that A Wrinkle in Time is but the first in an excellent series
This is a fail. Much like there are only two Star Wars movies, 3 Indiana Jones flicks, and 2 Godfather films, The Wrinkle in Time is just one book...
(h/t to Madame L'Engle)
This is a fail. Much like there are only two Star Wars movies, 3 Indiana Jones flicks, and 2 Godfather films, The Wrinkle in Time is just one book...
(h/t to Madame L'Engle)
Posted by: Scott at July 31, 2016 03:52 PM (df5yj)
318
Not bad, Trimegistus.
I would add "Watership Down", Charlotte's Web" and the only book in the the "Wrinkle in Time" series... lol
I would add "Watership Down", Charlotte's Web" and the only book in the the "Wrinkle in Time" series... lol
Posted by: Scott at July 31, 2016 03:59 PM (df5yj)
319
And you forgot "Citizen of the Galaxy" in your Heinlien list.
Posted by: Scott at July 31, 2016 04:12 PM (df5yj)
320
It really sucks when you're typing/posting so fast, you put a typo in "Heinlein"... He was famous for saying "Writers write"- and he played the game well!
Posted by: Scott at July 31, 2016 04:17 PM (df5yj)
321
As to the Hardy Boys books for your class, I've read that they have been dumbed down over the years. Don't know for sure since I haven't read a new one since about 1960. Supposedly, The vocabulary has been simplified and some story elements 'modernized' from the originals. But the Heinlein juveniles should be great for that age group.
Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2016 04:22 PM (V+03K)
322
4th Grade recommendations:
Little House series - I second the nomination above. Learn about family life and what it was like to be really poor (saving the white soap and sugar for company!).
Sherlock Holmes - Hound of the Baskervilles or maybe the Study in Scarlett (controversial depiction of Mormons). Deductive reasoning and being observant, gripping story.
Narnia - too many reasons to mention
The Hobbit - why haven't you read it yet?
Aesop's Fables - if you can find a suitable collection, these are sometimes helpful in wisdom, and also referred to in other works.
Little House series - I second the nomination above. Learn about family life and what it was like to be really poor (saving the white soap and sugar for company!).
Sherlock Holmes - Hound of the Baskervilles or maybe the Study in Scarlett (controversial depiction of Mormons). Deductive reasoning and being observant, gripping story.
Narnia - too many reasons to mention
The Hobbit - why haven't you read it yet?
Aesop's Fables - if you can find a suitable collection, these are sometimes helpful in wisdom, and also referred to in other works.
Posted by: goodluckduck at July 31, 2016 06:05 PM (v6LJg)
323
IMO, Watership Down should be delayed until jr. high or high school (that's when we read it).
Posted by: goodluckduck at July 31, 2016 06:07 PM (v6LJg)
324
I finished reading Marie Kondo's _The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up_ and am trying to put it into practice.
Posted by: goodluckduck at July 31, 2016 06:26 PM (v6LJg)
325
"Because it's obviously a brain malfunction: they can operate perfectly normally in society, but somehow have an irresistible need or addiction to believing something false.
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?"
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 11:20 AM (dhjcf)
A friend of mine is a devout Christian who believes in Obamacare and the live-birth statistics of European countries. Does that count?
Is it just loss of religion? Are there any sincere Christians who are UFO/911/Kennedy conspiracy believers?"
Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2016 11:20 AM (dhjcf)
A friend of mine is a devout Christian who believes in Obamacare and the live-birth statistics of European countries. Does that count?
Posted by: LochLomondFarms at July 31, 2016 07:32 PM (HCOZ2)
326
If Oregonmuse comes back to reread this thread...... THANKS for another great Sunday book thread!
As always, I have enjoyed the content and comments....and (as if I don't already have enough books on my reading list to get to) filled my Amazon cart with THREE additional books recommended by morons.
I hope I get to retire someday....those books aren't gonna read themselves.
If Oregonmuse comes back to reread this thread...... THANKS for another great Sunday book thread!
As always, I have enjoyed the content and comments....and (as if I don't already have enough books on my reading list to get to) filled my Amazon cart with THREE additional books recommended by morons.
I hope I get to retire someday....those books aren't gonna read themselves.
Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at July 31, 2016 08:38 PM (fsWvx)
327
If Oregonmuse comes back to reread this thread...... THANKS for another great Sunday book thread!
Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at July 31, 2016 08:38 PM (fsWvx)
Yes, I do sneak back in here from time to time. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope the book thread doesn't drain your bank account too much.
Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at July 31, 2016 08:38 PM (fsWvx)
Yes, I do sneak back in here from time to time. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope the book thread doesn't drain your bank account too much.
Posted by: OregonMuse at July 31, 2016 10:33 PM (L/Ifn)
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