Sunday Morning Book Thread 01-01-2017: The Golden Age

The Yuuge, Classy, and Luxurious Library of Lurker Johnw

It's another beautiful day at AoSHQ's stately, prestigious, internationally acclaimed and high-class Sunday Morning Book Thread and continual soiree, where men are men, all the 'ettes are impossibly attractive, safe spaces are underneath your house and are used as protection against actual dangers, like tornados, hurricanes, politically motivated social media attacks, somebody sneaking carrots into your chili, and special snowflakes do not get respect, but instead, Bronx cheers. And unlike other AoSHQ comment threads, the Sunday Morning Book Thread is so hoity-toity, pants are required. Even if it's these pants, which don't look good even on an attractive model.

Pic Note

I think this is the best Moron library I've seen so far. You've got to click on to see the expanded view, which is just not a larger version of the same photo. You will easily see that johnw's library has everything a Moron could want:

1. Books
2. Yuuge, luxurious furniture
3. A well-stocked wet bar
4. A fireplace
5. More books

Johnw tells me this library is located in "the wilds of N Idaho." I can think of worst places to be on those snowy winter nights up there.

Not A Savior, But A Rooster Crowing

I like this comment from Aetius451AD that he posted a couple of book threads ago concerning the election results:

I love Tolkien's work...Before the Jackson movies, the scene that always grabbed be in the books was the Battle of the Pelenor Fields...That sense of defeat. That heavy weight of evil settling over the land. The despair on every face. The sight of Gandalf sitting his horse as the men of Gondor ran for their lives. One man against the tide, knowing he would fail, but standing still. You knew he was doomed. There was no hope.

Then somewhere in the darkness, a cock crowed. Speaking not of war, death , and despair, but of the dawn. And a single ray of light pierces the darkness.

How this ties into today and what I feel thankful for is obvious. We all know the general feeling we have had these past 8 years. And I am not saying that Trump is in any way a savior or God sent. I am saying in the past few days, it has been amazing that the feeling of hope has seemed to have pierced the blanket. Trump is not the savior.

But I will buy that he is that rooster crowing.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at November 27, 2016 10:02 AM (NLQj5)

I feel the same way. Trump wasn't my first choice for president. Or even my second. Or third. In fact, you'd have to get down to Kasich/Huntsman levels before you'd find candidates who appealed to me less than Trump. But when the time came, I voted for Trump and hoped for the best. And now, when I get up in the morning, there's this wee little spark of hope that I haven't felt for 8 years. Things aren't quite as bad as they were before November 7th.

I would like to believe that Obama represents the high-water mark of progressivism in America. But I don't know for sure if that's true. I know that some of you morons, such as JackStraw, argue that Trump's election is just part of a much broader repudiation of progressive values. It is very much like the Brexit vote, another seismic event that the elite classes completely whiffed on.

And zombie enthusiastically calls Trump's election a pivotal turning point in human history.

Let's say this is correct, like we all would like. Then what do we do now? How do we get things moving again?

Here's A Card You Can Give To Your Liberal Friends

With that question in mind, this book seems appropriate: The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America by George Mason University professor Frank Buckley that addresses the problem where

An ostensibly progressive New Class of comfortably rich professionals, media leaders, and academics has shaped the contours of American politics and given us a country of fixed economic classes. It is supported by the poorest of Americans, who have little chance to rise, an alliance of both ends against the middle that recalls the Red Tories of parliamentary countries. Because they support an aristocracy, the members of the New Class are Tories, and because of their feigned concern for the poor, they are Red Tories.

Unlike most conservatives, Buckley (I don't think he's related to the famous Buckley clan) directly addresses the problem of income inequality, by focusing on the actual cause, income immobility, i.e. policy has been favoring the "New Class" aristocrats at the expense of everyone else so that the poor find it very difficult to rise up out of their poverty. As one reviewer notes that this book

...poses a rather startling hypothesis: that everything from the poor state of public schools to professional licensing to the regulatory is a result of aristocrats trying to protect their special privilege. Teacher unions are allowed to turn public schools into waste lands that prevent children from getting a decent education, thus preventing them from advancing in life. A stunning fact that Buckley points to is that 1/3rd of Americans have to have a professional license to do their jobs. That licensing not only protects those who already are employed in those licensed occupations, and it also makes it hard for people to move between occupations.

A Bernie-boi reviewer gave the book one star because the author allegedly supports Trump. Alrighty then. I guess we're going to be hearing a lot of "guilt by association" accusations flung around over the next 4 (or 8?) years where all that is considered necessary to disregard somebody you disagree with is to find a way, however tenuous, to link him to Donald Trump.

Dr. Sowell, We Hardly Knew Ye

It was said news earlier this week for us to learn that Thomas Sowell is retiring. One can hardly blame a man in his 80s for wanting to hang it up, and we all wish him well, but the man is a national treasure and we hate to see him go. Another way to describe him is a prophet without honor. He spoke economic truth for years, and was basically ignored by the power and status elites. There is probably nothing more he would've liked to see more than his fellow African Americans happy, prosperous, and crime free, which they would be if only they would listen to him. But they didn't, so they're none of those things, and Mr. Sowell will probably not live to see much, if any, improvement.

But despite not being listened to, Mr. Sowell has left behind an intellectual legacy that is nothing short of astounding.

All of his books are amazing. But the one this country needs right now, after the gross fiscal mismanagement by successive federal administrations of both parties is Basic Economics. This is a book wherein

Thomas Sowell revises and updates his popular book on common sense economics, bringing the world into clearer focus through a basic understanding of the fundamental economic principles and how they explain our lives. Drawing on lively examples from around the world and from centuries of history, Sowell explains basic economic principles for the general public in plain English.

It wouldn't hurt for everyone in Washington DC to read this book, to acquaint themselves with their economic ABCs. And then they might be ready to move on to Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One, which

...includes a chapter on the economics of immigration and new sections of other chapters on such topics as the “creative” financing of home-buying that led to the current “subprime” mortgage crisis, the economics of organ transplants, and the political and economic incentives that lead to money earmarked for highways being diverted to mass transit and to a general neglect of infrastructure. On these and other topics, its examples are drawn from around the world. Much material in the first edition has been updated and supplemented. The revised and enlarged edition of Applied Economics retains the easy readability of the first edition, even for people with no prior knowledge of economics.

And if there's only one other book by Sowell that you're able to read, I would recommend The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy:

Sowell presents a devastating critique of the mind-set behind the failed social policies of the past thirty years. Sowell sees what has happened during that time not as a series of isolated mistakes but as a logical consequence of a tainted vision whose defects have led to crises in education, crime, and family dynamics, and to other social pathologies. In this book, he describes how elites—the anointed—have replaced facts and rational thinking with rhetorical assertions, thereby altering the course of our social policy.

My favorite quote from Sowell comes from one of his TV interviews where the little-old-liberal-lady-in-tennis-shoes interviewer remarked that she could see he had great "faith in the free market." "No, madam, I don't have faith in the free market", Sowell replied, "I have *facts* about the free market."

This year, we've lost both Antonin Scalia and Sowell. I fear we will not see their like again.

A Diversity Too Far

The Chicago Review of Books claims to be "dedicated to diverse voices in literature." At least, that's what it says on its Twitter account. But all is not well at the ChiRevBks because publishing giant Simon & Schuster just signed a $250K book deal with "a leading white nationalist." Because of this, ChiRevBks tweeted "In response to this disgusting validation of hate, we will not cover a single @simonschuster book in 2017."

So, who is this avatar of "white nationalism" that the ever-diverse ChiRevBks is so repulsed by that all of their diversity has to be jettisoned like excess luggage on a sinking lifeboat? Is it Richard Spencer, leader of some 200 white guys that nobody heard of or cared about until the MSM started screaming and yelling about him and running around with their hair was on fire? Could it be Zombie Adolf Hitler, risen from the grave and hiding out somewhere disguised as some Donald Trump precinct captain? Or perhaps it was some Kooky Kleagle of the KKK that they found in the Alabama Democratic Party HQ's basement? Who could it be?

Surprise! It was Milo Yiannopoulos! Really? Yes, really:

Threshold and Simon & Schuster were not available for comment, but people with knowledge of the situation say Yiannopoulos is getting an advance of $250,000 for his book. The autobiographical book is his first, though Yiannopoulos, a flamoboyant and gay conservative, has a wide following for his writing, especially at Breitbart News, where he is an editor.

How about that? The pious avatars of diversity suddenly turn tail and run when confronted with actual diversity. Others on the Twitter feed are pointing out that the ChiRevBks boycott will just hurt smaller, lesser-known Simon & Schuster authors who might otherwise benefit by exposure given to them by a ChiRevBks review. But their pleas are falling on deaf ears. The blatantly homophobic Chicago Review of Books considers its virtue-signalled more important than promoting the diverse authors they claim they want to support.

George Orwell just e-mailed and said "And you're surprised by this?"

So, what's the book going to be about?

“DANGEROUS will be a book on free speech by the outspoken and controversial gay British author and editor at Breitbart News who describes himself as the ‘most fabulous supervillain on the Internet,'” Simon & Schuster said in a statement.

Here are some more examples of progressives dialing it up to 11 because of this book deal.

Milo, naturally, is like a kid in a candy store:

"Every line of attack the forces of political correctness try on me fails pathetically. I'm more powerful, more influential and more fabulous than ever before, and this book is the moment Milo goes mainstream. Social justice warriors should be scared — very scared," he said.

Well, we'll see how far the mainstreaming of Milo goes. It is true, though, that the crybullies who have been trying to destroy him have been unable to lay a glove on him. Even having him booted off Twitter hasn't really slowed him down. Everything they do to try to stop Milo just makes him hit back harder.

Personally, I like Milo for the reason Abraham Lincoln said he liked General Grant. He fights.

Milo's book, Dangerous, is available for pre-order and will be released on March 14. 2017. And, thanks to all the progressive crybullies running around with their hair on fire, it's already a #1 Amazon best-seller.

Books By Morons

Laura, a new (to me) lurkette author just showed up on our GoodReads group. She is the author of the 'Waking Late' series, which she calls a "space opera...a space marine trapped on a lost, medieval colony planet." The first in the series is Sleeping Duty:

Gilead Tan and Andrea Fielding survived their stint in the military, got married, signed up to emigrate to a terraformed colony world, and went into cold sleep for the journey from Earth. While they slept, the starship went through a wrong fold in space and settled for a different world, a wild world. Three centuries after the founding of a colony on the uncharted planet, Gilead awakens to find humanity slipped back to medieval tech and a feudal structure. Worse, the king who wants Gilead awake won’t let Gilead awaken his wife.

Out of the Dell is the second book in the series.

Laura is also the author of Manx Prize, a science fiction novel about solving the problem of orbital debris:

It’s the second half of the twenty-first century, and mankind has reached Earth orbit but not much farther. Orbital debris is a by-product of the industrial activity, and it’s dangerous both to everyone up there and the bottom lines of the corporations offering a prize to get rid of it. Charlotte heads up a team chasing the Manx Prize for the first successful, controlled de-orbit of a dead satellite. To win, she and her team must out-think and out-engineer a cheating competitor, dodge a collusive regulator, and withstand the temptations offered by a large and powerful seastead.

I always thought that stuff would burn up in the atmosphere as their orbits slowly decayed, but apparently not.

According to Laura's blog, she used to be a lawyer with the Federal Aviation Administration, and she worked for many years on issues involving commercial space transportation. So when she writes about the difficulties and expense of getting payloads into orbit, and what happens when you succeed in getting them up there, she knows whereof she speaks.

The 2016 Book Threads

As is my annual custom, here is a collection of links to every 2016 book thread. What makes this book thread work is you morons, your knowledge, and your book recommendations. Especially your recommendations. So if you ever find yourself looking for a good book to read, you can start clicking on these links and you will be provided with a yuuuge quantity of recommendations you can peruse.

Also, I would like to thank ace for letting me hijack his audience every Sunday. I never asked him, I just sort of muscled my way in, which is very presumptuous on my part if you think about it. But I love this Smart Military Blog™, and I feel honored to be able to provide content. Also, I love you 'rons and 'ettes, and I love the community we've built here. I know that 2016 was a rough year for us, and I'm sorry for the people we've lost. But even though the Good Ship AoSHQ was pounded by fierce storms, we came finally through them all, the seas look smoother ahead, and Hillary Clinton will never be president.

Book Thread 01-03-2016 Book Thread 01-10-2016 Book Thread 01-17-2016
Book Thread 01-24-2016 Book Thread 01-31-2016 Book Thread 02-07-2016
Book Thread 02-14-2016 Book Thread 02-21-2016 Book Thread 02-28-2016
Book Thread 03-06-2016 Book Thread 03-13-2016 Book Thread 03-20-2016
Book Thread 03-27-2016 Book Thread 04-03-2016 Book Thread 04-10-2016
Book Thread 04-17-2016 Book Thread 04-24-2016 Book Thread 05-01-2016
Book Thread 05-08-2016 Book Thread 05-15-2016 Book Thread 05-22-2016
Book Thread 05-29-2016 Book Thread 06-05-2016 Book Thread 06-12-2016
Book Thread 06-19-2016 Book Thread 06-26-2016 Book Thread 07-03-2016
Book Thread 07-10-2016 Book Thread 07-17-2016 Book Thread 07-24-2016
Book Thread 07-31-2016 Book Thread 08-07-2016 Book Thread 08-14-2016
Book Thread 08-21-2016 Book Thread 08-28-2016 Book Thread 09-04-2016
Book Thread 09-11-2016 Book Thread 09-18-2016 Book Thread 09-25-2016
Book Thread 10-02-2016 Book Thread 10-09-2016 Book Thread 10-16-2016
Book Thread 10-23-2016 Book Thread 10-30-2016 Book Thread 11-06-2016
Book Thread 11-13-2016 Book Thread 11-20-2016 Book Thread 11-27-2016
Book Thread 12-04-2016 Book Thread 12-11-2016 Book Thread 12-18-2016
Book Thread 12-25-2016

On the other hand, for all the talk of 2016 being a bad year, consider:

1. Hillary lost.
2. The Cubs won.
3. The MSM beclowned itself so thoroughly during the election that it may never recover.
4. Even before taking office, Trump is pantsing the opposition.
5. Gawker was sued into non-existence.
6. Rolling Stone may follow.
7. Fidel Castro relocated to warmer climes, where he is being repeatedly ravaged by the barbed you-know-what.
8. Brexit passed.
9. The progressive left is continuing to lose its sh*, daily (see #4).
10. And of course, Hillary Clinton will never be president.

So, win.

___________

Moronette 'votermom' is putting together a list of moron authors over on the Goodreads site which is intended to be accessible 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.

Posted by: OregonMuse at 09:06 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Lot of content.

Posted by: HH at January 01, 2017 09:02 AM (DrCtv)

2
Have started a re-read of the David Weber Honor Harrington series. Currently on the fourth book, Field of Dishonor.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 09:02 AM (mpXpK)

3 Tolle lege

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:02 AM (5sOEp)

4 That can't be a real library. A real library has a fine coating of dust and cat hair...uh... doesn't it?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, consumed with biblioenvy at January 01, 2017 09:05 AM (ZO497)

5 I am envious. But I don't see a rocking chair???

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 09:06 AM (mpXpK)

6 Very nice content, OregonMuse. Thank you!

A happy and healthy circumastrogation of the local solar mass to Teh Horde!

Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 01, 2017 09:06 AM (DMUuz)

7 Good Morning 2017 and PE Trump

And I got a pay raise today!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:10 AM (SjImc)

8 Thank you OM for your book thread, it is always a must read for me, assuming I can get to the internets!

Been pretty much off the grid due to family issues, and suffering severe internet withdrawal symptoms, so I've been reading trash when I got a free minute and could stay awake.

I read George Pelicanos' "The Cut" which I thought was pretty well written and I'll be looking for more of his stuff.

Also read Lee Childs' "Night School", the latest Jack Reacher book and thought it was well done and that Childs had tightened up his writing skills a bit after the last one.

I'll be back on restricted internet accessibility for some indefinite time after I post this, so a Happy Safe Prosperous and Prestigious New Year to all AoSHQ book readers and commenters from Hrothgar!

S

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:10 AM (wCEn4)

9 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:10 AM (SjImc)

Another cup of coffee per month pay raise or an actual one??

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:11 AM (wCEn4)

10 Re Thomas Sowell, for any who missed it, this open letter to him from Michelle Malkin, 'Thank You, Professor Sowell":

http://preview.tinyurl.com/jfe7wgx

Posted by: Mike Hammer, consumed with biblioenvy at January 01, 2017 09:12 AM (ZO497)

11 The body of an Israeli teenager who was reported missing following a shooting attack on an Istanbul nightclub has been recovered and her identify confirmed on Sunday.

Lian Zaher Nassar, a 19-year old resident of the Israeli Arab town of Tira, located in the concentration of Arab towns and villages in Central Israel called The Triangle, was listed as missing after Saturday nights shooting attack.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:13 AM (SjImc)

12 I have not been too concerned with the Chicago Review of Books. They really do not have a lot of influence on the book market. The Texas School Book choosers are the standard there.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 09:13 AM (mpXpK)

13 Good Morning and Happy New Year to all the Book Threadists. And MANY, MANY thanks to OM for these wonderful posts.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:13 AM (V+03K)

14 Reading The Russian Officer Corp of the Revolutionary and Napoleoic Wars by Alexander Mikberdze. Most facinating thing is how many of the nobility in this period set up their offspring in the prestigious regiments if you could when they were children. Promotions were granted rapidly so very young men commanded units. And rolls of these guard regiments had swollen rosters that they might have more officers than troops. I would like to know what actual duties these children had being enrolled as NCOs or ensigns

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:13 AM (5sOEp)

15 This is a bit of a stretch, but it seems to fit the Milo book theme: From insty (and cross posted from the EMT)

https://twitter.com/mombot/status/815156487542583296

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:14 AM (wCEn4)

16 Another cup of coffee per month pay raise or an actual one??
Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:11 AM (wCEn4)

The way I drink coffee, mostly coffee. The Military got a 2.1% pay raise

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:14 AM (SjImc)

17 I love that library photo; it is almost ideal. Now if it had room for several thousand more books it would be perfect.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:15 AM (V+03K)

18 Bad shelving design in that library, no room for the cat on top, not even any shelf space for her to sleep.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:15 AM (5sOEp)

19 Posted by: Mike Hammer, consumed with biblioenvy at January 01, 2017 09:05 AM (ZO497)

All those clear and shiny surfaces just begging for nose/hand prints.

Posted by: BignJames at January 01, 2017 09:15 AM (x9c8r)

20 Even if it's these pants,

Now, that is a boob belt!

I know what I'm wearing on ~~Inauguration~~ Get The Hell Outta DC Day.

To the Upholstery Fabric Store!

Chop! Chop!

Posted by: Mooch at January 01, 2017 09:16 AM (9q7Dl)

21 It remains to be seen whether President-elect Donald Trump will halt the U.S. militarys ongoing efforts to open all combat jobs to women.

Retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis, Trumps nominee for defense secretary, has voiced skepticism about the Defense Departments gender integration efforts.

We have to be very careful that we do not undercut the military battlefield effectiveness with shortsighted social programs, Mattis told Military Times in September.

The times, they are a changing! Thank G-D!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:16 AM (SjImc)

22 Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:13 AM (5sOEp)

IIRC, the British Navy of that era had a similar practice.

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:17 AM (wCEn4)

23 Santa apparently haunts the local used book store. I found a number of books beneath the Christmas tree. Curiously, they were all marked "From Santa, To Santa".

Blood on the Risers, Leppelman
Clash of Titans, Boyne
Band of Brothers, Ambrose
Three Men in a Boat, Jerome K. Jerome

The latter two I know by reputation, but not the first two. By all accounts Three Men in a Boat may provide some needed humor after reading the others.

I wondered if Jerome had assumed a whimsical pen name, and looked it up:

"Jerome was born in Caldmore, Walsall, England. He was the fourth child of Marguerite Jones and Jerome Clapp (who later renamed himself Jerome Clapp Jerome), an ironmonger and lay preacher who dabbled in architecture. He had two sisters, Paulina and Blandina, and one brother, Milton, who died at an early age. Jerome was registered as Jerome Clapp Jerome, like his father's amended name, and the Klapka appears to be a later variation (after the exiled Hungarian general Gy�rgy Klapka). "

I can't help but think that it would be a bit odd to go through life with the same first and last names. It is the stuff of which Monty Python skits were crafted.

"First name?"
"Jerome"
"Last name?"
"Jerome"
"No, last name."
"That's it."
"What's it?"
etc......

Posted by: Mike Hammer, consumed with biblioenvy at January 01, 2017 09:17 AM (ZO497)

24 18 The way I drink coffee, mostly coffee. The Military got a 2.1% pay raise

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:14 AM (SjImc)

Which means unlike me, you only get an 18% loss in buying power for the new year.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 09:18 AM (mpXpK)

25 The way I drink coffee, mostly coffee. The Military got a 2.1% pay raise
Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:14 AM (SjImc)

Well, at least you'll be 2.1% more alert when drilling!

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:19 AM (wCEn4)

26 Wonderful post for the beginning of a wonderful year. Thank you Ace, OregonMuse and every other contributor here.

I too hope we have arrived at the dawn of a new age where morons of all stripe can begin to rebuild. One where we continually take the fight to intellectual children and beat them with their own stupidity.

God bless us all.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 01, 2017 09:19 AM (tr2D7)

27 The Times of Israel reports: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday told Fatah party officials that 2017 would be the year of the independent Palestinian state.
At a torch-lighting ceremony marking the 52nd anniversary of Fatahs founding, Abbas hailed the recent UN anti-settlement resolution as a diplomatic victory.

The settlements are illegal, and in recent days, we were given an unprecedented decision regarding this issue, he told members of his party at the ceremony, held at the grave of former PLO leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, Channel 10 news reported.

Thanks Fredo, kerry and powers oh my!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:19 AM (SjImc)

28 Damme, that is one big, beautiful library. Make yourself better known hereabouts, Johnw.

Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at January 01, 2017 09:19 AM (J8/9G)

29 That library appears to be equipped with a bar!

Barkeep,

I'll have two fingers of PVW 23

and as a chaser, "Joy in the Morning" by P.G. Wodehouse.

Chop! Chop!

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 09:20 AM (9q7Dl)

30 I've a library larger than my giant head.

Posted by: John Kerry at January 01, 2017 09:20 AM (bc2Lc)

31 Well, at least you'll be 2.1% more alert when drilling!
Posted by: Hrothgar at January 01, 2017 09:19 AM (wCEn4)

Since I am writing Orders that is probably a good thing!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:20 AM (SjImc)

32 Reading this week has been somewhat varied: continuing with LOTR, most of the seed catalogs arrived in the mail, and the latest issue of Muzzleloader magazine. I want to read them all at the same time, a trick I have yet to perfect. To make matters more difficult, I keep dipping into CS Lewis here and Chesterton there, which leads to other topics. Good thing being organized isn't high on the list of priorities.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:21 AM (V+03K)

33 11. Army won.

12. The Browns won.

Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at January 01, 2017 09:21 AM (J8/9G)

34 I've a library larger than my giant head.

Posted by: John Kerry at January 01, 2017 09:20 AM (bc2Lc)

How many comic books does it hold?

Posted by: BignJames at January 01, 2017 09:21 AM (x9c8r)

35 Love the library JohnW! Remember there's no liberty in the library.

Seriously though. Happy New Year to all the wonderful Horde you who gave me the strength to get through the last eight years and especially the last eight months.

Cheers everyone. The Age of Trump is upon us. May it bring happiness, health, wealth and good cheer to all men and women of good hearts everywhere.

Posted by: Publius Redux at January 01, 2017 09:22 AM (UOr6C)

36 As I've been reading more by and about CS Lewis, Chesterton and others I admire, I see frequent reference to Plato. I know little about Plato besides the usual "Cave" story, a passing reference to Atlantis, and some vague ideas about forms. I preferred Aristotle's writings which were easier to understand and seemed to have more relevance to modern times. And, of course, the mention of Aristotle in "Atlas Shrugged". (A is A.) Keep in mind my last philosophy class was in 1973, so the details are somewhat hazy. I heard more about how Plato was wrong and out of touch with modern culture than what he actually taught. His influence was appropriate for the Middle Ages, not now. And the Greek SOB insists there are actual answers about fundamental issues, completely ignoring the modern relativism that says there are no answers.

So far, the distinction seems to be: Plato wants to teach how to think; Aristotle wants to teach how to learn. This is probably simplistic but that is what things look like at the moment.
Also, there is huge controversy, worthy of any long bow/cross bow discussion, about translations. One is too flowery, one is too literal, one translation is from a century ago so it can't be as good as a newer one, and so on. Allan Bloom's translation is excoriated partly because it is so literal it's hard to follow and understand and party because it's by Allan Bloom. (More about him later in the thread.)

If anyone here has a translation and notes of Plato they find especially helpful, please let me know.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:23 AM (V+03K)

37 Reading the latest addition to Bernard Cornwell's Saxon Tales, "The Flame Bearer". What more can I say about this excellent series? Only that I'll be so sorry when the series comes to a conclusion. I'll miss Uhtred and his companions but it looks like Cornwell has another book or two or three up his sleeve. I won't have to go into mourning for a while.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:23 AM (JSovD)

38 Thank you O-Muse for assembling the weekly Book Thread and for the Morons and Lurkers who let us see what their libraries look like and tell us what they're reading. Good stuff, good ideas.

Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at January 01, 2017 09:24 AM (J8/9G)

39 One other thing was when I ordered it from Amazon I really wanted it in Hardback but hit the order and it sent it to my tablet in a flash so figured there was no way to reverse it in the few seconds it happened. Still sceptical having reference books on this. Have to figure how to back up as I learned with my Kindle it could all be gone in a second.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:25 AM (5sOEp)

40 As Oregon Muse states in his post: "On the other hand, for all the talk of 2016 being a bad year, consider:...."

The only thing your really have to pay attention to on that list is Number Two. All the rest is just gravy.

Happy New Year, Pantsless Ones!

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:26 AM (dFi94)

41 I could easily go for more of the Sharpes series but going to stick with the Aubrey/Maturin novels next.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:27 AM (5sOEp)

42 As a former resident of the Idaho panhandle, a library like JohnW's is the only way to survive the long, gray winters. Especially the dread month of February.

My family still has property there (but definitely not a compound, no sir), and moving back was looking mighty tempting if H! had won...

Posted by: Phoenician at January 01, 2017 09:29 AM (vPU46)

43 I ordered a new book from Amazon since nobody gave me one for Christmas. I can't remember the name. I'll start it once the son and fiance go back to South Carolina.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:29 AM (dFi94)

44 Good morning and happy New Year! That is a VERY nice library. The only thing I would do differently given that kind of space is add a section for a big chalkboard.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 09:30 AM (g+ibI)

45 a library like JohnW's is the only way to survive the long, gray winters. Especially the dread month of February.
======================================

I hear ya. The only thing that keeps me going is the countdown to Spring Training.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:31 AM (dFi94)

46 Happy New Year to the Horde. Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, happy, prosperous year with an abundance of joy, love, friends, success. Especially you, Insomniac. This year, you will lend and not borrow.

Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 09:31 AM (11H2y)

47 President-elect Donald Trumps transition team, led by Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, has been pushing for Netanyahu to attend the January 20th festivities.

I "guess" this is ok, but I really hate putting Israel in the middle of US Politics especially when it get's nasty and this will get nasty. Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:31 AM (SjImc)

48 OT-ish sort of.

So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between). Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (mbhDw)

49 Sitting here painting miniture Russian Napoleoics, reading Russian military history, see I have been totally taking in by the Russians to vote for Trump.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (5sOEp)

50 By the By, Melanie Trump looked fantastic last night!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:33 AM (SjImc)

51 So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between). Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (mbhDw)

I "Heard" it's ok and not so parisian political...well for hollywood I mean

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:34 AM (SjImc)

52 I just ordered a copy of Allan Bloom's "Closing of the American Mind". It came to my attention because people who despise it also hate Bloom's translation of Plato. I vaguely recall the uproar when it first came out but never read it. From the blurb and comments, it sounds right up my alley and is in line with the educational thoughts of CS Lewis, Chesterton, Tolkien, and Dorothy Sayers. If I've got that right, I'm going to love it.

I notice the negative comments about the book (and author) come from arrogant SJW types. That makes me REALLY want to read it.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:34 AM (V+03K)

53 47
Mr. Trump has proven time and again that he can handle the nasty. If I were him I'd sit Bibi in the same row he 0 and Mooch just because he can.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:34 AM (JSovD)

54 Hey, Nevergiveup, it's going to get nasty anyway. Besides, Netanyahu's attendance will sow much dissension among certain Democrats (Yoohoo, Senator Schumer!) and their followers.

Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 09:35 AM (11H2y)

55
By the By, Melanie Trump looked fantastic last night!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:33 AM (SjImc)
================================

Where was she? What did she wear? What were her shoes like?

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:35 AM (dFi94)

56 50 By the By, Melanie Trump looked fantastic last night!
Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:33 AM (SjImc)

Now where did you two kids manage to sneak off to?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:35 AM (mbhDw)

57 Those tall pants are like strapless overalls.

Yes everyone is optimistic because TFG will be gone and the Left's stranglehold on the nation might be relinquished somewhat. DT was also far down on my list but now we all see that if he could do this he might just be the guy we needed.

Posted by: freaked at January 01, 2017 09:35 AM (BO/km)

58 And when I say "everyone" I mean everyone who has a lick of sense.

Posted by: freaked at January 01, 2017 09:36 AM (BO/km)

59 Can't wait to show that Trump card to my BIL, I could see him printing it out.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:36 AM (5sOEp)

60
Wait, Bibi's at the Inauguration?! Oh yes indeed! Brilliant!

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:37 AM (mbhDw)

61 I've started a book, a devotional book, but have shelved it for a while. I intend to finish it this year.

Let it so be.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 01, 2017 09:37 AM (s7hQ/)

62 50
She did look lovely didn't see. Simple black dress with a little bling. Classy. She always looks comfortable in what she wears which Mooch never has.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:37 AM (JSovD)

63 The law is pretty clear on this point...

Unless you have two wingback chairs angled invitingly near the fireplace, the room is considered a "reading nook" as opposed to a library.

It's right there in the fine print.

Posted by: jwest at January 01, 2017 09:38 AM (Zs4uk)

64 I notice the negative comments about the book (and author) come from arrogant SJW types. That makes me REALLY want to read it.
Posted by: JTB

I read Bloom's book years ago (and it is still on my bookshelf). It is more an indictment of pop culture and the corrosive effects therein than a Lefty-Righty rant. Bloom doesn't position himself politically, but culturally.

And frankly, looking at the effects of popular culture over the last 25 years, he was absolutely correct. The pop culture is the conveyor for a lot of the worst populist Progressive ideas. Pop culture and all its attendant BS is childish wish fulfillment that is unconnected to real life. No wonder the country is in a mess.
We've made ourselves (as a group) stupid.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative....outlaw in America at January 01, 2017 09:39 AM (S6Pax)

65 Thank you, OregonMuse, for the mention. Just about fainted when I saw it. You are not wrong about orbital debris burning up. A lot of it, but not all of it, does.

To Skip: I'm reading all the Sharpe prequels I missed the first time around. They're awesome.

Posted by: Laura Montgomery at January 01, 2017 09:39 AM (T2lRt)

66 A library must have booze! I must have booze!

Posted by: Hillary 2016! at January 01, 2017 09:39 AM (bc2Lc)

67 62 50
She did look lovely didn't see. Simple black dress with a little bling. Classy. She always looks comfortable in what she wears which Mooch never has.
Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:37 AM (JSovD)

Moochelle resembles a fat-assed Bill Duke in drag.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (mbhDw)

68 She did look lovely didn't see. Simple black dress
with a little bling. Classy. She always looks comfortable in what she
wears which Mooch never has.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:37 AM (JSovD)
==============================

I looked them up on the intertubes. Yes, she looks lovely. Simple, understated, classy.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (dFi94)

69 "Unless you have two wingback chairs angled invitingly near the fireplace, the room is considered a "reading nook" as opposed to a library. "

I thought libraries were required to have homeless people pleasuring themselves, while surfing free porn on the internet?

Maybe it's just a Baltimore thing.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (J+eG2)

70 In line with the view of Trump as a signal: I believe that electing Trump wasn't winning the war but instead winning the chance to fight the war.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (sEDyY)

71 Extensive wood shelving? Check. Fire place and comfortable chairs? Check. But the bar really makes that library fabulous.

Posted by: MTF at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (Ppvh7)

72 Thomas Sowell should enjoy his long overdue retirement but DAMN I'm going to miss his new books. The man was simply a genius, a hugely prolific one, and all of his books are worth reading.

As proof of his brilliance, His "Basic Economics" book is so good I could understand and learn from it. People who know me realize just how profound that book must be.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 09:41 AM (V+03K)

73 Mr. Trump has proven time and again that he can handle the nasty. If I were him I'd sit Bibi in the same row he 0 and Mooch just because he can.
Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:34 AM (JSovD)

54 Hey, Nevergiveup, it's going to get nasty anyway. Besides, Netanyahu's attendance will sow much dissension among certain Democrats (Yoohoo, Senator Schumer!) and their followers.
Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 09:35 AM (11H2y)

All true but besides the point. I am just concerned that is not in Israel's own best interests to put itself in the middle of this fight between the ultra left and the rest of America with is about 50-50. This is also why I was against Netanyahu coming here to campaign against the Iran deal so overtly. NOT that was not right, he was 100% but because it was an effort doomed to failure from the get go and only increased the Left's ( meaning Fredo) hatred of Israel. There is a huge difference between "feel good" actions and "effective" actions.

Because of Fredo's overt hatred of Israel I am not 100% against Netanyahu attending, but it worries me.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:41 AM (SjImc)

74 Just finished reading The Bitter Woods by John Eisenhower. Published in 1969, the author (son of Dwight D. Eisenhower) interviewed virtually all the surviving top commanders on both sides involved in the Battle of the Bulge (the Ardennes offensive in WWII). It was particularly interesting to get the German point of view. I thought the book was excellent and give 4.5 out of 5 stars (my quibble was that maps illustrated almost none of the tactical-level discussion).

I finally got around to reading Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith. I had always meant to do so and mystery came up on the book thread a couple weeks ago. The novel was published in 1981 and many inexpensive copies are available. It is a fascinating look at a Soviet police detective investigating a triple murder in Moscow. I've just started and what a great read. Thanks to the Horde for the recommendation.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 01, 2017 09:41 AM (5Yee7)

75 In line with the view of Trump as a signal: I believe that electing Trump wasn't winning the war but instead winning the chance to fight the war.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette

We should not delude ourselves that the fight is over. It just begins anew. We may win or lose yet, but like you say, we now have a chance to fight and win.
Only a chance. The struggle goes on.

Posted by: Bossy Conservative....outlaw in America at January 01, 2017 09:42 AM (S6Pax)

76 J.J.

SW: RO is a good movie.

No, there isn't a lot of SJW-stuff flying around or really any.

My appreciation for the movie grew thanks to the final action sequence - you'll see what I mean.

In terms of SW movies, I would place it 3rd after Ep 4 and 5 or perhaps 4th after Ep6.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 09:42 AM (9q7Dl)

77 I read War of Honor, the tenth book in the Honor Harrington series, by David Weber. The hostilities have ceased between Manticore and her allies versus the PEEPS, but the peace negotiations are still on going. Manticore turns to a coaliton government which looks strongly like our Democratic Party. They can't wait to draw down the military and to rev up a bunch of social programs while remaining myopic to any danger on the horizon. After four years of a secret military build up by the PEEPS, Manticore and her allies are ripe for a fatal surprise attack. Sort of reminds me of the U. S. position after eight years of Obummer.

On the kindle I read Adrian's Eagles by Angela White. This is book four of White's Life After War series. For a dystopian novel, there are a lot of words and pages written about human relationships with very little action. When the Slavers finally attack near the end of the book, it's anti-climatic. Doubtful that I'll continue with the series.

Finally, I read Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge by Larry Correia and John Ringo. In this new Monster Hunter International series, John Ringo brings his writing style to Larry Correia's universe. The first book, Grunge, tells the backstory of one of the hunters, Oliver Chadwick Gardenier (Chad), and his exploits with the company in the Seattle - Portland area. Great monster hunting scenes plus laugh-out-loud rips at progressives. The second in this series, Sinners, came out in early December and continues with Chad's work in New Orleans. Can't wait to read it.

Posted by: Zoltan at January 01, 2017 09:43 AM (ApkN7)

78 We should not delude ourselves that the fight is over. It just begins anew. We may win or lose yet, but like you say, we now have a chance to fight and win.
Only a chance. The struggle goes on.
Posted by: Bossy Conservative....outlaw in America at January 01, 2017 09:42 AM (S6Pax)

Yes I agree 100%

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:43 AM (SjImc)

79 A New Year's Resolution: Don't See Flicks by Hypocritics. Any action movie with stars or directors who want gun control? Done. Byebye Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper...

Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 09:44 AM (11H2y)

80 Good morning, beloved Horde!

I mostly lurk, but I wanted to echo OregonMuse's sentiment: I love you all and appreciate all you do to keep me sane and informed.

May God bless your New Year and God bless America.

Posted by: Emmie at January 01, 2017 09:44 AM (xVuS6)

81 48 OT-ish sort of.

So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between). Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (mbhDw

======
The RedLetterMedia guys were not impressed:
http://youtu.be/Kc2kFk5M9x4
They didn't address a political aspect, but then they keep their politics close to the vest.

Posted by: Vlad the Impaler, whittling away like mad at January 01, 2017 09:46 AM (FeQVL)

82 Starting in to James Haley's "The Shores Of Tripoli", a Christmas present from a daughter. She knows I love reading Patrick O'Brian and the WSJ likened this book to his own.

We will see.

Posted by: MTF at January 01, 2017 09:46 AM (Ppvh7)

83 May God bless your New Year and God bless America.

Posted by: Emmie at January 01, 2017 09:44 AM (xVuS6)
=================================

^^^ What Emmie said.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:47 AM (dFi94)

84 71 Extensive wood shelving? Check. Fire place and comfortable chairs? Check. But the bar really makes that library fabulous.
Posted by: MTF at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (Ppvh7)

Once again, there are rules for libraries and for bars...

A bar is an important structure that deserves it's own room, adjacent to the room you play billiards in. The library should have a small area with a silver tray, holding various crystal containers holding fine liquors.

It's obvious everyone reads books about everything except proper library accoutrements.

Posted by: jwest at January 01, 2017 09:47 AM (Zs4uk)

85 Nice library. Definitely a comfy place to pass the time on a quiet winter's day.

Finally finished the Wearing the Cat series early in the week. Obviously I've not had much time or motivation for pleasure reading since, but hopefully once things settle back down in whatever circumstances I can go through some other material I've stockpiled.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 09:47 AM (vyqqu)

86 Something so appealing about the thought of Bammie walking past Netanyahu and Netanyahu sticking his foot out to trip the little so and so. I can dream.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:48 AM (JSovD)

87 Sitting here painting miniture Russian Napoleoics, reading Russian military history, see I have been totally taking in by the Russians to vote for Trump.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (5sOEp)

Hey Skip: I've noticed from your previous comments that you are apparently a miniatures wargamer. What scale of Napoleonic figures do you paint? My collection in mainly old 15mm "Napoleonettes" from the 1970s & 80s. I'm in the greater Dayton, Ohio, area and up for a reasonable commute anytime you want to do battle.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 01, 2017 09:49 AM (5Yee7)

88 Obviously I've not had much time or motivation for
pleasure reading since, but hopefully once things settle back down in
whatever circumstances I can go through some other material I've
stockpiled.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 09:47 AM (vyqqu)
================================

I hope that 2017 gives you a fresh start, and showers you with blessings.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:49 AM (dFi94)

89 Hey Buckeye Cop, Martin Cruz Smith is a smart and perceptive writer of caper books starring Arkady Renko; Gorky Park is the first in a series with a really interesting story arc that spans Renko's character development and developments in the Soviet Union as it goes from a command and control state to a free for all capitalist kleptocracy. Lucky you. You don't have to read 'em in order but it will help.

Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 09:49 AM (11H2y)

90 So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty
propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between).
Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton

Saw it the weekend before Christmas. I liked it. Nothing anvilicious, rather well done, though I'm not a fan of shaky-cam. While some people read the Jedha situation as paralleling US occupations, I got more of a "space Tibet" vibe from it.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 09:50 AM (vyqqu)

91 Police on Sunday were hunting a Santa Claus-clad killer who opened fire at a nightclub in Istanbul during New Years celebrations, killing at least 39 people and wounding nearly 70 others, according to Istanbuls governor and Turkeys state-run news agency.

he got away?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 09:50 AM (SjImc)

92 Good morning and good New Year to you all! I am nursing my Buckeye hurts this morning, but it's only football, and it's going to be a grand year, I can feel it!

Resolving to play less online poker so I can read more! Soon as I'm done with the Sunday Book Thread.

Have chosen, for this week's commute, The Red Parts, by Maggie Nelson. It is described as "a narrative in verse about the life and death of her aunt, who had been murdered thirty-five years before." True crime is always fascinating for me, and we'll see how it goes "in verse."

Posted by: April at January 01, 2017 09:50 AM (e8PP1)

93 I started "Atrocity Archives" and I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Good concept, entertaining characters, death at any second, world-devouring bad guys: what's not to like?

Boundless Egomania continues to be good when he shuts up and lets others take the stage.

Also reading How to be Holy by Peter Kreeft. Not clear if it's working yet. Also "Prayer for Beginners" which is good, and I'm going to have to finish it and re-read it a few more times between now and April because I am going to teach an RCIA class on prayer. (RCIA = Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults = Catechism for Grown-Ups)

I think that's it. Oh, and speaking of RCIA, one of our regular teachers is a retired history professor at the University of Washington and he's working on a book on the Canterbury Tales. I will undoubtedly buy it in hardback just so I can get it autographed. Unless it's priced like a textbook in which case, never mind.

Posted by: Tonestaple at January 01, 2017 09:51 AM (B6m/l)

94 I hope that 2017 gives you a fresh start, and showers you with blessings.

Posted by: grammie winger

I like the odds honestly. For all the uncertainty it's certainly opening with a great deal of unencumbering that can't help but make it easier to go an a new and hopefully better direction. Hopefully the same can be said for the nation as a whole!

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 09:51 AM (vyqqu)

95 I didn't even know Milo had a book deal until the SJW's went batshit crazy and wailed about boycotts

Didn't they read their own playbook that the way to make something big is to goad your enemies into loudly trying to get it banned?

Posted by: kbdabear at January 01, 2017 09:52 AM (Ya7zs)

96 I just read "The Unbearable Bassingtons," by SAKI (H. H. Munro. It's as if the Jeeves and Wooster books were written by Satan. Brilliant, funny, bleak. You can get the collected works on Amazon for Kindle, for free. Well worth a couple days' reading, because Munro resolutely avoids the traps set by the cliches he plays with.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 09:53 AM (yjhOG)

97 Oregon Muse, thank you for getting up before the crack of dawn every Sunday (I'm assuming you really are in Oregon) to put up the wonderful book thread for us each week. Not to mention the chess thread and all the other good posts you do for us. It is our great fortune to be able to read your erudite words.

I agree with you about Basic Economics - here in our little homeschool, I have my kids do an Econ class senior year and that is one of the books we use. So far I have two Econ majors out of the deal!

Please don't say we "lost" Sowell - he's just retiring! And hopefully we will see something now and again. Even if it's his photographs, which look lovely! You made my heart skip a beat when I saw "we lost Scalia and Sowell."

Posted by: bluebell at January 01, 2017 09:54 AM (sBOL1)

98 2016 was sneaky good.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 09:55 AM (qUNWi)

99 @93, the Laundry Files series is pretty entertaining. Stross is far from the most consistent author, though, so the series has some large highs and lows. The second book might be the best of the lot.

Also, if you haven't read it, "A Colder War" is an unrelated but excellent piece of Lovecraftian fiction by Stross.

Posted by: Phoenician at January 01, 2017 09:55 AM (vPU46)

100 The library should have a small area with a silver tray, holding various crystal containers holding fine liquors.

It's obvious everyone reads books about everything except proper library accoutrements.

Posted by: jwest at January 01, 2017 09:47 AM (Zs4uk)

*snort*

There must also be an ashtray made from the skull of your enemy for the cigars.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 09:56 AM (g+ibI)

101 You GO Milo!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 01, 2017 09:56 AM (EZebt)

102 Just a quick hit then out.
For those not yet part of the "family", aside from the Gospels of course, Lee Stroebel's "The Case for Christ."
I know. Broken record. There's a reason for that.

Also, for some reason, by the time I was about 20 or so comments into reading an idea entered my head.

A cob of the year vote.

Now I wonder who it is I would nominate if there were such a thing.

Love each other fellow babies

Posted by: teej at January 01, 2017 09:56 AM (gJ3Vg)

103 Well worth a couple days' reading, because Munro resolutely avoids the traps set by the cliches he plays with.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 09:53 AM (yjhOG)
========================

Just ordered it free for my iPad - thanks!

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:56 AM (dFi94)

104 All the horribleness was pimp slapped in 2016.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 09:57 AM (qUNWi)

105 I finally got around to reading Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 01, 2017 09:41 AM (5Yee7)

Polar Star and especially Wolves Eat Dogs are two other good ones.

They tend to be kind of formulaic, with Renko doing his plodding dogged gumshoe investigation for most of the book, and then a climactic face-off with the bad guy who explains his evil plot Bond-villain style and gets what's coming to him, then a little postscript where Things Are Going to Turn Out OK (for Russian values of 'OK'). Still good reads though.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 09:58 AM (8nWyX)

106 Mostly a lurker here, but I just finished an intriguingly-written memoir of the war in Vietnam: Derrick Wolf: Boys for Men. I wouldn't give it 5 stars, mostly because of typos, but he presents his experience in an interesting way. He adds entries from a 19th-century diary of a soldier engaged in the western war against the Sioux, including a glance at Custer's last stand. This is juxtaposed with Wolf's own experiences as a tank driver in Quang Tri province. Day after day (for both soldiers) it is the same experience with minor variations, guard duty, morning coffee, driving around, re-supply, and settling in for the night. Although it got tedious reading it, I kept wanting to continue. I think he really managed to convey the scary-boredom of the majority of his time there. By the second third of the book, which had only covered a couple of months (and barely moving out of FNG status), I realized that the book was too short to indicate a full year in Vietnam. I was correct, and the last part brings an expected conclusion.
I don't think this book is for everyone, but I am glad I read it, and I appreciate the interesting technique he used to convey his experience.

Posted by: Alifa at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (MZFn8)

107
If the Dems and their ilk want to bork Trump's appointments for departnent heads (or say they do so), an immediate 10% reduction in real funding, based on the previous fiscal year, for that department goes into effect, with requisite firings.

We can do this like adults or we can do this like automatons, but we are going to do it.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (BK3ZS)

108 86
Something so appealing about the thought of Bammie walking past
Netanyahu and Netanyahu sticking his foot out to trip the little so and
so. I can dream.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:48 AM (JSovD)

And then Bibi scratches his face with his middle finger as Bammie scowls.

Posted by: davidt at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (XoldI)

109

I'm going to try that "Unbearable Bassingtons" because it is in my price range.

Turns out the entire 144 story collection is also available for the Kindle at 99c. (ASIN: B00JPJFFYS)

Thanks, Bees.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (a1VmK)

110 And Johnw - that is one beautiful library. This is the type of library in which I envision Oregon Muse, with the sweater with suede elbow patches, the roaring fire in the fireplace, the golden retriever (sometimes) at his feet.

Only thing missing is the hand-carved chess set on the coffee table, but that is obviously just out of view. Along with the pipe, and the glass of sherry.

Posted by: bluebell at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (sBOL1)

111 Martin Cruz Smith fans should pick up a mystery he wrote some years ago titled "Rose". It takes place in a mid 19th century English coal mining town. First rate.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (JSovD)

112 No Longer Selling Access, The Clinton Foundation Begs For Funds

Weasel Zippers

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 10:00 AM (SjImc)

113 Hi! You sold me on joining the Horde on Goodreads, my first act of 2017.

Posted by: tonyc at January 01, 2017 10:00 AM (G89X4)

114 48 - Rogue One: Very good war movie set in the Star Wars universe. I liked it a lot.

52 - The Closing of The American Mind: I'm shocked that someone here hasn't read it. Top 10 conservative must read.

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 10:00 AM (7qAYi)

115 So, "Star Wars Rogue One."

It was ok. The action parts made it worth seeing in the theater. Some silliness but hey it's Star Wars.

Posted by: freaked at January 01, 2017 10:00 AM (BO/km)

116 Reading the latest addition to Bernard Cornwell's
Saxon Tales, "The Flame Bearer". What more can I say about this
excellent series? Only that I'll be so sorry when the series comes to a
conclusion. I'll miss Uhtred and his companions but it looks like
Cornwell has another book or two or three up his sleeve. I won't have
to go into mourning for a while.

Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:23 AM

I read that last week. I do love Uhtred so. I've never read a bad book by Cornwell and there aren't a lot of authors I can say that about.

Posted by: huerfano at January 01, 2017 10:00 AM (jkkMG)

117 Yeah...hearing good things about Rogue One.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 10:01 AM (qUNWi)

118 grammie winger

Well, what do you know. Now I won't have to go to my grave being the only person I'm acquainted with who's read and laughed at this book.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 10:01 AM (yjhOG)

119 Ooops ....sorry, meant the latest Star Trek.

Heard bad things about Rogue One.

New Years mulligan.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 10:02 AM (qUNWi)

120 On the bright side: My mother is finally reading "Middlemarch" and "Letters from Antproof Case," so I won't be quite so solitary. I've long since gotten used to being alone in my enthusiasms, so when someone willingly chooses to partake in them, I'm simultaneously delighted and astonished.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 10:02 AM (yjhOG)

121 So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty
propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between).
Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

The only lefty prop I caught was calling the rebels terrorist. I don't recall that in any of the other movies. I wasn't really looking for it though. We enjoyed it.

Posted by: no good deed at January 01, 2017 10:03 AM (hJamr)

122 Oh, and that's a great library! Very much like what I fantasize about, though I would have more artwork.

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 10:03 AM (7qAYi)

123 I thought Dr. Sowell's book was "Understanding Economics." Too much rush to post to check now; will do so later.

I've never read any of his books. I should remedy that.

And the Potential TBR list expands.

Posted by: Weak Geek at January 01, 2017 10:04 AM (zqUhc)

124 Only thing missing is the hand-carved chess set on
the coffee table, but that is obviously just out of view. Along with
the pipe, and the glass of sherry.

Posted by: bluebell

And a faithful pooch dozing next to the chair, with the garden in sight out the window and the kitchen just visible in a doorway.

And thus do we achieve Unification of AoSHQ Weekend Threads.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 10:04 AM (vyqqu)

125 JohnW: Having seen your gorgeous digs, I can't quite decide if I like you or hate you now.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 10:04 AM (yjhOG)

126 So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty
propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between).
Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Boring according to RLM.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 10:04 AM (qUNWi)

127 You GO Milo!

Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 01, 2017 09:56 AM (EZeb
Ordered it on Amazon, will arrive on the Kindle in March.....

Posted by: Colin at January 01, 2017 10:05 AM (ogUTd)

128 Ooops ....sorry, meant the latest Star Trek.

Heard bad things about Rogue One.

New Years mulligan.

Posted by: eleven

You sure that isn't turned back around? I heard the new AbramsTrek movie was crap.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 10:05 AM (vyqqu)

129 And thus do we achieve Unification of AoSHQ Weekend Threads.
Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 10:04 AM (vyqqu)
-----------------

Indeed. There must be a collection of guns just out of view, too.

Posted by: bluebell at January 01, 2017 10:06 AM (sBOL1)

130
Out of the corner of my eye, I just saw a bunch of gold and black balloons drift past my window!

HA!

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 10:06 AM (mbhDw)

131 Mike Hammer, please pardon my interruption of the Book Thread, but you asked about pilling a cat yesterday. Here's how:

Put on cast iron undies (optional if you're actually an 'ette)
Set up pill(s) on a nearby surface, close enough to reach without any trouble at all.
Pick up cat and set cat on hindquarters between your legs.
Comfort cat with snuggles and tummy rubs and whatever kitty likes.
While holding kitty with one hand, place other hand on top of kitty's head, and gently, gently, gently lift upper jaw back until head is nearly vertical. Lower jaw will not follow so mouth will open.
Pop pill into back of throat and make sure kitty swallows by moving throat up and down and watching closely, all the while comforting kitty with pets and loves.
Remove cast iron undies.

My vet referred to this as using the jaw as a hinge. And if this isn't clear, take kitty to vet and get a lesson in pilling a cat. Don't let them pop the pill into the kitty's mouth, just let them demonstrate how to work the jaw.

I used to do this with my elderly tortoiseshell, and torties make calicoes look like angels.

We now resume the regularly schedule programming, and I completely denounce myself for interrupting the book thread, but kitteh!

Posted by: Tonestaple at January 01, 2017 10:06 AM (B6m/l)

132 Finally got around to listening to Kipling's Just So Stories. The line about turtles who "Don't like to be taken home in pickle jars, so they bite which serves you right." amused me because the detail of the type of jar sounded like the voice of experience.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 01, 2017 10:06 AM (sEDyY)

133 Indeed. There must be a collection of guns just out of view, too.

Posted by: bluebell

A nice display piece would suffice. (All threads are gun threads eventually anyway.)

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 10:07 AM (vyqqu)

134 Just finished reading "Britain's Last War against France" about the fight against Vichy France in WWII. Great read about the now forgotten campaigns in colonial Africa & the Middle East. Now switching back to my timeline journey through the Star Wars universe with "Rogue Planet."

I went to a used book sale over the weekend, picked up Tolkien's "Unfinished Tales," two anthologies of Stephen King's short stories (yeah, I know - but I like his short horror fiction, and since it was a used book store, the old coot doesn't get any money), and a bunch of reference books on warships & tanks.

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 10:08 AM (7qAYi)

135

I'm currently reading "Three Years Among the Comanches" by Nelson Lee (ASIN: B01I01W44A)

Only half way through and haven't yet gotten to the part where he is taken prisoner by the Indians. The first half of the book is about the Mexican war.

Published in 1859, those Texas Rangers were tough!

99c

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 10:08 AM (a1VmK)

136 Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 10:05 AM (vyqqu)

I didn't make it to the ending.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at January 01, 2017 10:09 AM (IDPbH)

137 Happy and prosperous new year to all the Horde!

Oh, Saki (HH Munro) is fabulous ... but sometimes very dark - and most always ironic. He was as good a short story writer as Kipling, if not quite so prolific.
Trivia about him - he was killed by a sniper on the Western Front in WWI, after volunteering as an enlisted soldier (although way over-age). His last words were reported to be, "Put out that bloody cigarette!)

As for my own library ... I can only wish for something as John W's. My shelves are scattered through the house, along various walls. The cookbooks are in the kitchen, of course, and the Texiana on the shelves over and next to my desk.

As for my own ambitions for 2017 - I am resolved to finish two book: the fourth Luna City Chronicle, to be released in June ... and another Lone Star Sons collection in time for Christmas. I am also resolved to start work on a historical novel set in the American Revolution ... about the Becker family ancestor who deserted the Hessian Army and stayed in America. Some readers suggested going forward with the Adelsverein family tree and writing about WWI ... but that was such a depressing prospect, I just couldn't warm to it. Maybe some other year.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at January 01, 2017 10:10 AM (xnmPy)

138 You sure that isn't turned back around? I heard the new AbramsTrek movie was crap.

No...the very latest is Star Trek Beyond.

Directed by Anthony Lin. July 2016.

Written by Simon Pegg I think. He plays Scotty.

I just go by RLM since they seem to be pretty reliable.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 10:10 AM (qUNWi)

139 Anybody hear of an upcoming book by either Carrie Fsher, or Debbie Reynolds?

Serious question.

Mrs VIA suddenly said that she had heard before their deaths of a book deal with one of them.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 01, 2017 10:14 AM (J+eG2)

140 I decided no more Star Wars or Star Trek movies for me. Kinda liberating.

Posted by: davidt at January 01, 2017 10:16 AM (XoldI)

141 Somebody say gun thread?

Posted by: Weasel at January 01, 2017 10:17 AM (Sfs6o)

142 Brother Cavil,

I know 2016 was a tough one for you. Taking care of a sick and dying parent is tough, but you did the right thing and that will always count in your favor.

2017 will be better.

I hope you enjoyed "Wearing the Cat", got some laughs and were able to forget the tough times for a while.

That's a real honor for me that you chose to read WTC during this time. Thank you.

Posted by: H D Woodard - "Wearing the Cat" at January 01, 2017 10:17 AM (9q7Dl)

143 I've been working my way through books received (and bought) from Christmas and before:

I've read two Trump books: Art of the Deal and Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America. Now that he won the election (and HCWNBPOTUS!) I wanted to get a better sense of him. He's got an ego the size of America, loves the process of "making deals" and is constitutionally (heh) unable to accept losing. He also has the innate cultural conservatism of a businessman. I might have been a stronger supporter of his had I read the books before the election.

I also got John Keay's The Honourable Company, a history of the British East India Company which I'm plugging through, and queued up is 21: The Final Unfinished Voyage of Jack Aubrey by Patrick O'Brien.

Also, I'm working my way through the seven-volume collected short works of Roger Zelazny and the (sadly) one-volume collected short stories of Cordwainer Smith that I picked up at the Worldcon when it was here in KC. (And then came . . . CATS!

Posted by: filbert at January 01, 2017 10:19 AM (J1iwz)

144 I was wanting a gun thread

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 10:19 AM (5sOEp)

145
144 I was wanting a gun thread
Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 10:19 AM (5sOEp)
----------
You should be free from want.

Posted by: Weasel at January 01, 2017 10:20 AM (Sfs6o)

146 I started "Atrocity Archives" and I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Good concept, entertaining characters, death at any second, world-devouring bad guys: what's not to like?

Posted by: Tonestaple at January 01, 2017 09:51 AM (B6m/l)

If you like The Atrocity Archives, you should really like Life Unworthy by horde author Christopher Taylor and Hallow Mass by horde author J. P. Mac. Life Unworthy was the November 2016 group read and Hallow Mass is the January 2017 group read in the horde goodreads group, so there are discussion threads for both of them.

You should also love Declare by Tim Powers.

Posted by: cool breeze at January 01, 2017 10:20 AM (StZrq)

147 Happy New Year, Pantsless Ones!

Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2017 09:26 AM (dFi94)

Pantsless? Ha! Not on this thread!

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 10:20 AM (6QnGR)

148 Happy New Year to you wonderful morons ...

"It wouldn't hurt for everyone in Washington DC to read this book, to acquaint themselves with their economic ABCs"

true, and 1000 other books that seem deliberately removed from all levels of schooling. Orwell is removed as schools became "Orwellian" misinformation camps. Wikileaks revealed a real intent to actually dumb US down, to keep to proles struggling in their schisms. So taking baby steps toward a more basic understanding seems more realistic.

The Julia cartoon about the perfect PC woman worked, except the message was wrong. The jib jab tales, and other talking animations were fairly useful ways to discuss concepts, in five minute "brief attention span theaters". Bill Whittle and others do five minutes episodes on subjects that may reach the average student, and pop the PC Bubble.

perhaps a sort of cliff Notes version of some books would help. A FB friend presented such a version of To Kill a Mockingbird, which seemed like a good idea till I got to the part where they changed the story to PC. But the concept is still good, as I admit I haven't made it all the way through the couple Sowell books I bought, and I have time and interest.

Schools could change everything quickly, if local control decided to really educate. Maybe a bot that would send pages as texts, so kids would be tricked into reading them. ha But they don't need so much money on books, make them all digital. A kindle or something larger would be cheaper than books, and could serve for several years.

But we can't just throw useful books at them and hope they will read them.

Posted by: illiniwek at January 01, 2017 10:21 AM (/aIFg)

149 ? I heard the new AbramsTrek movie was crap.

Thought it was the best of the three myself.

Posted by: V the K at January 01, 2017 10:21 AM (jn7FC)

150 Envy is a sin.
Envy is a sin.
Envy is a sin. (ad infin)

Okay, I came up with a nit to pick. Leather chairs and sofas are lawsuits waiting to happen to the unwary (and clumsy). Slip and fall. Hope your homeowners' insurance is up to date.

Seriously, JohnW, thank you for sharing.

Posted by: mustbequantum at January 01, 2017 10:23 AM (MIKMs)

151 70 In line with the view of Trump as a signal: I believe that electing Trump wasn't winning the war but instead winning the chance to fight the war.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM (sEDyY)
------------
This is the smartest thing I have read all year. Maybe last year too.

Posted by: Weasel at January 01, 2017 10:23 AM (Sfs6o)

152 Re: the boycott of Milo'so. Isn't a book boycott what normal people call choosing not to buy or read a particular book?
I have no interest in buying the Amy Schumer book. I suspect many brain cells have died thanks to the publication of that. But if the publisher wants to waste their resources on it, they can feel free.
The left wants to destroy the expression of anything they disagree with.
Scum.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 01, 2017 10:24 AM (s7hQ/)

153 "the wilds of N Idaho." I can think of worst places to be on those snowy winter nights up there.

To celebrities who've fled to Canada, those wilds are the balmy climes of the tropical USA.

Posted by: t-bird at January 01, 2017 10:24 AM (7H/2n)

154 Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 01, 2017 09:49 AM
I have 15mm very extensive Armys of Prussians and Russians, some British/Allied and last Bavarians. But alas I'm in se Pennsylvania.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 10:25 AM (5sOEp)

155 But Weasel it will happen sooner or later.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 10:26 AM (5sOEp)

156 Rooster, huh? New Chinese year is the Fire Rooster. Apropos?

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 10:27 AM (dnWSK)

157 I heard the new AbramsTrek movie was crap.

Thought it was the best of the three myself.

Posted by: V the K at January 01, 2017 10:21 AM (jn7FC)

It's the movie that's most like the Star Trek the TV Show.

So, there isn't a universe threatening "movie plot".

Huge plot holes but if you liked the TV show more than the ST movies, you'll probably like this one.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 10:27 AM (9q7Dl)

158 Always does.
Read any good reloading manuals lately?

Posted by: Weasel at January 01, 2017 10:28 AM (Sfs6o)

159 It's the movie that's most like the Star Trek the TV Show.

So, there isn't a universe threatening "movie plot".

Huge plot holes but if you liked the TV show more than the ST movies, you'll probably like this one.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 10:27 AM (9q7Dl)

That's how I felt as well

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 10:29 AM (7qAYi)

160 Recently started Comanches: A History of a People T R Fehrenbach
Highly recommend, in a very readable format.
The Washing of the Spears if you want to learn about the Zulu.
Interesting to see someone else reading about Comanches

Posted by: born01930 at January 01, 2017 10:29 AM (RQoHl)

161
Who Boy! (an alleged Southern Expletive)

I also have just finished "Wooden Leg: A Warrior Who Fought Custer (ASIN: B01K10Q47G) also 99c on the kindle, and the two books have triggered Amazon recommendations of similar books that runs to nearly a hundred suggestions.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 10:33 AM (a1VmK)

162 Morning all. Happy New Year to everyone. Cannot comment long, have to take a shower and get moving, I am going to mass this morning.

I have been kind of lapsed the past few years, as while I still believe in the Church, my inherent distrust of the people who run the Church has left me a bit despondent. Add to that that I moved last year and have not looked much for a parish I like yet.

Here's hoping that my trick of looking for the parish in town that still offers a Latin mass is still the best way to find the most conservative parish in town.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (92kX2)

163 People that say Trump was not even their third or fourth choice still don't get it and never will.

Posted by: Billygoatpuke at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (i6+NG)

164 My 2017 reading list begins, and perhaps ends, with the ARRL Extra Class study guide and a book on radio theory. I told myself that if I manage to earn my AE license, I will reward myself with a HF rig. I could probably cheat and just memorize the answers to all the questions in the pool, but I do want to actually understand how radios work. Of course, I'm absolutely terrible at any math beyond basic algebra, so this will not be easy.

Posted by: PabloD at January 01, 2017 10:36 AM (sZQdE)

165 Skandia Recluse:

The problem with SAKI is that if you describe either of his novels, you ruin them; if you don't, no one ends up reading them. Because you bought the 99C collection (the same one I have), just start at the very beginning and read Novel 1. I'll say no more.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 10:36 AM (yjhOG)

166 My next project is Gay Guys On A Plane. They dis the FLOTUS & I dispense justice.

Posted by: Samuel L. Jackson at January 01, 2017 10:37 AM (bc2Lc)

167 I resolve to be gay. Heterosexuality is my only character flaw.

Posted by: Joe Biden at January 01, 2017 10:37 AM (rH4JY)

168 People that say Trump was not even their third or fourth choice still don't get it and never will.
Posted by: Billygoatpuke at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (i6+NG)

I hate sore winners.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at January 01, 2017 10:38 AM (IDPbH)

169 Here's hoping that my trick of looking for the parish in town that still offers a Latin mass is still the best way to find the most conservative parish in town.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (92kX2)

Best of luck, sounds like a good plan. Not Catholic myself, but if I were, I'd be pissed that they ditched Latin. Folksy acoustic guitar sing-alongs just don't do much for me religion-wise. A direct infusion of awe and majesty makes clear that we're talking about the divine creator of the universe, not a summer camp counselor.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 10:40 AM (8nWyX)

170 Recently started reading Mao: The Unknown Story. I'm only 100 pages (of 600) in and he's already got about 150,000 deaths from purges and forced starvation under his belt.

Posted by: Prince Ludwig the Deplorable at January 01, 2017 10:41 AM (MQZOg)

171 Combining BOOKS and GUNS, I'm starting Ned Roberts' "The Muzzle-Loading Cap Lock Rifle" again. I have a Traditions Crockett 32 caliber muzzleloader coming on Tuesday. I've wanted a small caliber ML for a while and this one gets excellent reviews. And it is always a good time to read about muzzleloaders and gear.

If the weather report holds, I hope to get to the range on Wednesday to try it out.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 10:42 AM (V+03K)

172 Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 10:36 AM

Heh, I'm already having trouble with the opening.

I haven't yet expended the 99c to get the entire collection. Tight fisted Scotsman got nuthin' on me.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 10:42 AM (a1VmK)

173 I want to give a shout-out this week to "The Staff and Sword Trilogy" ("A Cast of Stones," "The Hero's Lot," and "A Draw of Kings") by Patrick W Carr. The books were a fun read, but more amusing to me was how the books were constructed. Basically, the author took a single conceit, that certain people have the magical ability to draw lots (like a lottery) to get the truthful answer to a question, and built an entire world around just that conceit. Naturally, the main character is one of those certain people, and he has to learn to use his special power. And there is lots of time talking about the limits of his power, techniques to better use the power, yadda yadda yadda. But more than that, the entire society of the book is built around the use of that power. There is an entire bureaucracy dedicated to the use of that power, which gives them some impressive ways of scaling up the power...

Its just fun to see a single concept taking so far.

The trilogy also has some fun with the 'chosen one' trope. There is a chosen one, but we don't know for sure who it is until the end. It might be our main character, with his unexpected powers and plucky determination. But it might also be another character, who is basically a natural born Captain America. The dilemma would have been more interesting if the Captain America character would have gotten more screentime, but when he does get screentime, he is awesome and makes a convincing case that he indeed the 'chosen one' who will same his world.

Posted by: Castle Guy at January 01, 2017 10:44 AM (7aeqx)

174 Happy New Year of Book Threads everyone.

As 2016 closed its final chapter, the last chapter in the life of author Richard Adams also closed. The writer of Watership Down and The Plague Dogs passed away in his native England on Christmas Eve at the age of 96.

My literary New Year's resolution is to get another story all polished up and published.

Posted by: Anna Puma at January 01, 2017 10:45 AM (NJ1h7)

175 164 My 2017 reading list begins, and perhaps ends, with the ARRL Extra Class study guide and a book on radio theory. I told myself that if I manage to earn my AE license, I will reward myself with a HF rig.
Posted by: PabloD at January 01, 2017 10:36 AM (sZQdE)

Man, I should just get off my ass and finally get Extra. The Gordon West books did well for Technician and General, and they really do explain the theory and why the correct answer is the correct answer. The Extra one just happened to expire when they updated the question pool in June

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 10:47 AM (8nWyX)

176 I think Mr. GoatPuke- if that is indeed his real name- is referring to the election runup, not the very beginning of the primaries.

Before the primaries I bet even Donald Trump didn't have himself as the third or fourth choice.

Posted by: t-bird at January 01, 2017 10:48 AM (9Q5BJ)

177 164 ... The math for the Extra license isn't that bad. Even I passed it so it can't be too tough. And I used a slide rule to the amusement of the test administrators.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 10:49 AM (V+03K)

178 Posted by: Billygoatpuke at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (i6+NG)

Trump was literally the *last* on my list of those I'd be willing to vote for, although I was enjoying the fact he was running. The difference between him and the others is that he didn't quit and he didn't back down against attacks, which is why I'm glad he won the nomination and was happy to vote for him in the general. My fear of him losing the general was because of entrenched Dem vote fraud, but the combination of his fighting when fraud was found and Hellary's arrogant certainty she didn't need any extra effort overcame even that. And prayer, *lots* of prayer from around the world.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at January 01, 2017 10:49 AM (sEDyY)

179 OT-ish sort of.

So, "Star Wars Rogue One." If I go will I be assaulted by lefty propaganda, and to what degree (bearable, unbearable or in between). Also, is it a shitty movie in general?

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:32 AM (mbhDw

======
The RedLetterMedia guys were not impressed:
http://youtu.be/Kc2kFk5M9x4
They didn't address a political aspect, but then they keep their politics close to the vest.
Posted by: Vlad the Impaler, whittling away like mad at January 01, 2017 09:46 AM (FeQVL)

If it makes any sense, I think by this point in my life I have outgrown Star Wars movies, but have not yet outgrown Red Letter Media reviews of movies.

I assume they haven't yet done a full Plinkett review. That ought to be good. I have not seen the last two SW offerings, Lucas' horrible "Bad Anakin" film, or the the Disney reboot, precisely because Plinkett is much more entertaining than anything those yahoos could do with the films.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 01, 2017 10:51 AM (Pz4pT)

180 I just love johnw's library and am filled with jealousy. But my own living sofa will have to suffice as my go-to place to read and it's pretty comfy as well.

My New Year's resolution is to read classics of Western Civ I haven't read. At a time when Europe is committing suicide and it is possible to get a history degree at a university named after George Washington without ever taking a class in US history, it's my own very small way of rebelling against the flood of mediocrity and trendy,ridiculous lies coming from the cultural left.

I'll make an exception for Milo's book though. I intend to buy it just to spite the snowflakes.

Posted by: Donna di deplorable ampersands&&&&and so there at January 01, 2017 10:54 AM (P8951)

181 Gotta run. Happy New Year Horde.
Here's to making 2017 the most deplorable one yet.

Posted by: Prince Ludwig the Deplorable at January 01, 2017 10:54 AM (MQZOg)

182 I have 15mm very extensive Armys of Prussians and Russians, some British/Allied and last Bavarians. But alas I'm in se Pennsylvania.

Posted by: Skip at January 01, 2017 10:25 AM (5sOEp)

That is unfortunate. Ah well, "Death to the French!" and good luck as you array your troops for battle.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at January 01, 2017 10:57 AM (5Yee7)

183 Speaking of radio and text, I relay radiograms via ARRL postcard typed with a manual typewriter. If anyone has a line on an early 20th century US Navy "radio mill" typewriter, the kind with all caps and a slashed zero, for less than $600, I'd, be, um, interested.

Like, would unhesitatingly perform degrading or violent acts on request without thought or question interested.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 10:58 AM (8nWyX)

184 163 People that say Trump was not even their third or fourth choice still don't get it and never will.
Posted by: Billygoatpuke at January 01, 2017 10:35 AM (i6+NG)

And yet their vote for Trump counted toward his victory every bit as much as yours did.

I am hoping for good things from Trump, but I have no intention of falling into the same sort of blind hero worship the left did with Obama.

Posted by: Donna di deplorable ampersands&&&&and so there at January 01, 2017 10:59 AM (P8951)

185 I assume they haven't yet done a full Plinkett review. That ought to be good.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 01, 2017 10:51 AM (Pz4pT)

You'll have to settle for a 7 1/2 minute Plinkett review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJgfxlgUIZY

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:00 AM (6QnGR)

186 Skandia:

Oh, for heaven's sake. Here's the free version. http://tinyurl.com/SkandiasFreeSAKI

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 11:02 AM (yjhOG)

187
Paging through Amazon's recommendations, it looks like all those classical literature writers that the elite English Majors at Prestigious Universities were telling us about, all those works that are over a hundred years old and out of copyright are on Amazon at 99 cents.

Is this a great time to be alive or what? Why pay half a million bucks for an education at an elite university when you can read the stuff yourself for less than a hundred bucks. (a hundred books at 99 cents for the math impaired.)

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:03 AM (a1VmK)

188 JohnW you have a bigly and luxurious library! Really classy!
Will you adopt me? Pretty please?

Posted by: @votermom @vm at January 01, 2017 11:04 AM (Om16U)

189 Skandia:

Oh, for heaven's sake. Here's the free version. http://tinyurl.com/SkandiasFreeSAKI

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 11:02 AM

----

ok, ok, I got it. It was in the recommend list for 99c.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:06 AM (a1VmK)

190 I have been kind of lapsed the past few years, as
while I still believe in the Church, my inherent distrust of the people
who run the Church has left me a bit despondent. Add to that that I
moved last year and have not looked much for a parish I like yet.

Here's hoping that my trick of looking for the parish in town that
still offers a Latin mass is still the best way to find the most
conservative parish in town.

Posted by: Aetius451AD

Which reminds me, it may be time to pick up on something I was about to do two and a half years ago just before this whole odyssey started. I believe it's time for me to change churches. I had one picked out back then but never had an opportunity to make the move with the rest of what the last two years had in store; I think the opportunity has finally arrived.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 11:07 AM (vyqqu)

191 Trump was literally the *last* on my list of those I'd be willing to
vote for, although I was enjoying the fact he was running. The
difference between him and the others is that he didn't quit and he
didn't back down against attacks, which is why I'm glad he won the
nomination and was happy to vote for him in the general.
=====

For me, just bringing the enjoyment back was enough. He was waaaay above Graham, Kasich and Rubio, however.

Posted by: mustbequantum at January 01, 2017 11:10 AM (MIKMs)

192 I am watching "face the nation" in the vain of "Know Thy Enemy" and David From and the others there are bat shit crazy and the enemy.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:10 AM (SjImc)

193 This putz on CBS is out of his fuckin mind

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:12 AM (SjImc)

194 others there are bat shit crazy and the enemy.

Now, Now - That's otherwise intellectually gifted and Future Trump Fans who haven't enjoyed winning yet.

Posted by: DaveA at January 01, 2017 11:13 AM (8J/Te)

195 Now this female idiot on CBS is talking about the return of the Draft????

The only idiots talking about that are fear mongers on the LEFT..LMAO

Fuckin Idiots

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:13 AM (SjImc)

196 Stross's _Atrocity Archive_ is good, as is the second book in the "Laundry" series. After that, things get a little dicey. You become aware that the main criterion for being the villain has turned into "Doesn't share Charles Stross's political opinions" -- and those opinions are presented as being so self-evidently right and correct that no attempt to persuade the reader is necessary. Which, given his fan base (weed libertarian IT guys), is likely true.

Posted by: Trimegistus at January 01, 2017 11:14 AM (88x1C)

197 Now this female idiot on CBS is talking about the return of the Draft????

That will bring out the anti-war protestors, you betcha! And that will get the democrats back into power.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:15 AM (a1VmK)

198
Moochelle resembles a fat-assed Bill Duke in drag.
Posted by: J.J. Sefton at January 01, 2017 09:40 AM

---------

Give the poor woman a break. She's big-boned. I mean, with bones like construction girders.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at January 01, 2017 11:16 AM (TRzoP)

199 The RedLetterMedia guys were not impressed:
http://youtu.be/Kc2kFk5M9x4
They didn't address a political aspect, but then they keep their politics close to the vest.
Posted by: Vlad the Impaler, whittling away like mad at January 01, 2017 09:46 AM (FeQVL)

Watching it now... my favorite line so far: "It's like dangling a shiny object in front of a cat."*

*Reference to all the "fan service" moments they felt they needed to put in that tie this one to the Star Warsiverse.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 01, 2017 11:17 AM (Pz4pT)

200 192 -195 ... Nevergiveup, Thank you for posting these. A nice reminder of why we got rid of TV. More time to read.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 11:17 AM (V+03K)

201 Now this female idiot on CBS is talking about the return of the Draft????

The only idiots talking about that are fear mongers on the LEFT..LMAO

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:13 AM (SjImc)

Right. Where do you think CBS gets its talking points from?

I think CBS News has dedicated FAX machines hooked up with Media Matters, TPM, and Daily Kos.

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:17 AM (6QnGR)

202 I assume they haven't yet done a full Plinkett review. That ought to be good.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 01, 2017 10:51 AM (Pz4pT)

You'll have to settle for a 7 1/2 minute Plinkett review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJgfxlgUIZY
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:00 AM (6QnGR)

Settle? Did the Germans settle when they bombed Pearl Harbor?

No... they'll do a full review. Someday. Until then, this will suffice.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 01, 2017 11:18 AM (Pz4pT)

203 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:13 AM (SjImc)

That stuff will make you rage stroke. We're watching the NFL pregame discussion on Fox. I am done with Sunday morning talk shows in particular and political discussion on the MSM in general. When our cable description is up in April, we're gonna cut the cable.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 11:19 AM (g+ibI)

204 Zackery M. Heern, "The Emergence of Modern Shi'ism: Islamic Reform in Iraq and Iran": found this in a bookstore, thumbed through it. This is about the "Usulis" in Shi'ism, a later echo of the Mutazila in the rest of Islam. The Safavids and Qajars in post-1500 Persia had adopted Twelver Shiism, but the question was then - which sort. The Usulis were more rationalist than their rivals, the Akhbaris.

This is mainly a biography of the school of Bihbihani within the Usulis, obscure to us and indeed to Muslims. Heern argues that this school is important. I mean, if Iran / Iraq Shiism is your thing.

There's also some musing about why the clergy's power took off so strong in these places. Heern thinks that Iran's geography made it hard for the local king to control the place properly; Iraq's geography means it can barely be controlled at all except from Iran. He points out that as late as 1867, Iraq's population was over half made up of nomadic tribes.

* I sense a general pattern that whenever some tyrant wants more power over his church, the tyrant imposes a Monothelete solution upon its theology. We saw it in Christianity where the Byzantine emperors flirted with Arianism and then, when they couldn't demote Christ, tried to fuse him with as much of God as they could. In Islam the sultans can't do that with the Qur'an so they've always tried to go Arian. The Sunni caliphs insisted the Qur'an was a later creation of God, and the same happened with the Shii sultans.

Absolute Tudor-style monarchy does suck, but it sucks most for people who pretend to be holier than the king. That is, for social justice warriors.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 11:19 AM (6FqZa)

205 I think CBS News has dedicated FAX machines hooked up with Media Matters, TPM, and Daily Kos.

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:17 AM (6QnGR)

Much like Mika's Blackberry.

Posted by: Golfman at January 01, 2017 11:20 AM (k0S3A)

206 On the other hand, Tim Powers's _Declare_ is not just a great fantasy/espionage novel, it's also one of the best novels of the past couple of decades, period.

It is one of those books that you have to read twice, because after the Big Reveals, a lot of stuff gains new significance.

Posted by: Trimegistus at January 01, 2017 11:20 AM (88x1C)

207 That stuff will make you rage stroke. We're watching the NFL pregame discussion on Fox. I am done with Sunday morning talk shows in particular and political discussion on the MSM in general. When our cable description is up in April, we're gonna cut the cable.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 11:19 AM (g+ibI)

Yeah I hear ya...but sometimes I just need to know exactly what the enemy thinks and says. And I am a glutton for punishment sometimes also. Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:23 AM (SjImc)

208 Man, I should just get off my ass and finally get Extra.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 10:47 AM (8nWyX)

Yeah, I know all about this. I've been telling myself this ever since I got my Advanced ticket.

In 1971.

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:23 AM (6QnGR)

209 Yeah I hear ya...but sometimes I just need to know exactly what the enemy thinks and says. And I am a glutton for punishment sometimes also. Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:23 AM (SjImc)

The only redeeming aspect of viewing that crap is that you can make note of their sponsors and avoid their products.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 11:26 AM (g+ibI)

210 The military absolutely does not want a return to the draft. Nobody who remembers the days when 25% of the Navy's personnel were untrainable cat IV slugs who stayed stoned or drunk most of their short enlistments.

It was actaully unsafe for an officer to walk through their berthing areas without a marine escort.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 11:27 AM (mpXpK)

211 The military absolutely does not want a return to the draft. Nobody who remembers the days when 25% of the Navy's personnel were untrainable cat IV slugs who stayed stoned or drunk most of their short enlistments.

It was actaully unsafe for an officer to walk through their berthing areas without a marine escort.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 11:27 AM (mpXpK)

Amen to that! And 100% true. NOBODY I know in the Military wants a draft and we don't need one.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:28 AM (SjImc)

212 Was looking up "Washing of the Spears" on Amazon.

Almost every single book they recommended for me

was one I already bought,

from them.

Apparently, they're using the Algorithm of the Bleeding Obvious.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:29 AM (9q7Dl)

213 Good morning fapsters.

So it's now the new year. Still waiting for those warm feelings of hope and optimism. Any minute now...

Posted by: Insomniac at January 01, 2017 11:29 AM (0mRoj)

214 Man, I should just get off my ass and finally get Extra.

The 20wpm code became an obsession with me. I'd struggle, lose my temper, turn the receiver off. Stomp off to another room, turn around, go back to the receiver and turn it on again.

Got up to 25wpm and should have sat for commercial radiotelegrapher. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, didn't. Did get commercial radio telephone and worked in a radio shop for a couple of years.

Is the code still a requirement? I've not been active.

I was very surprised to unexpectedly receive a 40 year life member pin from the ARRL a few months ago. All you have to do to get one is not die. (And buy the life member option early in life.)

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:29 AM (a1VmK)

215 John Keay, "India: A History. Revised and Updated" - the 2010 edition of a 2000 book. But I only looked at the beginning.

India is another place divided by geography, specifically hydrology. When the weather's nice, India is mostly homogenous and easy-ish to get from point A to point B. The problem is: in India, the weather's usually horrible, either desert dry and hot, or else monsoony. So Indian history follows a pattern: petty taifa-kings, intermittently united either at home or by invaders. To this day the place is disunited between several IndoEuropean languages, and a holdout of a non-IndoEuropean language (Dravidian, south). It also gets plagued by Muslims. Although their Muslims, being far from home, have tended to be more tolerant than the ones we got in London.

Hey, reminds me of... Spain!

India's history is still a work in progress because the Indians were poor historians until the later Middle Ages. They were however prolific inscribers of monuments. So the history is being compiled from those. This much will remind us of the Maya.

My main problem with this is that Keay thinks he's a modern-day Salman Rushdie, a literary auteur, so his prose is florid and a PITA to read. I don't know if this is the way everyone is tempted to go when he discusses India. But I don't recall Kipling or Ibn Warraq writing like this.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 11:30 AM (6FqZa)

216 Hey, reminds me of... Spain!

The rain there stays mainly in the plain.

Posted by: Insomniac at January 01, 2017 11:31 AM (0mRoj)

217 Let me be clear. I am reluctantly willing to say on for another two to three years as an informal advisor to the Whitey House. I can also act as an advisory member of the Justice Department - you know bury the Hillary email scandal. Michelle can be an advisor to the State Department. Sure, my pardon list is long but I'll do it to smooth the transition between a flamming liberal administration to a sane right of center administration. How about it? I say we take a vote on it.

Posted by: Barky O at January 01, 2017 11:31 AM (4acWK)

218 Oregon Muse's Sunday Book Thread is the best reason to go on the internets.

Thanks be to OM for our weekly thread.

Posted by: Deplorable votermom @vm on Gab at January 01, 2017 11:32 AM (Om16U)

219 I watched the ABC New Years broadcast last night. After the Mariah Carey 'performance' i said that i now knew who was the last celebrity to die in 2016

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at January 01, 2017 11:34 AM (PqqkK)

220 SGT. MOM:

Yes, SAKI lays on the irony, but when he suddenly gets serious--ouch. I love new discoveries in lit. almost as much as I love new cuisines.

Posted by: Smallish Bees at January 01, 2017 11:35 AM (yjhOG)

221 Effective 2007 the FCC removed the Morse Code requirement from Amateur Radio licensing. A lot of the old guys did not like that move.

http://w5yi.org/page.php?id=22

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 11:35 AM (mpXpK)

222 CW hasn't been a requirement for any license, up to Extra, since about 1992. While it isn't a license requirement, it's still somewhat active in the wild because hams are nothing if not fans of ancient and obsolete modes. It still burns through in QRP like voice never could, and digital mode programs on computers can decode/encode it. The best use for morse code that I've found is a downloadable iPhone keyboard with a single huge button so I can text buddies with the phone in my coat pocket while I'm walking to the store in the winter =)

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:36 AM (8nWyX)

223 No library is a proper library unless there is a toilet to sit on while reading.

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at January 01, 2017 11:36 AM (PqqkK)

224 Snow day here. So we won't be going to church, which is rare indeed.

Posted by: Northernlurker at January 01, 2017 11:37 AM (s7hQ/)

225 Stross's 'Laundry' books started out wonderfully, then he got to banging on stupid, racist Americans and I stopped reading. I'm not going to pay someone to insult my country. And online Stross is a socialist jerk.

Posted by: RNB at January 01, 2017 11:37 AM (DjjZJ)

226 Dr. Bill Warner talks about the Crusades

https://youtu.be/t_Qpy0mXg8Y

Posted by: BourbonChicken at January 01, 2017 11:38 AM (VdICR)

227 Oops, Vic is right. There was a 'no-code' Technician class that was available in the early 1990s but the CW requirement for higher licenses looks like it stuck around for longer.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:38 AM (8nWyX)

228 Which, given his fan base (weed ~~libertarian~~ Socialist IT guys), is likely true.

Posted by: Trimegistus at January 01, 2017 11:14 AM (88x1C)

The dude is a Socialist with a big S.

His thinking is that with technology which is advanced enough all the problems with Socialism, such as (almost exactly Stross' words) the unequal distribution and delivery of goods.

Though lately, Stross seems disappointed in the gov'ts and society produced by Socialists.

Imagine that.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:38 AM (9q7Dl)

229 Skandi, the code requirement is long gone.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 11:39 AM (V+03K)

230 Huh. Folks must be off reading.

Posted by: Insomniac at January 01, 2017 11:43 AM (0mRoj)

231 Love Saki.

He's a big influence on my writing.

Though Wodehouse has a much sunnier personality on the page,

you can tell that he must've read Saki. A lot of his humor is constructed along the same lines.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:44 AM (9q7Dl)

232 Skandi, the code requirement is long gone.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 11:39 AM

Ya, the technology changes. It would take serious study for me to catch up again, but I did enjoy working Russian stations on cw with simple wire antennas. Never really wanted to talk to the long winded old farts on 80m. A quick cw dx contact and a QSL was all I was interested in. The internet and email kinda spoiled that. Contesting was kinda fun because the big stations would work to get you in the logbook.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:45 AM (a1VmK)

233 RK Harrison, Biblical Hebrew - "Teach Yourself Books" (1955). Picked this up for $2 at a used bookstore.

I'm basically trying to figure out how to spell this language, at least in Latin script. I've already complained about "begadkepat" (breathe the consonants if the book is Daniel; stick with them if the book is 2 Kings) when I was talking about Syriac here so I won't do that again...

Anyway it's a short book, because it packs a lot in - when it's taught you one concept, it expects you to know it, so it'll just use that. It is not, therefore, a book to skip through.

One thing that's pretty cool: apparently the ha- definite article is really a han- or hal- article like old North Arabian. They just don't pronounce or spell the last consonant. Instead its shade will haunt the words it prefixes. So you will be using daghesh forte a lot: haq-qol, hat-torah (and not ha-thorah). Some consonants are guttural and Hebrew won't let you do har-rosh like Arabic would; so those are hA-rosh with lengthened A.

At least, if I'm reading this right.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 11:45 AM (6FqZa)

234 You'll have to settle for a 7 1/2 minute Plinkett review:

Thanks, I watch those instead of the movies. Learned my lesson on a Jar-Jar Binks prequel.

Posted by: t-bird at January 01, 2017 11:46 AM (8zL5i)

235 Ugh.

left out a word.

His thinking is that with technology which is advanced enough all the problems with Socialism, such as (almost exactly Stross' words) the unequal distribution and delivery of goods disappear

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:46 AM (9q7Dl)

236
In contrast to the library picture at the top of the post, my library would consist of stacks of QST, obsolete computer books for the obsolete computer hardware, and junk boxes full of junk - still useful junk, but still junk too useful to throw away.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:47 AM (a1VmK)

237 Happy new year, morons!

Mariah Carey should quit singing and dancing, and write!

Posted by: the littl shyning man at January 01, 2017 11:49 AM (U6f54)

238 The biggest problem with Rogue One is the dependence of cheap nostalgia is as bad as 7. This despite being a stand-alone. Tarken and Vader was unnecessary to the story.

Marvel does well when it has one or two characters, e.i. Deadpool or Antman, and is childish and forgettable when it has to juggle ten people e.i. Civil War. This doesn't bode well for Star Wars.

Posted by: BourbonChicken at January 01, 2017 11:49 AM (VdICR)

239 His thinking is that with technology which is advanced enough all the problems with Socialism, such as (almost exactly Stross' words) the unequal distribution and delivery of goods disappear

---

well, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Like the wonder bra...

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at January 01, 2017 11:49 AM (PqqkK)

240 235 Ugh.

left out a word.

His thinking is that with technology which is advanced enough all the problems with Socialism, such as (almost exactly Stross' words) the unequal distribution and delivery of goods disappear

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:46 AM (9q7Dl)

The goods just disappear more efficiently into the pockets of the apparatchiks and their cronies.

Posted by: Insomniac at January 01, 2017 11:49 AM (0mRoj)

241 The best use for morse code that I've found is a downloadable iPhone keyboard with a single huge button so I can text buddies with the phone in my coat pocket while I'm walking to the store in the winter =)
Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:36 AM (8nWyX)

I'd buy that for a dollar! Seriously. What a great idea. I hate futzing with those stupid tiny keyboards. Tapping a virtual key to send text would be teh awesome.

Also awesome would be if the app would let you could plug a keyer or bug into the phone's headphone jack so you could really crank out the text.

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:50 AM (6QnGR)

242 Currently reading Steven Pressfield's Gates of Fire, which is even better than it was recommended to be. Very informative and entertaining look at the Spartans around the time of the film 300 as told by a captive of the Persians.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 11:50 AM (39g3+)

243 Not in any order:

- You go, PabloD !

- "The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal" !

- Tim Powers' "Declare" is, among other things, the best melding of historical fact and wild fantasy I can recall offhand.

- "Three Men in a Boat" is a real fun read. It had me with the description of the author's fox terrier, who was pretty much the twin of my rat terrier (RIP).

- Preordered Milo's book as an FU to our enemies. And I am going to preferentially buy S&S books this year as much as possible. Generally speaking I think 2017 should be the year that we all try to apply Ace's masthead motto in our own ways, and make whatever leftists are around us a little unhappier.

- You go too, hogmartin ! Good luck on the mill !
I do deliveries for my NTS Section net too, but handwritten on those yellow radiogram forms.

- Full removal of the Morse requirement for all classes didn't happen until the mid-oughts somewhere. Paradoxically, CW is actually gaining popularity these days.

- OM, another ham ! excellent ! And I join in thanking you for the book thread !

OK, veering into tl:dr territory here;
currently reading VDH's "A War Like No Other" on the serious side and a collection of Wodehouses Jeeves stories on the lighter.

A safe prosperous and happy New Year to all !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at January 01, 2017 11:50 AM (nrnR5)

244 Happy New Year Horde! At the local Whataburger pick up breakfast taquitos.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 01, 2017 11:51 AM (wHJ0y)

245 238 The biggest problem with Rogue One is the dependence of cheap nostalgia is as bad as 7. This despite being a stand-alone. Tarken and Vader was unnecessary to the story.

---

I kept wondering, while you're going to sneak out a secret holo message to your daughter, how about also scribbling a diagram on a napkin with an arrow...'Insert proton torpedo HERE'

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at January 01, 2017 11:52 AM (PqqkK)

246 RK Harrison, Biblical Hebrew - "Teach Yourself Books" (1955). Picked this up for $2 at a used bookstore.

That name rings a bell. Didn't he write an intro to the OT?

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:52 AM (6QnGR)

247 well, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Like the wonder bra...

Posted by: Buzzsaw90 at January 01, 2017 11:49 AM (PqqkK)

Or Tootsie-Pop.

Exactly.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 01, 2017 11:54 AM (9q7Dl)

248 His thinking is that with technology which is advanced enough all the problems with Socialism, such as (almost exactly Stross' words) the unequal distribution and delivery of goods disappear

I'm now trying to read Rene Girard. Girard would say that envy is hardwired deep into the primate part of the human brain, and requires a complex set of tabus and rituals to suppress it.

So there will always be some "good", even a phantom good, for the people to fight over. Stross would just have us fight over which one of us is the most righteous. Best I can tell, Stross thinks he'll come out ahead in that struggle.

Which explains why he's such a dick.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 11:54 AM (6FqZa)

249 Just finished "The Paris Architect" which is set in Nazi-occupied Paris 1942-43.

Nicely describes the nuanced outlooks of various segments of the French population, and also the purge of the Jews by the Germans and their collaborators.

And if you are a fan of classic and modern architecture, there is plenty of material for you.

Great description of the oval room of the Bibliotech Nationale de France, done by Jean-Louis Pascal circa 1875, photos of which have headline this thread in the past.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at January 01, 2017 11:55 AM (U6f54)

250 So the Turks let this newest terrorist get away...outstanding work there?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 11:55 AM (SjImc)

251
A quick cw dx contact and a QSL was all I was interested in. The internet and email kinda spoiled that.

JT65 mode would be right up your alley.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 01, 2017 11:55 AM (IqV8l)

252 Contesting was kinda fun because the big stations would work to get you in the logbook.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:45 AM (a1VmK)

A few years ago on June 6, I made contact on 20m with WW2COS, operating from the B-17 City of Savannah at the 8th Air Force Museum in Georgia. The internet and all that does make one jaded about instant long-distance communications, but when you're talking with someone on a WWII bomber 750 miles away over a little antenna on the porch of your apartment, I challenge anyone to resist doing the Snoopy dance.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:56 AM (8nWyX)

253 232 ... Haven't been too active in ham radio for a few years but want to get back to it. I would like to get back to about a comfortable 20 WPM CW eventually and operate QRP. For some reason, the idea of a small bag that holds all the gear, including the power supply and antenna, is appealing. Maybe this summer.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 11:58 AM (V+03K)

254 hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:56 AM

Exactly! I made a cw contact with a guy in Hawaii who was using a mobile antenna on the railing of his apartment balcony. Gave me 40m cw Worked all States.

I did the happy dance with that one.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 11:59 AM (a1VmK)

255 I had and have misgivings about voting for Trump. But, by gar, there is a feeling in the wind that is very similar to when Ronald Reagan was elected, and the hold that the Iranian hostage takers had on Jimmah Cahtuh's balls was released.

They let the hostages go because they were AFRAID of the "cowboy". They thought he would nuke Teheran, turn it to glass.

Everyone around the world is similarly uncertain about what Trump will do, so they are starting to behave better.

Please, dear God, make Donald Trump into a statesman, worthy of adding to Mount Rushmore. Give him wisdom, give him courage, give him discernment, and help him change the political environment, to enable America to become great again. Help him undo the all the illegal edicts of Barack Obama, and erase Obama's footprints in history like the tide erases footprints on the beach. And, dear Lord, please make everyone heartily tired of hearing Obama's utterances, so they stop reporting what he says. In Jesus' holy name, Amen.

Posted by: MathMom at January 01, 2017 12:00 PM (nttvo)

256 Fredo admin condemns Turkey terrorist attack and vows to import more muslims to America.

Ok, I added that second part but it is true

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 12:01 PM (SjImc)

257 The internet and all that does make one jaded about instant long-distance communications, but when you're talking with someone on a WWII bomber 750 miles away over a little antenna on the porch of your apartment, I challenge anyone to resist doing the Snoopy dance.
Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:56 AM (8nWyX)

Right. The difference between ham radio and the internet is like the difference between traveling across the ocean on a big, comfortable cruise ship and sailing across the ocean yourself on a 21-foot yacht, calculating your own course, and doing your own navigation, setting your sails yourself to get maximum use of the prevailing winds, and doing your own worrying about the wind, waves and changing weather patterns.

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 12:01 PM (6QnGR)

258 The other book I got for Christmas was The Adventure of the Plated Spoon, the third Sherlock Holmes short story compilation with Loren Estelman as editor. Its a mix, but mostly great stuff, particularly the tale by Conan Doyle's son Adrian who apparently was possessed by his father when he wrote the story.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:01 PM (39g3+)

259 So it's now the new year. Still waiting for those warm feelings of hope and optimism. Any minute now...

Posted by: Insomniac at January 01, 2017 11:29 AM (0mRoj)

You're above the dirt? Kwitcherbitchin.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at January 01, 2017 12:04 PM (g+ibI)

260 The "new year" is just an arbitrary number on a sheet of paper, treat each day separately instead of looking for some external change that will fix things.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (39g3+)

261 No library is complete without a collection of Big 'Uns magazines.

Posted by: Al Bundy at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (XoldI)

262 Was two-thirds through the "Last Policeman" series by Ben H. Winters and went off on a tangent to read a novel where Winters' endorsement appears on the jacket.

"Descent" is by Tim Johnston and it's about a Wisconsin family, mom, dad, son (15) and daughter (1

, their Colorado summer vacay wrecked by daughter going missing, kidnapped by a stranger while on a morning run in the high-up hills up near Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park.

Brother gets badly injured in the incident, has little to no recall of the bad guy.

Was quite good up until the past thirty pages or so, and has a less-than-satisfying ending.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (U6f54)

263 I'd buy that for a dollar! Seriously.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 11:50 AM (6QnGR)

Hopefully two dollars isn't too steep.
http://tinyurl.com/jhlazzw

It has both a straight key and paddle mode. The whole idea of a morse code custom keyboard for a modern smartphone sounds goofy and anachronistic, but yeah, it actually is handy to have at times. A physical key doesn't seem to be in the cards though. My straight key has a 1/8" mono plug and I can't even find a computer program that can use it for practice.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (8nWyX)

264 At least, if I'm reading this right.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 11:45 AM (6FqZa)

I'm hankering to learn more Hebrew myself. The "Book of the Mysteries" by Rabbi Cahn is the source of my interest.

Does anyone have good resource. I acknowledge that I will never be fluent, so I'm more looking for beginner level introduction to Biblical Hebrew concepts.

Posted by: Jade Sea at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (hewe/)

265 Even though they did away with the code requirement, I've been teaching myself Morse for the last couple of months. As noted above, it's useful for getting a signal out at low power or punching through noise.
I got my General about 9 years ago, but haven't done anything with it. The newer technologies, like Echolink and all the apps you can use on a smartphone, have rekindled my interest.
I will have to look for a Morse-texting app for Android.

Posted by: PabloD at January 01, 2017 12:06 PM (sZQdE)

266 No library is complete without a collection of Big 'Uns magazines.
Posted by: Al Bundy at January 01, 2017 12:05 PM (XoldI)

My wife threw mine out and put my 45s near the Boiler in the basement

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 01, 2017 12:07 PM (SjImc)

267 I wandered over to Hot Air a few moments ago and happened to read AP's piece about Trump vs. Obama vs. Putin.

Allahpundit may know something about a few things, but he doesn't know a damn thing about Trump or Putin or diplomacy.

It's basically a matter of two alpha Machers against a hot-house dilettante, with the predictable results. As for President Trump's dealings with Gospodin Putin, there will be no "ass-kissing". It will be superpower business.

Posted by: mrp at January 01, 2017 12:08 PM (JBggj)

268 257 ... "The difference between ham radio and the internet is like the difference between traveling across the ocean on a big, comfortable cruise ship and sailing across the ocean yourself on a 21-foot yacht, calculating your own course, and doing your own navigation, setting your sails yourself to get maximum use of the prevailing winds, and doing your own worrying about the wind, waves and changing weather patterns."

Very nicely put, OM. It also reflects part of my interest in muzzleloaders and making the accessories for them. More personal involvement and control in the activity.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 12:10 PM (V+03K)

269 Morse is like driving standard transmission: most of the population is utterly unaware of what is being said, so you can target your listener and bypass most people. I only know a few very common things, for example, and most don't even know that much.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:11 PM (39g3+)

270 Brother Cavil and Aetius451 - Re-lapsed Catholic here, trying to return to the Church. After decades away, I started attending mass back in 2011. I felt nothing sitting there. Another turn off was the local parish's embrace of illegal immigrants.

I feel a need, but I am at a loss.

Enough whining. I am binge reading Robert Crais' Elvis Cole series. Good stuff.

Posted by: Butch at January 01, 2017 12:11 PM (hXu8T)

271 It is certainly going to surprise the world when we start approaching diplomacy as the alpha rather than the submissive, apologetic beta.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 12:12 PM (dnWSK)

272 @183,

Have you tried the Typewriter Forum? It's a Yahoo Group run by Will Davis. Knowledgeable folks and might have a source for you.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 01, 2017 12:13 PM (mL2BD)

273 I felt nothing sitting there. Another turn off was the local parish's embrace of illegal immigrants.

The church should embrace all comers. That is the point of the Church. Leave immigration policy to the government.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 12:14 PM (dnWSK)

274 I feel a need, but I am at a loss.

If you have any around, try a high Anglican or Episcopal church, or Greek Orthodox. You'll get man of the same familiar ceremonies and rituals but maybe not the leftist crap.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:14 PM (39g3+)

275 I was asked by a guy at work why any Hams would use Morse instead of voice. This question was asked by a guy who enjoys riding a motorcycle instead of a comfortable automobile.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 01, 2017 12:14 PM (IqV8l)

276 I feel a need, but I am at a loss.

That sums up where I've been. I'm not questioning my faith, I'm questioning whether my church still shares it.

When you have doubts about the shepherd, it may be time to bolt the flock and find a better one. Everyone keeps saying Francis is being misinterpreted or distorted, but a clear and solid Pontiff (*coughJPIIcough*) would be subject to no so issues.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, Cylon without a basestar at January 01, 2017 12:15 PM (vyqqu)

277 I subscribe to Ass Man.

It's about asses.

Posted by: eleven at January 01, 2017 12:15 PM (qUNWi)

278 And, dear Lord, please make everyone heartily tired of hearing Obama's utterances, so they stop reporting what he says

++++

I've little worries on that score. Sure, they're going to report some, but Trump is bringing in serious money and glitz that hasn't been seen in DC for Decades now. And we all know how much they are drawn to money.

Posted by: Bigbys other phone at January 01, 2017 12:16 PM (8ReTf)

279
If you have any around, try a high Anglican or Episcopal church, or Greek Orthodox. You'll get man of the same familiar ceremonies and rituals but maybe not the leftist crap.

Anglicans are pretty hardcore leftists who pine for a monarchy in the US and a reunification with the Catholic Church. I have a good friend who is an Anglican priest. Judging by his feeds, it is a leftist echo chamber all the way down, starting at the manhattan theological seminary.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 12:20 PM (dnWSK)

280 From a Christian point of view, fellow parishioners are my brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter where they come from or their legal residence status. Period.

From a social point of view, the Church encourages them, while they are here, to work, obey the law (minus the go home part), and love their neighbor. And go to church

From my point of view, I want Donald Trump to build that wall.

Posted by: mrp at January 01, 2017 12:20 PM (JBggj)

281 I was asked by a guy at work why any Hams would use Morse instead of voice.

--

More generally, why does anyone do anything? You get some satisfaction out of it. One of my many factory jobs I worked with a girl who was a professional Farrier -- shoed horses for side money. Carried an 85 pound anvil in her vw beetle - had the arms and shoulders to prove it. She would have been gorgeous in a bikini, but she kept everything hid in baggy work clothes.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at January 01, 2017 12:22 PM (a1VmK)

282 Anglicans are pretty hardcore leftists who pine for a monarchy in the US and a reunification with the Catholic Church

It depends, there's a huge range in the Anglican church. Its true the leadership is practically non Christian and leftist, but you can get a pastor that's very theologically conservative and Biblical.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:22 PM (39g3+)

283 Also working my way through The Saxon Chronicles, currently on book 8 (The Empty Throne). Kindle makes it far too easy to buy the next book in the series.

I received Carol Burnett's latest book as a Christmas gift. It was just OK, wait for it to hit the clearance table or get it from the library if you're interested.

I also received Brian Wilson's book and am about a quarter of the way through it. "I'm nuts but I write good songs" pretty much sums it up.

Posted by: Top.Man. at January 01, 2017 12:22 PM (AZIOF)

284 Husband had Face the Nation on. There was a black woman that had written a book about the black migration to the North. She actually called them "immigrants". So, on a portion about the people of this country, we had the black woman, the Hillbilly Elegy guy, a daughter of illegal Mexicans and a Muslim woman wearing a hijab and makeup. No wonder the Dems lost.

We are canceling Directv. The OTA antenna works fine. Still trying to figure out how to record on the digital box. And we need to upgrade to a digital antenna. We can get everything my husband currently watches on the antenna and with occasional streaming. I actually like watching the OTA stuff. Maybe it's just because I get the remote for now

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 01, 2017 12:24 PM (mL2BD)

285 I like bible churches. I don't need all of the pomp and circumstance.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 12:25 PM (dnWSK)

286 Cat Ass Trophy - I did not express myself correctly. The parish embraces illegal immigration, which edges into the political.

Their idea of charity seems to consist of getting these people hooked onto the govt teat. None of the hard work of taking them into their own homes and helping them become productive members of society. But all of the virtuous preening.

Apologies for derailing the book thread. Back to books. In addition to the fun reading, I am working my way through Amity Schlaes' "The Forgotten Man" and "The Good Occupation," an unsentimental book about the post WWII occupation of Germany and Japan. I haven't made up my mind yet about the second book.

Posted by: Butch at January 01, 2017 12:26 PM (hXu8T)

287 Have you tried the Typewriter Forum? It's a Yahoo Group run by Will Davis. Knowledgeable folks and might have a source for you.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 01, 2017 12:13 PM (mL2BD)

I have not, and was not aware of the resource, but I'll check it out.

The problem with people who know what things are worth is that they know what they're worth. I do check for them occasionally, but generally it's a $800-$1200 typewriter, because they're not terribly common and that's what the collectors' market will bear. I'm fine with a Royal Safari manual for now, $8 from a church rummage sale ca. 1994. I just don't want to miss out on "yeah, this is some kinda typewriter in a suitcase or something, $20 and it's yours, just get it out of Grandpa's garage" if the opportunity turns up.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 12:27 PM (8nWyX)

288 I like bible churches. I don't need all of the pomp and circumstance.
===============

I need the sacraments.

Posted by: mrp at January 01, 2017 12:27 PM (JBggj)

289 As far as I can tell from my friend, the Anglicans believe it is the government's job to take care of the poor and needy, and the church's job to make you feel good about supporting the government. Saving souls might be on the list of things the church does, but it is pretty far down the list.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at January 01, 2017 12:29 PM (dnWSK)

290 I like bible churches. I don't need all of the pomp and circumstance.

I agree, for me the simpler and more focused on scripture, the better. But I suspect he's looking for that feeling of home and familiarity, which a high church would have.

I wish churches read the Bible more during the worship service. Episcopal and some Presbyterian and Lutheran churches have 3 readings: old testament, psalm, and new testament. To me that seems good.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:29 PM (39g3+)

291 WOT...NO COMICS like in Obamas's Prez Library to be built in
Marthas Vineyard? the windmills of my mind offshore will be built Par for the Course and will revolve once daily.

That's not a Library it's a place of congress

Posted by: saf at January 01, 2017 12:29 PM (+zN6H)

292 Anglican Church vs. Catholic Church: All the pageantry, half the guilt.

(Old Robin Williams joke)

Posted by: Butch at January 01, 2017 12:30 PM (hXu8T)

293 WOT...NO COMICS like in Obamas's Prez Library to be built in

Marthas Vineyard? the windmills of my mind offshore will be built Par for the Course and will revolve once daily.
=============

Barry bought a Putt-Putt franchise?

Posted by: mrp at January 01, 2017 12:31 PM (JBggj)

294 That sums up where I've been. I'm not questioning my faith, I'm questioning whether my church still shares it.

When you have doubts about the shepherd, it may be time to bolt the flock and find a better one. Everyone keeps saying Francis is being misinterpreted or distorted, but a clear and solid Pontiff (*coughJPIIcough*) would be subject to no so issues.
---

In the past 15 years, I've switched between two Catholic churches-- one is more liberal, the second more conservative.

Even though the liberal one was actually there when both of my parents died, I ended up back at the more conservative one and don't see myself going anywhere else. Way, way better sermons, no guitars and no politics.

So... I guess what I'm saying is that if there are various parishes of your faith around town, give them a spin. I know from personal experience that experiences can vary widely.

/yeah, I also don't support the "archdiocese," so... going to hell.

Posted by: shibumi, a deplorable who is tired of dealing with crazy people at January 01, 2017 12:32 PM (J5mC3)

295 Thank you all for the suggestions.

Posted by: Butch at January 01, 2017 12:33 PM (hXu8T)

296 I need the sacraments

+++

IMHO without these the priest has no function

Posted by: Bigbys other phone at January 01, 2017 12:38 PM (8ReTf)

297 A very learned Kabbalistic Rabbi, Mendel Kessin, has repeatedly observed that Trump is NOT the Messiah, but IS divinely sent to create the proper conditions (ohhh, and they're GOOD) for the Messiah to arrive--here is a link to one of his shorter vids on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqxp9oPC2Tc

Posted by: JewishOdysseus at January 01, 2017 12:38 PM (+O9YB)

298 What's really funny is that Milo's British book agent dropped him in the summer after he got banned from twitter. Said it would be too difficult to get him a deal with mainstream publishers.

Oops.

Posted by: buzzion at January 01, 2017 12:42 PM (cAnNx)

299 nood

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 12:46 PM (mpXpK)

300 267 I wandered over to Hot Air a few moments ago and happened to read AP's piece about Trump vs. Obama vs. Putin.
Allahpundit may know something about a few things, but he doesn't know a damn thing about Trump or Putin or diplomacy.
It's basically a matter of two alpha Machers against a hot-house dilettante, with the predictable results. As for President Trump's dealings with Gospodin Putin, there will be no "ass-kissing". It will be superpower business.
Posted by: mrp at January 01, 2017 12:08 PM (JBggj)

At which Obama can serve the coffee, as per Bill Clinton.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at January 01, 2017 12:47 PM (SRKgf)

301 Its truly amazing to me how hard the left is trying to censor Milo's book on leftist censorship. Its like they are desperate to show he's right or something.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:49 PM (39g3+)

302 I'm big on the Civil War. Some time ago I read Chancellorville by Stephen Sears and quite liked it. Then I read reviews of Chancellorville 1863: Souls of the Brave by Ernest Ferguson which stated that Sears had been much too kind to Joseph Hooker.

I finished Souls of the Brave this week. It is very interesting to compare the two books. Both agree on the basic facts but Sears excuses Hooker because he suffered an apparent concussion when a Confederate cannon ball struck a pillar next to him causing pieces of the pillar to strike him. But Ferguson argues that Hooker's major failures happened before his injury, before even Jackson's famous flanking march and attack. Those failures arose from a rather unlikely source; brash, bombastic, arrogant Hooker suffered a failure of nerve as he was on the cusp of victory. Ferguson emphasizes that Hooker's remarkable passivity was of a kind both before and after his injury and, for that matter, both before and after the first significant combat. Further, Lee had apparently taken the measure of Hooker. He split his forces in the face of a superior enemy not only when he sent Jackson on his flanking march but also when he sent forces to defeat Sedgewick while continuing to attack Hooker. All this is the more remarkable considering that Hooker had always been an exceptionally brave and aggressive soldier before his inexplicable decision to surrender the initiative to Lee for no apparent reason.

One other lesson may be learned from these books, the power of reputation. Hooker was a known boozer and woman chaser, some say our use of the term "hooker" for prostitutes is derived from his appetites, and Ferguson is unkind enough to suggest that Hooker's passivity may have come from bottles. Several contemporary witnesses describe him as drunk or passed out in his tent as his men were being slaughtered and the war was being lost. But those witnesses were describing him after he suffered his injury. Could they have been mistaking injury for inebriation? And did Hooker's reputation cause them to see what they expected to see? But Hooker's reputation wasn't only as a drunken pussy hound. His sobriquet was Fighting Joe Hooker. This reputation, however, did him no good in its effect on Lee. Lee consistently relied on Hooker to miss opportunities and Hooker consistently missed them.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, This Is the Dawning of the Age of the Trumpius! at January 01, 2017 12:50 PM (Nwg0u)

303 On the Milos flap, I was gratified to see in my FB feed a liberal author acquaintance making a statement about free speech, and how he doesn't support the Chicago Review's decision. He's stayed true to his conviction even as some of his liberal friends rant away.

Posted by: Libby Sternberg at January 01, 2017 12:52 PM (ZBLz4)

304 Its truly amazing to me how hard the left is trying to censor Milo's book on leftist censorship. Its like they are desperate to show he's right or something.

-
They say he's alt right. And, you've got to admit, he is pretty alternate.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, This Is the Dawning of the Age of the Trumpius! at January 01, 2017 12:53 PM (Nwg0u)

305 Re: what I've been reading. I re-read Louis Bayard's MR TIMOTHY over the holiday and fell in love with it again. A story about a grown-up Timothy Cratchit. I wrote a blog post about it here:https://libbysbooks.wordpress.com/2016/12/30/review-mr-timothy-by-louis-bayard/

Posted by: Libby Sternberg at January 01, 2017 12:53 PM (ZBLz4)

306 Thanks so much for all the Book Thread links!

Currently reading (or rather re-starting) William Gibson's Neuromancer.

Posted by: sinalco at January 01, 2017 12:54 PM (yODqO)

307 Has anyone read the 1632 books? They look interesting - a modern town in West Virginia is transported smack dab to the middle of the Thirty Years War.

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 01:05 PM (7qAYi)

308 I agree, for me the simpler and more focused on scripture, the better. But I suspect he's looking for that feeling of home and familiarity, which a high church would have.

I wish churches read the Bible more during the worship service. Episcopal and some Presbyterian and Lutheran churches have 3 readings: old testament, psalm, and new testament. To me that seems good.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:29 PM (39g3+)

That is what Catholic churches do.

For anyone who is interested, I went to St Peter's here in Lexington for the first time today. I liked it. The church is nice, the windows are very pretty. I often rue the storm of iconoclasm that swept the Church in the 60's and 70's, but this was still pretty good. I still prefer St Martin of Tours in Louisville, but this will do in a pinch.

The father's homily was also pretty encouraging. He spoke on the historical roots of the 1st day of the calendar year- both theological and secular. It may be a sad commentary, but when a priest mentions St Augustine in his homily, it encourages me.

Another thing I liked, when he was speaking about the latest mass shooting, he called Constantinople by it's true name- with NO mention of Istanbul.

And not a guitar to be seen anywhere.

So far, so good.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 01:06 PM (92kX2)

309 301 Its truly amazing to me how hard the left is trying to censor Milo's book on leftist censorship. Its like they are desperate to show he's right or something.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 12:49 PM (39g3+)

One of the best things that has happened for conservatives in the last several decades is that the left has lost complete and total self awareness. They used to have to hedge their words to not appear too radical in order to sell their BS to the people. With the advent of Obama, they now believe they are the majority, so the mask has dropped. Even better they do not realize the logical flaws in their 'arguments'- because they do not study logic.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 01:09 PM (92kX2)

310 Hi Horde,

Thanks for the kind words regarding our library. Responding to comments:

1) We have 3 cats so cat hair is not a problem, we have lots.
2) There is a shelf cats get on but is off to the right. We wanted to feature a cat or two but they never show when you want them.
3) Wingback chairs would be nice, as would a pool table.
4) N Idaho is inhospitable to homeless people and other Democrats, with the exception of California Commies in Sandpoint.
5) That's a nice wet bar with a fridge and ice maker. It can cut down on reading comprehension.
6) The Boss hates rocking chairs and girlie mags.
7) We do have shelves filled with Pearls Before Swine, Dilbert and Get Fuzzy, even Calvin & Hobbes.

Regarding the Extra Class test, just get a test prep book and memorize as much as you can. Most govt exams are the same, I could get a medical license if they gave the same kind of test. All the questions are published.

Posted by: johnw at January 01, 2017 01:12 PM (9c5OE)

311 307
Has anyone read the 1632 books? They look interesting - a modern town in
West Virginia is transported smack dab to the middle of the Thirty
Years War.

Posted by: josephistan at January 01, 2017 01:05 PM (7qAYi)

The first three are good but after that they bog down.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 01:18 PM (mpXpK)

312 johnw, About number 7: Calvin and Hobbes books are never wasted space. Wonderfully creative and funny.

Posted by: JTB at January 01, 2017 01:21 PM (V+03K)

313 Hey OregonMuse,

Always look forward to Sundays here. SMBT by far the best part of AoS each week, thanks for all the great content. Have a great new year. And, I agree, when you step back and look at it, 2016 was a pretty spectacular year.

JD, loyal Cub fan for 60 years!!!!

Posted by: JD at January 01, 2017 01:30 PM (JiHYO)

314 The idea of examining black migration to the North in the 1920s-1940s as a parallel to immigration has been done before, and it's quite interesting, really. They followed much the same trajectory as other immigrant groups: manual labor, small businesses, political participation . . . they were right on schedule to begin the second generation goes to college and moves to the suburbs phase when LBJ's Great Society programs and the hyper-political black activism of the late 1960s drove things off the rails. Instead of struggling their way into the middle class, they were rewarded for remaining poor, dependent, and dysfunctional.

The Democratic Party doesn't care how many individual lives it grinds into hamburger as long as the political machinery keeps running.

Posted by: Trimegistus at January 01, 2017 01:35 PM (88x1C)

315 @187 The engineering texts of Theodore Cooper are also on sale for 99 cents.
I read them all with no Kollidge, and I just finished a bridge!
Wanna live under it?

Sure saved a lot on Tooo-ishun though. You too?

Posted by: Stringer Davis at January 01, 2017 01:36 PM (H5rtT)

316 black migration to the North in the 1920s-1940s as a parallel to immigration

The pre-Civil-War Constitution sets up a federation of semi-sovereign states, and among the rights reserved to those states was who got to settle in those states. Oregon, to pick one, had it as law that blacks didn't got to settle there.

So black migration wasn't a parallel to immigration. It was immigration.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 01:40 PM (6FqZa)

317 Happy New Year. I feel like it is the "dawn of a new era".

Something caught my eye the other day about Napoleon. Can someone recommend a good biography. Not looking for intense military or battle study, just a re introduction for me to go forward. Much appreciated.

Can't reciprocate with a recommendation unfortunately. Inattentiveness has resulted in a slow chronological read of Michael Connelly books and watching Poirot on Netflix. Someone recommended-- and it has a lot of episodes. I fall asleep and takes me about three nights to watch one. But good, and appreciate the period detail.

Posted by: gracepc at January 01, 2017 01:41 PM (OU4q6)

318 Blacks are migrating back south again, oddly.

Estelman's Motown deals with the effect in Detroit of black workers moving up to build cars and war machinery, and what happened to them after the war. Great series, his Detroit books.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 01, 2017 01:41 PM (39g3+)

319 316 The pre-Civil-War Constitution sets up a federation
of semi-sovereign states, and among the rights reserved to those states
was who got to settle in those states. Oregon, to pick one, had it as
law that blacks didn't got to settle there.

So black migration wasn't a parallel to immigration. It was immigration.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at January 01, 2017 01:40 PM (6FqZa)

So did Indiana in the early 1800s.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at January 01, 2017 01:42 PM (mpXpK)

320 284 We are canceling Directv. The OTA antenna works fine. Still trying to figure out how to record on the digital box. And we need to upgrade to a digital antenna. We can get everything my husband currently watches on the antenna and with occasional streaming. I actually like watching the OTA stuff. Maybe it's just because I get the remote for now

We cut our cable last spring. We'd been back and forth between cable and DirectTV and found we only watched a few channels.

Got a digital antenna at a church auction and used the DirectTV dish mast to mount it. I spent an afternoon cabling thing up and added a pre-amp, distribution amp, and a DVR. TVFool.com told me the best direction to point the antenna. Double bowtie type with a VHF element.

Most of what we watch is streamed.

Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at January 01, 2017 01:50 PM (di1hb)

321 At our current location, it's pretty straight forward. All the stations are to the south and we can pick them up with an indoor antenna. When we move to the other property, the antenna will still work. The problem there is getting internet. I may have to spring for business rate internet from Comcast. I'm not really sure they can provide service yet.

Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 01, 2017 02:08 PM (Pby3z)

322 51 "We have to do something! Quick, find a skinny white woman to do it for us!"

And for all the earthy, exotic, swarthy males in the movie, they don't even bother to name any of the faceless band of plucky brownskinned followers in the climactic fight.

Posted by: Richard McEnroe at January 01, 2017 02:10 PM (Kucy5)

323 Posted by: Tuna at January 01, 2017 09:59 AM (JSovD)

Thanks. My little library system has Rose, but not GP which would have been a re read anyway.

Posted by: gracepc at January 01, 2017 02:11 PM (OU4q6)

324 Here are my book stats for 2016:

Books read - 39 (26 already owned, 11 library/borrowed, 2 kindle)
Books bought/gifted - 29
Books purged from my TBR pile - 48

I usually read at least 50 books in a year, but lately I've been in a reading slump. In 2017 I like to read at least 50 books and pare down my TBR pile by at least 30 books.

Posted by: biancaneve at January 01, 2017 02:14 PM (RGMOa)

325 129 - You should almost never post public gun pics online, just like pics of the children, and for some of the same reasons. There are exceptions of course, but they are limited.
301- Self-awareness has never been a strong suit on the left.

Biggest problem with posting pic of "the library" is that there are too many books on too many shelves in too many rooms of the house to take a proper picture of. Just the kitchen cookbooks are 8 shelf-feet on the baking rack. The front room, two very tall cases. The family room, three tall cases, with more stacked on other items. Office? Another three bookcases. Kids rooms? More shelves and stacks covering non-shelf surfaces. Dining room? More. Master bedroom? More stacks and overflow for kids books that have aged out. Guest room? You "guest" it. And we give the library a workout for all that.

Oh, well. With luck I'll be able to post details about a movie deal based on my book, The Stars Came Back. That won't be a shelf-item.

Posted by: Rolf at January 01, 2017 02:41 PM (Fne+p)

326 I finished Rick Gavin's "Ranchero," a Moron recommendation. It was so enjoyable that I got the next two in the series. I like escapist reading, primarily comedies. If you're interested, Gavin writes with a dry wit and believable dialogue between the "buddies" featured in the series. The potagonist is an ex-cop from Virginia who moved to the Mississipi Delta to work in repo with a 300+ pound black friend who has dysfunctional in-laws, an ex-wife and sickly mother. Hilarity ensues.

One of the 'rons recommended this author after I raved about the great writing in the "Myron Bolitar" series by Harlan Coben. His characters sound like Class A Morons. The good kind. Joe R. Lansdale's early books in the Hap Collins/Leonard Pine series are a hoot too. If you know of any other authors who write along these lines, please pass them along to this grateful 'ette.

I'm also reading more spiritual stuff considering how awful the last eight years were. "The Broken Way" is another excellent 'ette recomendation that has one V-8 moment after another.

And I wouldn't know anything about the above tomes if it weren't for OM and the MoroNation reading community. Thanks, OM, for your stellar efforts week in and week out, and thanks to all of the literate horde members for sharing their recommendations.

Posted by: SandyCheeks at January 01, 2017 02:52 PM (joFoi)

327 OM: ...On the other hand, for all the talk of 2016 being a bad year, consider...

That's a pretty good list.

Sounds like the three Sowell books together would serve as a master course in economics. I'd like to read them all. Attention surfeit disorder notwithstanding.

Happy New Year, OM, and all the books at sea.

Posted by: mindful webworker - picking up champagne botttles and fireworks shells at January 01, 2017 03:25 PM (8Unxl)

328 Oregon, I'm going to repost your list of 2016 SMBT on my blog tomorrow. So many great recs.

Posted by: Deplorable votermom @vm on Gab at January 01, 2017 03:46 PM (Om16U)

329 I'm reading Adrian Goldsworthy's How Rome Fell. It's as interesting as his other books on Roman history that I have, so I anticipate good things. However, I notice that the proofreading of this book was noticeably more slack than in either Caesar or Augustus - several typos in the first couple of chapters, which annoys me considering that those other two volumes had fewer than that in their entire texts, and typos are like roaches to me. I'm not sure why this change happened - maybe the publisher got some new guy to do it.

Anyway, the first few chapters are setting the stage for the real questions that come later by explaining the period of chaos at the top of the Roman imperial government after Marcus Aurelius.

Posted by: Philip at January 01, 2017 04:04 PM (SKn4v)

330 Cleanest kitchen I have ever seen in a restaurant? A mexican place in Greenwood Indiana. All stainless, and so clean it almost blinded me when I walked past it on the way to the bathroom.

Good food too.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 04:18 PM (92kX2)

331 330 Cleanest kitchen I have ever seen in a restaurant? A mexican place in Greenwood Indiana. All stainless, and so clean it almost blinded me when I walked past it on the way to the bathroom.

Good food too.
Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 04:18 PM (92kX2)

Posted in the wrong thread, obviously. At least it was not a link to porn.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at January 01, 2017 04:19 PM (92kX2)

332 Thanks to all of you morons for your kind words about the book thread.

Happy 2017!

Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at January 01, 2017 04:46 PM (6QnGR)

333 I just reread the intro to the thread. When I want to get things moving again, I use Metamucil.

Posted by: vivi at January 01, 2017 05:12 PM (11H2y)

334 Hi

I've only ever commented one other time (when the awesome Maetenloch posted a video of Elvis singing "American Trilogy" - my absolute favorite), so I am mostly of pure lurker status. I would very much love to join the Goodreads group, though, pretty please!

Posted by: Alli at January 01, 2017 05:48 PM (UMyI/)

335 If you like Jerome k Jerome. Boat book. Also pick up the series written by Connie Willis that starts with the doomsday day book and includes: To say nothing about the dog.

The doomsday book starts in the English comedy of manners style. It is about near future English historian time travelers from Oxford. One young woman goes back to the dark ages and it is intense. Intense intense intense. To say nothing of the dog is an homage to Jerome k Jerome classic. Very well written Rom com not as intense as doomsday book. The are both fantastic books.

Posted by: Simplemind at January 01, 2017 06:29 PM (ZuGkg)

336 Simplemind, I loved those books. Anybody who reads them must also read Blackout and All Clear, same world, some of the same characters.

Posted by: Miss Sippi at January 01, 2017 08:08 PM (ByoS/)

337 It's hard to get here on time. Usually late. Still, for me, the Sunday BT is the best. TY so much OM. Sorry to have missed what looks like a good discussion of RC and differences between churches and also other Christian denominations. I am RC, fluctuate between two parishes, and on 12/24 quite by accident ended up at Church without Walls. Amazing experience. I will look for an opportunity to share it elsewhere.

Well, since it's late I can savor the comments.

Posted by: gracepc at January 01, 2017 08:22 PM (OU4q6)

338 The Closing of The American Mind: I'm shocked that someone here hasn't read it. Top 10 conservative must read.
Posted by: josephistan
------------------

Agreed. A standard.
Oddly, I do not recall Bloom ever being mentioned here, but I certainly do not manage to read more than perhaps, 10% of what is posted at AoSHQ.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 01, 2017 08:31 PM (ZO497)

339 For our esteemed members of the Trump-Dubiety Society: Meet our new President.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmUoBZLeFUY

This is the rally my brother went to, with his Democrat wife, from which he came away saying with utter conviction, "This man is going to be the President of the United States of America. You'd better get on the Trump train, big sister."

This was in October of 2015, when The Donald was still speaking wholly off-the-cuff: he's much better when he's talking straight from the shoulder like this, in his own voice. He's exhilarating! Finally, someone comes into our public life who cuts through the bullshit with a lightsaber.

I think this will hearten those of you who've looked askance at the man because of his style, his way of doing things. I think he's going to be a hurricane of fresh air, and God bless him for wanting to take on this Herculean task. Here's hoping he diverts the Potomac through the Washington stables!

Posted by: Beverly at January 02, 2017 01:16 AM (TvzWy)

340 'I would like to believe that Obama represents the high-water mark of progressivism in America.'

They said that about Carter too, They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

Posted by: Steve D at January 02, 2017 11:50 AM (En+6a)

341 252 ...A few years ago on June 6, I made contact on 20m with WW2COS, operating from the B-17 City of Savannah at the 8th Air Force Museum in Georgia. The internet and all that does make one jaded about instant long-distance communications, but when you're talking with someone on a WWII bomber 750 miles away over a little antenna on the porch of your apartment, I challenge anyone to resist doing the Snoopy dance.
Posted by: hogmartin at January 01, 2017 11:56 AM (8nWyX)

Posting really late, but I'm just catching up on the thread, and this comment brought tears to my eyes. Not only have I been inside that B-17 (in the Mighty 8th Museum in Pooler, not Savannah, GA), but my late father was a USAAF/USAF B-17 radioman during and after WWII. He had been a ham operator before the war, and told me a couple of times how he quietly kept up on that hobby while in the service. IIRC, he had to install some extra radio equipment to broadcast on those frequencies. Dad would have laughed his butt of reading your comment, thank you for the memory!

Posted by: John the Baptist at January 02, 2017 08:13 PM (MPH+3)

342 Thank you to everyone who checked out my books. Very much appreciated.

Posted by: Laura Montgomery at January 03, 2017 10:27 PM (T2lRt)

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