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Sunday Morning Book Thread 06-24-2018
Unseen University Library, Ankh-Morpork, Discworld
Good morning to all you 'rons, 'ettes, lurkers, and lurkettes. Oh, and we've got a new category of readers, escaped oafs and oafettes ('escaped oafs' is an anagram of 'Ace of Spades'). Welcome once again to the stately, prestigious, internationally acclaimed and high-class Sunday Morning Book Thread, a weekly compendium of reviews, observations, and a continuing conversation on books, reading, and publishing by people who follow words with their fingers and whose lips move as they read. Unlike other AoSHQ comment threads, the Sunday Morning Book Thread is so hoity-toity, pants are required. Even if it's these pants, which probably can be used as a flotation device in case of, as they say, a water landing. By the way, another anagram for 'Ace of Spades' is 'do a feces spa.' You're welcome.
Pic Note For those of you unfamiliar with The Discworld novels of Terry Pratchett, Unseen University is a college of wizards and the library houses all of their magic books. Of course, with all of that magic packed into such a relatively small space, unpredictable interactions occur which can produce weird effects, such as magic storms, distortions in the space/time continuum, and the librarian (as seen here) turned into an orangutan. He did not seek a remedy for his transmogrification because, all things considered, he liked it better this way.
It Pays To Increase Your Word Power® VETGANS is a Dutch word for a penguin. It literally means ‘fat goose’ Usage: I'll bet you didn't know that Lena Dunham's middle name is 'Vetgans'.
Feminist Bookstore Closes The punk monkey already covered this earlier this week, but I've got to add my two cents, as well as a hearty Nelson laugh:
A quarter-century-old feminist bookstore in Portland, Oregon is slated to close its doors at the end of this month, and part of the reason, it says, is its “inability to ‘reform and re-envision’ a space founded on ‘white, cis feminism (read: white supremacy).'”Say what?
“We cannot continue because we know reform does not work. The current volunteers and board members stepped into and took over a space that was founded on white, cis feminism (read: white supremacy). It’s really difficult, actually, impossible, for us to disentangle from that foundational ideology. Volunteers and board members tried to reform and re-envision the organization, and have found it unattainable to do, especially with so little resources. We have experienced this as a very real reminder that reform doesn’t work. Patriarchy, White Supremacy, Capitalism cannot be reformed and ever serve the people. Abolition is the goal.”In other words, "we started out as a batsh*t crazy bookstore to serve the needs of the batsh*t crazy community, but because nobody was buying our batsh*t crazy books, the solution was to make ourselves even more batsh*t crazy. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough of that evil cis patriarchal money to fund our further descent into madness." No word yet on whether the self-admitted irreformable, irredeemable, deplorable cis white owners are going to douse themselves with gasoline and set themselves on fire to atone for their existence. Especially those cis wymyn who have had sex wih an actual man. So I wish them all a hearty hah haaaah!
I lost my mother in law last week. She was 96 and one of my best friends. A lifelong lover of books, she kept track of all she read on index cards and recorded her opinion in code. This is the key to her code and the cards we found among her belongings. pic.twitter.com/Iabmek9B7F
— Lauren Tarshis (@laurenTarshis) May 26, 2018
(h/t (((G. Host))))
Pushback? I know nothing about the author Lionel Shriver. A glance through her books doesn't that suggest she's particularly (or even at all) conversative, but every now and then, the enforcement of prog groupthink just hits someone the wrong way, and starts applying common sense to the situation. Such was Shriver's reaction to a Penguin Random House e-mail detailing their diversity goals. Writing in the Spectator (UK), Shriver acidly opines:
Drunk on virtue, Penguin Random House no longer regards the company’s raison d’être as the acquisition and dissemination of good books. Rather, the organisation aims to mirror the percentages of minorities in the UK population with statistical precision. Thus from now until 2025, literary excellence will be secondary to ticking all those ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual preference and crap-education boxes. We can safely infer from that email that if an agent submits a manuscript written by a gay transgender Caribbean who dropped out of school at seven and powers around town on a mobility scooter, it will be published, whether or not said manuscript is an incoherent, tedious, meandering and insensible pile of mixed-paper recycling. Good luck with that business model. Publishers may eschew standards, but readers will still have some.The reaction is about what you'd expect:
Author Candice Carty-Williams called Shriver’s comments “deeply embarrassing” on Twitter, adding: “While this belief of hers can only really come from a place of deep insecurity and fear of becoming obsolete, it also shows that she thinks that people of colour … don’t write good books.”I can just imagine Ms. Shriver being interviewed on some BBC programme: Shriver: Literary quality, not diversity, should be a publisher's chief guideline.
Cathy Newman: So in other words, you hate brown people. This is not Shriver's first foray against political correctness, specifically cultural appropriation:
I’m not a natural activist, and I’m reluctant to embrace this role, but I am also dismayed by how few writers with any serious reputation are willing to put themselves on the line for free speech. I’m very unhappy that writers and editors are exercising self-censorship, especially with regard to group membership, to [writing about groups to which they do not themselves belong such as] gender, race, ethnicity, disability. If we follow this through, it will be the end of story and someone has to push back against that. Not only do we have to preserve the right to write characters who are different from ourselves, we have to preserve the right to have characters who think things that are unacceptable. I just lost my Swedish publisher...There is a sub-theme in [Shriver's novel] The Mandibles about immigration, and anything that is negative at all about immigration is toxic in Sweden. It’s very disappointing.Like Shriver, I would like to see more authors take a stand for free speech, and against the petty, politically-correct enforcers who run the brick-and-mortar publishing houses. But as she found out, there's always a price to be paid for such insolence. Speak out, and get clobbered. (h/t Lizzy)
Moron Recommendation
44 This could go in the book thread, the food thread, or in an art thread since it is a cookbook that also has wonderful art all through it. At least in this (below) edition which is the one I own and am recommending.This book is available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle. ___________
Italian Food - Hardcover - Illustrated, February 1, 1988
Posted by: geoffb
More than one moron recommended John Julius Norwich's History of the Byzantine Empire. However, the 3 volumes are all quite spendy and your local library may not have them. So, in that case, perhaps you can make do with his Short History of Byzantium:
In this magisterial adaptation of his epic three-volume history of Byzantium, John Julius Norwich chronicles the world's longest-lived Christian empire. Beginning with Constantine the Great, who in a.d. 330 made Christianity the religion of his realm and then transferred its capital to the city that would bear his name, Norwich follows the course of eleven centuries of Byzantine statecraft and warfare, politics and theology, manners and art.Used hardcover editions can be purchased for as little as $1.99.
In the pages of A Short History of Byzantium we encounter mystics and philosophers, eunuchs and barbarians, and rulers of fantastic erudition, piety, and degeneracy. We enter the life of an empire that could create some of the world's most transcendent religious art and then destroy it in the convulsions of fanaticism. Stylishly written and overflowing with drama, pathos, and wit, here is a matchless account of a lost civilization and its magnificent cultural legacy.
Sale Moron author Hans Schanz wants you all to know that the seond book of his 'Hidden Truth' series A Rambling Wreck,
...is on sale for $0.99 through next week. Great chance to check out this Georgia-Tech-based science fiction conspiracy techno-thriller that making peoples' Dragon Award nomination lists and was a finalist for the Conservative Libertarian Fiction Alliance Book of the Year.___________ Don't forget the AoSHQ reading group on Goodreads. It's meant to support horde writers and to talk about the great books that come up on the book thread. It's called AoSHQ Moron Horde and the link to it is here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/175335-aoshq-moron-horde. ___________ So that's all for this week. As always, book thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to OregonMuse, Proprietor, AoSHQ Book Thread, at the book thread e-mail address: aoshqbookthread, followed by the 'at' sign, and then 'G' mail, and then dot cee oh emm. What have you all been reading this week? Hopefully something good, because, as you all know, life is too short to be reading lousy books.
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
!
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 09:01 AM (lBiGz)
2
Who has volunteers and board members run a bookstore? Wonder what and who they are....
Reason #1 why they went out. That and cray-cray.
Good riddance.
Reason #1 why they went out. That and cray-cray.
Good riddance.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at June 24, 2018 09:02 AM (EoRCO)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 09:04 AM (lBiGz)
4
Good Sunday morning, horde!
The thing about feminist bookstores is that they no longer offer anything that can't be bought just about anywhere.
Did amazon.com kill feminist bookstores? Hahahaha!
The thing about feminist bookstores is that they no longer offer anything that can't be bought just about anywhere.
Did amazon.com kill feminist bookstores? Hahahaha!
Posted by: April at June 24, 2018 09:04 AM (e8PP1)
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 09:05 AM (pHfeF)
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:05 AM (gUCYC)
7
A quarter-century-old feminist bookstore in Portland, Oregon is slated to close its doors at the end of this month, and part of the reason, it says, is its "inability to 'reform and re-envision' a space founded on 'white, cis feminism (read: white supremacy).'"
Now that our white supremacy has closed down a dyke book store it's time to use it to shut down the Red Hen. Alright fellow whiteys on my command focus your white supremacy...now!!!
Now that our white supremacy has closed down a dyke book store it's time to use it to shut down the Red Hen. Alright fellow whiteys on my command focus your white supremacy...now!!!
Posted by: TheQuietMan at June 24, 2018 09:06 AM (SiINZ)
8
Hey there, Horde. Getting ready to head out but wanted to recommend The Blinds, by Adam Sternbergh. It's "meta-reality," as one big-time reviewer on the back cover wrote. It had just enough, "Can they do that already?" things in it to make it seem like current day.
If you like fiction, a wealthy researcher funds a small town where some of the worst criminals/victims live -- but they've willingly had their memories wiped.
As always, things aren't what they seem. I'll remember this one for a while!
Lata, h8az!
If you like fiction, a wealthy researcher funds a small town where some of the worst criminals/victims live -- but they've willingly had their memories wiped.
As always, things aren't what they seem. I'll remember this one for a while!
Lata, h8az!
Posted by: SandyCheeks at June 24, 2018 09:06 AM (ihzOe)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (lBiGz)
10
Should be done Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brien by next week. Its nothing like the movie which is in my top 10 favorites.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (pHfeF)
11
Found a very cool read at the library (thanks, libraries!) called “Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded” by Jason Heller. My twin loves! Obviously Prog Rock is heavily influenced by SF and fantasy, but also stadium rock, synth, metal, pop – heck, even Madonna’s “Drowned World” Tour was inspired by J.G. Ballard.
Cool factoid: Hendrix was a sci-fi nut and Philip Jose Farmer’s “Night of Light” and George Stewart’s “Earth Abides” gave rise to three songs: “Purple Haze”, “Third Stone From the Sun” and “Up From the Skies”.
And it has a bitchin cover:
https://tinyurl.com/y8qj4jgn
I love that young David Bowie (David Robert Jones) loved Heinlein’s “Starman Jones”
Just off the top of my head, spacey songs Kate Bush’s “Cloudbusting”, Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive” and “Astronomy Domine”, the “Arch-android” concept album of Janelle Monae, and the Flaming Lips’ “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”. But please to enjoy this list of 100 SF-themed songs:
https://tinyurl.com/ya8hv5hr
Cool factoid: Hendrix was a sci-fi nut and Philip Jose Farmer’s “Night of Light” and George Stewart’s “Earth Abides” gave rise to three songs: “Purple Haze”, “Third Stone From the Sun” and “Up From the Skies”.
And it has a bitchin cover:
https://tinyurl.com/y8qj4jgn
I love that young David Bowie (David Robert Jones) loved Heinlein’s “Starman Jones”
Just off the top of my head, spacey songs Kate Bush’s “Cloudbusting”, Pink Floyd’s “Interstellar Overdrive” and “Astronomy Domine”, the “Arch-android” concept album of Janelle Monae, and the Flaming Lips’ “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots”. But please to enjoy this list of 100 SF-themed songs:
https://tinyurl.com/ya8hv5hr
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (gUCYC)
12
Thanks to the Book Thread (and Eris in particular) I looked for and was able to score a copy of "The Jungle Is Neutral". It is so beautifully bound, and in perfect condition, I am almost afraid to open it. I'll have to do the old careful conditioning of the spine before I can actually read it.
Posted by: Comrade Hrothgar at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (n9EOP)
13
Speaking of appropriation and in the spirit of Lionel Shriver... posted this yesterday but here we go.
How to be Safe by Tom McAllister. The New Yorker and Entertainment Weekly love it.
He appropriates the voice of a woman teacher, how sexist is that also right? Then makes her an emotional wreck, playing into stereotypes again Tom? So she gets suspended for an emotional outburst. Does this need further comment? While suspended a school shooting happens and the media at first blames her. Even though later exonerated, a cloud still follows her as the town descends into bickering.*
https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Safe-Tom-McAllister/dp/1631494139
If anyone wants to read the reviews go for it, but they reinforce my decision to skip this book completely.
*BTW it felt fun to use the new rulebook the Leftists are trying to enforce upon all writers.
How to be Safe by Tom McAllister. The New Yorker and Entertainment Weekly love it.
He appropriates the voice of a woman teacher, how sexist is that also right? Then makes her an emotional wreck, playing into stereotypes again Tom? So she gets suspended for an emotional outburst. Does this need further comment? While suspended a school shooting happens and the media at first blames her. Even though later exonerated, a cloud still follows her as the town descends into bickering.*
https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Safe-Tom-McAllister/dp/1631494139
If anyone wants to read the reviews go for it, but they reinforce my decision to skip this book completely.
*BTW it felt fun to use the new rulebook the Leftists are trying to enforce upon all writers.
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:09 AM (fAAc5)
14
Reading another zombie apocalypse novel...I know it's not intellectual but it is good light escapism. You realize things could always be worse...
Generation Z by Peter Meredith, it's a stand alone series but there are some tie ins to his previous 10-11 book series.
Generation Z by Peter Meredith, it's a stand alone series but there are some tie ins to his previous 10-11 book series.
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (kufk0)
15
Who needs a cat when you have a 800lb gorilla in your library?
Na, I think every library needs a cat
Na, I think every library needs a cat
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (pHfeF)
16
Hrothgar, you can thank Hogmartin for implanting the desire to read "The Jungle is Neutral".
Just like you can all blame me for somehow convincing others to read "God Emperor of Dune" when I distinctly said not to.
Just like you can all blame me for somehow convincing others to read "God Emperor of Dune" when I distinctly said not to.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (gUCYC)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 09:11 AM (lBiGz)
18
Who needs a cat when you have a 800lb gorilla in your library?
I wouldn't wanna lug the pooper scooper around that place !
I wouldn't wanna lug the pooper scooper around that place !
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 09:12 AM (lBiGz)
19
Good morning, all. Except you, over there. No good morning for you!
Thank you for the recommendation, "The Blinds" looks cool.
Off to Amazon to add it to my list.
Thank you for the recommendation, "The Blinds" looks cool.
Off to Amazon to add it to my list.
Posted by: Blake - used scripting salesman at June 24, 2018 09:12 AM (WEBkv)
20
I read Sand by Hugh Howey. In this dystopian world, the old world of Colorado is buried under dunes of shifting sands. The elite are the sand divers, the few who could travel deep into the sands to bring up scraps of the old world to keep their people alive. However, there are those who want to take even this harsh life away and leave no survivors.
I also read The Poisoned Pilgrim by Oliver Potzsch. This is the fourth book in the Hangman's Daughter series. In 1666 Magdalena, the hangman's daughter, and her husband, Simon, make a pilgrimage to the Andechs Monastery for their annual Festival of the Three Hosts. Soon after they arrive, the hangman Kuisl and his detective skills are needed to solve the murder of two monks. I think that this is the best mystery of the series so far.
The author, Oliver Potzsch, is not only a descendant of the Kuisls, but he grew up in the region of Andechs; so he is quite familiar with the area and its history.
I also read The Poisoned Pilgrim by Oliver Potzsch. This is the fourth book in the Hangman's Daughter series. In 1666 Magdalena, the hangman's daughter, and her husband, Simon, make a pilgrimage to the Andechs Monastery for their annual Festival of the Three Hosts. Soon after they arrive, the hangman Kuisl and his detective skills are needed to solve the murder of two monks. I think that this is the best mystery of the series so far.
The author, Oliver Potzsch, is not only a descendant of the Kuisls, but he grew up in the region of Andechs; so he is quite familiar with the area and its history.
Posted by: Zoltan at June 24, 2018 09:13 AM (HLy+M)
21
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (gUCYC)
So Eris, if it doesn't live up to my excessively high expectations, I shall blame you publicly on this very forum!
So Eris, if it doesn't live up to my excessively high expectations, I shall blame you publicly on this very forum!
Posted by: Comrade Hrothgar at June 24, 2018 09:13 AM (n9EOP)
22
G'mornin' Horde !
Nice libary pic !
Serious reading of the week: The Soul of Battle by VDH.
Interesting !
Epaminondas, Sherman, Patton; the common thread, unconventional leaders of popular armies fighting to destroy slavery-based societies.
As we are facing a similar attempt right now, there may be practical application here.
Light reading, of the day: The High Crusade by Poul Anderson.
Nice libary pic !
Serious reading of the week: The Soul of Battle by VDH.
Interesting !
Epaminondas, Sherman, Patton; the common thread, unconventional leaders of popular armies fighting to destroy slavery-based societies.
As we are facing a similar attempt right now, there may be practical application here.
Light reading, of the day: The High Crusade by Poul Anderson.
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:14 AM (GNCPT)
23
Portland, Oregon - downtown, is why we can't have nice bookstores. There is news from Portland, but you have to know how to find it to read it.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse - Alt-Ctrl at June 24, 2018 09:14 AM (roQNm)
24
I never read the book(s) The Expanse show is based on. I'm about to start the third season after rewatching the first and watching the second. Are the book(s) worth reading?
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (kufk0)
25
*ook*
Good morning, Rons and Ronettes!
Still working my way though Minette Walters' "The Last Hours", which is turning out to be a big steaming pile of presentism and Mary Suing. Sigh. I had expected so much better from this author. She mostly does psychological thrillers/crime novels; set in the present day, or in a couple of cases, in the recent past ... but this one is unconvincingly set in medieval England, at the time of the Black Death, with an all-too-perfect heroine.
I'll have to finish it, since I'm reviewing it for Vine, but oh, dear, is it becoming an unrewarding slog.
Good morning, Rons and Ronettes!
Still working my way though Minette Walters' "The Last Hours", which is turning out to be a big steaming pile of presentism and Mary Suing. Sigh. I had expected so much better from this author. She mostly does psychological thrillers/crime novels; set in the present day, or in a couple of cases, in the recent past ... but this one is unconvincingly set in medieval England, at the time of the Black Death, with an all-too-perfect heroine.
I'll have to finish it, since I'm reviewing it for Vine, but oh, dear, is it becoming an unrewarding slog.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (xnmPy)
26
About to finish "Churchill's Generals", a collection of essays about, um, Churchill's generals in WWII. It is edited by John Keegan.
Annnnnd.....it looks like Panama is content to play out their match against England, satisfied that giving up 5 goals in the first half (to none scored of their own) safely established theirs as the worst performance in this World Cup. Bravo!
Annnnnd.....it looks like Panama is content to play out their match against England, satisfied that giving up 5 goals in the first half (to none scored of their own) safely established theirs as the worst performance in this World Cup. Bravo!
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (FX4r3)
27
Just picked up Coulton's The Medieval Village. So far am enjoying it. Surprisingly, it has a ton of parallels to our current travails. No big surprise, we're human.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (vV/gB)
28
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:14 AM (GNCPT)
The Patton reference reminded me of a senior Civil Service guy I once had the honor to work with. He retired earlier than he could have and his parting comment was
"The Bureaucracy will ensure there is never another Patton!"
The Patton reference reminded me of a senior Civil Service guy I once had the honor to work with. He retired earlier than he could have and his parting comment was
"The Bureaucracy will ensure there is never another Patton!"
Posted by: Comrade Hrothgar at June 24, 2018 09:16 AM (n9EOP)
29
""The Bureaucracy will ensure there is never another Patton!"
Posted by: Comrade Hrothgar at June 24, 2018 09:16 AM (n9EOP)"
They did whatever they could to hamstring the first one.
Posted by: Comrade Hrothgar at June 24, 2018 09:16 AM (n9EOP)"
They did whatever they could to hamstring the first one.
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:18 AM (GNCPT)
30
Oops. Now 6-nil England.
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 09:19 AM (FX4r3)
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 09:20 AM (fZuhk)
32
I read Sand by Hugh Howey. In this dystopian world, the old world of Colorado is buried under dunes of shifting sands. The elite are the sand divers, the few who could travel deep into the sands to bring up scraps of the old world to keep their people alive. However, there are those who want to take even this harsh life away and leave no survivors.
----
Is this the same world as in "Dust"? I really liked that trilogy.
----
Is this the same world as in "Dust"? I really liked that trilogy.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:20 AM (gUCYC)
33
Drunk on virtue, Penguin Random House...
Well...to be fair. Penguin Random House has simply redefined what a good book is, ie. one that serves and dare not step outside of the official leftist political cult teachings.
Much the same as when Lenin and Stalin redefined what were good Soviet books and acceptable authors.
And thanks to Stalin and Lenin, Soviet Literature became the Envy of the World, known for it's scintillating characters, complex plots, and mature understanding of the world and Life. It produced novels that will live forever!
Oh...wait. That's not what happened at all.
The only literature worth reading out of Soviet Russia came from the samizdat - ie. those officially condemned by Their Betters and forced to "publish" and distribute outside the official systems.
You may find the modern version of the samizdat self-publishing on Amazon...
Well...to be fair. Penguin Random House has simply redefined what a good book is, ie. one that serves and dare not step outside of the official leftist political cult teachings.
Much the same as when Lenin and Stalin redefined what were good Soviet books and acceptable authors.
And thanks to Stalin and Lenin, Soviet Literature became the Envy of the World, known for it's scintillating characters, complex plots, and mature understanding of the world and Life. It produced novels that will live forever!
Oh...wait. That's not what happened at all.
The only literature worth reading out of Soviet Russia came from the samizdat - ie. those officially condemned by Their Betters and forced to "publish" and distribute outside the official systems.
You may find the modern version of the samizdat self-publishing on Amazon...
Posted by: naturalfake at June 24, 2018 09:21 AM (9q7Dl)
34
book thread!!!
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:21 AM (hMwEB)
35
Read a couple of books about an ex mafia and his english cousin inheriting a bookstore. pretty good
Paul Combs
Paul Combs
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 09:21 AM (JFO2v)
36
Coulton's The Medieval Village ?
An excellent book, and yes, not without reflections on Our Times.
I need a new copy, my paperback is literally in 3 pieces.
An excellent book, and yes, not without reflections on Our Times.
I need a new copy, my paperback is literally in 3 pieces.
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (GNCPT)
37
Why isn't it Random Penguin House? I think it should be Random Penguin House.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (fZuhk)
38
I love how beta the owner of Red Hen was asking SHuckabee to leave: "I'd like to ask you to leave."
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (ty7RM)
39
I vote to replace Punk Chimp with this photo.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (sdi6R)
40
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. Hope everyone had a wonderful week of reading.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:23 AM (V+03K)
41
All Hail Eris, would the Joan Baez songs in Silent Running count???
Or maybe this?
https://youtu.be/ep7W89I_V_g
Or maybe this?
https://youtu.be/ep7W89I_V_g
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:23 AM (fAAc5)
42
"You may find the modern version of the samizdat self-publishing on Amazon...
Posted by: naturalfake at June 24, 2018 09:21 AM (9q7Dl)"
Boom. This !
Great analogy !
Posted by: naturalfake at June 24, 2018 09:21 AM (9q7Dl)"
Boom. This !
Great analogy !
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:24 AM (GNCPT)
43
Leeches!
"As we removed the surfeited leeches, Harvey regaled us with charming stories of people who had died from leeches -- or the swelling resulting from their bites -- blocking the more intimate orifices of the body."
Does Chapman discuss snakes? The "king cobra" stories my dad told me are what I remember most about his jungle tales. *shudder*
"As we removed the surfeited leeches, Harvey regaled us with charming stories of people who had died from leeches -- or the swelling resulting from their bites -- blocking the more intimate orifices of the body."
Does Chapman discuss snakes? The "king cobra" stories my dad told me are what I remember most about his jungle tales. *shudder*
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:24 AM (gUCYC)
44
"39 I vote to replace Punk Chimp with this photo.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (sdi6R)"
Second !
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (sdi6R)"
Second !
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:25 AM (GNCPT)
45
Eris I was surprised that another Jean Michelle Jarre song did not get mentioned - Last Rendezvous
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:26 AM (fAAc5)
46
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (gUCYC)
Bookmarking this, thanks. Nice to see they included Man... or Astro-man? even if the track wouldn't have been my first choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svABrRXAa04
Bookmarking this, thanks. Nice to see they included Man... or Astro-man? even if the track wouldn't have been my first choice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svABrRXAa04
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 09:27 AM (fZuhk)
47
I love that surf punk and retrofuturism can coexist in one song.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:29 AM (gUCYC)
48
VETGANS is a Dutch word for a penguin. It literaly means 'fat goose'
We lived in Dutch-speaking Belgium for most of a decade, and some of their words are problematic. The word for whale is walvis, "whale-fish." When I'd ask them if they knew whales weren't fish but mammals, they'd get confused; of course whales were fish. The word for ape is aap. That's fine, makes sense. But the word for monkey is . . . aap. Again, I'd ask them if they knew monkeys and apes weren't the same thing, and they'd get confused. We tried showing them a Veggie Tales song: If it doesn't have a tail it's not a monkey, it's an ape. But it's just a category distinction they don't have.
We lived in Dutch-speaking Belgium for most of a decade, and some of their words are problematic. The word for whale is walvis, "whale-fish." When I'd ask them if they knew whales weren't fish but mammals, they'd get confused; of course whales were fish. The word for ape is aap. That's fine, makes sense. But the word for monkey is . . . aap. Again, I'd ask them if they knew monkeys and apes weren't the same thing, and they'd get confused. We tried showing them a Veggie Tales song: If it doesn't have a tail it's not a monkey, it's an ape. But it's just a category distinction they don't have.
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:30 AM (ynUnH)
49
Good luck with that business model. Publishers may eschew standards, but readers will still have some.
Nearly all big house publishers are taking this route (like how recently the ACLU announced that its all for free speed -- except for speech that they disagree with). They literally are not interested in books that are not promoting this kind of false diversity, and especially not books by white dudes (unless they are rich, powerful, famous leftist white dudes).
This is one of the many arguments for self publishing and why big publishing houses are selling fewer and fewer books.
Nearly all big house publishers are taking this route (like how recently the ACLU announced that its all for free speed -- except for speech that they disagree with). They literally are not interested in books that are not promoting this kind of false diversity, and especially not books by white dudes (unless they are rich, powerful, famous leftist white dudes).
This is one of the many arguments for self publishing and why big publishing houses are selling fewer and fewer books.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:30 AM (39g3+)
50
Good Morning book people. Re-reading Sword of Truth series.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2018 09:31 AM (mpXpK)
51
surf punk and retrofuturism
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:29 AM (gUCYC)
WELP, that's pretty much MoAM in a nutshell right there.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:29 AM (gUCYC)
WELP, that's pretty much MoAM in a nutshell right there.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 09:31 AM (fZuhk)
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:31 AM (fAAc5)
53
Re-reading Sword of Truth series.
------
Vic, I should do this too. It's always been one of my favorites.
------
Vic, I should do this too. It's always been one of my favorites.
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:32 AM (kufk0)
54
I also bought and read Marked for Death, about WWI air combat, based solely on the Book Hoard. Thank you all!!
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 09:32 AM (FX4r3)
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (gUCYC)
56
We tried showing them a Veggie Tales song: If it doesn't have a tail it's not a monkey, it's an ape. But it's just a category distinction they don't have.
To be fair its a pretty minor distinction, like wolf and hyena. They look different but are pretty much the same critter. Its useful scientifically to divide stuff up in extremely specific and tight classifications, but in terms of human life for 99.999% of the public, they're meaningless. That's a cat, it doesn't really matter what the breed is unless you're a cat breeder. That's a sparrow; whether its a brown sparrow or a speckled sootback wheezing sparrow is irrelevant to nearly everyone.
To be fair its a pretty minor distinction, like wolf and hyena. They look different but are pretty much the same critter. Its useful scientifically to divide stuff up in extremely specific and tight classifications, but in terms of human life for 99.999% of the public, they're meaningless. That's a cat, it doesn't really matter what the breed is unless you're a cat breeder. That's a sparrow; whether its a brown sparrow or a speckled sootback wheezing sparrow is irrelevant to nearly everyone.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (39g3+)
57
About 30 years ago, a friend lent me "The Thanatos Syndrome" by Walker Percy. It was a fun yarn, but I don't remember but a line or two. Having recently read "The Moviegoer" and before that "Lost in the Cosmos", I looked into "The Thanatos Syndrome" and was surprised to find out it is a sequel to "Love in the Ruins: The adventures of a bad Catholic at a time near the end of the world."
So, I bought the kindle version of both Love in the Ruins and Thanatos. Great fun. Here's a great quote from "The Thanatos Syndrome":
"No brothers, let me tell you where tenderness leads." A longer pause. "To the gas chambers! On with the jets!"
So, I bought the kindle version of both Love in the Ruins and Thanatos. Great fun. Here's a great quote from "The Thanatos Syndrome":
"No brothers, let me tell you where tenderness leads." A longer pause. "To the gas chambers! On with the jets!"
Posted by: JAS at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (3HNOQ)
58
just borrowed from lib - an Elise Hyatt* mystery and a book on surviving an active shooter situation
*aka Sarah Hoyt
*aka Sarah Hoyt
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (hMwEB)
59
The sandhill cranes who live near me have brought forth a little tiny baby that walks on stilts. I caught a glimpse through the window, but when I returned to take a picture, they had vanished into the mists, like ghosts, leaving no trace of their passage.
I know where they are. They hunt the weed patch at the end of the garage where there are no windows and where the tall grass has been cut short except for islands of tall grass where the tree stumps hide; tall grass that shelters crane food. Hunting is good there.
The sandhill cranes who live near me have brought forth a little tiny baby that walks on stilts. I caught a glimpse through the window, but when I returned to take a picture, they had vanished into the mists, like ghosts, leaving no trace of their passage.
I know where they are. They hunt the weed patch at the end of the garage where there are no windows and where the tall grass has been cut short except for islands of tall grass where the tree stumps hide; tall grass that shelters crane food. Hunting is good there.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse - Alt-Ctrl at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (roQNm)
60
In reply to lin-duh: I never read the book(s) The Expanse show is based on. I'm about to
start the third season after rewatching the first and watching the
second. Are the book(s) worth reading?
I just finished the second in the series. I really liked the first and the second one was good. I will get to the third because I've already bought it. The show tracks the books very closely, but adds more than is in the books. I'm going to read the third book before I watch the third season.
One good thing about the books is that you don't have to struggle to hear the characters. I found the dialog in the first season of the show really hard to follow because of the recording decisions--let's make the voices inaudible but any explosions deafening for when you turn your sound way up.
start the third season after rewatching the first and watching the
second. Are the book(s) worth reading?
I just finished the second in the series. I really liked the first and the second one was good. I will get to the third because I've already bought it. The show tracks the books very closely, but adds more than is in the books. I'm going to read the third book before I watch the third season.
One good thing about the books is that you don't have to struggle to hear the characters. I found the dialog in the first season of the show really hard to follow because of the recording decisions--let's make the voices inaudible but any explosions deafening for when you turn your sound way up.
Posted by: Laura Montgomery at June 24, 2018 09:34 AM (KcRPn)
61
OK folks, I'm about 75 pages into God Emperor of Dune. When does it start sucking?
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:35 AM (ynUnH)
62
Wifey recently organized a seminar for Brian O'Neill, author of "Acting as a Business." If there are any acting-oriented morons out there... he knows his stuff. the book is in its like, seventh printing.
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 09:36 AM (FX4r3)
63
26 About to finish "Churchill's Generals", a collection of essays about, um, Churchill's generals in WWII. It is edited by John Keegan.
-------------
If you're interested in British Generals, Lord Alanbrooke wrote an excellent book, based on his diaries, called, "The Turn of the Tide."
No idea on availability, though. In looking at Amazon, may be tough to get hold of.
-------------
If you're interested in British Generals, Lord Alanbrooke wrote an excellent book, based on his diaries, called, "The Turn of the Tide."
No idea on availability, though. In looking at Amazon, may be tough to get hold of.
Posted by: Blake - used scripting salesman at June 24, 2018 09:36 AM (WEBkv)
64
Like you, OregonMuse, I know nothing of this Lionel Shriver's politics, but his complaints sound much like those of one Mr. Larry Corriea. Mr. Corriea of the "Sad Puppies" campaign against bad, but politically correct writing being nominated for Hugo awards. Having read about some of the SJW pushback against Mr. Corriea, I imagine you are correct about what Mr. Shriver can look forward to.
On the book front, I am just about finished re-reading Necroscope by Brian Lumley.
On the book front, I am just about finished re-reading Necroscope by Brian Lumley.
Posted by: Darth Randall at June 24, 2018 09:37 AM (p0nVR)
65
Depspite being a fantasy author and liking the genre, I really don't like very much fantasy writing. Most of it is either long-winded and pretentious or just doesn't do things the way I would and I end up writing the story in my head rather than just reading it.
Discworld in particular I do not like, because its essentially a mockery, a satire on fantasy. Pratchett seems to not to like the genre and makes fun of it, sneering at the basic tropes and concepts of fantasy while trying to make it all post moderny through the lens of modern popular culture. Not a fan.
I know a lot of people really like his writing, and I don't mean any disrespect to them. I don't care for a lot of music other people like toom but that doesn't make them bad or wrong, just of a different opinion.
Discworld in particular I do not like, because its essentially a mockery, a satire on fantasy. Pratchett seems to not to like the genre and makes fun of it, sneering at the basic tropes and concepts of fantasy while trying to make it all post moderny through the lens of modern popular culture. Not a fan.
I know a lot of people really like his writing, and I don't mean any disrespect to them. I don't care for a lot of music other people like toom but that doesn't make them bad or wrong, just of a different opinion.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:37 AM (39g3+)
66
Thanks Laura M. I think all shows have that horrible audio. It drives my husband crazy but I watch everything with the CC on so I know what they are saying without blasting the speakers out....guess I'm getting old.
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:37 AM (kufk0)
67
58 just borrowed from lib - an Elise Hyatt* mystery and a book on surviving an active shooter situation
*aka Sarah Hoyt
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (hMwEB)
-----------
Read all of them. They are a hoot. Well, I thought they were a hoot. My wife wasn't as impressed.
I believe Sarah Hoyt is in the process of finishing another installment of the series.
*aka Sarah Hoyt
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (hMwEB)
-----------
Read all of them. They are a hoot. Well, I thought they were a hoot. My wife wasn't as impressed.
I believe Sarah Hoyt is in the process of finishing another installment of the series.
Posted by: Blake - used scripting salesman at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (WEBkv)
68
Blake - yes, thanks. The Keegan-edited book mentions all the various general's and their memoirs, diaries, and such.
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (FX4r3)
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
70
To be fair its a pretty minor distinction, like wolf and hyena. They look different but are pretty much the same critter.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (39g3+)
Puhleeze! If children's animation has taught us anything its that hyenas are crude, obnoxious, gang members, while wolves are a noble family oriented species.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:33 AM (39g3+)
Puhleeze! If children's animation has taught us anything its that hyenas are crude, obnoxious, gang members, while wolves are a noble family oriented species.
Posted by: Anonymous White Male at June 24, 2018 09:39 AM (9BLnV)
71
OK folks, I'm about 75 pages into God Emperor of Dune. When does it start sucking?
I liked the Dune series, and thought it was well-written and very interesting up to the last book. The Dune prequels by his son are pretty weak, though.
I liked the Dune series, and thought it was well-written and very interesting up to the last book. The Dune prequels by his son are pretty weak, though.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:39 AM (39g3+)
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:40 AM (fAAc5)
73
The BBC played Pink Floyd's "Moonhead" during coverage of the moon landings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9bx5h0FpCg
What a strange time, that Floydian psychedelia was used as the soundtrack to the brush-cut military boys flying to the moon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9bx5h0FpCg
What a strange time, that Floydian psychedelia was used as the soundtrack to the brush-cut military boys flying to the moon.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:40 AM (gUCYC)
74
I had a military TDY this week and figured I needed something fresh to read, so while picking up a paper road atlas (for when the GPS/phone dies) I grabbed a used copy of Barbara Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror."
It's a nice, readable overview of the 14th Century and has the kind of detail and description she's famous for. The one thing I do find a bit dated is here belief that today's morals and standards are the eternal ones.
Liberals are big on this conceit that they and they alone have FINALLY discovered the perfect and eternal moral structure. Everything that came before them was wrong in some way, but NOW - oh yeah, they've nailed it and can judge all of history from their lofty pinnacle.
The book was written in 1978, so the author's views that sex should be recreational, religion is kind of silly and that women were frustrated by the lack of career opportunity have pretty much already been trampled by the ongoing insanity that is feminism.
In that sense, it's history in a double sense: you can learn a bit about long ago and also get a perfectly preserved example of conventional 70s liberal thinking about it.
That aside, it's a good book. I'm halfway through and enjoying it immensely.
It's a nice, readable overview of the 14th Century and has the kind of detail and description she's famous for. The one thing I do find a bit dated is here belief that today's morals and standards are the eternal ones.
Liberals are big on this conceit that they and they alone have FINALLY discovered the perfect and eternal moral structure. Everything that came before them was wrong in some way, but NOW - oh yeah, they've nailed it and can judge all of history from their lofty pinnacle.
The book was written in 1978, so the author's views that sex should be recreational, religion is kind of silly and that women were frustrated by the lack of career opportunity have pretty much already been trampled by the ongoing insanity that is feminism.
In that sense, it's history in a double sense: you can learn a bit about long ago and also get a perfectly preserved example of conventional 70s liberal thinking about it.
That aside, it's a good book. I'm halfway through and enjoying it immensely.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at June 24, 2018 09:40 AM (cfSRQ)
75
I don't understand why one would need a "feminist" bookstore in Portland.
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
Posted by: Greece at June 24, 2018 09:41 AM (EZebt)
76
Psychotic country sock off
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 24, 2018 09:42 AM (EZebt)
77
Discworld in particular I do not like, because its essentially a mockery, a satire on fantasy. Pratchett seems to not to like the genre and makes fun of it, sneering at the basic tropes and concepts of fantasy while trying to make it all post moderny through the lens of modern popular culture. Not a fan.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:37 AM (39g3+)
Well you're not wrong, but I don't think it's fantasy being parodied. Most of the books are send-ups of contemporary literary tropes, just set in the Discworld sandbox where he can do whatever he wants to them. And none of it is mean-spirited.
Plus, dude could rock a hat.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:37 AM (39g3+)
Well you're not wrong, but I don't think it's fantasy being parodied. Most of the books are send-ups of contemporary literary tropes, just set in the Discworld sandbox where he can do whatever he wants to them. And none of it is mean-spirited.
Plus, dude could rock a hat.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 09:42 AM (fZuhk)
78
69 that rating code is awesome
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
--------------
I'm going to steal that rating system for reviews, I think. Maybe even credit AoSHQ on the off chance I can offend those of the wrong persuasion.
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
--------------
I'm going to steal that rating system for reviews, I think. Maybe even credit AoSHQ on the off chance I can offend those of the wrong persuasion.
Posted by: Blake - used scripting salesman at June 24, 2018 09:42 AM (WEBkv)
79
Vetgans is a Dutch word for penguin.
******
Fat Goose - a limerick
There once was a man named Leander
(And I say this with uttermost candor)
He said, "What's the use?
I can't catch a goose
So I reckon I'll just take a gander!"
******
Fat Goose - a limerick
There once was a man named Leander
(And I say this with uttermost candor)
He said, "What's the use?
I can't catch a goose
So I reckon I'll just take a gander!"
Posted by: Muldoon at June 24, 2018 09:43 AM (m45I2)
Posted by: Gooshy at June 24, 2018 09:43 AM (/7WXE)
81
53 Vic, I should do this too. It's always been one of my favorites.
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:32 AM (kufk0)
I have re-read this series at least 20 times. Never gets old. Unfortunately they butchered it in the TV series.
Posted by: lin-duh at June 24, 2018 09:32 AM (kufk0)
I have re-read this series at least 20 times. Never gets old. Unfortunately they butchered it in the TV series.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2018 09:43 AM (mpXpK)
82
Hey, in Lena's case, it translates to HANDS OFF
Posted by: Your friendly neighborhood witch at June 24, 2018 09:44 AM (HLTe8)
83
that rating code is awesome
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
Hahahaha.....yup. I have a ROTD category.
Read Once Throw in Dumpster.
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
Hahahaha.....yup. I have a ROTD category.
Read Once Throw in Dumpster.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at June 24, 2018 09:44 AM (EoRCO)
84
that rating code is awesome
Yeah, and it brings up a good point that some readers and reviewers seem unable to comprehend: you can enjoy a lousy book. Just because a book is objectively poor literature doesn't mean it cannot be a fun read. Its like movie reviewers who could not stand a film like Porky's because it is such low brow trash. Yeah, but its hilarious low brow trash. Junk can still be entertaining, I can listen to 50s and 60s bubblegum pop and like it even while realizing its musically just crap.
Yeah, and it brings up a good point that some readers and reviewers seem unable to comprehend: you can enjoy a lousy book. Just because a book is objectively poor literature doesn't mean it cannot be a fun read. Its like movie reviewers who could not stand a film like Porky's because it is such low brow trash. Yeah, but its hilarious low brow trash. Junk can still be entertaining, I can listen to 50s and 60s bubblegum pop and like it even while realizing its musically just crap.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 09:45 AM (39g3+)
85
Re: feminist bookstore closing. The article describes it as having been open a quarter of a century. That seems a lot longer than 25 years.
A non-book related thought. I listened to Merle Haggard sing Okie from Muskogee this morning. I like the song and agree with the sentiment but times have changed.
I do wear sandles from time to time. Not Roman sandles but sandles.
And what normal person can respect a college dean anymore?
A non-book related thought. I listened to Merle Haggard sing Okie from Muskogee this morning. I like the song and agree with the sentiment but times have changed.
I do wear sandles from time to time. Not Roman sandles but sandles.
And what normal person can respect a college dean anymore?
Posted by: Northernlurker lighter less filing at June 24, 2018 09:45 AM (nBr1j)
86
75 I don't understand why one would need a "feminist" bookstore in Portland.
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
What's frustrating about Powell's is that their philosophy section is woefully inadequate. They have several floors of a whole city block dedicated to books, and one aisle for philosophy and history of philosophy. Unless you count their enormous "Metaphysics" section, but that's about new-age stuff.
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
What's frustrating about Powell's is that their philosophy section is woefully inadequate. They have several floors of a whole city block dedicated to books, and one aisle for philosophy and history of philosophy. Unless you count their enormous "Metaphysics" section, but that's about new-age stuff.
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:45 AM (ynUnH)
87
61
OK folks, I'm about 75 pages into God Emperor of Dune. When does it start sucking?
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:35 AM (ynUnH)
Page 1. the only Dune book WAS was the first one.
OK folks, I'm about 75 pages into God Emperor of Dune. When does it start sucking?
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:35 AM (ynUnH)
Page 1. the only Dune book WAS was the first one.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2018 09:45 AM (mpXpK)
88
Lin-duh, I enjoyed the Expanse books. But I freely admit I have odd tastes, and semi-sentient space mold infestations, vomit zombies, and weary private investigators hauling explosive luggage around space stations amuse me. They are good yarns.
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at June 24, 2018 09:45 AM (L59/U)
89
Just like you can all blame me for somehow convincing others to read "God Emperor of Dune" when I distinctly said not to.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (gUCYC)
Eris, I suggested you read Cordwainer Smith's Norstrillia (or even Pratchett's Dark Side of the Sun) because it is shorter.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:10 AM (gUCYC)
Eris, I suggested you read Cordwainer Smith's Norstrillia (or even Pratchett's Dark Side of the Sun) because it is shorter.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 09:46 AM (2K6fY)
90
I really tried to read Pratchett's Strata but I think I would need to be under a droud to grok it.
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 09:48 AM (fAAc5)
91
By the way, another anagram for 'Ace of Spades' is 'do a feces spa.' You're welcome.
I hope and pray that doesn't show up in a future GAINZZZ thread.
I hope and pray that doesn't show up in a future GAINZZZ thread.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:49 AM (sdi6R)
92
After petsitting for a friend she bought me a book entitled The Encyclopedia of Cajun & Creole Cuisine. Written by Chef John D Folse. Cooking is a hobby of mine, especially Cajun. It's part cookbook and history book. It's so big, it doesn't fit in any of my cookbook holders. Today's experiments will be Oysters Bienville & Shrimp Malarcher pasta. Aiyeee!!
Posted by: Jak Sucio at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (Y9uH4)
93
I spent the last week drenched in pukka British sahib history. My Downstairs Book was "Wind, Sand, and War," by Ralph Bagnold. He was one of the founders of the British Long Range Desert Group in WWII (because he'd been a pioneer of Sahara exploration by motor vehicle between the wars, and became one of the world's experts on sand and dune formation). Fought in both World Wars, traveled everywhere. Very interesting dude.
My Upstairs Book is a history of Sarawak, called "The White Rajahs." It's about the Brooke dynasty, an English family who became the hereditary Rajahs of an enclave on the coast of Borneo. They started as employees/vassals of the Sultan of Brunei, but gradually took over more and more of that country as it was always easier for the Sultan to let them handle the latest rebellion than to do it himself.
Both books have made me thoughtful, because they show the "good side" of the British imperial adventure -- Sarawak was an island of law and peace in a chaotic region, while men like Bagnold laid the foundations of most modern sciences.
Yet today "Colonialist" is a term of opprobrium. Characters in the Black Panther movie use it as an insult for the emasculated white guy character. But can one honestly say that most British possessions are better off today than when the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time?
My Upstairs Book is a history of Sarawak, called "The White Rajahs." It's about the Brooke dynasty, an English family who became the hereditary Rajahs of an enclave on the coast of Borneo. They started as employees/vassals of the Sultan of Brunei, but gradually took over more and more of that country as it was always easier for the Sultan to let them handle the latest rebellion than to do it himself.
Both books have made me thoughtful, because they show the "good side" of the British imperial adventure -- Sarawak was an island of law and peace in a chaotic region, while men like Bagnold laid the foundations of most modern sciences.
Yet today "Colonialist" is a term of opprobrium. Characters in the Black Panther movie use it as an insult for the emasculated white guy character. But can one honestly say that most British possessions are better off today than when the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time?
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (8c54+)
94
Reading has been somewhat curtailed this week. I bunged up my right elbow (again) which severely limits range of motion and certain positions. Unfortunately that includes comfortably holding books, even an e-reader. So much of my reading has been magazines. The latest Backwoodsman came this week and I have years of back issues. Add in a few others for 'diversity' like whittling and Birds and Blooms.
I have a few books on CD like Cornwell's 'Agincourt'. Might be time to get them out. Can't shoot, reload, fish, carve, or even eat with my right hand for a couple of weeks. It's not tragic, just a massive inconvenience.
I have a few books on CD like Cornwell's 'Agincourt'. Might be time to get them out. Can't shoot, reload, fish, carve, or even eat with my right hand for a couple of weeks. It's not tragic, just a massive inconvenience.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM (V+03K)
95
Has anyone here read the "Silver John" series by Manly Wade Wellman? I'm about halfway through the short story collection I just bought on Amazon ("John the Balladeer", published by Baen). Pretty good stuff, it's essentially supernatural adventures by a lone wanderer set in the mountains of NC back in the early 20th century. Most of it was written back in the 50s and 60s, with some full-length books in the late 70s and early 80s. It holds up pretty good, I think, and is notable for how realistic Wellman writes the men and women living in the mountains (I especially like how he avoids all the lazy stereotypes that Hollywood has churned out over the years.) Definitely recommend so far, I'll add more when I finish the short stories and start on the novels.
Posted by: Pave Low John at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM (OejZ/)
96
Funny Sci-Fi The Hard Luck Hank series, I can't recommend the audiobooks enough since it's read as Hank which makes the book even more funny.
Starship Grifters a Rex Nihilo adventure another funny series.
I am reading the second book very enjoyable
Starship Grifters a Rex Nihilo adventure another funny series.
I am reading the second book very enjoyable
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at June 24, 2018 09:53 AM (dKiJG)
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:53 AM (hMwEB)
98
One good thing about the books is that you don't have to struggle to hear the characters. I found the dialog in the first season of the show really hard to follow because of the recording decisions--let's make the voices inaudible but any explosions deafening for when you turn your sound way up.
Posted by: Laura Montgomery at June 24, 2018 09:34 AM (KcRPn)
===
I thought it was just my hearing getting worse!
Posted by: Laura Montgomery at June 24, 2018 09:34 AM (KcRPn)
===
I thought it was just my hearing getting worse!
Posted by: San Franpsycho at June 24, 2018 09:54 AM (EZebt)
99
OK folks, I'm about 75 pages into God Emperor of Dune. When does it start sucking?
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:35 AM (ynUnH)
Page 1. the only Dune book WAS was the first one.
Meh. The first Dune book was the best, but so far none of them have sucked. Frank Herbert's writing style is pretty loquacious, but it can be appealing.
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:35 AM (ynUnH)
Page 1. the only Dune book WAS was the first one.
Meh. The first Dune book was the best, but so far none of them have sucked. Frank Herbert's writing style is pretty loquacious, but it can be appealing.
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 09:55 AM (ynUnH)
100
But can one honestly say that most British possessions are better off today than when the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time?
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (8c54+)
The former Spanish (and Portuguese) colonies are pretty much all shitholes. But many of the former British ones are ok, specially the ones that stayed in the Commonwealth.
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (8c54+)
The former Spanish (and Portuguese) colonies are pretty much all shitholes. But many of the former British ones are ok, specially the ones that stayed in the Commonwealth.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:56 AM (hMwEB)
101
"Fat Goose - a limerick"
I can't leave that one a danglin'
That gander will get a good stranglin'
But they'll find out later
When it's served with potaters
He's tougher than freeze dried panquine
I can't leave that one a danglin'
That gander will get a good stranglin'
But they'll find out later
When it's served with potaters
He's tougher than freeze dried panquine
Posted by: Sanguine Red Panguine at June 24, 2018 09:57 AM (UdKB7)
102
Eris, I suggested you read Cordwainer Smith's Norstrillia (or even Pratchett's Dark Side of the Sun) because it is shorter.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 09:46 AM (2K6fY)
---
And it's on my list, but I couldn't find a copy at any library and I'm trying (desperately) to stop buying so many books.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 09:46 AM (2K6fY)
---
And it's on my list, but I couldn't find a copy at any library and I'm trying (desperately) to stop buying so many books.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:58 AM (gUCYC)
103
Posted by: SandyCheeks at June 24, 2018 09:06 AM (ihzOe)
That sounds like an idea so bad that only a social scientist would try it. There are *reasons* the perpetrators were criminals and might have been reasons the victims were such. Erasing their memories without changing their internal motivations would be begging for a repeat of whatever atrocity is supposed to have occurred.
That sounds like an idea so bad that only a social scientist would try it. There are *reasons* the perpetrators were criminals and might have been reasons the victims were such. Erasing their memories without changing their internal motivations would be begging for a repeat of whatever atrocity is supposed to have occurred.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at June 24, 2018 09:59 AM (rp9xB)
104
59
The sandhill cranes who live near me have brought forth a little tiny baby that walks on stilts. I caught a glimpse through the window, but when I returned to take a picture, they had vanished into the mists, like ghosts, leaving no trace of their passage.
I was out running in a neighborhood in Stuart Fl about 530 one morning. Dark, foggy, really could not see. Almost ran into a Sandhill and had to throw away a perfectly good pair of running shorts.
The sandhill cranes who live near me have brought forth a little tiny baby that walks on stilts. I caught a glimpse through the window, but when I returned to take a picture, they had vanished into the mists, like ghosts, leaving no trace of their passage.
I was out running in a neighborhood in Stuart Fl about 530 one morning. Dark, foggy, really could not see. Almost ran into a Sandhill and had to throw away a perfectly good pair of running shorts.
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 09:59 AM (JFO2v)
105
Eris is a true biblioholic
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:00 AM (fAAc5)
106
Just got and started MacIntyre's After Virtue, which I've been meaning to get around to for some time. Also some Bill James from a few years ago. Hate to say it, but I think James is losing a bit. Oh well, it was a hell of a good run. Also got Eliot's After Strange Gods, which I did read in the 1970s. Had to stay in the rare book room at UVa to do so then.
Since I've already got Vasliev's history of Byzantium, is there really a need for the smaller Norwich? Advice please.
Since I've already got Vasliev's history of Byzantium, is there really a need for the smaller Norwich? Advice please.
Posted by: George LeS at June 24, 2018 10:00 AM (59GGI)
107
I'm sure they have tablet holders but thinking of making one.
Guy in pre race has a jet hover board flying over crowd., he was flying around quite a distance and time.
Guy in pre race has a jet hover board flying over crowd., he was flying around quite a distance and time.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (pHfeF)
108
Reading has been somewhat curtailed this week. I bunged up my right elbow (again) which severely limits range of motion and certain positions. Unfortunately that includes comfortably holding books, even an e-reader.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM
Try one or two pillows/cushions (a bit smooshy so you can nudge the book in, holding it in place) on your lap to prop the book up. You can hold it and turn pages with one hand. I've got shoulder/neck arthritis, have had frozen shoulder, etc. I find using a pillow makes reading a lot easier, especially for larger books.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM
Try one or two pillows/cushions (a bit smooshy so you can nudge the book in, holding it in place) on your lap to prop the book up. You can hold it and turn pages with one hand. I've got shoulder/neck arthritis, have had frozen shoulder, etc. I find using a pillow makes reading a lot easier, especially for larger books.
Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (2NqXo)
109
I love how beta the owner of Red Hen was asking SHuckabee to leave: "I'd like to ask you to leave."
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (ty7RM
I posted elsewhere that restaurants run on knife edge margins between sinking and swimming and that the simpleton fucks may have just guaranteed their failure. Or if libs temporarily flock there in symbolic support the wait staff better be ready for some nonexistent tips from those miserly turds.
My book group is almost done with Dracula. One thing that intrigues me about it, which isn't explicated, is how the Count mentioned to Harker about the family history in Transylvania being the setting where the locals fought the Turks. Even though that statement wasn't further explained it made me wonder if a pact with the devil was done to deal with the invaders. I'm not gonna read them but maybe some of the Ann Rice books ran with that concept, at least partially.
Something in the book that bugged me was how fucking dense Van Helsing was to leave Mina alone when the menfolk went off vampire hunting. There's probably a good book to be written on rabid lesbian vampire hunters.
The comments on the abridged Norwich make me realize how fortunate I am with the local library system.
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (ty7RM
I posted elsewhere that restaurants run on knife edge margins between sinking and swimming and that the simpleton fucks may have just guaranteed their failure. Or if libs temporarily flock there in symbolic support the wait staff better be ready for some nonexistent tips from those miserly turds.
My book group is almost done with Dracula. One thing that intrigues me about it, which isn't explicated, is how the Count mentioned to Harker about the family history in Transylvania being the setting where the locals fought the Turks. Even though that statement wasn't further explained it made me wonder if a pact with the devil was done to deal with the invaders. I'm not gonna read them but maybe some of the Ann Rice books ran with that concept, at least partially.
Something in the book that bugged me was how fucking dense Van Helsing was to leave Mina alone when the menfolk went off vampire hunting. There's probably a good book to be written on rabid lesbian vampire hunters.
The comments on the abridged Norwich make me realize how fortunate I am with the local library system.
Posted by: Captain Hate at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (y7DUB)
110
105 Eris is a true biblioholic
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:00 AM (fAAc5)
---
It helps me unwind!
I'm just a social reader.
What am I supposed to do, say "no" when somebody recommends a book?
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:00 AM (fAAc5)
---
It helps me unwind!
I'm just a social reader.
What am I supposed to do, say "no" when somebody recommends a book?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (gUCYC)
111
Since so many of you are into detailed military history, can you recommend anything about the Australian coast guard operating in the eastern Meditarranean in World War I? I am doing research on a Brit who lived in Egypt until the 1950s and served as a guide to the Aussies in the First World War. Jennings-Bramly received an M C for his work with the coast guard, but I know nothing about what they were doing exactly in Egypt/Sinai/the Red Sea.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Posted by: Alifa at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (lWQvp)
112
But can one honestly say that most British possessions are better off today than when the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time?
Can you truly say that these nations were better off before colonization than they were during it? Especially English colonies? You can pretty much identify which nations were colonized by England and which were not by how civilized, advanced, and stable they are today.
Can you truly say that these nations were better off before colonization than they were during it? Especially English colonies? You can pretty much identify which nations were colonized by England and which were not by how civilized, advanced, and stable they are today.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (39g3+)
113
Sounds like the feminist bookstore ran into the truism that philanthropy (and if they were dependent on volunteers that's what it was) is run by middle-class white women and couldn't reconcile their intersectionality with reality.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at June 24, 2018 10:03 AM (rp9xB)
114
Volunteers and board members tried to reform and re-envision the organization, and have found it unattainable to do, especially with so little resources.
*******
You just didn't clap hard enough, Tinkerbell!
*******
You just didn't clap hard enough, Tinkerbell!
Posted by: Muldoon at June 24, 2018 10:04 AM (m45I2)
115
"...Cornwell's 'Agincourt'
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM (V+03K)
Fantastic read...er...listen!
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 09:52 AM (V+03K)
Fantastic read...er...listen!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 24, 2018 10:04 AM (wYseH)
116
It helps me unwind!
I'm just a social reader.
What am I supposed to do, say "no" when somebody recommends a book?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (gUCYC)
just a page or two can't hurt...
I'm just a social reader.
What am I supposed to do, say "no" when somebody recommends a book?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 10:01 AM (gUCYC)
just a page or two can't hurt...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 10:04 AM (hMwEB)
117
''Since I've already got Vasliev's history of Byzantium, is there really a need for the smaller Norwich? Advice please.''
I read the condensed Norwich some years ago. Nice compact overview of the empire. It's all downhill after Justinian though,
I read the condensed Norwich some years ago. Nice compact overview of the empire. It's all downhill after Justinian though,
Posted by: Tuna at June 24, 2018 10:05 AM (jm1YL)
118
Even though that statement wasn't further explained it made me wonder if a pact with the devil was done to deal with the invaders.
The Dracula movie by Coppola (you know, with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder) was pretty specific about this, that Vlad made a pact with Satan to defeat the invaders. Its somewhat implied in the book, but Stoker really avoided the modern compulsion to explain the nuts and bolts of how and why everything works. It just was, and then the story was told in that setting.
The Dracula movie by Coppola (you know, with Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder) was pretty specific about this, that Vlad made a pact with Satan to defeat the invaders. Its somewhat implied in the book, but Stoker really avoided the modern compulsion to explain the nuts and bolts of how and why everything works. It just was, and then the story was told in that setting.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:05 AM (39g3+)
Posted by: Skandia Recluse - Alt-Ctrl at June 24, 2018 10:06 AM (roQNm)
120
10 Should be done Far Side of the World by Patrick O'Brien by next week. Its nothing like the movie which is in my top 10 favorites.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (pHfeF)
The only similarity between book and movie is the chase in the Pacific. To make it more saleable, they changed the ship from USN to French (though American built). The book itself is loosely based on HMS Phoebe's chase of USS Essex. A rare case, for the War of 1812, where the Brit ship was better armed than ours.
I agree about the move. It's the last one I REALLY liked. I may have to take up another run through the Aubreiad.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 09:08 AM (pHfeF)
The only similarity between book and movie is the chase in the Pacific. To make it more saleable, they changed the ship from USN to French (though American built). The book itself is loosely based on HMS Phoebe's chase of USS Essex. A rare case, for the War of 1812, where the Brit ship was better armed than ours.
I agree about the move. It's the last one I REALLY liked. I may have to take up another run through the Aubreiad.
Posted by: George LeS at June 24, 2018 10:06 AM (59GGI)
121
So I followed a conversation on twitter
Cortes did nothing wrong. I'm not really joking. This is a society that, as a categorical moral imperative, *had* to be extinguished. You cannot read this article and think otherwise unless you have completely forsaken any recognizable modern morality.
and people lost their minds and defended the Aztecs?
so I was wondering does anybody recommend any good books about his conquest
Cortes did nothing wrong. I'm not really joking. This is a society that, as a categorical moral imperative, *had* to be extinguished. You cannot read this article and think otherwise unless you have completely forsaken any recognizable modern morality.
and people lost their minds and defended the Aztecs?
so I was wondering does anybody recommend any good books about his conquest
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at June 24, 2018 10:06 AM (jPhHZ)
122
I was disappointed when the Unseen University Librarian didn't appear in the background of one of the Harry Potter movies. I don't know if Pratchett would have approved of it, but it fits *his* world, where all libraries are part of "L-Space", and it may have led some people to reading his books.
Posted by: Rob Crawford at June 24, 2018 10:07 AM (fVubI)
123
Trimeg - holy cow! your Sand, Wind, and War book....which sounds fascinating..... is going for $3,200+ on Amazon!!! you have a rare classic, mi amigo!
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 10:08 AM (FX4r3)
124
102 ... "And it's on my list, but I couldn't find a copy at any library and I'm trying (desperately) to stop buying so many books."
Eris, Resistance is futile.
posted by : Borg the book seller
Eris, Resistance is futile.
posted by : Borg the book seller
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 10:09 AM (V+03K)
125
I read the condensed Norwich some years ago. Nice compact overview of the empire. It's all downhill after Justinian though,
Posted by: Tuna
The Comnene Dynasty gave a good go at it after Manzikert. The 4th Crusade and the Venetians sacking Constantinople didn't help things out much, though.
Posted by: Tuna
The Comnene Dynasty gave a good go at it after Manzikert. The 4th Crusade and the Venetians sacking Constantinople didn't help things out much, though.
Posted by: Oedipus at June 24, 2018 10:09 AM (CXLVd)
126
I agree about the move. It's the last one I REALLY liked. I may have to take up another run through the Aubreiad.
Some purists despise the film because its a melange of the books, mixing several novels into one and bits from a whole range of them. But in truth, its a beautiful celebration of the series in the full knowledge they were not going to be able to do even on sequel.
It only has some minor flaws in casting (Bonden, Stephen) but those can be overlooked by the excellent acting and the overall quality of the film.
If I had George Soros money, I'd be bankrolling a Netflix or HBO series of the novels. Of course, there are so few female characters -- entire novels with barely a female face -- that it might face stiff opposition from the usual suspects. And its so white!
Some purists despise the film because its a melange of the books, mixing several novels into one and bits from a whole range of them. But in truth, its a beautiful celebration of the series in the full knowledge they were not going to be able to do even on sequel.
It only has some minor flaws in casting (Bonden, Stephen) but those can be overlooked by the excellent acting and the overall quality of the film.
If I had George Soros money, I'd be bankrolling a Netflix or HBO series of the novels. Of course, there are so few female characters -- entire novels with barely a female face -- that it might face stiff opposition from the usual suspects. And its so white!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:10 AM (39g3+)
127
Shouldn't Lionel Shriver be Leona Shriver? "Lionel" is the masculine form of the name. And I know it's shallow of me, but none of those book covers depicted at the Amazon link would give me pause to open one of her books as I pawed through the remainder table.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 24, 2018 10:11 AM (WFV7d)
128
I've been exploring gutenberg.org, which is a repository of ebooks that are in the public domain. What sets this apart from outlets like amazon is the eclectic nature of the books available: not just classics and popular works, but obscure, obsolete stuff - for example, issues of "Punch" from the 1890s, or "The Girl's Own Paper" from 1910; or the complete Brittanica 11. I downloaded a copy of Percival Lowell's book detailing the canals of Mars, which is a hoot given what we know now, but was established science back in the day (the science was settled).
One hair-raising book that I found was the proceedings of the first international congress on eugenics, which was held at the University of London in 1912. Reading the abstracts of the papers published there, you can see the road to Auschwitz marked out as clear as day - though the eugenicists of that day, like the eugenicists of our day, are blind to the implications of their philosophy. Books like that need to be preserved, lest we forget.
gutenberg.org also offers less-well-known works by established authors such as Chesterton and Thackeray, which are delightful reads. All are downloadable in Kindle or ebook formats for free.
The gutenberg site has an interface that pulls up a selection of books at random. If you like browsing through used-book stores, you will *love* it. For me, looking at it is like eating nacho Doritos: I can't just have one.
One hair-raising book that I found was the proceedings of the first international congress on eugenics, which was held at the University of London in 1912. Reading the abstracts of the papers published there, you can see the road to Auschwitz marked out as clear as day - though the eugenicists of that day, like the eugenicists of our day, are blind to the implications of their philosophy. Books like that need to be preserved, lest we forget.
gutenberg.org also offers less-well-known works by established authors such as Chesterton and Thackeray, which are delightful reads. All are downloadable in Kindle or ebook formats for free.
The gutenberg site has an interface that pulls up a selection of books at random. If you like browsing through used-book stores, you will *love* it. For me, looking at it is like eating nacho Doritos: I can't just have one.
Posted by: Brown Line at June 24, 2018 10:11 AM (S6ArX)
129
If its vampires that slake your literary thirst, there is always Christopher Frayling's book Vampyres: Lord Byron to Count Dracula.
Section Five is The Genesis of Dracula where Frayling actually delves into Stoker's working papers and research that went on for six years prior to the publication of Dracula,
Section Five is The Genesis of Dracula where Frayling actually delves into Stoker's working papers and research that went on for six years prior to the publication of Dracula,
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:12 AM (fAAc5)
130
See, Christopher, you fell in the same trap the Dutch did.
Hyenas look and act sort of like wolves and dogs, but are more closely related to big cats. They are not even the same Family.
Hyenas look and act sort of like wolves and dogs, but are more closely related to big cats. They are not even the same Family.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 10:13 AM (2K6fY)
131
27 Just picked up Coulton's The Medieval Village. So far am enjoying it. Surprisingly, it has a ton of parallels to our current travails. No big surprise, we're human.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (vV/gB)
He writes well, but have a care. He's generally considered to be very biased and agenda-driven.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (vV/gB)
He writes well, but have a care. He's generally considered to be very biased and agenda-driven.
Posted by: George LeS at June 24, 2018 10:14 AM (59GGI)
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:15 AM (fAAc5)
133
I love how beta the owner of Red Hen was asking SHuckabee to leave: "I'd like to ask you to leave."
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (ty7RM)
If I had been dining in a place like that, and the owner showed and acted like such a jerk, and threw out guest for no cause, I'd simply get up and walk out without paying. And suggest to other diners that they do likewise.
I'd say, "Ok, ask me bitch!"
It's so classy Sarah offered to pay for her food, too. It'll be interesting to see if that joint survives. It looks like a tiny venue. Unless they're outrageously overpriced, I would think every table would need to be filled, every night.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (ty7RM)
If I had been dining in a place like that, and the owner showed and acted like such a jerk, and threw out guest for no cause, I'd simply get up and walk out without paying. And suggest to other diners that they do likewise.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at June 24, 2018 10:17 AM (WFV7d)
134
The 4th Crusade and the Venetians sacking Constantinople didn't help things out much, though.
Posted by: Oedipus at June 24, 2018 10:09 AM (CXLVd)
None of the Crusades were advantageous to Constantinople in terms of having a gazillion outsiders showing up and needing to be fed and then possibly fucking up their working relationships with the Horde to the east.
Posted by: Oedipus at June 24, 2018 10:09 AM (CXLVd)
None of the Crusades were advantageous to Constantinople in terms of having a gazillion outsiders showing up and needing to be fed and then possibly fucking up their working relationships with the Horde to the east.
Posted by: Captain Hate at June 24, 2018 10:18 AM (y7DUB)
135
Well, I had plans, but I've learned and should remember that no Sunday Morning Plan survives contact with the Ace of Spades HQ Book Thread.
My plan to go into the market to buy dirt to fill in the holes I've dug in the yard will just have to wait.
Well, I had plans, but I've learned and should remember that no Sunday Morning Plan survives contact with the Ace of Spades HQ Book Thread.
My plan to go into the market to buy dirt to fill in the holes I've dug in the yard will just have to wait.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse - Alt-Ctrl at June 24, 2018 10:19 AM (roQNm)
136
It's really difficult, actually, impossible, for us to disentangle from that foundational ideology.
-
Translation: We pretended as hard as we could but reality still wouldn't go away.
-
Translation: We pretended as hard as we could but reality still wouldn't go away.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:20 AM (+y/Ru)
137
Just starting a book on the sinking of the Tang. Today bought the kindle of Varina by Charles Frazier $3.99. About Jeff Davis's wife. Frazier wrote cold mountain, 13 moons, etc. I've also got a Shelby Foote novel to start. He was best friends with walker Percy. Several Percy books in my to read pile.
Posted by: NCKate at June 24, 2018 10:20 AM (nU09Z)
138
It's been a few years since I read it, but God Emperor of Dune starts sucking in the back end as all the philosophical crap starts coming out.
Or maybe that was a different book. They all run together. Herbert's writing gets better with each book, but he has less to say. Lots of time wasted on cycles of history and as the iconic characters get killed or die off, their replacements become less interesting.
The first book has tons of intrigue with the competing houses the cartoonishly evil Harkonnens ("He's a bad man! He molests little boys! See how bad he is!") but after that it's basically Paul and his heirs having spice-fueled acid trips and contemplating eternity.
Or maybe that was a different book. They all run together. Herbert's writing gets better with each book, but he has less to say. Lots of time wasted on cycles of history and as the iconic characters get killed or die off, their replacements become less interesting.
The first book has tons of intrigue with the competing houses the cartoonishly evil Harkonnens ("He's a bad man! He molests little boys! See how bad he is!") but after that it's basically Paul and his heirs having spice-fueled acid trips and contemplating eternity.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at June 24, 2018 10:21 AM (cfSRQ)
139
so I was wondering does anybody recommend any good books about his conquest
Matthew Restall, When Montezuma Met Cortes
It reconstructs the event based on earlier sources, like the newsletters published in Habsburg territory when they found out; not just Diaz and other self-serving narratives from decades later.
Matthew Restall, When Montezuma Met Cortes
It reconstructs the event based on earlier sources, like the newsletters published in Habsburg territory when they found out; not just Diaz and other self-serving narratives from decades later.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:21 AM (Xk4Hx)
140
So on the Dead Hen story I read something about gays being upset. DT was for gay marriage before Bhussein or Shillary. WTF?
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:22 AM (JFO2v)
141
The gutenberg site has an interface that pulls up a selection of books at random. If you like browsing through used-book stores, you will *love* it. For me, looking at it is like eating nacho Doritos: I can't just have one.
Yeah I love the Gutenberg site, I've downloaded hundreds of books from there onto my Kindle. Classics, curiosities, etc. There are hundreds of wonderful novels that vanished in the past because they fell out of favor or nobody made a movie so they were eventually forgotten.
Hyenas look and act sort of like wolves and dogs, but are more closely related to big cats. They are not even the same Family.
Its not a trap. Its the difference between information you only need to know as a very specific specialist, and simply being alive on the planet. It doesn't matter if that's an Annis or a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. It just matters if I have enough in the feeder to attract one. It doesn't matter if that's a Blue Whale or a Right Whale, I'm just here to see them spout and splash around.
Only a scientist or vet needs to be that specific about creatures. Everyone else can get by just fine without it, and insisting upon these minutae is a bit silly to me.
Yeah I love the Gutenberg site, I've downloaded hundreds of books from there onto my Kindle. Classics, curiosities, etc. There are hundreds of wonderful novels that vanished in the past because they fell out of favor or nobody made a movie so they were eventually forgotten.
Hyenas look and act sort of like wolves and dogs, but are more closely related to big cats. They are not even the same Family.
Its not a trap. Its the difference between information you only need to know as a very specific specialist, and simply being alive on the planet. It doesn't matter if that's an Annis or a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. It just matters if I have enough in the feeder to attract one. It doesn't matter if that's a Blue Whale or a Right Whale, I'm just here to see them spout and splash around.
Only a scientist or vet needs to be that specific about creatures. Everyone else can get by just fine without it, and insisting upon these minutae is a bit silly to me.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:23 AM (39g3+)
142
But can one honestly say that most British possessions are better off today than when the Union Jack was hauled down for the last time?
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (8c54+)
Well, I think I did a good job. Come visit, leave very, very happy!
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 09:51 AM (8c54+)
Well, I think I did a good job. Come visit, leave very, very happy!
Posted by: Bob Mugabe at June 24, 2018 10:23 AM (EoRCO)
143
Remember the May 5 Mexican walkout years ago. So this one little Mex placed closed for the day and someone hacked their website and google maps to say they were closed permanently. They reopened about a week then shut down.
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:23 AM (JFO2v)
144
It's all downhill after Justinian though,
I teed up a recovery. Not my fault my successors screwed it up
I teed up a recovery. Not my fault my successors screwed it up
Posted by: Basil II at June 24, 2018 10:24 AM (Xk4Hx)
145
111 Since so many of you are into detailed military history, can you recommend anything about the Australian coast guard operating in the eastern Meditarranean in World War I? I am doing research on a Brit who lived in Egypt until the 1950s and served as a guide to the Aussies in the First World War. Jennings-Bramly received an M C for his work with the coast guard, but I know nothing about what they were doing exactly in Egypt/Sinai/the Red Sea.
Thanks.
Posted by: Alifa at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (lWQvp)
That's a poser. Have you checked Naval Operations by Corbett? RN, but might have something.
Thanks.
Posted by: Alifa at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (lWQvp)
That's a poser. Have you checked Naval Operations by Corbett? RN, but might have something.
Posted by: George LeS at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (59GGI)
146
If anyone has ever watched Portlandia they ridicule the Portland feminist store. The cast, I would assume, is all liberal but they are great at pointing the finger back at themselves and laughing.
Posted by: bananadream at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (yRBj9)
147
69 that rating code is awesome
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
From Dear Lauren's twitter feed:
"How can we be tearing children away from parents at our borders?"
Bonus points for being a Hogg supporter.
RB - Readable Banality
RP - Readable Piffle
...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 09:38 AM (hMwEB)
From Dear Lauren's twitter feed:
"How can we be tearing children away from parents at our borders?"
Bonus points for being a Hogg supporter.
Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (di1hb)
148
India's doing all right, and there are many many people in it.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (Xk4Hx)
149
I'm trying (desperately) to stop buying so many books.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:58 AM (gUCYC)
I do not understand these words in this order. I admit grammatically it appears to be a sentence, but it conveys no concepts that I can comprehend.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at June 24, 2018 09:58 AM (gUCYC)
I do not understand these words in this order. I admit grammatically it appears to be a sentence, but it conveys no concepts that I can comprehend.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 10:27 AM (2K6fY)
150
None of the Crusades were advantageous to Constantinople
If I remember correctly, at least one of the crusades actually attacked Constantinople.
If I remember correctly, at least one of the crusades actually attacked Constantinople.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:27 AM (39g3+)
151
The 4th Crusade got bought out wholesale by Venice and attacked Constantinople.
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:29 AM (fAAc5)
152
> safely established theirs as the worst performance in this World Cup. Bravo!
Posted by: goatexchange
Not as bad as the Nigerians! An own-goal, and penalty gave the Croatians a 2-0 win.
Posted by: goatexchange
Not as bad as the Nigerians! An own-goal, and penalty gave the Croatians a 2-0 win.
Posted by: Kickball world series at June 24, 2018 10:29 AM (qmwVL)
153
So on the Dead Hen story I read something about gays being upset. DT was for gay marriage before Bhussein or Shillary. WTF?
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:22 AM (JFO2v)
I can speak with no authority on what triggers those mincemeat tools but they really act like Pavlov's dog whenever Pence's name is brought up.
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:22 AM (JFO2v)
I can speak with no authority on what triggers those mincemeat tools but they really act like Pavlov's dog whenever Pence's name is brought up.
Posted by: Captain Hate at June 24, 2018 10:30 AM (y7DUB)
154
votermom, Thanks for the good wishes. Compared to what some of the Horde are going through, this is a minor annoyance that will pass in a week or two.
JuJuBe, Thanks for that suggestion. I will have to try it since I have a new book I'm eager to start about The Swamp Fox campaigns in the American Revolution. Part of the problem is I'm so used to doing things in a certain way, everything else feels weird. (I keep trying to eat with my right hand even though it won't get to my mouth. Stubborn or stupid: you decide.) Just a matter of getting used to the situation. Fortunately, the thing clears up in a couple of weeks or so.
JuJuBe, Thanks for that suggestion. I will have to try it since I have a new book I'm eager to start about The Swamp Fox campaigns in the American Revolution. Part of the problem is I'm so used to doing things in a certain way, everything else feels weird. (I keep trying to eat with my right hand even though it won't get to my mouth. Stubborn or stupid: you decide.) Just a matter of getting used to the situation. Fortunately, the thing clears up in a couple of weeks or so.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 10:30 AM (V+03K)
155
If anyone has ever watched Portlandia they ridicule the Portland feminist store.
I never watched the show since I live too close and have to deal with these people, but from what I understand it really made fun of the insanity in Portland. And it keeps getting worse. They saw that show as a celebration of their "weirdness" and decided they should have more of it.
I never watched the show since I live too close and have to deal with these people, but from what I understand it really made fun of the insanity in Portland. And it keeps getting worse. They saw that show as a celebration of their "weirdness" and decided they should have more of it.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:30 AM (39g3+)
156
we have to preserve the right to have characters who think things that are unacceptable.
-
Anthony Horowitz's latest novel, The Word Is Murder, has deeply critical Amazon reviews because his unlikeable, disgraced detective makes some anti-homo comments about a theatrical producer's residence's homo art decor. (I know that I always love to see dick statues and bullwhip-up-the-butt photos wherever I go.) And this vicious criticism is there even though the narrator is deeply offended by these comments and can't understand how anyone could feel that way.
-
Anthony Horowitz's latest novel, The Word Is Murder, has deeply critical Amazon reviews because his unlikeable, disgraced detective makes some anti-homo comments about a theatrical producer's residence's homo art decor. (I know that I always love to see dick statues and bullwhip-up-the-butt photos wherever I go.) And this vicious criticism is there even though the narrator is deeply offended by these comments and can't understand how anyone could feel that way.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:30 AM (+y/Ru)
157
Not as bad as the Nigerians! An own-goal, and penalty gave the Croatians a 2-0 win.
I understand they are offering to pay back all the tickets for the Nigerian game, if you give them your bank info and passwords.
I understand they are offering to pay back all the tickets for the Nigerian game, if you give them your bank info and passwords.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:31 AM (39g3+)
158
I hope Margarita is doing okay. D'oh!
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:31 AM (Xk4Hx)
159
131 27 Just picked up Coulton's The Medieval Village. So far am enjoying it. Surprisingly, it has a ton of parallels to our current travails. No big surprise, we're human.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (vV/gB)
He writes well, but have a care. He's generally considered to be very biased and agenda-driven.
---------------------
I've already suspected that. But his illustrations of his subject is compelling.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 09:15 AM (vV/gB)
He writes well, but have a care. He's generally considered to be very biased and agenda-driven.
---------------------
I've already suspected that. But his illustrations of his subject is compelling.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 10:32 AM (vV/gB)
160
we have to preserve the right to have characters who think things that are unacceptable.
Few things are more tedious than a book where everyone has the same worldview and basically agrees on all topics.
Few things are more tedious than a book where everyone has the same worldview and basically agrees on all topics.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:32 AM (39g3+)
161
Well, not sure if this is best suited for the book thread or for the food thread, but I just finished reading through Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines. Really nice cookbook in that the recipes are all something even novice cooks could attempt. She begins each category with a page or two of explanation of how their household functions for say, dinner, etc. Personal anecdotes of her own insecurities, etc. when cooking. Will soon be trying some of the recipes, great photos of the food without a bunch of foo foo photoshop, etc.
Posted by: Jen the original at June 24, 2018 10:33 AM (OdLH1)
162
126 I agree about the move. It's the last one I REALLY liked. I may have to take up another run through the Aubreiad.
Some purists despise the film because its a melange of the books, mixing several novels into one and bits from a whole range of them. But in truth, its a beautiful celebration of the series in the full knowledge they were not going to be able to do even on sequel.
It only has some minor flaws in casting (Bonden, Stephen) but those can be overlooked by the excellent acting and the overall quality of the film.
If I had George Soros money, I'd be bankrolling a Netflix or HBO series of the novels. Of course, there are so few female characters -- entire novels with barely a female face -- that it might face stiff opposition from the usual suspects. And its so white!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:10 AM (39g3+)
Mostly agree (and I am an instinctive purist.) But I disagree about Stephen; I thought Betany did pretty well. The one thing lacking wasn't his fault, that they didn't show enough of the idiot side of the crew's view of him. (Can bring you back from the dead if the tide hasn't turned, but cannot be allowed on deck unattended.)
Bonden, though, was a gross miscasting. I really cannot buy the idea that a hobbit was one of the best boxers in the fleet.
Some purists despise the film because its a melange of the books, mixing several novels into one and bits from a whole range of them. But in truth, its a beautiful celebration of the series in the full knowledge they were not going to be able to do even on sequel.
It only has some minor flaws in casting (Bonden, Stephen) but those can be overlooked by the excellent acting and the overall quality of the film.
If I had George Soros money, I'd be bankrolling a Netflix or HBO series of the novels. Of course, there are so few female characters -- entire novels with barely a female face -- that it might face stiff opposition from the usual suspects. And its so white!
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:10 AM (39g3+)
Mostly agree (and I am an instinctive purist.) But I disagree about Stephen; I thought Betany did pretty well. The one thing lacking wasn't his fault, that they didn't show enough of the idiot side of the crew's view of him. (Can bring you back from the dead if the tide hasn't turned, but cannot be allowed on deck unattended.)
Bonden, though, was a gross miscasting. I really cannot buy the idea that a hobbit was one of the best boxers in the fleet.
Posted by: George LeS at June 24, 2018 10:33 AM (59GGI)
163
The novel Aztec by Gary Jennings is excellent. It is one of those novels that that transports you to another time and place.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:33 AM (+y/Ru)
164
If everyone has the same world view, then where is the drama?
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at June 24, 2018 10:34 AM (fAAc5)
165
148 India's doing all right, and there are many many people in it.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
-----------------------------
India as a nation is somewhat suspect. India as a collection of castes is more accurate. The British built India not the Indians.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
-----------------------------
India as a nation is somewhat suspect. India as a collection of castes is more accurate. The British built India not the Indians.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 10:34 AM (vV/gB)
166
India's doing all right, and there are many many people in it.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (Xk4Hx)
India plays the long game. They submitted temporarily to the invading Moghuls figuring they'd eventually prevail, and didn't destroy the architectural wonders like the fucking rock worshippers would. Pretty smart people imo.
... once they abandoned the stupid Third World socialism they adopted after we bugged out.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (Xk4Hx)
India plays the long game. They submitted temporarily to the invading Moghuls figuring they'd eventually prevail, and didn't destroy the architectural wonders like the fucking rock worshippers would. Pretty smart people imo.
Posted by: Captain Hate at June 24, 2018 10:34 AM (y7DUB)
167
Puddin Head , your next book assignment is David Reich, Who We Are and How We Got Here. It explains this.
I hope Razib Khan writes a book on Indian prehistory based on genetics, but he'll probably have to co-write it on account of his prose being difficult.
I hope Razib Khan writes a book on Indian prehistory based on genetics, but he'll probably have to co-write it on account of his prose being difficult.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:35 AM (Xk4Hx)
168
The Panawhosians only scored after England put in THREE subs... at the 63' mark ... and it STILL took them another 15 minutes to score. I still vote for the Pandamonians.
Posted by: goatexchange at June 24, 2018 10:36 AM (FX4r3)
169
Just finished "The Right Stuff"
Pertinent background to Trump's announcement of a Space Force. The jockeying in the Pentagon has a long history on war fighting in space.
Halfway through Mitchener's "Tales of the South Pacific." My dad was a SeaBee in the Solomons and his tales match Mitchener's in many places.
Pertinent background to Trump's announcement of a Space Force. The jockeying in the Pentagon has a long history on war fighting in space.
Halfway through Mitchener's "Tales of the South Pacific." My dad was a SeaBee in the Solomons and his tales match Mitchener's in many places.
Posted by: Whitehall at June 24, 2018 10:36 AM (ZJ9TN)
170
Cortes did nothing wrong. I'm not really joking.
This is a society that, as a categorical moral imperative, *had* to be
extinguished. You cannot read this article and think otherwise unless
you have completely forsaken any recognizable modern morality.
and people lost their minds and defended the Aztecs?
so I was wondering does anybody recommend any good books about his conquest
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at June 24, 2018 10:06 AM (jPhHZ)
The true source material is The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz.
I read it and I will say that I never wished so strongly for both sides to lose. Even Bernal Diaz seems to feel what was going on was excessive.
This is a society that, as a categorical moral imperative, *had* to be
extinguished. You cannot read this article and think otherwise unless
you have completely forsaken any recognizable modern morality.
and people lost their minds and defended the Aztecs?
so I was wondering does anybody recommend any good books about his conquest
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at June 24, 2018 10:06 AM (jPhHZ)
The true source material is The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz.
I read it and I will say that I never wished so strongly for both sides to lose. Even Bernal Diaz seems to feel what was going on was excessive.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 10:37 AM (2K6fY)
171
Gary Jennings' Aztec is good but suffers from the author being a pervert. Ecch. The Aztecs themselves didn't go in for half the stuff Jennings did.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:37 AM (Xk4Hx)
172
95: Oh yes, big Silver John/Wellman fan. He gets the dialect perfect. I have over a dozen Wellman books, including the five-volume set of his selected short stories from a few years back, and his John Thunston omnibus. Fascinating man.
Posted by: RovingCopyEditor at June 24, 2018 10:38 AM (KZiZ1)
173
138 It's been a few years since I read it, but God Emperor of Dune starts sucking in the back end as all the philosophical crap starts coming out.
That makes sense. I'd read that God Emperor was the most philosophical of the Dune series
The first book has tons of intrigue with the competing houses the cartoonishly evil Harkonnens ("He's a bad man! He molests little boys! See how bad he is!") but after that it's basically Paul and his heirs having spice-fueled acid trips and contemplating eternity.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at June 24, 2018 10:21 AM (cfSRQ)
Yeah. This. I'm still enjoying them, but Children of Dune took a lot longer to get interesting and had too many sections of weird contemplation.
That makes sense. I'd read that God Emperor was the most philosophical of the Dune series
The first book has tons of intrigue with the competing houses the cartoonishly evil Harkonnens ("He's a bad man! He molests little boys! See how bad he is!") but after that it's basically Paul and his heirs having spice-fueled acid trips and contemplating eternity.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at June 24, 2018 10:21 AM (cfSRQ)
Yeah. This. I'm still enjoying them, but Children of Dune took a lot longer to get interesting and had too many sections of weird contemplation.
Posted by: Jim S. at June 24, 2018 10:38 AM (ynUnH)
174
My plan to go into the market to buy dirt to fill in the holes I've dug in the yard will just have to wait.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse
Dig holes during a full moon, you'll have dirt left over! Dig during a new moon, you'll not have enough to fill.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse
Dig holes during a full moon, you'll have dirt left over! Dig during a new moon, you'll not have enough to fill.
Posted by: Old Farmers Almanak at June 24, 2018 10:38 AM (qmwVL)
175
... it was written in the late 1970s. EVERYTHING was porn in the late 1970s. And mindblasting drugs
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:38 AM (Xk4Hx)
176
"The Bureaucracy will ensure there is never another Patton!"
Or, contrariwise, every piss-ant bureaucrat thinks he is Patton.Just ball up all of Patton's negatives into one wad of shit, and there they are.
And another thing. Patton was not as iconoclastic as some seem to feel.He had a damned effective staff of his own, they all wrote books, they're in the movie. His bureaucracy worked just as he thought it should. Something to keep in mind as you set sail, corporate-raiding.
Or, contrariwise, every piss-ant bureaucrat thinks he is Patton.Just ball up all of Patton's negatives into one wad of shit, and there they are.
And another thing. Patton was not as iconoclastic as some seem to feel.He had a damned effective staff of his own, they all wrote books, they're in the movie. His bureaucracy worked just as he thought it should. Something to keep in mind as you set sail, corporate-raiding.
Posted by: Stringer Davis at June 24, 2018 10:40 AM (H5rtT)
177
But I disagree about Stephen; I thought Betany did pretty well.
Well there really wasn't time to show his incompetence with all things in the ship, but what I mean is that someone like John Hurt would have been a much better Stephen. O'Brian describes him as bent, ugly, with bad skin, pale complexion, unpleasant looking, creaky and unpleasant voice, etc. Bettany is a very fine actor but he's far too handsome for the part.
But I get it: this is a movie and a hideous and unpleasant leading man just doesn't work.
Well there really wasn't time to show his incompetence with all things in the ship, but what I mean is that someone like John Hurt would have been a much better Stephen. O'Brian describes him as bent, ugly, with bad skin, pale complexion, unpleasant looking, creaky and unpleasant voice, etc. Bettany is a very fine actor but he's far too handsome for the part.
But I get it: this is a movie and a hideous and unpleasant leading man just doesn't work.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:41 AM (39g3+)
178
The only thing I read today is ace of sp5 and a meme on Facebook that says
The fact that jellyfish have existed for millions of years without brains gives hope to many people.
The fact that jellyfish have existed for millions of years without brains gives hope to many people.
Posted by: madamemayhem (uppity wench) at June 24, 2018 10:42 AM (myjNJ)
179
I mentioned during the ONT that this book keeps showing up in my Amazon e-mail recommendations:
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yc4yqtoj
It does sound like a good book for fans of beer, whiskey, and baseball.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yc4yqtoj
It does sound like a good book for fans of beer, whiskey, and baseball.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 10:43 AM (sdi6R)
180
So on the Dead Hen story I read something about gays being upset. DT was for gay marriage before Bhussein or Shillary. WTF?
==============================
It's about the CAKE, dude. Bake the f'ing cake and we'll talk.
==============================
It's about the CAKE, dude. Bake the f'ing cake and we'll talk.
Posted by: LGBTQQRSTUV(WXY AND Z) at June 24, 2018 10:43 AM (ty7RM)
181
India as a nation is somewhat suspect. India as a collection of castes is more accurate. The British built India not the Indians.
Yeah its easy to think of India as a single nation but it was a horde of little nations when the British arrived. Kind of like Italy or Germany used to be.
Yeah its easy to think of India as a single nation but it was a horde of little nations when the British arrived. Kind of like Italy or Germany used to be.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:44 AM (39g3+)
182
75 I don't understand why one would need a "feminist" bookstore in Portland.
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
Posted by: Greece at June 24, 2018 09:41 AM (EZebt)
I'm sure that's a big part of it failing. It's not like you have to go to a 'feminist' bookstore to buy books you can't bet anywhere else. When it started out 25 years ago, it was no doubt counter-cultural, but now feminism is mainstream culture, so there's nothing to be 'counter' against.
Nowadays, a 'counter-cultural' bookstore for women who specialize in books on sewing, knitting, and child-rearing.
Also, sammich-making.
Doesn't Powell's check off all the necessary boxes?
Posted by: Greece at June 24, 2018 09:41 AM (EZebt)
I'm sure that's a big part of it failing. It's not like you have to go to a 'feminist' bookstore to buy books you can't bet anywhere else. When it started out 25 years ago, it was no doubt counter-cultural, but now feminism is mainstream culture, so there's nothing to be 'counter' against.
Nowadays, a 'counter-cultural' bookstore for women who specialize in books on sewing, knitting, and child-rearing.
Also, sammich-making.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at June 24, 2018 10:44 AM (UX379)
183
Hunting is good there.
Posted by: Skandia Recluse
I am glad to hear it. Sand hill crane is one of my favourite dishes.If you fix it right.
"Stringy as hell, like a bald eagle..." ---Just the punchline
Posted by: Skandia Recluse
I am glad to hear it. Sand hill crane is one of my favourite dishes.If you fix it right.
"Stringy as hell, like a bald eagle..." ---Just the punchline
Posted by: Stringer Davis at June 24, 2018 10:44 AM (H5rtT)
184
Just finished S.M. Stirling's Conquistador. Pretty good! And not part of a series, although the ending left the door open for a sequel, he has never written one. Lots of battles, but luscious, gorgeous scenery set in an alternate California compensated (not a battle fan).
Posted by: Miss Sippi at June 24, 2018 10:44 AM (TJQYQ)
185
Only a scientist or vet needs to be that
specific about creatures. Everyone else can get by just fine without
it, and insisting upon these minutae is a bit silly to me.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:23 AM (39g3+)
Well, sure. If you are going by feelz. And a Ford is exactly like a Chevrolet if you don't care.
And I'm never going to eat any wild mushrooms you pick either.
Only a scientist or vet needs to be that
specific about creatures. Everyone else can get by just fine without
it, and insisting upon these minutae is a bit silly to me.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:23 AM (39g3+)
Well, sure. If you are going by feelz. And a Ford is exactly like a Chevrolet if you don't care.
And I'm never going to eat any wild mushrooms you pick either.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 10:45 AM (2K6fY)
186
...and shirt ironing...
Posted by: Jak Sucio at June 24, 2018 10:46 AM (Y9uH4)
187
another anagram for 'Ace of Spades' is 'do a feces spa.'
Sounds like it's right up Punk Monkey's alley.
Sounds like it's right up Punk Monkey's alley.
Posted by: jim at June 24, 2018 10:47 AM (gjGvH)
188
The feminists and the patriarchy are equal. The patriarchy built civilization and the feminists are tearing it down.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:47 AM (+y/Ru)
189
When the movie Master and Commander came out I heard it described by a guest on the John Batchellor show as the ultimate movie for middle aged white guys. It wasn't a slam at the movie but praise that it was actually entertaining.
I didn't see it at the theater but have the DVD which I watch a couple of times a year.
I didn't see it at the theater but have the DVD which I watch a couple of times a year.
Posted by: JTB at June 24, 2018 10:47 AM (V+03K)
190
Nicholas A. Christakis @NAChristakis -
Ulugh Beg: medieval Muslim astronomer king who made Samarkand a center of culture & science in 15th C. I've been to this astonishing observatory, built 150yrs before Galileo. Beg also saw fit to educate girls.
This proves that Islam wasn't just a retrograde fo-
He was so enlightened he was assassinated
Well, poop.
https://t.co/ATV1OrglTV
Ulugh Beg: medieval Muslim astronomer king who made Samarkand a center of culture & science in 15th C. I've been to this astonishing observatory, built 150yrs before Galileo. Beg also saw fit to educate girls.
This proves that Islam wasn't just a retrograde fo-
He was so enlightened he was assassinated
Well, poop.
https://t.co/ATV1OrglTV
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:47 AM (Xk4Hx)
191
On the casting for Master and Commander, Russell Crowe was pitch perfect for Aubrey. As I read each book, that image of Jack was in my head for every scene.
Posted by: Captain Hate at June 24, 2018 10:48 AM (y7DUB)
192
The true source material is The Conquest of New Spain by Bernal Diaz.
I read it and I will say that I never wished so strongly for both sides to lose. Even Bernal Diaz seems to feel what was going on was excessive.
Good thing about Diaz' book is that it is in the public domain, so you can get it for free.
Or send me $15.00 and I'll email you my ePub version.
I read it and I will say that I never wished so strongly for both sides to lose. Even Bernal Diaz seems to feel what was going on was excessive.
Good thing about Diaz' book is that it is in the public domain, so you can get it for free.
Or send me $15.00 and I'll email you my ePub version.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at June 24, 2018 10:48 AM (UX379)
193
thank you sir may I have another
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was driven out of a movie theater on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on you! and youre a horrible person!
So Prog Agenda for Midterms
Pick on Repub women
Import more MS13
Decrease black wages
Steal $120B annually from citizens to give to illegals
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was driven out of a movie theater on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on you! and youre a horrible person!
So Prog Agenda for Midterms
Pick on Repub women
Import more MS13
Decrease black wages
Steal $120B annually from citizens to give to illegals
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:49 AM (JFO2v)
194
191 On the casting for Master and Commander, Russell Crowe was pitch perfect for Aubrey. As I read each book, that image of Jack was in my head for every scene.
----------------------
Agree. James Bond for me is always Sean Connery.
----------------------
Agree. James Bond for me is always Sean Connery.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 10:49 AM (vV/gB)
195
As for my reading, I've been reading the McGovan Reader, a collection of short stories written about a detective in Victorian Edinburgh, originally thought to be real life autobiographical tales. They're that well told and believable. Its fascinating reading the very beginnings of detective work and how the job got done back then.
This is one of those forgotten books, as good as Sherlock Holmes and praised very highly at the time, but nobody made any movies or radio shows, and it just slow slid out of the public's consciousness. Now its very difficult to find any copies of the stories which is a shame.
Also, I'm still reading through commentaries on the Psalms. I hit 119 and it took over a month to get through because the book I'm using has side-by-side commentaries by Spurgeon, Calvin, and Matthew Henry. By the end of the third commentary on 119 it was getting to be a bit of a slog, I confess. Now I'm in the Ascents and moving along quite well again.
This is one of those forgotten books, as good as Sherlock Holmes and praised very highly at the time, but nobody made any movies or radio shows, and it just slow slid out of the public's consciousness. Now its very difficult to find any copies of the stories which is a shame.
Also, I'm still reading through commentaries on the Psalms. I hit 119 and it took over a month to get through because the book I'm using has side-by-side commentaries by Spurgeon, Calvin, and Matthew Henry. By the end of the third commentary on 119 it was getting to be a bit of a slog, I confess. Now I'm in the Ascents and moving along quite well again.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:50 AM (39g3+)
196
A non-book related thought. I listened to Merle Haggard sing Okie from Muskogee this morning. I like the song and agree with the sentiment but times have changed.
At the risk of getting wrist-smacked for going OT on the hoity-toity thread, I have wondered how many of Merle's songs would be considered hate speech these days. "Okie" for sure. "Fighting Side of Me" and "Working Man Blues" certainly. "Big City" probably. What others?
At the risk of getting wrist-smacked for going OT on the hoity-toity thread, I have wondered how many of Merle's songs would be considered hate speech these days. "Okie" for sure. "Fighting Side of Me" and "Working Man Blues" certainly. "Big City" probably. What others?
Posted by: Bob the Bilderberg at June 24, 2018 10:51 AM (7oUUT)
197
Gary Jennings' Aztec is good but suffers from the author being a pervert. Ecch. The Aztecs themselves didn't go in for half the stuff Jennings did.
-
Didn't you get the memo? Criticizing perverts is no longer allowed.
-
Didn't you get the memo? Criticizing perverts is no longer allowed.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:51 AM (+y/Ru)
198
Has anyone read Amelia by Henry Fielding? I love Fielding but have never read this one.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 10:52 AM (vV/gB)
199
thank you sir may I have another
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was driven out of a movie theater
on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on
you! and youre a horrible person!
So Prog Agenda for Midterms
Pick on Repub women
Import more MS13
Decrease black wages
Steal $120B annually from citizens to give to illegals
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:49 AM (JFO2v)
These people need to start traveling with "bikers for trump" security. Nothing says come get some like a pack of harley dudes carrying axe handles.
thank you sir may I have another
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was driven out of a movie theater
on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on
you! and youre a horrible person!
So Prog Agenda for Midterms
Pick on Repub women
Import more MS13
Decrease black wages
Steal $120B annually from citizens to give to illegals
Posted by: rhennigantx at June 24, 2018 10:49 AM (JFO2v)
These people need to start traveling with "bikers for trump" security. Nothing says come get some like a pack of harley dudes carrying axe handles.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at June 24, 2018 10:52 AM (9Om/r)
200
111 Since so many of you are into detailed military history, can you recommend anything about the Australian coast guard operating in the eastern Meditarranean in World War I? I am doing research on a Brit who lived in Egypt until the 1950s and served as a guide to the Aussies in the First World War. Jennings-Bramly received an M C for his work with the coast guard, but I know nothing about what they were doing exactly in Egypt/Sinai/the Red Sea.
Thanks.
Posted by: Alifa at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (lWQvp)
If anyone would have such a book, check Naval & Military Press out of the UK. I just got their latest special mailing, on the centenary of WWI - a huge catalog of books just about the war.
www.naval-military-press.com
Thanks.
Posted by: Alifa at June 24, 2018 10:02 AM (lWQvp)
If anyone would have such a book, check Naval & Military Press out of the UK. I just got their latest special mailing, on the centenary of WWI - a huge catalog of books just about the war.
www.naval-military-press.com
Posted by: josephistan at June 24, 2018 10:52 AM (ANIFC)
201
Good Morning. Reading "How to Fail At Almost everything and Still Win Big" by Scott Adams, Dilbert Creator. Really interesting.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at June 24, 2018 10:52 AM (xWmOy)
202
If you are going by feelz. And a Ford is exactly like a Chevrolet if you don't care.
It has nothing to do with feelings or caring. Its about context and need. Nobody needs to know if its a Ford or a Chevy if they're looking for a car to sleep the night in. Nobody needs to know if a mushroom is deadly or safe to eat if they're just photographing a forest. Nobody needs to know if that is a monkey or an ape if they're at the zoo. Its interesting to know, but not important to your life and life is not only short, but has so much to learn and understand that you have to prioritize.
There is probably a German word for being needlessly and excessively specific in language.
It has nothing to do with feelings or caring. Its about context and need. Nobody needs to know if its a Ford or a Chevy if they're looking for a car to sleep the night in. Nobody needs to know if a mushroom is deadly or safe to eat if they're just photographing a forest. Nobody needs to know if that is a monkey or an ape if they're at the zoo. Its interesting to know, but not important to your life and life is not only short, but has so much to learn and understand that you have to prioritize.
There is probably a German word for being needlessly and excessively specific in language.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (39g3+)
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (fuK7c)
204
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was driven out of a movie theater
on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on
you! and youre a horrible person!
-------
Do you want a Freikorps? Because this is how you get a Freikorps.
on Saturday as a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting, shame on
you! and youre a horrible person!
-------
Do you want a Freikorps? Because this is how you get a Freikorps.
Posted by: josephistan at June 24, 2018 10:54 AM (ANIFC)
205
There is probably a German word for being needlessly and excessively specific in language.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (39g3+)
Grammar Nazi?
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (39g3+)
Grammar Nazi?
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at June 24, 2018 10:54 AM (xWmOy)
206
a crowd of protesters surrounded her, shouting"
Actually it was a very few, who should have been mocked for darting out on call...
Actually it was a very few, who should have been mocked for darting out on call...
Posted by: Anon a mouse at June 24, 2018 10:55 AM (7LY+6)
207
Was watching Captain Horatio Hornblower movie Friday night from CS Forrester's book. But in the movie the two ships coming to battle were sailing towards each other. And took note at one point a sailor put his hand on a cannon and it moved, details M&C didn't overlook.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 10:55 AM (pHfeF)
208
Let me give an example of what I mean about excessively specific.
In my novel Life Unworthy (to bring it around to books), there are a lot of weapons and military things. I tried to take care in describing them differently depending on who was perceiving and using the items. To the Polish widow, that's just a rifle, but to the SS officer, its a Mauser Gewehr-41. They know because they need to know, but the public doesn't need to and has no interest in knowing.
In my novel Life Unworthy (to bring it around to books), there are a lot of weapons and military things. I tried to take care in describing them differently depending on who was perceiving and using the items. To the Polish widow, that's just a rifle, but to the SS officer, its a Mauser Gewehr-41. They know because they need to know, but the public doesn't need to and has no interest in knowing.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:57 AM (39g3+)
209
Agree. James Bond for me is always Sean Connery.
=============================
I have to disagree: Sean Connery is Scottish, for one. Ian Flemming's Bond was an English Gentleman; highly educated, erudite, and elegant. Connery is a great actor, but it's like having a guy with a 'Bama accent play an east coast elite. Pierce Brosnan was actually the most Bond like of the Bonds, IMHO.
Also, I like ALL the Bond movies. Even the Roger Moore versions.
=============================
I have to disagree: Sean Connery is Scottish, for one. Ian Flemming's Bond was an English Gentleman; highly educated, erudite, and elegant. Connery is a great actor, but it's like having a guy with a 'Bama accent play an east coast elite. Pierce Brosnan was actually the most Bond like of the Bonds, IMHO.
Also, I like ALL the Bond movies. Even the Roger Moore versions.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 10:57 AM (ty7RM)
210
This 6th century Lombard warrior got his forearm amputated, perhaps in battle. He got it replaced with a prosthetic.
t.co/TUaR8059Qt
... specifically, the prosthetic was a blade.
t.co/TUaR8059Qt
... specifically, the prosthetic was a blade.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:57 AM (Xk4Hx)
211
Well, I'm not sure if this belongs here or on the chess thread but behold:
Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion
https://amzn.to/2IkVUNa
Yeah, boy, the Soviets and other commies say they created a classless society and all you need to do is to look at their fashion and art to know it.
Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion
https://amzn.to/2IkVUNa
Yeah, boy, the Soviets and other commies say they created a classless society and all you need to do is to look at their fashion and art to know it.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:58 AM (+y/Ru)
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at June 24, 2018 10:58 AM (xWmOy)
213
We're being asked to go to the Boulder Latinx Festival. where the hashtag is #keepfamiliestogether but it's totes not going to be an antiTrump hatefest youguys.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 10:59 AM (Xk4Hx)
214
209. Roger Moore had the best voice, not just his diction but also its tone.
Posted by: kallisto at June 24, 2018 10:59 AM (9JLXE)
215
I think I should feel safer at a German Barbarian Festival.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:00 AM (Xk4Hx)
216
213 We're being asked to go to the Boulder Latinx Festival. where the hashtag is #keepfamiliestogether but it's totes not going to be an antiTrump hatefest youguys
--------------------
Don't eat the food. You will be on the shitter for two days.
--------------------
Don't eat the food. You will be on the shitter for two days.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 11:00 AM (vV/gB)
217
From last thread:
Charlie Kirk on Twitter: "Did you know: Border patrol just arrested an Iranian national at the border who also had two cell phones and currency from six other countries ."
Valerie Jarrett is on the loose again!
Charlie Kirk on Twitter: "Did you know: Border patrol just arrested an Iranian national at the border who also had two cell phones and currency from six other countries ."
Valerie Jarrett is on the loose again!
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:00 AM (V2Yro)
218
at one point a sailor put his hand on a cannon and it moved, details M&C didn't overlook.
Yeah well Master and Commander's budget was a lot bigger. Sea novels are extremely expensive to film, which is why you don't see very many despite their popularity. M&C didn't really make money (cost $150 million, earned just over $212 million worldwide) even though it was a fairly popular and acclaimed film. They cut a lot of corners in the Hornblower series (although it rarely showed) but it still cost a ton which is why they never finished the series.
Its too bad too, Ioun Stone Griffon is old enough now he'd be a great middle aged Hornblower.
Yeah well Master and Commander's budget was a lot bigger. Sea novels are extremely expensive to film, which is why you don't see very many despite their popularity. M&C didn't really make money (cost $150 million, earned just over $212 million worldwide) even though it was a fairly popular and acclaimed film. They cut a lot of corners in the Hornblower series (although it rarely showed) but it still cost a ton which is why they never finished the series.
Its too bad too, Ioun Stone Griffon is old enough now he'd be a great middle aged Hornblower.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:00 AM (39g3+)
219
I was surprised when I read some of the Bond books, mumble decades ago, that he wasn't really the film Bond.
The first one I read he was dissolute, on an island somewhere, and had to quit drinking and work out for a couple of weeks to get ready for a mission.
The first one I read he was dissolute, on an island somewhere, and had to quit drinking and work out for a couple of weeks to get ready for a mission.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2018 11:01 AM (fuK7c)
220
They cut a lot of corners in the Hornblower series (although it rarely showed) but it still cost a ton which is why they never finished the series.
----------------------
I would love to see a movie on Captain Morgan's raid on Panama.
----------------------
I would love to see a movie on Captain Morgan's raid on Panama.
Posted by: Puddin Head at June 24, 2018 11:02 AM (vV/gB)
221
I have an idea for Kathleen Kennedy. Her next Star Wars project should take place on the high seas. I recommend off the coast of Somalia.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:02 AM (Xk4Hx)
222
The recent TV series Black Sails about Caribbean pirates was mostly very good, with great stuff at sea.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:03 AM (pV/54)
223
My Bond Actor list, best to worst:
Timothy Dalton
Sean Connery
Pierce Brosnan*
George Lazenby
Daniel Craig
Roger Moore
(I'm leaving out the spoof Casino Royale which had like 8 people play Bond)
*He'd be lower, but they quit when his films started to get bad, unlike Moore who kept going for five films after they got awful. Although Octopussy wasn't bad.
Timothy Dalton
Sean Connery
Pierce Brosnan*
George Lazenby
Daniel Craig
Roger Moore
(I'm leaving out the spoof Casino Royale which had like 8 people play Bond)
*He'd be lower, but they quit when his films started to get bad, unlike Moore who kept going for five films after they got awful. Although Octopussy wasn't bad.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:03 AM (39g3+)
224
Just an FYI, the guy that started Powells was Jewish. I'm surprised that wasn't factored into the demise of the feminist bookstore.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at June 24, 2018 11:04 AM (Lqy/e)
225
If I had George Soros money,
Speaking of that, does anybody else get those Anderson window commercials in their area ?
They're on 20 - 30 times a day here ! I figure Soros must own that company, I don't see how they can afford all those commercials.
If they wanna impress me, make a commercial with those 2 bums doing some actual work.
Speaking of that, does anybody else get those Anderson window commercials in their area ?
They're on 20 - 30 times a day here ! I figure Soros must own that company, I don't see how they can afford all those commercials.
If they wanna impress me, make a commercial with those 2 bums doing some actual work.
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 11:06 AM (lBiGz)
226
Yeah, boy, the Soviets and other commies say they created a classless society and all you need to do is to look at their fashion and art to know it.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:58 AM (+y/Ru)
I popped over there and read the blurb. Yeah, that's what the world needs, a progressive 'critique' of the fashion industry, packed full of po-mo/marxist agitprop mumbo jumbo. Ugh.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 10:58 AM (+y/Ru)
I popped over there and read the blurb. Yeah, that's what the world needs, a progressive 'critique' of the fashion industry, packed full of po-mo/marxist agitprop mumbo jumbo. Ugh.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at June 24, 2018 11:08 AM (UX379)
227
Rating Bonds can't be separated from the movies they were in.
We can all agree that Moore sucked. Lazenby had a tough outing in a transitional vehicle. I found Dalton and Brosnan boring in derivative vehicles.
Connery for me overall. Craig had the best single outing in Casino Royale as they channeled the best of the early Connery Bonds.
We can all agree that Moore sucked. Lazenby had a tough outing in a transitional vehicle. I found Dalton and Brosnan boring in derivative vehicles.
Connery for me overall. Craig had the best single outing in Casino Royale as they channeled the best of the early Connery Bonds.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (pV/54)
228
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 10:57 AM (ty7RM)
I thought James Bond was Scottish and French.
I remember his ancestry being mentioned in one of the books....
I thought James Bond was Scottish and French.
I remember his ancestry being mentioned in one of the books....
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (wYseH)
229
If you're looking for movies on Asian naval battles, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" was pretty cool.
Posted by: josephistan at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (ANIFC)
230
Its not a trap. Its the difference between information you only need to know as a very specific specialist, and simply being alive on the planet.
It's been a long time since I read Conan Doyle, so I may be remembering a scene from a Holmes movie that wasn't actually in a story. Watson is chiding Holmes for not knowing that the Earth revolves around the sun instead of vice versa. Holmes replies that it's not that he doesn't know, it's just that it doesn't make any practical difference to him so he ignores the knowledge.
It's been a long time since I read Conan Doyle, so I may be remembering a scene from a Holmes movie that wasn't actually in a story. Watson is chiding Holmes for not knowing that the Earth revolves around the sun instead of vice versa. Holmes replies that it's not that he doesn't know, it's just that it doesn't make any practical difference to him so he ignores the knowledge.
Posted by: Bob the Bilderberg at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (7oUUT)
231
I like watching stuff On Demand on "Xfinity" (Comcast), but the ads they tack on to the shows makes me wonder if my tastes are single middle aged female or they just have no idea how to advertise. I love Forged in Fire, one of the most unapologetically manly shows on television and they bombard it with ads for cosmetics, emotionally manipulative NBC news ads (yes, they advertise for NBC news) and vacation ads.
Thankfully they don't disable fast forward.
Thankfully they don't disable fast forward.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (39g3+)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 11:10 AM (lBiGz)
233
"Strange Stars: David Bowie, Pop Music, and the Decade Sci-Fi Exploded"
-
I watched celebrity Autopsy about David Bowie the other night. Schizophrenia was rife in his family and there is reason to believe he didn't escape it. For a lengthy period he consumed only milk, red peppers and cocaine.
-
I watched celebrity Autopsy about David Bowie the other night. Schizophrenia was rife in his family and there is reason to believe he didn't escape it. For a lengthy period he consumed only milk, red peppers and cocaine.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 11:12 AM (+y/Ru)
234
Although Octopussy wasn't bad.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:03 AM (39g3+)
Never could get past the title of that one. It's cheesiness just way too close to, ahem, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine or some of that other crap that Vincent Price laughed all the way to the bank making.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:03 AM (39g3+)
Never could get past the title of that one. It's cheesiness just way too close to, ahem, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine or some of that other crap that Vincent Price laughed all the way to the bank making.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at June 24, 2018 11:12 AM (UX379)
235
you're looking for movies on Asian naval battles, "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" was pretty cool.
Posted by: josephistan at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (ANIFC)
Based on a true story, thou most of the ships were probably troop ships, the fact he was able to do what he did with such a small force.
Posted by: josephistan at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (ANIFC)
Based on a true story, thou most of the ships were probably troop ships, the fact he was able to do what he did with such a small force.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at June 24, 2018 11:12 AM (dKiJG)
236
https://twitter.com/junius_64/status/1009808499805773824?s=21
SMOD has a new alternate, although the plan to create a giant god-lobster seems like it might not be ready for 2020.
SMOD has a new alternate, although the plan to create a giant god-lobster seems like it might not be ready for 2020.
Posted by: Came a hobo hikin' at June 24, 2018 11:13 AM (VWE5i)
237
Holmes replies that it's not that he doesn't know, it's just that it doesn't make any practical difference to him so he ignores the knowledge.
Posted by: Bob the Bilderberg at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (7oUUT)
It's from A Study in Scarlet.
"I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."
Trap sprung, I knew that quote. I automatically lose
Posted by: Bob the Bilderberg at June 24, 2018 11:09 AM (7oUUT)
It's from A Study in Scarlet.
"I consider that a man's brain originally is like a little empty attic, and you have to stock it with such furniture as you choose. A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that he comes across, so that the knowledge which might be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best is jumbled up with a lot of other things, so that he has a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Now the skillful workman is very careful indeed as to what he takes into his brain-attic. He will have nothing but the tools which may help him in doing his work, but of these he has a large assortment, and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake to think that that little room has elastic walls and can distend to any extent. Depend upon it there comes a time when for every addition of knowledge you forget something that you knew before. It is of the highest importance, therefore, not to have useless facts elbowing out the useful ones."
Trap sprung, I knew that quote. I automatically lose
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:13 AM (fZuhk)
238
The thing is, Moore didn't actually suck as Bond, he just was given such awful stuff that he started treating them as a joke. Like he said he's supposed to be a secret agent, but every bartender on earth knows how he likes his martini mixed? A world-famous secret agent???
And the directors put stupid goofy crap in like Jaws and the sound effects out of a Hanna Barberra cartoon. At his best like in Live and Let Die or For Your Eyes Only, Moore is a great James Bond.
But he's really nothing like the books. Brosnan and especially Dalton were much more like the books (and I agree, the first Craig film). He's a normal, real human being in the novels, just very skilled and good at his job.
And the directors put stupid goofy crap in like Jaws and the sound effects out of a Hanna Barberra cartoon. At his best like in Live and Let Die or For Your Eyes Only, Moore is a great James Bond.
But he's really nothing like the books. Brosnan and especially Dalton were much more like the books (and I agree, the first Craig film). He's a normal, real human being in the novels, just very skilled and good at his job.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:13 AM (39g3+)
239
I heard that Sony is going to remake Master and Commander with an all female cast.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:13 AM (V2Yro)
240
"On the casting for Master and Commander, Russell Crowe was pitch perfect for Aubrey. "
Great subtle scene when Aubrey and the Kid are describing how the bug disguises itself as a twig to befuddle its enemies, and you can see the light bulb go off in Crowe's eyes.
He has Surprise made to look like a whaler, and an easy prize for the French enemy.
Great subtle scene when Aubrey and the Kid are describing how the bug disguises itself as a twig to befuddle its enemies, and you can see the light bulb go off in Crowe's eyes.
He has Surprise made to look like a whaler, and an easy prize for the French enemy.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:14 AM (pV/54)
241
I saw a library joke the other day.
Guy walks into the library and asks the librarian, "Do you have any books on paranoia?"
Librarian replies, "Behind you."
Guy walks into the library and asks the librarian, "Do you have any books on paranoia?"
Librarian replies, "Behind you."
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:15 AM (hMwEB)
242
Never could get past the title of that one.
Yeah and it has crappy Moore Bond moments like the half-a-car chase scene and the goofy sound effects. But under all that is actually a really tight, tense spy story that was surprisingly well told.
Yeah and it has crappy Moore Bond moments like the half-a-car chase scene and the goofy sound effects. But under all that is actually a really tight, tense spy story that was surprisingly well told.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:15 AM (39g3+)
243
Well, now that it's a Bond thread...
Craig had the best single outing in Casino Royale as they channeled the best of the early Connery Bonds.
Correct, though it's a shame how bad the subesequent Craig Bond movies have been. Craig is the one Bond who could most convincingly murder you.
Bond movies have never been big on continuity, but the character at least should have some. Remember when Bond meets Vesper on the train for the first time and they size each other up?
She takes him for an orphan who went to good schools on somebody else's money and that's why he has a chip on his shoulder and wears a Saville Row jacket with disdain.
Interesting character point.
So then there's Skyfall and it turns out he's had a mansion in Scotland the whole time and the mansion has employed his own personal Hagrid for 30 years or so.
Doesn't fit. Dumb.
Craig had the best single outing in Casino Royale as they channeled the best of the early Connery Bonds.
Correct, though it's a shame how bad the subesequent Craig Bond movies have been. Craig is the one Bond who could most convincingly murder you.
Bond movies have never been big on continuity, but the character at least should have some. Remember when Bond meets Vesper on the train for the first time and they size each other up?
She takes him for an orphan who went to good schools on somebody else's money and that's why he has a chip on his shoulder and wears a Saville Row jacket with disdain.
Interesting character point.
So then there's Skyfall and it turns out he's had a mansion in Scotland the whole time and the mansion has employed his own personal Hagrid for 30 years or so.
Doesn't fit. Dumb.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2018 11:15 AM (fuK7c)
244
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:13 AM (V2Yro)
In re: music mentioned in this here book thread, Man... or Astro-Man drops your name in one of their covers. You're famous!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbK_pPqWZk8
In re: music mentioned in this here book thread, Man... or Astro-Man drops your name in one of their covers. You're famous!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbK_pPqWZk8
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:16 AM (fZuhk)
245
At his best like in Live and Let Die or For Your Eyes Only, Moore is a great James Bond. "
Live and Let Die was a lot of fun, but that was where the series started to go all Bugs Bunny in the F/X department. Like where at the end, the head baddie blew up into a balloon, floated up to the ceiling, and exploded.
Live and Let Die was a lot of fun, but that was where the series started to go all Bugs Bunny in the F/X department. Like where at the end, the head baddie blew up into a balloon, floated up to the ceiling, and exploded.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:16 AM (V2Yro)
246
Guy walks into the library and asks the librarian, "Do you have any books on paranoia?"
Librarian replies, "Behind you."
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:15 AM (hMwEB)
"Do you have any books on turtles?"
"Hardback?"
"Yeah, with little heads?"
Librarian replies, "Behind you."
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:15 AM (hMwEB)
"Do you have any books on turtles?"
"Hardback?"
"Yeah, with little heads?"
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:17 AM (fZuhk)
247
I thought James Bond was Scottish and French.
===============================
Mostly correct; I just looked it up: he had a Scottish Father, and a Swiss mother. Orphaned at age 11, so I stand corrected. Connery was perfect to play Bond. Also, in one of the last movies Craig retreats to his family home in the Scottish Highlands, and it gets systematically destroyed.
===============================
Mostly correct; I just looked it up: he had a Scottish Father, and a Swiss mother. Orphaned at age 11, so I stand corrected. Connery was perfect to play Bond. Also, in one of the last movies Craig retreats to his family home in the Scottish Highlands, and it gets systematically destroyed.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at June 24, 2018 11:17 AM (ty7RM)
248
I agree RE: Aubrey, he was wonderful in the role, and I like how they depicted him as being subtly overweight. Aubrey was never shockingly fat, but he was never a svelte figure (well, except as a midshipman).
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:19 AM (39g3+)
249
Last week, OM published a word I'd sent him "aibohohibia" defined as the irrational fear of palindromes, which is supposed to be itself a palindrome.
I only got to read the thread that evening, and several commenters pointed out that the word as published was not, in fact, a palindrome, and should be spelled "aibohphobia". You are correct.
OM spelled it as I sent it to him. The misspelling is on me, not him.
I apologize to anyone who may have been offended, triggered, made distraught, and most sincerely, considered thinking deprecating thoughts about OM. Any such thoughts should be directed toward me.
I denounce myself.
I only got to read the thread that evening, and several commenters pointed out that the word as published was not, in fact, a palindrome, and should be spelled "aibohphobia". You are correct.
OM spelled it as I sent it to him. The misspelling is on me, not him.
I apologize to anyone who may have been offended, triggered, made distraught, and most sincerely, considered thinking deprecating thoughts about OM. Any such thoughts should be directed toward me.
I denounce myself.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (DMUuz)
250
Never read a James Bond book, even as a young reader. Connery is best hands down for me but liking Craig more each time.
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (pHfeF)
251
Mostly correct; I just looked it up: he had a Scottish Father, and a Swiss mother.
He has French ancestors, one a rather famous painter. Vernet I think it is.
He has French ancestors, one a rather famous painter. Vernet I think it is.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (39g3+)
252
Although the Librarian was turned into an Orangutan by a book (or portion thereof) it wasn't stored in the Library and was just passing through.
Bonus question: Where was the Librarian born?
Bonus question: Where was the Librarian born?
Posted by: jakee308 at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (psHEv)
253
I heard that Sony is going to remake Master and Commander with an all female cast.
Posted by: Tom Servo
Are they gonna smash their ships into each other like they do in our navy ?
Posted by: Tom Servo
Are they gonna smash their ships into each other like they do in our navy ?
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 11:21 AM (lBiGz)
254
I denounce myself.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (DMUuz)
50 lashes with a wet noodle!
Posted by: Duncanthrax at June 24, 2018 11:20 AM (DMUuz)
50 lashes with a wet noodle!
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:21 AM (hMwEB)
255
Reading GoldFinger was so strange and I liked how there was an explanation of the Gold standard and the pound. This book is probably considered racist today because of they way it describes Koreans working for GoldFinger.
Posted by: Patrick from Ohio at June 24, 2018 11:21 AM (dKiJG)
256
He has French ancestors, one a rather famous painter. Vernet I think it is.
Never mind, I'm thinking of Sherlock Holmes. My mistake.
Never mind, I'm thinking of Sherlock Holmes. My mistake.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:21 AM (39g3+)
257
Ian Fleming hated the choice of Connery at first. He was thinking of a young David Niven.
But when he saw that Connery worked, he revealed Bond's ancestry as Scottish and Swiss in a later novel.
You never go full Scottish.
But when he saw that Connery worked, he revealed Bond's ancestry as Scottish and Swiss in a later novel.
You never go full Scottish.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM (pV/54)
258
also I noted that 'aibohphobia' is impossible in Greek since there's no standalone letter H, just an aspirant diacritic.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM (Xk4Hx)
259
Breaking Leaking news!
A court in Germany has ruled in favour of a man's right to urinate while standing up after his landlord demanded money for damage to the bathroom floor.
The landlord, who was seeking $2,200, claimed the marble floor had been damaged by urine.
But the Duesseldorf judge ruled that the man's method was within cultural norms, saying "urinating standing up is still common practice".
There is some debate in Germany about whether men should sit or stand to pee.
https://bbc.in/2yCvXsH
A court in Germany has ruled in favour of a man's right to urinate while standing up after his landlord demanded money for damage to the bathroom floor.
The landlord, who was seeking $2,200, claimed the marble floor had been damaged by urine.
But the Duesseldorf judge ruled that the man's method was within cultural norms, saying "urinating standing up is still common practice".
There is some debate in Germany about whether men should sit or stand to pee.
https://bbc.in/2yCvXsH
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM (+y/Ru)
260
there is a series based on Ian Fleming on Netflix
haven't watched it yet
haven't watched it yet
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM (hMwEB)
261
Like where at the end, the head baddie blew up into a balloon, floated up to the ceiling, and exploded.
Yeah it was kind of headed in that direction with Diamonds are Forever, with a slight detour with the underrated On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It really is too bad that Lazenby decided he wanted to become a hippie because he was very good with Bond.
Yeah it was kind of headed in that direction with Diamonds are Forever, with a slight detour with the underrated On Her Majesty's Secret Service. It really is too bad that Lazenby decided he wanted to become a hippie because he was very good with Bond.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM (39g3+)
262
We are men 'who pisseth against the wall'. It says so in the Bible.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:24 AM (Xk4Hx)
263
There is probably a German word for being needlessly and excessively specific in language.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (39g3+)
Language is a tool. It allows us to describe and transmit information to others and allows us to describe an objective reality. It also allows us to choose the level of detail instead of forcing us to be vague through only being able to handle generalities.
Sloppy language creates muddy thinking and allows spurious, inexact and false reasoning. Sloppy language is used continually to hide actions and provide false pretexts.
Identifying sloppy language is essential in parsing your way through lies and false premises. It also allows you to identify sloppy thinking and once you do that you can either tailor a message to address that, or identify a bias in the person you are communicating with and use that as a tool for providing information around the biases.
(I hate saying "one does that" by the way because it sounds pretentious. I am not pointing my finger at you, Christopher, just trying to find a third person term that is easy to use)
Inexact language use and muddy thinking also leads to poor prose, where the reader winds getting stuck in the words instead of getting enmeshed in the plot and characters.
To drag it to the ultimate absurdity: if the only term available for domestic animals is cow and cattle, readers are going to spend too much time wondering where the home cured ham came from, and why some of the cattle live on the porch and bark.
There is probably a German word for being needlessly and excessively specific in language.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 10:53 AM (39g3+)
Language is a tool. It allows us to describe and transmit information to others and allows us to describe an objective reality. It also allows us to choose the level of detail instead of forcing us to be vague through only being able to handle generalities.
Sloppy language creates muddy thinking and allows spurious, inexact and false reasoning. Sloppy language is used continually to hide actions and provide false pretexts.
Identifying sloppy language is essential in parsing your way through lies and false premises. It also allows you to identify sloppy thinking and once you do that you can either tailor a message to address that, or identify a bias in the person you are communicating with and use that as a tool for providing information around the biases.
(I hate saying "one does that" by the way because it sounds pretentious. I am not pointing my finger at you, Christopher, just trying to find a third person term that is easy to use)
Inexact language use and muddy thinking also leads to poor prose, where the reader winds getting stuck in the words instead of getting enmeshed in the plot and characters.
To drag it to the ultimate absurdity: if the only term available for domestic animals is cow and cattle, readers are going to spend too much time wondering where the home cured ham came from, and why some of the cattle live on the porch and bark.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 11:24 AM (2K6fY)
264
there is a series based on Ian Fleming on Netflix
I haven't watched it yet, because the description sounds like ridiculous fiction when its supposed to be biographical. Fleming was an academic, a pinhead, and his work in WW2 was more Q than 007. He had great ideas -- and crazy ones -- but was not some active special secret agent in the field. The most danger he ever got into was as a Reuters reporter before the war.
I haven't watched it yet, because the description sounds like ridiculous fiction when its supposed to be biographical. Fleming was an academic, a pinhead, and his work in WW2 was more Q than 007. He had great ideas -- and crazy ones -- but was not some active special secret agent in the field. The most danger he ever got into was as a Reuters reporter before the war.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:24 AM (39g3+)
265
Seems Laurens Mother didn't find too much to her liking.
She had more codes for bad stuff than good.
I would not think she was easy to get along with.
Very particular. And nuanced.
She had more codes for bad stuff than good.
I would not think she was easy to get along with.
Very particular. And nuanced.
Posted by: jakee308 at June 24, 2018 11:25 AM (psHEv)
266
We are men 'who pisseth against the wall'. It says so in the Bible.
That made me flash back to Obadiah Hakeswill from the Sharpes series, who was fond of saying "says so in the scriptures!"
Although unlike you, he was inevitably wrong and misquoting the Bible, if not inventing things whole cloth.
That made me flash back to Obadiah Hakeswill from the Sharpes series, who was fond of saying "says so in the scriptures!"
Although unlike you, he was inevitably wrong and misquoting the Bible, if not inventing things whole cloth.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:26 AM (39g3+)
267
Rambling Wreck was awesome follow up to the Hidden Truth. I eagerly await the third in the alternate history where al gore won in 2000.
Posted by: Dread0 at June 24, 2018 11:26 AM (Bptbo)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 11:26 AM (lBiGz)
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2018 11:27 AM (fuK7c)
270
I have lately been reading James Ellroy's works. Most of them are noir books about crime(s) in '40s-'50s Los Angeles. Two of his books have been made into motion pictures -- The Black Dahlia and LA Confidential. The former adaptation is better than some critics believe, while the latter enjoyed critical and commercial success.
At the moment I am reading "Arthur Rex, a Legendary Novel," by Thomas Berger," another fine writer with some successful Hollywood adaptations to his credit as well, "Little. Big Man" the most famous. Berger's work is as splendidly droll as Ellroy's is painfully dark. I recommend both writers without reservation.
At the moment I am reading "Arthur Rex, a Legendary Novel," by Thomas Berger," another fine writer with some successful Hollywood adaptations to his credit as well, "Little. Big Man" the most famous. Berger's work is as splendidly droll as Ellroy's is painfully dark. I recommend both writers without reservation.
Posted by: Niall Brennan at June 24, 2018 11:28 AM (HcNNC)
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 11:28 AM (lBiGz)
272
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 11:24 AM (2K6fY)
Have you read/are you familiar with Neal Stephenson's Anathem, and if so, how do you feel about the language created for the book?
Or constructed languages in general, I guess.
Have you read/are you familiar with Neal Stephenson's Anathem, and if so, how do you feel about the language created for the book?
Or constructed languages in general, I guess.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:28 AM (fZuhk)
273
Yeah it was kind of headed in that direction with Diamonds are Forever, with a slight detour with the underrated On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
There's an obscure little bit of "Diamonds are Forever" that always cracks my wife and I up. When the final assault on the oil rig begins, there's this very distinctive and dramatic Attack! music that plays through the entire scene.
My wife grew up in Shreveport, and she told me that TV 3 used that as it's opening news theme for 20 years. It's perfect - it's exactly the piece of music you could see Ron Burgundy picking for his newscast.
Yeah it was kind of headed in that direction with Diamonds are Forever, with a slight detour with the underrated On Her Majesty's Secret Service."
There's an obscure little bit of "Diamonds are Forever" that always cracks my wife and I up. When the final assault on the oil rig begins, there's this very distinctive and dramatic Attack! music that plays through the entire scene.
My wife grew up in Shreveport, and she told me that TV 3 used that as it's opening news theme for 20 years. It's perfect - it's exactly the piece of music you could see Ron Burgundy picking for his newscast.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:29 AM (V2Yro)
274
I liked Dalton as Bond
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at June 24, 2018 11:29 AM (hMwEB)
275
also I noted that 'aibohphobia' is impossible in Greek since there's no standalone letter H, just an aspirant diacritic.
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM
So, we should aspire to emulate the Greeks, because there would be no H8 that Agape, Ludus, Philia and Eros would have to Trump!
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 11:22 AM
So, we should aspire to emulate the Greeks, because there would be no H8 that Agape, Ludus, Philia and Eros would have to Trump!
Posted by: Philautia Phreshman, 'Studies' Major & SJW-in-training at June 24, 2018 11:30 AM (DMUuz)
276
Read John Ringo's The Last Centurion this week enjoyed it quite a bit. So much so that I think I will reread it this week.
It is a kind of Apocalypse novel or at least near Apocalypse novel and not really gore filled (however in parts very violent) but it is frightening because he makes it seem plausible.
It is a kind of Apocalypse novel or at least near Apocalypse novel and not really gore filled (however in parts very violent) but it is frightening because he makes it seem plausible.
Posted by: Big V at June 24, 2018 11:30 AM (ZvLtE)
277
I'm getting ready to plunge into The Art of the Deal because people keep referring to it in regard to PDT's decisions.
And speaking of censoring speech, my FB was lit up this morning because a young man was taking a 2nd amendment sticker off a lady's truck in the Meijers parking lot. The bastard took off on a bike before she could get his license or anything. People are fighting mad on FB.
And speaking of censoring speech, my FB was lit up this morning because a young man was taking a 2nd amendment sticker off a lady's truck in the Meijers parking lot. The bastard took off on a bike before she could get his license or anything. People are fighting mad on FB.
Posted by: NaughtyPine at June 24, 2018 11:30 AM (/+bwe)
278
Many silly talking heads on Sunday Morning Shows. Recurring theme is that Trump is a poopyhead that will destroy the R party. We need a Uniter not a Divider!
None will acknowledge that the D party wants half the country to just FOAD already, and Hillary made that perfectly clear.
None will acknowledge that the D party wants half the country to just FOAD already, and Hillary made that perfectly clear.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:31 AM (pV/54)
279
Timothy Dalton was ruined as Bond because they decided to make Miami Vice: the 007 movie! Its too bad, too because he was so good at the role and is an amazing actor.
He is so hilarious in Hot Fuzz.
He is so hilarious in Hot Fuzz.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:34 AM (39g3+)
280
278 Many silly talking heads on Sunday Morning Shows. Recurring theme is that Trump is a poopyhead that will destroy the R party. We need a Uniter not a Divider!"
I've realized how pointless the Sunday morning shows are - they're just Washington talking to Washington. I'd put good money that at most 1% of the voters in this country ever know about anything that is said on any of them.
No one out here cares what they say anymore. We're done with that.
I've realized how pointless the Sunday morning shows are - they're just Washington talking to Washington. I'd put good money that at most 1% of the voters in this country ever know about anything that is said on any of them.
No one out here cares what they say anymore. We're done with that.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:35 AM (V2Yro)
281
That top 100 list of Sci-Fi inspired songs had zero Blue Oyster Cult songs.
The person compiling it was obviously very, very young.
There's "Black Blade", written by Michael Moorcock himself. There's "Godzilla", "Nosferatu", "Golden Age of Leather", and a ton others.
The one I can't understand being left out is Veteran of The Psychic Wars:
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song.
The person compiling it was obviously very, very young.
There's "Black Blade", written by Michael Moorcock himself. There's "Godzilla", "Nosferatu", "Golden Age of Leather", and a ton others.
The one I can't understand being left out is Veteran of The Psychic Wars:
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song.
Posted by: Inspector Cussword at June 24, 2018 11:36 AM (c1VpD)
282
I read all the James Bond books when the first movie came out. The books were much better than the movies. But that is normal.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2018 11:37 AM (mpXpK)
283
278
Many silly talking heads on Sunday Morning Shows. Recurring theme is
that Trump is a poopyhead that will destroy the R party. We need a
Uniter not a Divider!
None will acknowledge that the D party wants half the country to just FOAD already, and Hillary made that perfectly clear.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:31 AM (pV/54)
The Sunday morning talk shows went to shit 50 years ago.
Many silly talking heads on Sunday Morning Shows. Recurring theme is
that Trump is a poopyhead that will destroy the R party. We need a
Uniter not a Divider!
None will acknowledge that the D party wants half the country to just FOAD already, and Hillary made that perfectly clear.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:31 AM (pV/54)
The Sunday morning talk shows went to shit 50 years ago.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2018 11:39 AM (mpXpK)
284
She had more codes for bad stuff than good.
There are more ways for stuff to be bad than to be good.
There are more ways for stuff to be bad than to be good.
Posted by: Bob the Bilderberg at June 24, 2018 11:40 AM (7oUUT)
285
Connery was the only Bond imho. A prize winning bodybuilder before chosen to be in the Bond movies. A fit and well defined 'attainable' level of physique for most men, not the garish, bulging level of a Schwarzenegger.
Connery was the guy that men saw reflected in the mirror. A very out of focus, steamed up mirror, for most.
Connery was the only Bond imho. A prize winning bodybuilder before chosen to be in the Bond movies. A fit and well defined 'attainable' level of physique for most men, not the garish, bulging level of a Schwarzenegger.
Connery was the guy that men saw reflected in the mirror. A very out of focus, steamed up mirror, for most.
Posted by: Forgot My Nic at June 24, 2018 11:40 AM (LOgQ4)
286
Dalton is a real actor. Apparently immune to aging, because he (along with Hannibal Lector) was in A Lion in Winter in something like 1968.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2018 11:40 AM (fuK7c)
287
The one I can't understand being left out is Veteran of The Psychic Wars:
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song."
Love that song, one of their best!
Another sci-fi song by BOC - "Astronomy"
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song."
Love that song, one of their best!
Another sci-fi song by BOC - "Astronomy"
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:40 AM (V2Yro)
288
@125 The Comnene Dynasty gave a good go at it after Manzikert. The 4th Crusade and the Venetians sacking Constantinople didn't help things out much, though.
----------------
I've got a book about the history of Venice. It opens with the leaders of the upcoming Fourth Crusade approachung Venice to place an order for a huge quantity of ships...
(For those unaware, Venice built the ships. The Fourth Crusade didn't get the expected manpower... or money to pay for the ships.)
----------------
I've got a book about the history of Venice. It opens with the leaders of the upcoming Fourth Crusade approachung Venice to place an order for a huge quantity of ships...
(For those unaware, Venice built the ships. The Fourth Crusade didn't get the expected manpower... or money to pay for the ships.)
Posted by: juniorj at June 24, 2018 11:41 AM (/y4g1)
289
Yeah the Bond books are amazing. And I am comforted by their sales and historical profile. Ian Fleming was so disappointed and frustrated with the sales that he killed Bond off at the end of one of the books. Why keep writing a series about a character nobody seemed to care about or want to buy?
But it was just then that the books suddenly took off and became popular.
And he chose "James Bond" because it was such a bland, forgettable, typical British name. Bond, James Bond is like Smith, John Smith. Except not now, its one of the most famous names in the world.
But it was just then that the books suddenly took off and became popular.
And he chose "James Bond" because it was such a bland, forgettable, typical British name. Bond, James Bond is like Smith, John Smith. Except not now, its one of the most famous names in the world.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:41 AM (39g3+)
290
234 Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at June 24, 2018 11:12 AM (UX379)
This is off-topic but in case you are still here. Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr7_QfoALPg
From chess-base India and kind of cute.
Pragg is a GM at 12y 10m 13d
Only Karjakin managed it younger. Carlsen was 13+.
This is off-topic but in case you are still here. Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr7_QfoALPg
From chess-base India and kind of cute.
Pragg is a GM at 12y 10m 13d
Only Karjakin managed it younger. Carlsen was 13+.
Posted by: Off the reservation at June 24, 2018 11:42 AM (vWMNq)
291
286 Dalton is a real actor. Apparently immune to aging, because he (along with Hannibal Lector) was in A Lion in Winter in something like 1968."
Well you know he's not just a Time Lord, he's Rassilon, chief of all of the Time Lords.
Well you know he's not just a Time Lord, he's Rassilon, chief of all of the Time Lords.
Posted by: Tom Servo at June 24, 2018 11:43 AM (V2Yro)
292
From yesterday
Royalist who want the anointed to lead the unwashed masses
Royalist who want the anointed to lead the unwashed masses
Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2018 11:44 AM (pHfeF)
293
Original source of that wonderful Librarian image:
https://ka-kind.deviantart.com/art/discworld-library-142290850
https://ka-kind.deviantart.com/art/discworld-library-142290850
Posted by: MW at June 24, 2018 11:45 AM (hNTtn)
294
The best history of the conquest of Mexico I know of is William H. Prescott's _History of the Conquest of Mexico. He wrote it in the 1840s, basically as soon as the Mexican Revolution made it possible for an outsider to get at the archives. Despite being almost 200 years old it's very readable.
It's also fun to read Bernal Diaz's memoir _The True History of the Conquest of New Spain_, which is mostly his eyewitness account. He does work in a little score-settling with people who had died before he wrote it, but that's interesting, too.
It's also fun to read Bernal Diaz's memoir _The True History of the Conquest of New Spain_, which is mostly his eyewitness account. He does work in a little score-settling with people who had died before he wrote it, but that's interesting, too.
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 11:46 AM (8c54+)
295
From Dear Lauren's twitter feed:
"How can we be tearing children away from parents at our borders?"
Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (di1hb)
Well, you have to be careful not to dislocate an arm or leg while you are pulling. Hair is good, if it's long enough and they don't have a nutritional deficiency where it comes out in clumps. I've found that the easiest way to do it is to throw a dollar bill in the air to distract the mother and, while she chases it, offer some loaded pizza to the child. They will follow you anywhere.
"How can we be tearing children away from parents at our borders?"
Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at June 24, 2018 10:26 AM (di1hb)
Well, you have to be careful not to dislocate an arm or leg while you are pulling. Hair is good, if it's long enough and they don't have a nutritional deficiency where it comes out in clumps. I've found that the easiest way to do it is to throw a dollar bill in the air to distract the mother and, while she chases it, offer some loaded pizza to the child. They will follow you anywhere.
Posted by: Anonymous White Male at June 24, 2018 11:46 AM (9BLnV)
296
One of the things I like about this place is that people appreciate Blue Oyster Cult. Too many people only know it from the "more cowbell" skit and that makes Mr Hand turn into Mr Fist.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:47 AM (39g3+)
297
The Sunday Morning Shows often show the MSM agenda for the week. Yes, it's DC on DC, but MSM still has oversized influence.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:48 AM (pV/54)
298
IIRC The name James Bond was taken from an author of a book on English Gardening.
Fleming wanted the most boring name he could think of.
Fleming wanted the most boring name he could think of.
Posted by: Big V at June 24, 2018 11:49 AM (ZvLtE)
299
As to the canals of Mars being "settled science" when Percival Lowell was writing, I've got some bad news for you. Astronomers of the day regarded Lowell as a well-heeled crackpot. They weren't going to come out and say it, because he had a nice habit of endowing observatories to look for canals on Mars, but he was the only astronomer actually talking about the canals as artificial structures.
Lowell was VERY popular among newspaper reporters, because he knew how to work a press conference and his theories were good copy. They sometimes called him "Professor" Lowell, but his actual title was "Mr. Can-Afford-To-Buy-Observatories."
Lowell was VERY popular among newspaper reporters, because he knew how to work a press conference and his theories were good copy. They sometimes called him "Professor" Lowell, but his actual title was "Mr. Can-Afford-To-Buy-Observatories."
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 11:49 AM (8c54+)
300
I would assume there is a market for John Julius Norwich's Byzantium Trilogy, so I'm surprised it hasn't been re-published in paperback....
Posted by: JoeF. at June 24, 2018 11:49 AM (y8Foj)
301
95 - I have read Silver John and really enjoyed it. A lot of the stories are available for free online.
Currently I'm reading the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronson. Urban fantasy police procedurals with a lot of detail about the history of London thrown in. I'm really enjoying them.
Currently I'm reading the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronson. Urban fantasy police procedurals with a lot of detail about the history of London thrown in. I'm really enjoying them.
Posted by: Dr Alice at June 24, 2018 11:49 AM (LaT54)
302
Trump is a poopyhead that will destroy the R party."
In other words, he's being effective, and the Dims are flailing.
In other words, he's being effective, and the Dims are flailing.
Posted by: Anon a mouse at June 24, 2018 11:50 AM (7LY+6)
303
True story. Patti Smith the punker nearly joined Blue Oyster Cult, after writing lyrics for a few of their songs.
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 11:52 AM (pV/54)
304
A quick advisory for members of the Horde: there is a GOOD Red Hen -- the online Red Hen Bookshop, run by a very nice young lady from Hannibal, Mo. whose ultimate goal is to one day open a brick and mortar bookstore. She offers a variety of titles for all ages. I've met her, her husband and kids and they are great folks. Check them out at theredhenbookshop.com.
Posted by: Secret Square at June 24, 2018 11:53 AM (9WuX0)
305
Tom Servo: that dramatic bit of James Bond music also turns up in Moonraker, and I think in some of the other movies as well. It's called "007" and was written by John Barry, the main music guy for the series. He was hoping it might replace the original Bond theme, especially since he was involved in a dispute with another composer over who actually wrote the Bond theme.
Posted by: Trimegistus at June 24, 2018 11:53 AM (8c54+)
306
299 ... Astronomers of the day regarded Lowell as a well-heeled crackpot. ...
At least Menzel was polite enough not to mention that ...
... and there are still 9 planets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Lowell#Pluto
At least Menzel was polite enough not to mention that ...
... and there are still 9 planets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percival_Lowell#Pluto
Posted by: Off the reservation at June 24, 2018 11:54 AM (vWMNq)
307
Timothy Dalton was ruined as Bond because they decided to make Miami Vice: the 007 movie! Its too bad, too because he was so good at the role and is an amazing actor.
He is so hilarious in Hot Fuzz.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:34 AM (39g3+)
Has anyone ever noticed that the James Bond films through the years seem to absorb--and then mirror- what else is simultaneously going on pop culture and film? Like how Live and Let Die had a Shaft-like 'blaxpoitation" angle, and the follow up, "Man With the Golden Gun" had a Southern Sheriff and a Mob subtext and "Moonraker" just happened to come out just after "Star Wars?"
He is so hilarious in Hot Fuzz.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 11:34 AM (39g3+)
Has anyone ever noticed that the James Bond films through the years seem to absorb--and then mirror- what else is simultaneously going on pop culture and film? Like how Live and Let Die had a Shaft-like 'blaxpoitation" angle, and the follow up, "Man With the Golden Gun" had a Southern Sheriff and a Mob subtext and "Moonraker" just happened to come out just after "Star Wars?"
Posted by: JoeF. at June 24, 2018 11:57 AM (y8Foj)
308
that dramatic bit of James Bond music also turns up in Moonraker, and I think in some of the other movies as well. It's called "007" and was written by John Barry, the main music guy for the series.
Always sounded like something from Star Trek to me. I can practically see Kirk doing his patented double fist overhead strike
Always sounded like something from Star Trek to me. I can practically see Kirk doing his patented double fist overhead strike
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 12:01 PM (39g3+)
309
nood
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 12:02 PM (fZuhk)
310
Or constructed languages in general, I guess.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:28 AM (fZuhk)
Never read Neil Stephenson, I have seen the books in the store but they never appealed to me enough to get them.
I remember trying to get my head around M A Foster's Ler language from Warriors of Dawn and Day of the Klesh, since that was a completely regular and modular language where you pulled a root from a concept (roots were pulled form earth, water, air, and fire groupings), and then added specific modifiers to place it in time but my brain squeaked about that tiem and I gave it up. That seemed to be a language based around a philosophic grouping of noun-roots with a series of modifiers like proto indo-european (PIE) case endings tacked on as suffixes, but it seemed terribly convoluted and more like something a computer would create.
I find some of the created languages to be overly efficient, far to trimmed down for speed, and uninteresting.
I deal with lots people who have English as a second language and I have done a lot of phone work over bad phone lines, and the thing that comes up more than anything is reduplication is used as a method of ensuring correct transmission of ideas. English tends to give multiple hints to sentence meaning, especially the main concept and when it occurs, through structure and word order. That is, we tend to add things in, that grammatically could be left out, to make sure the information is transmitted. This helps when there are multiple things vying for attention or there is something physical or otherwise that might drown out the message.
It is something we do as native speakers, but ESL speakers try to trim things down to be efficient, or because their birth tongue doesn't see that particular reduplication as important. They leave it off, and that causes some confusion when the tags pre-shadowing or reduplicating information aren't there, especially against a "noisy" background.
Also, at least in Indo-European tongues, there is alliteration and structural similarities between similar concepts because the similar concepts all came from identifiable PIE roots. A "growed" language has that, but an invented language may not.
The Ler language I mentioned above tries to address that by making the roots explicit in understanding the language, but I found the philosophic basis for the grouping was beyond what I could grasp so I let it go and read on.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 11:28 AM (fZuhk)
Never read Neil Stephenson, I have seen the books in the store but they never appealed to me enough to get them.
I remember trying to get my head around M A Foster's Ler language from Warriors of Dawn and Day of the Klesh, since that was a completely regular and modular language where you pulled a root from a concept (roots were pulled form earth, water, air, and fire groupings), and then added specific modifiers to place it in time but my brain squeaked about that tiem and I gave it up. That seemed to be a language based around a philosophic grouping of noun-roots with a series of modifiers like proto indo-european (PIE) case endings tacked on as suffixes, but it seemed terribly convoluted and more like something a computer would create.
I find some of the created languages to be overly efficient, far to trimmed down for speed, and uninteresting.
I deal with lots people who have English as a second language and I have done a lot of phone work over bad phone lines, and the thing that comes up more than anything is reduplication is used as a method of ensuring correct transmission of ideas. English tends to give multiple hints to sentence meaning, especially the main concept and when it occurs, through structure and word order. That is, we tend to add things in, that grammatically could be left out, to make sure the information is transmitted. This helps when there are multiple things vying for attention or there is something physical or otherwise that might drown out the message.
It is something we do as native speakers, but ESL speakers try to trim things down to be efficient, or because their birth tongue doesn't see that particular reduplication as important. They leave it off, and that causes some confusion when the tags pre-shadowing or reduplicating information aren't there, especially against a "noisy" background.
Also, at least in Indo-European tongues, there is alliteration and structural similarities between similar concepts because the similar concepts all came from identifiable PIE roots. A "growed" language has that, but an invented language may not.
The Ler language I mentioned above tries to address that by making the roots explicit in understanding the language, but I found the philosophic basis for the grouping was beyond what I could grasp so I let it go and read on.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 12:06 PM (2K6fY)
311
Thanks for the signal boost for A Rambling Wreck! This week, I'm reading Peter Grant's space opera, An Airless Storm, Book 2 in his Cochrane's Company Trilogy. Next up in my queue is The Powers of the Earth by Travis J. I. Corcoran.
Posted by: Hans G. Schantz at June 24, 2018 12:07 PM (1pQvR)
312
I'll Play:
Best 007's
Connery, of course is the first and who we grew up on.
Daniel Craig - Cold blooded killer. After all, that's what 00's are all about
Roger Moore for his first two, until it descended into camp comedy.
Then there is the rest. Meh.
Best 007's
Connery, of course is the first and who we grew up on.
Daniel Craig - Cold blooded killer. After all, that's what 00's are all about
Roger Moore for his first two, until it descended into camp comedy.
Then there is the rest. Meh.
Posted by: Jak Sucio at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (Y9uH4)
313
Reading "The Life in Christ" by Nicholas Cabasilas who lived in the 14th century and was a Orthodox monk and probably a priest as well
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (O5K3f)
314
281
That top 100 list of Sci-Fi inspired songs had zero Blue Oyster Cult songs.
The person compiling it was obviously very, very young.
There's "Black Blade", written by Michael Moorcock himself. There's
"Godzilla", "Nosferatu", "Golden Age of Leather", and a ton others.
The one I can't understand being left out is Veteran of The Psychic Wars:
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song.
Posted by: Inspector Cussword at June 24, 2018 11:36 AM (c1VpD)
THIS x 1 million.
"Monsters" from Cultosaurus Erectus, "The Great Sun Jester", The Vigil, ETI (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, for fvck's sake! LOL). And on and on.
Sigh.
That top 100 list of Sci-Fi inspired songs had zero Blue Oyster Cult songs.
The person compiling it was obviously very, very young.
There's "Black Blade", written by Michael Moorcock himself. There's
"Godzilla", "Nosferatu", "Golden Age of Leather", and a ton others.
The one I can't understand being left out is Veteran of The Psychic Wars:
https://youtu.be/k3nTaL31OkU
It's a march. Great song.
Posted by: Inspector Cussword at June 24, 2018 11:36 AM (c1VpD)
THIS x 1 million.
"Monsters" from Cultosaurus Erectus, "The Great Sun Jester", The Vigil, ETI (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence, for fvck's sake! LOL). And on and on.
Sigh.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (8iiMU)
315
I'm reading a book about a commenter on a snarky blog who solves a murder mystery by eliciting information from other commenters in the blog's gardening thread.
It's called "Better Holmes and Gardens".
The murder victim was kill at some kind of school, where crayons are common and basic arithmetic and reading skills are taught. And the murderer seems servile, but on a personal basis.
Can anyone figure this one out?
It's called "Better Holmes and Gardens".
The murder victim was kill at some kind of school, where crayons are common and basic arithmetic and reading skills are taught. And the murderer seems servile, but on a personal basis.
Can anyone figure this one out?
Posted by: Minuteman at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (XNROm)
316
I think more than half of Blue Oyster Cult's songs were fantasy or sci fi in origin and theme, even back in their crappy heavy metal phase.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 12:11 PM (39g3+)
Posted by: Ignoramus at June 24, 2018 12:14 PM (pV/54)
318
Insomniac-
If you're in here, or out there, or writing your autobiography entitled "My Life as an Undercover Gigolo", by I.N.S. Omniac, just know that we're all pulling for you.
Mebbe not the 'Ettes so much.
If you're in here, or out there, or writing your autobiography entitled "My Life as an Undercover Gigolo", by I.N.S. Omniac, just know that we're all pulling for you.
Mebbe not the 'Ettes so much.
Posted by: JT at June 24, 2018 12:17 PM (lBiGz)
319
Never read Neil Stephenson, I have seen the books in the store but they never appealed to me enough to get them.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 12:06 PM (2K6fY)
He's one of my favorites. He certainly has flaws, but I find the pages-long parenthetical digressions and done-shat-out-a-thesaurus vocabulary oddly compelling, if you can imagine. He's wordy, but he does take care with his work. If I had a better idea of what you read, I could offer some recommendations. The novels are the kind where an author has Big Important Opinions about something and then wraps a story around it - Snow Crash is about neurolinguistics, Cryptonomicon is more about currency and banking, Anathem is about Platonic epistemology, and so on.
In Anathem, the language isn't complete - he doesn't build a grammar or syntax or anything, he makes up words that sound almost like Greek- or Latin-derived English, but not quite. It's the orthography, not the whole language. And since the world it's set in is almost but not quite Earth, you can catch onto the parallels pretty quickly. For the first hundred pages, it's infuriating and you have to look up definitions in the glossary, but about twelve hundred pages in you catch on and by about halfway through it's so logical that you get annoyed when people don't know what you're talking about in ordinary speech.
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 12:06 PM (2K6fY)
He's one of my favorites. He certainly has flaws, but I find the pages-long parenthetical digressions and done-shat-out-a-thesaurus vocabulary oddly compelling, if you can imagine. He's wordy, but he does take care with his work. If I had a better idea of what you read, I could offer some recommendations. The novels are the kind where an author has Big Important Opinions about something and then wraps a story around it - Snow Crash is about neurolinguistics, Cryptonomicon is more about currency and banking, Anathem is about Platonic epistemology, and so on.
In Anathem, the language isn't complete - he doesn't build a grammar or syntax or anything, he makes up words that sound almost like Greek- or Latin-derived English, but not quite. It's the orthography, not the whole language. And since the world it's set in is almost but not quite Earth, you can catch onto the parallels pretty quickly. For the first hundred pages, it's infuriating and you have to look up definitions in the glossary, but about twelve hundred pages in you catch on and by about halfway through it's so logical that you get annoyed when people don't know what you're talking about in ordinary speech.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 12:17 PM (fZuhk)
320
Thought I was the only one who liked Timothy Dalton as Bond.
Definitely in the top two.
Too bad he didn't get a primo Bond script and his run was cut short.
If I'm remembering correctly from the books, I think Bond is described as looking a bit like Hoagy Carmichael.
So, take your pick of who looks most like Ian Fleming's Bond.
Definitely in the top two.
Too bad he didn't get a primo Bond script and his run was cut short.
If I'm remembering correctly from the books, I think Bond is described as looking a bit like Hoagy Carmichael.
So, take your pick of who looks most like Ian Fleming's Bond.
Posted by: naturalfake at June 24, 2018 12:18 PM (ZSkht)
321
The murder victim was kill at some kind of school,
where crayons are common and basic arithmetic and reading skills are
taught. And the murderer seems servile, but on a personal basis.
Can anyone figure this one out?
Posted by: Minuteman at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (XNROm)
His name is Lobby Ludd and I demand my five Pounds!
where crayons are common and basic arithmetic and reading skills are
taught. And the murderer seems servile, but on a personal basis.
Can anyone figure this one out?
Posted by: Minuteman at June 24, 2018 12:08 PM (XNROm)
His name is Lobby Ludd and I demand my five Pounds!
Posted by: Kindltot at June 24, 2018 12:19 PM (2K6fY)
322
There is only one Bond and Sean Connery is his prophet.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at June 24, 2018 12:20 PM (+y/Ru)
323
Boulder Bookstore got Kingdoms of Faith: A New History of Islamic Spain by Brian Catlos.
Catlos wrote an excellent book on the crusades, and this one looks like it is similar. fair to all sides: not just Christian / Muslim, but also Arab / Berber (this is the division that really killed Andalus)
Catlos wrote an excellent book on the crusades, and this one looks like it is similar. fair to all sides: not just Christian / Muslim, but also Arab / Berber (this is the division that really killed Andalus)
Posted by: Boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 12:23 PM (8Y36w)
324
Re: Norwich: When I wanted to get his books on Sicily for my husband and found them too spendy o Amazon, I went to Abebooks.com and found them as new paperbacks, either $12 or $13 and I think free shipping. Worth trying for the Byzantium books.
Since Amazon owns Abebooks you'd think their lists would be available on Amazon's lists of used books. But not at least for Norwich.
Since Amazon owns Abebooks you'd think their lists would be available on Amazon's lists of used books. But not at least for Norwich.
Posted by: Wenda (sic) at June 24, 2018 12:23 PM (Kr0FZ)
325
On the Top 100 SF songs-
They left the output of Hawkwind entirely out.
How could that happen?
Their entire catalog is pretty much one SF-inpsired song after another.
Like so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK5wYYPnePM
They left the output of Hawkwind entirely out.
How could that happen?
Their entire catalog is pretty much one SF-inpsired song after another.
Like so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dK5wYYPnePM
Posted by: naturalfake at June 24, 2018 12:24 PM (ZSkht)
326
also here: Diogenes Laertius tr. Pamela Mensch, The Lives Of The Eminent Philosophers.
Posted by: Boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 12:28 PM (8Y36w)
Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at June 24, 2018 12:51 PM (e1mEI)
328
316
I think more than half of Blue Oyster Cult's songs were fantasy or sci
fi in origin and theme, even back in their crappy heavy metal phase.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 12:11 PM (39g3+)
Yeah. Try to find a 'love song' in their entire catalog. Very few and far between.
I think more than half of Blue Oyster Cult's songs were fantasy or sci
fi in origin and theme, even back in their crappy heavy metal phase.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at June 24, 2018 12:11 PM (39g3+)
Yeah. Try to find a 'love song' in their entire catalog. Very few and far between.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 24, 2018 12:52 PM (8iiMU)
329
In Anathem, the language isn't complete -
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 12:17 PM (fZuhk)
I know I have read it, but I forgot the story. LOL.
Posted by: hogmartin at June 24, 2018 12:17 PM (fZuhk)
I know I have read it, but I forgot the story. LOL.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at June 24, 2018 12:54 PM (8iiMU)
330
William Polk's Crusade and Jihad looks to be full of jizz. "climaxed in the vibrant and sophisticated caliphate of al-Andalus in medieval Spain". spare me.
Posted by: Boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 01:07 PM (KMsvT)
331
The next Star Wars will be indistinguishable from Sex and the City with some robots.
Posted by: Burger Chef at June 24, 2018 01:12 PM (RuIsu)
332
Peter Heather has a new one: Rome Resurgent, about Justinian.
Posted by: Boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 01:12 PM (KMsvT)
333
. Great chance to check out this Georgia-Tech-based science fiction conspiracy techno-thriller...
---------
Hey, am I in there?
---------
Hey, am I in there?
Posted by: George P. Burdell at June 24, 2018 01:40 PM (+cu3S)
334
Hi.
Does this mean I can join the Horde on Goodreads? I won't have anything useful to say, of course, but I would like to see Horde authors since I am always looking for new sources of fine literature.
Does this mean I can join the Horde on Goodreads? I won't have anything useful to say, of course, but I would like to see Horde authors since I am always looking for new sources of fine literature.
Posted by: Cat Herder at June 24, 2018 01:55 PM (WRvQR)
335
Speaking of leaving out SF songs, how can you not include Michael Moorcock and the Deep Fix? Lost on the Merry Go Round, Rolling in the Ruins...
Posted by: William Alan Webb at June 24, 2018 02:22 PM (OhYcy)
336
Top picture:
If that's Koko, gotta flash boobs to get any help.
Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at June 24, 2018 12:51 PM (e1mEI)
That is an ORANGUTAN in that top picture.
Gorilla Pundit needs to do some work with you guys about the differences.
The boob grabbing video was also ORANGUTANS.
We don't look anything alike.
*signs some insults*
If that's Koko, gotta flash boobs to get any help.
Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at June 24, 2018 12:51 PM (e1mEI)
That is an ORANGUTAN in that top picture.
Gorilla Pundit needs to do some work with you guys about the differences.
The boob grabbing video was also ORANGUTANS.
We don't look anything alike.
*signs some insults*
Posted by: Zombie Koko, gorilla ghost channel at June 24, 2018 02:30 PM (e5f4b)
337
Amazon.com is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to books.
ABEBooks.com is a good source, especially for used books. The site isn't as easily navigable as I would like but the prices are generally very good.
ABEBooks.com is a good source, especially for used books. The site isn't as easily navigable as I would like but the prices are generally very good.
Posted by: aelfheld at June 24, 2018 03:23 PM (Zy9Yy)
338
The great Manly Wade Wellman got a couple of mentions above and that prompts me to point out an excellent collection of his stories: "Worse Things Waiting". This is a recent (as in it came out in May) reprint of the classic Carcosa limited edition. Those start at $94 and go up into the hundreds of dollars. This new edition is from Shadowridge Press and can be had for less than $20 (plus s&h) from Amazon. It is a large paperback, 467 pages. Classic gruesome illustrations by Lee Brown Coye throughout.
There is a lot of good stuff in this collection. A couple of my personal favorites are "Up Under the Roof" and "The Devil Is Not Mocked". The first tells of a lonely, unloved boy who gradually becomes aware that there is something very bad up in the attic and how he deals with it. The second might be summed up as Nazis vs. Dracula. Go Dracula!
There is a lot of good stuff in this collection. A couple of my personal favorites are "Up Under the Roof" and "The Devil Is Not Mocked". The first tells of a lonely, unloved boy who gradually becomes aware that there is something very bad up in the attic and how he deals with it. The second might be summed up as Nazis vs. Dracula. Go Dracula!
Posted by: John F. MacMichael at June 24, 2018 04:03 PM (iuRR5)
339
Above at #144 there was a shoutout to Basil II, the late Emperor of Byzantium. I would like to expand on that a little for the benefit of those who think that the Byzantines were all decadent candyasses. Basil II in known in Byzantine history as "The Bulgar Slayer". In the course of his long reign he conquered the Bulgarian Empire. At one point, he took a defeated Bulgarian army (reportedly some 15,000 men) and divided them into 100s. Out of every hundred he had 99 blinded. The lucky hundredth man got to keep one eye so he could lead the others home. It was said that, on beholding the remnants who made it home, the Khan of the Bulgars died of rage and grief.
Posted by: John F. MacMichael at June 24, 2018 04:23 PM (iuRR5)
340
Did the 4.5 hour ride home thing today so just catching up.
If anybody is still trolling the books (you know who you are) Amazon Prime has "Quantum Space" by Douglas Phillips for "free".
Comments from anyone that knows the book or author?
Is free to much to pay for this book? Is the author some kinda left wing tool bag?
The premise seems interesting enough.
If anybody is still trolling the books (you know who you are) Amazon Prime has "Quantum Space" by Douglas Phillips for "free".
Comments from anyone that knows the book or author?
Is free to much to pay for this book? Is the author some kinda left wing tool bag?
The premise seems interesting enough.
Posted by: weirdflunky at June 24, 2018 05:02 PM (0yb3H)
341
BOOK 'EM Danno........................and throw away the keys to their TYPE "writers!?"
Posted by: saf at June 24, 2018 05:13 PM (5IHGB)
342
...and stop looking @ my eris...............
Posted by: saf at June 24, 2018 05:18 PM (5IHGB)
343
Ira Weatherall ?
Posted by: boulder t'hobo at June 24, 2018 05:23 PM (6FqZa)
344
39 I vote to replace Punk Chimp with this photo.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (sdi6R)"
Second !
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:25 AM (GNCPT)
Definitely.
This Orangutan is a book reading scholar. Plus, he wouldn't scar my brain like the Chimp pic does.
The chimp cannot be respected with all those piercings and stuff. It would be like taking advice from Miley Cyrus or Lindsay Lohan.
You can tell people Chimp is in a padded room getting treatment and we now have a scholar taking his place.
You can say he joined the Resistance...which, let's face it..it looks like it is one of theirs.
Orangutans are smart animals, the one cousin we like. The rest are insane.
Posted by: rickl at June 24, 2018 09:22 AM (sdi6R)"
Second !
Posted by: sock_rat_eez, they are gaslighting us 24/365 at June 24, 2018 09:25 AM (GNCPT)
Definitely.
This Orangutan is a book reading scholar. Plus, he wouldn't scar my brain like the Chimp pic does.
The chimp cannot be respected with all those piercings and stuff. It would be like taking advice from Miley Cyrus or Lindsay Lohan.
You can tell people Chimp is in a padded room getting treatment and we now have a scholar taking his place.
You can say he joined the Resistance...which, let's face it..it looks like it is one of theirs.
Orangutans are smart animals, the one cousin we like. The rest are insane.
Posted by: Zombie Koko, gorilla ghost channel at June 24, 2018 05:31 PM (e5f4b)
345
Hi I almost always read but never comment on this post and would like to join the discussion group
Posted by: Jean Abbas at June 24, 2018 08:43 PM (xSAF7)
346
@345 --
Welcome. This is a friendly bunch.
As for the rest of you, a correction -- Fleming named his secret agent (not a spy!) after the ornithologist James Bond, who I think also lived in Jamaica. A man who studied birds, not plants.
I started the books in high school with "You Only Live Twice," which I learned later was the pentultimate book in the series. Oh well.
To tie this in with the movie thread, I like all of YOTW, but I particularly enjoy the opening bit with the rocket abduction. I try to imagine what it must have been like to be in the theater on opening night, with no idea about what would come next.
Not reading much besides AoS threads these days, and the TBR pile from the library shows it. Still, it has a way to catch up with the accumulation that I own. Maybe I can work on that tonight.
Welcome. This is a friendly bunch.
As for the rest of you, a correction -- Fleming named his secret agent (not a spy!) after the ornithologist James Bond, who I think also lived in Jamaica. A man who studied birds, not plants.
I started the books in high school with "You Only Live Twice," which I learned later was the pentultimate book in the series. Oh well.
To tie this in with the movie thread, I like all of YOTW, but I particularly enjoy the opening bit with the rocket abduction. I try to imagine what it must have been like to be in the theater on opening night, with no idea about what would come next.
Not reading much besides AoS threads these days, and the TBR pile from the library shows it. Still, it has a way to catch up with the accumulation that I own. Maybe I can work on that tonight.
Posted by: Weak Geek at June 24, 2018 09:13 PM (a4DII)
Posted by: Weak Geek at June 24, 2018 09:14 PM (a4DII)
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