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Sunday Morning Book Thread 09-30-2018
The Crociera Library, Rome, ItalyGood morning to all you 'rons, 'ettes, lurkers, and lurkettes, wine moms, frat bros, and everybody who's holding your beer. 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 look like they started out as a shirt, and then got confused.
It Pays To Increase Your Word Power® CACKHANDED is a Britisn term meaning clumsy or awkward. Usage: "I'm sure a number of people actually *do* think that people who disagree with them politically are entitled to fewer rights and presumptions under the law and the norms of civic discourse, but it takes a particularly cackhanded politician to say it out loud on national TV." (h/t Jeff B.)
On Hobbits This came up last week, regarding the classic children's book Wind In the Willows:
We first meet a mole whitewashing his burrow. Then we meet a succession of critters living above and below ground, all in the manner of the folk of the English countryside. They all have larders and enjoy good meals, and in their displays of personality the represent or mock different expressions of countrified Britons.This is an interesting question. We know that one of Tolkien's homies, C.S. Lewis, was a big fan of Wind in the Willows, which he wrote admiringly of, and this is obvious from his Narnia books. It is also known (according to All Hail Eris) that Tolkien did not like the Narnia books. So there's that bit of data, for whatever it's worth. The second bit of information is that I have heard (and unfortunately, I have no source to verify this) that Tolkien got his inspiration for hobbits from the military service he saw in WWI. Many of the soldiers he encountered were very much like hobbits, i.e. simple, unsophisticated men from rural counties with not a lot of experience of the world outside their little villages. According to John Garth, who wrote Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle-earth, Tolkien was placed in the British military system where even though it
In short, they are Hobbits. Do we know, has anyone speculated, whether Tolkien were inspired by or borrowed from Wind in the Willow?
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 23, 2018 09:24 AM (fuK7c)
...enshrined old social boundaries, it also chipped away at the class divide by throwing men from all walks of life into a desperate situation together. Tolkien wrote that the experience taught him, "a deep sympathy and feeling for the Tommy; especially the plain soldier from the agricultural counties". He remained profoundly grateful for the lesson. For a long time, he had been imprisoned in a tower, not of pearl, but of ivory.Also, according to Garth, Tolkien:
"felt an affinity for these working class men", but military protocol prohibited friendships with "other ranks". Instead, he was required to "take charge of them, discipline them, train them, and probably censor their letters ... If possible, he was supposed to inspire their love and loyalty." Tolkien later lamented, "The most improper job of any man ... is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity."Heh. I think you can see a lot of this in the 'Scouring of the Shire' chapter in Return of the King. And this makes me really like Tolkien. Unlike today's academics, he did not disdain the 'lower classes'. The soldiers in the trenches with him may not have had a high-falutin' education of the kind Tolkien had, but they were decent, honest men you could count on when the bullets started flying and the mortar shells came raining down. All Hail Eris' source she cited was this review of the book Bandersnatch: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings by Diana Glyer.
C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the other members of the Inklings met each week to read and discuss each other’s work-in-progress, offering both encouragement and blistering critique. How did these conversations shape the books they were writing? How does creative collaboration enhance individual talent? And what can we learn from their example?The Kindle edition is $10.99.
Beautifully illustrated by James A. Owen, Bandersnatch offers an inside look at the Inklings of Oxford—and a seat at their table at The Eagle and Child pub. It shows how encouragement and criticism made all the difference in The Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, and dozens of other books written by the members of this literary circle. You’ll learn what made these writers tick and more: inspired by their example, you’ll discover how collaboration can help your own creative process and lead to genius breakthroughs in whatever work you do.
Moron Recommendation
The soon to be released book, “The Russia Hoax, The Illicit Scheme To Clear Hillary Clinton And Frame Donald Trump,” written by Gregg Jarrett, looks like a real deal big hit. The Phony Witch Hunt will be opened up for the world to see! Out in 5 weeks.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 31, 2018
18 I read The Russian Hoax: The Illicit Scheme to Clear Hilliary Clinton and Frame Donald Trump by Gregg Jarrett. Jarrett does an excellent job of telling the detailed, step-by-step story of how they let Clinton slide while trying to do a bloodless coup on Trump. I knew almost all of the information before reading this book, but it was very helpful to read it all in such an organized manner. An excellent book.The Russia Hoax: The Illicit Scheme to Clear Hillary Clinton and Frame Donald Trump discusses:
Posted by: Zoltan at September 23, 2018 09:12 AM (IWXAZ)
--How did Hillary Clinton manage to escape prosecution despite compelling evidence she violated the law?$14.99 on Kindle. ___________
--Did Peter Strzok, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Loretta Lynch, and others obstruct justice by protecting Clinton?
--Why was there never a legitimate criminal investigation of Clinton in the Uranium One case?
--Are the text messages exchanged between Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page evidence of a concerted effort to undermine the electoral process?
--Was there ever any real evidence of "collusion" between Trump and the Russians?
While traveling I finally finished A Distant Mirror and don't have much to add from my previous observations. Overall, it's pretty interesting but you could cut out maybe 10 percent of its length by excising Barbara Tuchman's inane editorializing. She's clearly anti-clerical, and is of the now-dated "if women only had a decent shot they'd should they are just as good as men" school of thought.Yeah, we human beings are historical creatures, so there's really no way for us to get outside of history to properly evaluate history - except in terms of our own history. I am reminded of this when I watch old episodes of Star Trek. The original series is set approximately 200 years in the future, yet I see the female crew members walking around in miniskirts and beehive hairdos and think, wow, it looks just like the mid-1960s. And then I catch an episode of ST:TNG and despite it being set 400 years from now, it looks just like the 1980s. It's very amusing. Oh, and there's always someone who is a "20th century-o-phile" and his or her living space is decorated with movie posters, toys, and other things we would easily recognize. If you have a spare $13.99, you can grab a copy of A Distant Mirror on Kindle. ___________
In short, she's just as much a creature of her time and place as the people she looks down on in her book.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 23, 2018 09:14 AM (cfSRQ)
Books By Morons The future Mrs. Quincy, Jane Lowery
With her garments all lacy and flowery
I don't like to boast
But what attracted me most
Was the mindboggling size of her...uh...dowry! I suddenly realized I hadn't yet pimped Muldoon's Limerick-A-Day site, so let me take a moment right now to pimp Muldoon's Limerick-A-Day site. It's chock for of limericks (like the hilarious example above). And you get one a day. Although I noticed that there's only 16 of them, this being Sept. 25th, so you'd think there would be more. But the count comes out about right if you assume Muldoon takes weekends off. This is clearly false advertising and maybe one of you morons could hire that tower of integrity Michael Avenatti (JD, LLB, CPL) to sue his ass off. In the meantime, buy his book, Muldoon's Library of Limericks, Volume 1 to help him out with his legal expenses.
___________ Moron author Alec Lloyd has just published a new book, not a novel, but set of fantasy/historical miniatures rules. From his e-mail:
It's called "Conqueror: Fields of Victory" and this is the long-awaited revised edition. The biggest difference between the two is that this version has some ready-made units for you to and get killin' with: orcs, dragons, elves, and so on.This sounds like old-school, pencil-and-paper Gygax D&D, only with not much Gygax and a lot more Lloyd. I did poorly in college because I spent way too much time rolling dice and moving little figurines on paper diagrams and not enough time studying. Conqueror: Fields of Victory: Battles with Miniatures, Revised Edition is available in paperback for $14.99. My only question is this, from the Amazon blurb:
Conqueror doesn't have a specific background; it's a general 25mm rules set that you can use with just about any setting. Technology-wise it has early firearms and pikes, so English Civil War/Thirty Years' War is where it tops out. There are rules for chariots, artillery, skirmishers, some basic formations and also magic items and wizards.
I designed it to replace Warhammer Fantasy Battles because I was tired of their design treadmill (new rules set every three years). Since Warhammer went away, this is a great way to get your gaming on.
The core of the game is its intuitive turn sequence that allows players to focus on tactics rather than mechanics. With three formations (column, square and skirmish) and three morale states (normal, disordered and routed, Conqueror provides players with exactly the right amount of realism.Those morale states seem incomplete to me. Are normal, bad, and really bad the only realistic options? I would propose a couple more on the positive side, so your options would be routed, disordered, normal, pumped, and berserk. You could even have the "berserk" state last only a limited amount of turns as expenditure of emotional energy will drain you a lot faster. But I'm not a game designer, so maybe this is all hogwash. Lastly, Alec thanks all of you morons who bought A Man of Destiny, and if you're interested, the real-life role model for the main character, Maxim Darius, passed away earlier this month, and he posted a memorial to him on his web site. ___________ Moron author scrood is a doctor who knows a very great deal about oxidative stress, which can cause all sorts of health issues. He's written a couple of books on this condition and what you can do to fight it, Let's Hack Oxidative Stress and Let's Hack Male Infertility. He's offering both Kindle books for FREE today, Sept. 30th. You can find out more information on his Blood Oxidative Stress (BLOS) web site. ___________ 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
Finishing up on re-read of the David Eddings' Belgariad series. Plan on moving to David Weber's last book in the Honor Harrington series and then to the new one just being released, Uncompromising Honor. It is due out on Oct 2nd and lookie lookie, a brand new E-book priced at $9.99 which is within my limit. Why can't other publishers do this?
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
2
Now that's a library.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:08 AM (mpXpK)
3
Tolle Lege
Still working on The Commadore by Patrick O'Brien
Still working on The Commadore by Patrick O'Brien
Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2018 09:08 AM (T4oHT)
4
!
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 09:08 AM (WkPEU)
5
The British class system was very nearly destroyed by WWI. You can see that in the writings of Mercedes Lackey.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:11 AM (mpXpK)
6
> Tolkien later lamented, "The most improper job of any man ... is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity."
See also: 'Indeed [Sauron] is in great fear, not knowing what mighty one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place. That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind.'
See also: 'Indeed [Sauron] is in great fear, not knowing what mighty one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place. That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind.'
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 09:12 AM (f5LwH)
7
Last week I was in a book store looking at new releases and saw this obamanation; "Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
Just looking at the photo on the jacket cover gave me the heebee jeebees.
Some head music.
Adagio in G Minor
https://youtu.be/XMbvcp480Y4
Dead Can Dance - Kiko
https://youtu.be/wWGKwNt9NY8
Cajun Music - Southern Comfort
https://youtu.be/L2NIZexqb4U
Just looking at the photo on the jacket cover gave me the heebee jeebees.
Some head music.
Adagio in G Minor
https://youtu.be/XMbvcp480Y4
Dead Can Dance - Kiko
https://youtu.be/wWGKwNt9NY8
Cajun Music - Southern Comfort
https://youtu.be/L2NIZexqb4U
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 09:13 AM (5jAa5)
8
You're kidding? You actually balanced Muldoon's books?
Posted by: creeper at September 30, 2018 09:15 AM (AzV8L)
9
Might be a good time to read the Oxbow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark .
Posted by: Lancelot Link Secret Agent Chimp at September 30, 2018 09:17 AM (2DOZq)
10
"Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
How many GM bondholders were photographed being hugged by him?
"Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
How many GM bondholders were photographed being hugged by him?
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:17 AM (pNxlR)
11
Those morale states seem incomplete to me. Are normal, bad, and really
bad the only realistic options? I would propose a couple more on the
positive side, so your options would be routed, disordered, normal,
pumped, and berserk. You could even have the "berserk" state last only a
limited amount of turns as expenditure of emotional energy will drain
you a lot faster. But I'm not a game designer, so maybe this is all
hogwash.
---
An excellent point.
In paper-based games, you see a lot of this kind of thing. The Brigade Series, for example, has a "bloodlust" morale state. My friends and I still laugh about the time the Iron Brigade went into bloodlust and tore apart a rebel division (and died in the process).
Because Conqueror is a miniatures game, I wanted to keep the rules as simple as possible to reduce tabletop clutter. Some games go so far as to have only two morale states - normal and broken/routed.
What Conqueror does is have units start at "normal" where even average units have a low chance of running away. However, as they take losses, their morale checks get a negative modifier and even if they "pass" a morale check, they can be disordered and have a -1 modifier for future ones. This is shown by having a bit of cotton near the unit showing the dust it's raising.
If it finally routs, well the unit turns tail and tries not to get run over.
The effect is to show that units don't always break right away, but can erode over time without having to put lots of markers down to track it.
Hope that clarifies things - and thanks again for posting my stuff!
bad the only realistic options? I would propose a couple more on the
positive side, so your options would be routed, disordered, normal,
pumped, and berserk. You could even have the "berserk" state last only a
limited amount of turns as expenditure of emotional energy will drain
you a lot faster. But I'm not a game designer, so maybe this is all
hogwash.
---
An excellent point.
In paper-based games, you see a lot of this kind of thing. The Brigade Series, for example, has a "bloodlust" morale state. My friends and I still laugh about the time the Iron Brigade went into bloodlust and tore apart a rebel division (and died in the process).
Because Conqueror is a miniatures game, I wanted to keep the rules as simple as possible to reduce tabletop clutter. Some games go so far as to have only two morale states - normal and broken/routed.
What Conqueror does is have units start at "normal" where even average units have a low chance of running away. However, as they take losses, their morale checks get a negative modifier and even if they "pass" a morale check, they can be disordered and have a -1 modifier for future ones. This is shown by having a bit of cotton near the unit showing the dust it's raising.
If it finally routs, well the unit turns tail and tries not to get run over.
The effect is to show that units don't always break right away, but can erode over time without having to put lots of markers down to track it.
Hope that clarifies things - and thanks again for posting my stuff!
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:18 AM (cfSRQ)
12
I went to 4 yard sales yesterday and a town near me has a town- wide yard sale the last Sat in Sep and I bought a buncha books.
When I got back to my car, it wouldn't start.(Platypus jinxed me)
One of the books I bought was "Al Capone Shines my Shoes" by Gennifer Cholodenko, About a kid who lives on Alcatraz (his dad is a guard there) in the 1930's.
Its pretty good, pretty funny and a welcome relief from yesterday's PITA.
When I got back to my car, it wouldn't start.(Platypus jinxed me)
One of the books I bought was "Al Capone Shines my Shoes" by Gennifer Cholodenko, About a kid who lives on Alcatraz (his dad is a guard there) in the 1930's.
Its pretty good, pretty funny and a welcome relief from yesterday's PITA.
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 09:18 AM (WkPEU)
13
So my tablet is still OOS and I'm reduced to re-reading old books that surface as I wander through the house. It seems strange to read hard copies. I keep tapping the edge of the page to get it to turn.
Posted by: creeper at September 30, 2018 09:18 AM (AzV8L)
Posted by: Soothsayer -- Fake Commenter at September 30, 2018 09:18 AM (/iLti)
15
First ask it a question.
First ask it a question.
Posted by: Soothsayer -- Fake Commenter at September 30, 2018 09:19 AM (/iLti)
16
"Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
How many GM bondholders were photographed being hugged by him?
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:17 AM (pNxlR)
---
Does it have a photo of Chris Stevens?
How many GM bondholders were photographed being hugged by him?
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:17 AM (pNxlR)
---
Does it have a photo of Chris Stevens?
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:19 AM (cfSRQ)
17
Finishing "The Lessons of History" by Will and Ariel Durant.
Posted by: Marcus T at September 30, 2018 09:19 AM (WYtxl)
18
Now that's a library.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:08 AM (mpXpK)
I imagine they don't have to shush people too often there.
There's probably a funny story from 1200 years ago about the name. Crociera, against all odds, isn't a purveyor of fine Crocs, I'm pretty sure it's to do with boat cruises.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:08 AM (mpXpK)
I imagine they don't have to shush people too often there.
There's probably a funny story from 1200 years ago about the name. Crociera, against all odds, isn't a purveyor of fine Crocs, I'm pretty sure it's to do with boat cruises.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (y87Qq)
19
I am reading Anna Karenina on my old (gen1) Kindle when I do my treadmill days at the gym.
My God, but Tolstoy is such a plodding bore!
I am reading Anna Karenina on my old (gen1) Kindle when I do my treadmill days at the gym.
My God, but Tolstoy is such a plodding bore!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (pNxlR)
20
You'll never catch me!
Posted by: Escaped Oaf at September 30, 2018 09:23 AM (SrTBh)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:24 AM (pNxlR)
22
19 My God, but Tolstoy is such a plodding bore!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (pNxlR)
I can not read Russian authors. They take 20 pages to describe grass growing. Even Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged was that way.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (pNxlR)
I can not read Russian authors. They take 20 pages to describe grass growing. Even Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged was that way.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:25 AM (mpXpK)
23
Tolkien was indeed an admirer of Wind in the Willows. He referenced it in his seminal essay "On Fairy Stories" and wrote to his son about it during WWII.
His posthumously published children's tale Mr Bliss is very reminiscent of Toad's adventures with motor cars.
Tolkien was indeed interested in and respectful of "lower class" people. When he got into a disagreement with his publisher on which name to use for a flower he consulted the man he considered to be the ultimate authority, the gardner at Oxford. Carpenter in his biography of Tolkien presents him as the guy, who when on a Coach tour would make a friend of the driver, rather than his fellow tourists.
His posthumously published children's tale Mr Bliss is very reminiscent of Toad's adventures with motor cars.
Tolkien was indeed interested in and respectful of "lower class" people. When he got into a disagreement with his publisher on which name to use for a flower he consulted the man he considered to be the ultimate authority, the gardner at Oxford. Carpenter in his biography of Tolkien presents him as the guy, who when on a Coach tour would make a friend of the driver, rather than his fellow tourists.
Posted by: David Stapleton at September 30, 2018 09:26 AM (cdBDf)
24
Hugs From Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
Total ripoff. One picture of him wrapped around a mirror.
Total ripoff. One picture of him wrapped around a mirror.
Posted by: t-bird at September 30, 2018 09:27 AM (mn0Jm)
25
That miniatures rules system looks cool. I spent/wasted a lot of time in High School & college trying to devise mini combat rules. Still have all the old figures somewhere.
Posted by: josephistan at September 30, 2018 09:28 AM (Izzlo)
26
Krebs v Carnot and A.H. Lloyd,
I didn't look inside nor touch his "Hugs" book. Not enough bleach in the world to clean my hands and eyes.
I didn't look inside nor touch his "Hugs" book. Not enough bleach in the world to clean my hands and eyes.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (5jAa5)
27
There's probably a funny story from 1200 years ago about the name. Crociera, against all odds, isn't a purveyor of fine Crocs, I'm pretty sure it's to do with boat cruises.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (y87Qq)
-----------------------------
Crocienda is the Spanish word for "store which sells Crocs", which I believe does derive from Crociera.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (y87Qq)
-----------------------------
Crocienda is the Spanish word for "store which sells Crocs", which I believe does derive from Crociera.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (+F0Wk)
28
I'm trying to find an author similar to Steven Pressfield. Any recommendations? I tried Conn Iggulden but he fell way short for me.
Posted by: Lancelot Link Secret Agent Chimp at September 30, 2018 09:31 AM (2DOZq)
29
See also: 'Indeed [Sauron] is in great fear, not knowing what mighty one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place. That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind.'
Right there is the crux of our current Deep State v Deplorables conflict.
See also: 'Indeed [Sauron] is in great fear, not knowing what mighty one may suddenly appear, wielding the Ring, and assailing him with war, seeking to cast him down and take his place. That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind.'
Right there is the crux of our current Deep State v Deplorables conflict.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:32 AM (pNxlR)
30
You're kidding? You actually balanced Muldoon's books?
Posted by: creeper at September 30, 2018 09:15 AM (AzV8L)
---------------------------
It's not that hard. There's only two of them, and they weigh about the same.
Posted by: creeper at September 30, 2018 09:15 AM (AzV8L)
---------------------------
It's not that hard. There's only two of them, and they weigh about the same.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 30, 2018 09:33 AM (+F0Wk)
31
Good morning!
Let's smile and be happy and strike fear in the heart of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Let's smile and be happy and strike fear in the heart of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 30, 2018 09:33 AM (hyuyC)
32
I returned from my vacation earlier this week gone by, and brought a lot of books back with me. Colonial Williamsburg had a pretty good book section in it's big gift store, and I picked up some books that were on clearance: Nelson,The Sword of Albion by John Sugden; Iron Dawn by Richard Snow abut the Monitor/Virginia battle; Through the Perilous Fight by Steve Vogel, which is about the Washington/Baltimore campaign in the War of 1812 (turns out I already had a similar book in my library); and George Washington's First War by David A. Clary. And when i visited the MacArthur Memorial and Museum in Norfolk, they were having a used book sale, so I picked up Fire in Beruit, Israel's War in Lebanon with the PLO by Dan Bavly and Elihu Salpeter; Perilous Missions: Civil Air Transport and CIA Covert Operations in Asia by William M. Leary; Guide to the Soviet Navy 3rd 1983 ed; and Combat Fleets of The World 1986/87 - you could ask for a better reference to the world's navies at the height of the Cold War. Somehow I managed to squeeze them all into my suitcase!
Posted by: josephistan at September 30, 2018 09:33 AM (Izzlo)
33
Crocienda is the Spanish word for "store which sells Crocs", which I believe does derive from Crociera.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (+F0Wk)
I'd have guessed Crocitería, but I guess I don't know for sure. I can't find it in the phrasebook.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (+F0Wk)
I'd have guessed Crocitería, but I guess I don't know for sure. I can't find it in the phrasebook.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 09:34 AM (y87Qq)
34
You're kidding? You actually balanced Muldoon's books?
You no doubt noticed that nothing was said at all about balancing Muldoon's mind.
You're kidding? You actually balanced Muldoon's books?
You no doubt noticed that nothing was said at all about balancing Muldoon's mind.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:34 AM (pNxlR)
35
This week, I've been reading The Strange Death of President Harding, which I found at an antique store. I have thoughts about it to share, but I have to gather them all up first, so I'll try to present them next week.
Preview: The FBI, even before it was FBI, has always been staffed with shady sorts.
Preview: The FBI, even before it was FBI, has always been staffed with shady sorts.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 09:35 AM (OX9vb)
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 09:35 AM (6qErC)
37
Also, this week, I bought Sowell's Black Redncks & White Liberals from the library. I borrowed it, then spilled my wine on it (gasp! I know!), so figured I better pay them for that one and keep it.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 09:36 AM (OX9vb)
38
Got back from Japan for work this week. September book sales for The Mountain Throne cratered! It's weird. Same ads, relatively steady positive reviews trickling in, but something like a 40% drop off on September 1st. Kindle Unlimited is still ok, though.
My only guess is it has to do with the beginning of the school year. Easy summer reading time is over.
Anyone else experienced this?
My only guess is it has to do with the beginning of the school year. Easy summer reading time is over.
Anyone else experienced this?
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:37 AM (z2FAZ)
39
Speaking of Avenatti, I always direct this at him whenever I see him pop up on Twitter:
"Watching @MichaelAvenatti is like watching one of those clown-faced monkeys at the zoo fucking a football someone's thrown into his cage.
He's so serious about fucking the football, and it makes no sense, but it's the funniest thing you've seen in decades.
Keep fucking that football , Mike!"
So far no response from him, though I imagine an umbrage-filled cease and desist letter is in my future.
"Watching @MichaelAvenatti is like watching one of those clown-faced monkeys at the zoo fucking a football someone's thrown into his cage.
He's so serious about fucking the football, and it makes no sense, but it's the funniest thing you've seen in decades.
Keep fucking that football , Mike!"
So far no response from him, though I imagine an umbrage-filled cease and desist letter is in my future.
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 09:38 AM (2eKoI)
40
Damn, this hack on Fox News Sunday has me almost ready to toss a brick at the screen.
Damn, this hack on Fox News Sunday has me almost ready to toss a brick at the screen.
Posted by: Indelible in my Hippocampus at September 30, 2018 09:38 AM (URwyc)
41
25
That miniatures rules system looks cool. I spent/wasted a lot of time in
High School college trying to devise mini combat rules. Still
have all the old figures somewhere.
Posted by: josephistan at September 30, 2018 09:28 AM (Izzlo)
---
Since it's not tied to a particular setting, you can make rules up for whatever you have a model of. I created some sample units, but the formula for making your own is in it as well.
That miniatures rules system looks cool. I spent/wasted a lot of time in
High School college trying to devise mini combat rules. Still
have all the old figures somewhere.
Posted by: josephistan at September 30, 2018 09:28 AM (Izzlo)
---
Since it's not tied to a particular setting, you can make rules up for whatever you have a model of. I created some sample units, but the formula for making your own is in it as well.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:38 AM (cfSRQ)
42
Of the four hobbits in the Fellowship, Sam is the only "commoner". Frodo, Merry, and Pippin are all hobbit gentry.
The Shire is supposed to be pre WWI England. It exists in splendid isolation with little interest in war or foreigners.
The Shire is supposed to be pre WWI England. It exists in splendid isolation with little interest in war or foreigners.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 09:40 AM (3DZIZ)
43
Tolkien's One Ring might seem a trivial metaphor for Total Power, but it presents the idea that being able to act in secrecy is the greatest power of all.
I'm looking at you George Sauron Soros!
I'm looking at you George Sauron Soros!
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 09:41 AM (1UZdv)
44
You no doubt noticed that nothing was said at all about balancing Muldoon's mind.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:34 AM (pNxlR)
Muldoon is beyond hope. It's what makes his doggerel so fascinating...a look into a totally offbeat mind set.
You no doubt noticed that nothing was said at all about balancing Muldoon's mind.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:34 AM (pNxlR)
Muldoon is beyond hope. It's what makes his doggerel so fascinating...a look into a totally offbeat mind set.
Posted by: creeper at September 30, 2018 09:41 AM (AzV8L)
45
38
Got back from Japan for work this week. September book sales for The
Mountain Throne cratered! It's weird. Same ads, relatively steady
positive reviews trickling in, but something like a 40% drop off on
September 1st. Kindle Unlimited is still ok, though.
My only guess is it has to do with the beginning of the school year. Easy summer reading time is over.
Anyone else experienced this?
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:37 AM (z2FAZ)
---
Your initial effort reached the target audience, so everyone who was interested got a copy. The Kindle users added it to their list and so they'll continue to work through it when they finish what they are reading.
Got back from Japan for work this week. September book sales for The
Mountain Throne cratered! It's weird. Same ads, relatively steady
positive reviews trickling in, but something like a 40% drop off on
September 1st. Kindle Unlimited is still ok, though.
My only guess is it has to do with the beginning of the school year. Easy summer reading time is over.
Anyone else experienced this?
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:37 AM (z2FAZ)
---
Your initial effort reached the target audience, so everyone who was interested got a copy. The Kindle users added it to their list and so they'll continue to work through it when they finish what they are reading.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:41 AM (cfSRQ)
46
Good morning, Morons. This week I'm reading The Fixer, by Joseph Finder. A young man who has lost his job and fianceen is reduced to moving back to the dump of a house where he grew up. Then he finds more than $3M in the attic, presumably put there by his shyster-lawyer father who sits mute in a nursing home after a massive stroke. The only problem is whomever the cash belongs to knows our young friend has it and they want it back.
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 09:42 AM (wocQs)
47
Hoping the latest Honor Harrington novel from David Weber will break the slump in what's otherwise been a great series.
I just finished Love in the Age of Dispossession by newcomer author Loretta Malakie. It's a nostalgic tragicomedy about an upstate 1990s New York girl who loses herself in the big city but finds redemption in returning home.
Also former Naval Intelligence Officer Jack Posobiec describes the information warfare at the heart of today's culture wars in a short yet fascinating monograph, 4D Warfare. I particularly appreciated his riveting description of China's Cultural Revolution - a shocking example of the devastating extremes of unchecked leftist ideology. This is truly a must-read for anyone interested in current events and contemporary politics.
I just finished Love in the Age of Dispossession by newcomer author Loretta Malakie. It's a nostalgic tragicomedy about an upstate 1990s New York girl who loses herself in the big city but finds redemption in returning home.
Also former Naval Intelligence Officer Jack Posobiec describes the information warfare at the heart of today's culture wars in a short yet fascinating monograph, 4D Warfare. I particularly appreciated his riveting description of China's Cultural Revolution - a shocking example of the devastating extremes of unchecked leftist ideology. This is truly a must-read for anyone interested in current events and contemporary politics.
Posted by: Hans G. Schantz at September 30, 2018 09:42 AM (0h1Dx)
48
Reading At the Abyss by Thomas Reed. It's an overview of the Cold War from an Air Force perspective. A couple of new-to-me items in it, but it moves pretty fast. Reed rose to be a Secretary of the Air Force, but was also Reagans campaign manager early on. An interesting mix of talent.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 30, 2018 09:42 AM (hyuyC)
49
43
Tolkien's One Ring might seem a trivial metaphor for Total Power, but it
presents the idea that being able to act in secrecy is the greatest
power of all.
I'm looking at you George Sauron Soros!
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 09:41 AM (1UZdv)
---
The One Ring bestows power based on the stature of its user. Thus for mortals, invisibility. But Sauron was able to wield it and remain visible. Tom Bombadil was unaffected by it.
Tolkien's One Ring might seem a trivial metaphor for Total Power, but it
presents the idea that being able to act in secrecy is the greatest
power of all.
I'm looking at you George Sauron Soros!
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 09:41 AM (1UZdv)
---
The One Ring bestows power based on the stature of its user. Thus for mortals, invisibility. But Sauron was able to wield it and remain visible. Tom Bombadil was unaffected by it.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:44 AM (cfSRQ)
50
I should add that the Ring doesn't actually makes you invisible, it puts you in the realm of the Unseen.
That hides you from mortals, but for those who can see the Unseen (Sauron, ringwraiths) you are completely exposed.
That hides you from mortals, but for those who can see the Unseen (Sauron, ringwraiths) you are completely exposed.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (cfSRQ)
51
I am reading Anna Karenina on my old (gen1) Kindle when I do my treadmill days at the gym.
My God, but Tolstoy is such a plodding bore!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (pNxlR)
This is really not true and quite unfair. Anna Karenina has some of the most perfect passages in all of literature.
Which translation are you reading? I recommend that you get a better one. Pevear/Volokhonsky is quite good. This is not a good book to get for free via an ancient public domain translation. Get a good modern translation from you library.
My God, but Tolstoy is such a plodding bore!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:21 AM (pNxlR)
This is really not true and quite unfair. Anna Karenina has some of the most perfect passages in all of literature.
Which translation are you reading? I recommend that you get a better one. Pevear/Volokhonsky is quite good. This is not a good book to get for free via an ancient public domain translation. Get a good modern translation from you library.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (UGKMd)
52
Wife always looks out for books for me when she it at antique places or flea markets. Found a couple of WWII books. She said the owner said the history books disappear quickly. Said it seems the grandparents want the books for their kids to read. Anyone get the impression that the old times, not us 29 year olds, are stocking up before the PC crowd wipes history clean?
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (J70i0)
53
I've been reading some Charles Fort. In between accounts of stuff falling from the sky and vampires there was this:
Conservatism is our opposition. But I am in considerable sympathy with conservatives. I am often lazy, myself.
It's evenings, when I'm somewhat played out, when I'm likely to be most conservative. Everything that is highest and noblest in my composition is most pronounced when I'm not good for much. I may be quite savage, mornings: but, as my energy plays out, I become nobler and nobler, and lazier, and conservativer.
Conservatism is our opposition. But I am in considerable sympathy with conservatives. I am often lazy, myself.
It's evenings, when I'm somewhat played out, when I'm likely to be most conservative. Everything that is highest and noblest in my composition is most pronounced when I'm not good for much. I may be quite savage, mornings: but, as my energy plays out, I become nobler and nobler, and lazier, and conservativer.
Posted by: freaked at September 30, 2018 09:48 AM (UdKB7)
54
Hello Bookthreadists! I am wearing pyjama pants which need some darning, so if you look too closely and receive an unpleasant surprise it will be of your own doing.
I had thought I would be further behind by now. Just read the content and it looks like I'll be able to catch up on the comments.
Oh frabjous day. Calloo, callay!
I had thought I would be further behind by now. Just read the content and it looks like I'll be able to catch up on the comments.
Oh frabjous day. Calloo, callay!
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 09:48 AM (fuK7c)
55
Thanks for the pimpage (pimperation?) OM.
I don't know how you count but the limerick site made its debut on Sept 10 and thanks to the miracle of queuing and scheduling there have been 21 daily posts including weekends. One a day, duh. I have more than enough stockpiled for over a year's worth. As I told my son when I sold him his copy of the book, "For better or worse, this is your family legacy."
There is a mix of new and old content, some previously published, some fresh from the fever swamp of my mind. Today's sample is a never before seen exposé of the medical field.
All in good fun.
I don't know how you count but the limerick site made its debut on Sept 10 and thanks to the miracle of queuing and scheduling there have been 21 daily posts including weekends. One a day, duh. I have more than enough stockpiled for over a year's worth. As I told my son when I sold him his copy of the book, "For better or worse, this is your family legacy."
There is a mix of new and old content, some previously published, some fresh from the fever swamp of my mind. Today's sample is a never before seen exposé of the medical field.
All in good fun.
Posted by: Muldoon at September 30, 2018 09:49 AM (mvenn)
56
Oh, he did roll his eyes when I told him that.
Posted by: Muldoon at September 30, 2018 09:50 AM (mvenn)
57
Working on a project for the Tiny Publishing Bidness, but did finish off Luna City Lucky Seven - which is out to the Alpha Readers even as I speak.
Still have reading time, so working my way through Roy M. Griffis "By the Hands of Men" series, and Jill Marie Landis "Tiki Goddess" series. On kindle, of course - the only way that 50 minutes on the recumbent bike three times a week is bearable. The Griffis series is grim and historical, pulls no punches about Russia in the Red revolution. The Landis series is light, and comic, and full of local color; they alternate very nicely, I think. Especially after overdosing on news this week, with the Kavenaugh hearings.
Still have reading time, so working my way through Roy M. Griffis "By the Hands of Men" series, and Jill Marie Landis "Tiki Goddess" series. On kindle, of course - the only way that 50 minutes on the recumbent bike three times a week is bearable. The Griffis series is grim and historical, pulls no punches about Russia in the Red revolution. The Landis series is light, and comic, and full of local color; they alternate very nicely, I think. Especially after overdosing on news this week, with the Kavenaugh hearings.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at September 30, 2018 09:50 AM (xnmPy)
58
52
Wife always looks out for books for me when she it at antique places or
flea markets. Found a couple of WWII books. She said the owner said
the history books disappear quickly. Said it seems the grandparents
want the books for their kids to read. Anyone get the impression that
the old times, not us 29 year olds, are stocking up before the PC crowd
wipes history clean?
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (J70i0)
searching the library database here for history books I found one written about the South and published in the late 1800s. I went to get it and it was gone but not checked out. So I assumed someone thought it was valuable and stole it.
Wife always looks out for books for me when she it at antique places or
flea markets. Found a couple of WWII books. She said the owner said
the history books disappear quickly. Said it seems the grandparents
want the books for their kids to read. Anyone get the impression that
the old times, not us 29 year olds, are stocking up before the PC crowd
wipes history clean?
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (J70i0)
searching the library database here for history books I found one written about the South and published in the late 1800s. I went to get it and it was gone but not checked out. So I assumed someone thought it was valuable and stole it.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:51 AM (mpXpK)
Posted by: Lancelot Link Secret Agent Chimp at September 30, 2018 09:52 AM (2DOZq)
60
incidentally, does anyone know if there's been a book written about a heist using drones? you know, like "the doberman gang", only the crooks send drones to a bank/depository/7-11 (wtvr) with instructions to fill the attached satchel with money or else (!)
movie deal in 3, 2, 1...
movie deal in 3, 2, 1...
Posted by: mjc, the very, at September 30, 2018 09:52 AM (Pg+x7)
61
Yay Bookthread!
Just read MP4's Thirteen Moons.
I thought it was an elgantly spooky novella. Very classic Twilight Zone feel. Loved it.
Just read MP4's Thirteen Moons.
I thought it was an elgantly spooky novella. Very classic Twilight Zone feel. Loved it.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 09:52 AM (dMvl+)
62
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. Late to the thread. It finally dried out enough to do some yard work yesterday and that screwed up my sleep pattern and I'm moving like the Tin Man without his oil can.
This was a difficult week for reading, especially the last few days of the week. Even my usual distracting books weren't able to insulate me from overwhelming rage. More on that later.
This was a difficult week for reading, especially the last few days of the week. Even my usual distracting books weren't able to insulate me from overwhelming rage. More on that later.
Posted by: JTB at September 30, 2018 09:55 AM (V+03K)
63
The Shire is supposed to be pre WWI England. It exists in splendid isolation with little interest in war or foreigners.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 09:40 AM (3DZIZ)
Well, I might have something to say about that.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 09:40 AM (3DZIZ)
Well, I might have something to say about that.
Posted by: Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria at September 30, 2018 09:56 AM (tUqid)
64
I borrowed it, then spilled my wine on it (gasp! I know!)
I think the Book Thread deserves to know whether it was good wine.
I think the Book Thread deserves to know whether it was good wine.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (fuK7c)
65
"Your initial effort reached the target audience, so everyone who was interested got a copy."
Book came out last year, though. Summer sales were basically all via Amazon advertising and were trending up.
Book came out last year, though. Summer sales were basically all via Amazon advertising and were trending up.
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (z2FAZ)
66
Further Ring lore (I can't help myself)...
When Frodo asks about what happened at the Ford, Gandalf explains that Glorfindel is one of the Eldar - those that once dwelt in the Blessed Realm - and he lives in two worlds at the same time. This is why he is so formidable against both the Seen and Unseen.
When Frodo asks about what happened at the Ford, Gandalf explains that Glorfindel is one of the Eldar - those that once dwelt in the Blessed Realm - and he lives in two worlds at the same time. This is why he is so formidable against both the Seen and Unseen.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (cfSRQ)
67
"Lastly, Alec thanks all of you morons who bought A Man of Destiny, and if you're interested, "
That link is bad according to Amazon.
That link is bad according to Amazon.
Posted by: SDN at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (K9d/B)
68
I'm reading _The Genius Plague_ by David Walton. Fun book, about an outbreak of a fungus plague which makes its human hosts actively spread it -- and makes them smarter as they do it. The hero is an NSA cryptologist.
So far (I'm about a third into it) there's been no editorializing about contemporary politics. The main issue of the book is the danger of mind-controlling fungus, and that's very refreshing.
So far (I'm about a third into it) there's been no editorializing about contemporary politics. The main issue of the book is the danger of mind-controlling fungus, and that's very refreshing.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (8uU3R)
69
Which translation are you reading?
Constance Garnet. In all fairness, there won't be a return visit (eyes stack of my own as yet unread books). It is the extended dialogues concerning this or that socialist system proposed for uplifting the peasants that preoccupy Levin which I find to be the kiss of death.
Which translation are you reading?
Constance Garnet. In all fairness, there won't be a return visit (eyes stack of my own as yet unread books). It is the extended dialogues concerning this or that socialist system proposed for uplifting the peasants that preoccupy Levin which I find to be the kiss of death.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (pNxlR)
70
This is really not true and quite unfair. Anna Karenina has some of the most perfect passages in all of literature.
Which translation are you reading? I recommend that you get a better one. Pevear/Volokhonsky is quite good. This is not a good book to get for free via an ancient public domain translation. Get a good modern translation from you library.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (UGKMd)
Once I was shackled with a clunky translation of Madam Bovary that was just a plodding bore. A friend gave me one that just made it come alive.
That said, some people just don't like Tolstoy or Flaubert.
Which translation are you reading? I recommend that you get a better one. Pevear/Volokhonsky is quite good. This is not a good book to get for free via an ancient public domain translation. Get a good modern translation from you library.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (UGKMd)
Once I was shackled with a clunky translation of Madam Bovary that was just a plodding bore. A friend gave me one that just made it come alive.
That said, some people just don't like Tolstoy or Flaubert.
Posted by: Captain Hate at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (y7DUB)
71
I didn't look inside nor touch his "Hugs" book. Not enough bleach in the world to clean my hands and eyes.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (5jAa5)
These are the kinds of books I take great delight in turning over to hide the cover. Juvenile, I know, but at least it makes clear my opinion on Zero.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 09:30 AM (5jAa5)
These are the kinds of books I take great delight in turning over to hide the cover. Juvenile, I know, but at least it makes clear my opinion on Zero.
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (wocQs)
72
Book came out last year, though. Summer sales were basically all via Amazon advertising and were trending up.
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (z2FAZ)
---
Ever see Nassim Nicholas Taleb's graph of the Thanksgiving turkey's health? Steady improvement and weight gain until one day...
Posted by: Apostate at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (z2FAZ)
---
Ever see Nassim Nicholas Taleb's graph of the Thanksgiving turkey's health? Steady improvement and weight gain until one day...
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 09:59 AM (cfSRQ)
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:00 AM (OX9vb)
74
56 Oh, he did roll his eyes when I told him that.
Posted by: Muldoon at September 30, 2018 09:50 AM (mvenn)
I was wondering what hus reaction was! LOL
you have a grandkid who's a punster, right?
Posted by: Muldoon at September 30, 2018 09:50 AM (mvenn)
I was wondering what hus reaction was! LOL
you have a grandkid who's a punster, right?
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 10:01 AM (dMvl+)
75
Her Imperial Majesty Queen Victoria
Your Army was tiny compared with the size of other European armies.
Most of the forces used to expand the Empire were from the martial tribes of India and Nepal and other lesser native troops.
Byron Farwell's books Queen Victoria's Little Wars and Mr. Kipling's Army, among others, describe this well.
Your Army was tiny compared with the size of other European armies.
Most of the forces used to expand the Empire were from the martial tribes of India and Nepal and other lesser native troops.
Byron Farwell's books Queen Victoria's Little Wars and Mr. Kipling's Army, among others, describe this well.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 30, 2018 10:02 AM (hyuyC)
76
37 Also, this week, I bought Sowell's Black Redncks White Liberals from the library. I borrowed it, then spilled my wine on it (gasp! I know!), so figured I better pay them for that one and keep it.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 09:36 AM (OX9vb)
So you're a wine mom, then?
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 09:36 AM (OX9vb)
So you're a wine mom, then?
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 10:02 AM (tUqid)
77
I think the Book Thread deserves to know whether it was good wine.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (fuK7c)
It was the finest boxed Spanish Garnacha that money can buy, so, yeah.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 09:57 AM (fuK7c)
It was the finest boxed Spanish Garnacha that money can buy, so, yeah.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:02 AM (OX9vb)
78
73
55 "As I told my son when I sold him his copy of the book..."
I laughed.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:00 AM (OX9vb)
I was giving some of the guys in my unit the hard sell on why they needed to buy my books. One officer said "I don't have time to read it."
My reply: "I'm not asking you to read it, just buy it."
55 "As I told my son when I sold him his copy of the book..."
I laughed.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:00 AM (OX9vb)
I was giving some of the guys in my unit the hard sell on why they needed to buy my books. One officer said "I don't have time to read it."
My reply: "I'm not asking you to read it, just buy it."
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:04 AM (cfSRQ)
79
'At least it was well said projection'
Charles Fort was the Art Bell of his time. He tried to be impartial in his evaluations of outrageous things so I don't think of him of conservative or liberal.
Since Coast to Coast isn't on anymore I have to read Fort to get to sleep. I tried reading limericks, but the dreams were too awful.
Charles Fort was the Art Bell of his time. He tried to be impartial in his evaluations of outrageous things so I don't think of him of conservative or liberal.
Since Coast to Coast isn't on anymore I have to read Fort to get to sleep. I tried reading limericks, but the dreams were too awful.
Posted by: freaked at September 30, 2018 10:05 AM (UdKB7)
80
Yeah, an Amazon slump right when school starts is common in many categories of sales.
Libraries also get a readership slump.
Libraries also get a readership slump.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 10:06 AM (dMvl+)
81
>>>>Byron Farwell's books Queen Victoria's Little Wars and Mr. Kipling's Army, among others, describe this well.<<<<<
Great books. Farwell's Armies of the Raj and Lives of Eminent Victorian Soldiers are very good, too.
Great books. Farwell's Armies of the Raj and Lives of Eminent Victorian Soldiers are very good, too.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 10:07 AM (3DZIZ)
82
It was the finest boxed Spanish Garnacha that money can buy, so, yeah.
Posted by: April
----
Ah, so a connoisseur then?
Posted by: April
----
Ah, so a connoisseur then?
Posted by: Tonypete at September 30, 2018 10:08 AM (9rIkM)
83
Muldoon needs to invent a Limerick Magic 8-Ball -- shake it and tells you a new limerick.
Posted by: Soothsayer --
*************
"Magic 8-Ball, Is This Likely? - a limerick
This could turn out a terrible mess
But I'll give it a shot nonetheless
Will the meter be in time?
And the punchline end in rhyme?
Magic 8-Ball says "Signs point to Yes!"
Posted by: Soothsayer --
*************
"Magic 8-Ball, Is This Likely? - a limerick
This could turn out a terrible mess
But I'll give it a shot nonetheless
Will the meter be in time?
And the punchline end in rhyme?
Magic 8-Ball says "Signs point to Yes!"
Posted by: Muldoon at September 30, 2018 10:08 AM (mvenn)
84
I am not paying more than $5 for an eBook. Yes, I know the cost of running a huge server farm is immense. The cost of powering a server farm, the cost of maintaining a server farm, the cost of cooling a server farm, yada, but those are 'sunk costs' as I understand the meaning.
The incremental cost of copying an ebook is pennies. I'm not paying $15 for an ebook when old paperbacks of old texts sell for $2. I'm not buying fashion statements, tulip bulbs, or the coolness factor for the popularity crowd.
The incremental cost of copying an ebook is pennies. I'm not paying $15 for an ebook when old paperbacks of old texts sell for $2. I'm not buying fashion statements, tulip bulbs, or the coolness factor for the popularity crowd.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 10:08 AM (oYD2h)
85
Those benches, in the library picture, look uncomfortable, which is probably why no one is sitting in them.
Those benches, in the library picture, look uncomfortable, which is probably why no one is sitting in them.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 10:09 AM (oYD2h)
86
Hugs From Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
Total ripoff. One picture of him wrapped around a mirror.
Posted by: t-bird
Ya know, before the left suggests some kind of memorial to him, I think we should beat them to the draw and put him on the 3 dollar bill.
Total ripoff. One picture of him wrapped around a mirror.
Posted by: t-bird
Ya know, before the left suggests some kind of memorial to him, I think we should beat them to the draw and put him on the 3 dollar bill.
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 10:09 AM (WkPEU)
87
Regarding Charles Fort:
He's still the only author who can give me the creeps. I can read horror stories alone in a dark house on a windy night and have neither heebie nor jeebie as a result. But the sheer _mass_ of weirdness in Fort's OCD compendiums disturbs my rationalist soul.
BUT. On rereading him, one sees cracks in his genial skeptic mask, revealing the petulant crank underneath. He had real Issues with Authority (the few autobiographical bits which slip in give one a good idea why), and for some reason picked Science as his target.
And the 1920s happened to be a good era for that. There was a surprising anti-science strain among the literati then, and they adopted Fort and celebrated him as a profound thinker. I think he was self-aware enough to be amused by it, but if he hadn't passed away at a relatively young age (he was 5
just as his major works were published, he might have let it go to his head.
He's still the only author who can give me the creeps. I can read horror stories alone in a dark house on a windy night and have neither heebie nor jeebie as a result. But the sheer _mass_ of weirdness in Fort's OCD compendiums disturbs my rationalist soul.
BUT. On rereading him, one sees cracks in his genial skeptic mask, revealing the petulant crank underneath. He had real Issues with Authority (the few autobiographical bits which slip in give one a good idea why), and for some reason picked Science as his target.
And the 1920s happened to be a good era for that. There was a surprising anti-science strain among the literati then, and they adopted Fort and celebrated him as a profound thinker. I think he was self-aware enough to be amused by it, but if he hadn't passed away at a relatively young age (he was 5
just as his major works were published, he might have let it go to his head.Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:09 AM (8uU3R)
88
It is also known (according to All Hail Eris) that Tolkien did not like the Narnia books.
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to be internally consistent.
I haven't read any of Lewis, but Santa did bother me when I had to take my kids to that movie.
You nerds are making me contemplate reading LotR again. I read the Hobbit aloud to my children when they were children, but now they're fledged and one just read the whole cycle.
Despite my appearance, deceptively young even for 29, I probably read LotR during the Ford administration.
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to be internally consistent.
I haven't read any of Lewis, but Santa did bother me when I had to take my kids to that movie.
You nerds are making me contemplate reading LotR again. I read the Hobbit aloud to my children when they were children, but now they're fledged and one just read the whole cycle.
Despite my appearance, deceptively young even for 29, I probably read LotR during the Ford administration.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:12 AM (fuK7c)
89
How I Stopped Worrying About Presumption of Innocence and Learned to Love Recovered Memory by Dr. Christine Crazy-Fraud
Posted by: #MeToo Library at September 30, 2018 10:12 AM (v1udk)
90
Have a wonderful day, everyone.
I'm motivated by all our erudite authors, and Muldoon, to go to the local used book store. I'll combine that with some chores.
J/K, Muldoon. I bought your limerick book. When finished, it goes out of the loo to my Poetry section of the bookshelves. Right next to The Lure of the Limerick by William S. Baring-Gould.
I'm motivated by all our erudite authors, and Muldoon, to go to the local used book store. I'll combine that with some chores.
J/K, Muldoon. I bought your limerick book. When finished, it goes out of the loo to my Poetry section of the bookshelves. Right next to The Lure of the Limerick by William S. Baring-Gould.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 30, 2018 10:12 AM (hyuyC)
91
'On rereading him, one sees cracks in his genial skeptic mask, revealing the petulant crank underneath'
That's the best part.
That's the best part.
Posted by: freaked at September 30, 2018 10:13 AM (UdKB7)
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 10:13 AM (dMvl+)
93
Great book thread, OM.
Pro Tip: I would take anything following the phrase "According to All Hail Eris" with a grain or three of salt.
Pro Tip: I would take anything following the phrase "According to All Hail Eris" with a grain or three of salt.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 10:14 AM (kQs4Y)
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 10:14 AM (wocQs)
95
It's been a few years since I last read LotR.
But, the more I read it, the more I'm convinced that Tom Bombadil is supposed to be Tolkein's representation of God or, at least, a very English "god".
He's a supremely powerful being, who could end the whole Ring fufaraw with very little effort. Or so, it would seem.
Bu-u-u-u-ut, he also has little to no interest in doing so.
So, run along now, and clean up this mess of yours. I've got Bombadilian things to do. Ta-ta.
I think that makes the Bombadil digression make a little more sense. Tolkein wants to show that in the great battles against evil it's the common man who carries the burden of battle (see WWI). That the "great" among us, have their own concerns.
But, the more I read it, the more I'm convinced that Tom Bombadil is supposed to be Tolkein's representation of God or, at least, a very English "god".
He's a supremely powerful being, who could end the whole Ring fufaraw with very little effort. Or so, it would seem.
Bu-u-u-u-ut, he also has little to no interest in doing so.
So, run along now, and clean up this mess of yours. I've got Bombadilian things to do. Ta-ta.
I think that makes the Bombadil digression make a little more sense. Tolkein wants to show that in the great battles against evil it's the common man who carries the burden of battle (see WWI). That the "great" among us, have their own concerns.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 10:15 AM (CRRq9)
96
88
It is also known (according to All Hail Eris) that Tolkien did not like the Narnia books.
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea
from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking
lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to
be internally consistent.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:12 AM (fuK7c)
---
Tolkien wrote lots of letters and that's a key source in understanding him.
He had to problems with Lewis' fiction.
1. He mixed genres. Tolkien didn't like that Norse and Greek were all mixed in together. He felt it gave the secondary world a slapped-together feel.
2. Lewis used lots and lots of allegory. In his intro to LotR, Tolkien wrote that he despised allegory in all its forms.
It is also known (according to All Hail Eris) that Tolkien did not like the Narnia books.
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea
from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking
lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to
be internally consistent.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:12 AM (fuK7c)
---
Tolkien wrote lots of letters and that's a key source in understanding him.
He had to problems with Lewis' fiction.
1. He mixed genres. Tolkien didn't like that Norse and Greek were all mixed in together. He felt it gave the secondary world a slapped-together feel.
2. Lewis used lots and lots of allegory. In his intro to LotR, Tolkien wrote that he despised allegory in all its forms.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:16 AM (cfSRQ)
97
Tolkien wasn't exactly a man of the people. Sam Gamgee is annoying as hell. Many good qualities like loyalty, common sense, and bravery, but he is also shown as simple-minded and ignorant because he's working class. He and everyone around him is a firm believer that he has to go cap in hand to "his betters" and "beg their pardon" if he dares join a conversation.
Posted by: JuJuBee, just generally being shamey at September 30, 2018 10:16 AM (2NqXo)
98
On WW1 and Britain:
I don't remember if it's been mentioned before, but, if memory serves, in total numbers, while the lower classes lost the most men, the British upper class men were truly decimated.
I believe the reason was the officer class tended to be drawn from British upper classes and, as such, they were leading the attacks when orders came down to go "over the top" and attack German positions.
Any WW1 experts have better information?
WW1, what a bloody mess.
I don't remember if it's been mentioned before, but, if memory serves, in total numbers, while the lower classes lost the most men, the British upper class men were truly decimated.
I believe the reason was the officer class tended to be drawn from British upper classes and, as such, they were leading the attacks when orders came down to go "over the top" and attack German positions.
Any WW1 experts have better information?
WW1, what a bloody mess.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:17 AM (WEBkv)
99
the guy that moves pianos
Good to see your nic again.
Yes, those books and his book The Ghurkas are the ones I had in mind when writing "among others."
Got to scoot. Stay blessed. And mock the left. In my group of friends, any of my minor social miscues is followed by an apology and a heartfelt cry of "I'll never be confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice now."
Good to see your nic again.
Yes, those books and his book The Ghurkas are the ones I had in mind when writing "among others."
Got to scoot. Stay blessed. And mock the left. In my group of friends, any of my minor social miscues is followed by an apology and a heartfelt cry of "I'll never be confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice now."
Posted by: NaCly Dog at September 30, 2018 10:17 AM (hyuyC)
100
It was the finest boxed Spanish Garnacha that money can buy, so, yeah.
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:02 AM (OX9vb)
aka "Cardbordeaux!"
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:02 AM (OX9vb)
aka "Cardbordeaux!"
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 10:18 AM (wocQs)
101
And just when I had finally mustered the courage to start reading War and Peace, I am saved from my folly by two comments on the Book Thread.
Whew. Close one.
Whew. Close one.
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:19 AM (2eKoI)
102
95
It's been a few years since I last read LotR.
But, the more I read it, the more I'm convinced that Tom Bombadil is
supposed to be Tolkein's representation of God or, at least, a very
English "god".
He's a supremely powerful being, who could end the whole Ring fufaraw with very little effort. Or so, it would seem.
Bu-u-u-u-ut, he also has little to no interest in doing so.
So, run along now, and clean up this mess of yours. I've got Bombadilian things to do. Ta-ta.
I think that makes the Bombadil digression make a little more sense.
Tolkein wants to show that in the great battles against evil it's the
common man who carries the burden of battle (see WWI). That the "great"
among us, have their own concerns.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 10:15 AM (CRRq9)
---
Bombadil and Goldberry are Maiar, similar to the Wizards, Sauron and the Balrog in nature. Angels, if you will. They're basically benevolent nature spirits.
At the Council of Elrond, they discuss giving the Ring to Bombadil, but he wouldn't take it, wouldn't take care of it, and in the end Sauron would ultimately be able to overcome him anyway.
It's been a few years since I last read LotR.
But, the more I read it, the more I'm convinced that Tom Bombadil is
supposed to be Tolkein's representation of God or, at least, a very
English "god".
He's a supremely powerful being, who could end the whole Ring fufaraw with very little effort. Or so, it would seem.
Bu-u-u-u-ut, he also has little to no interest in doing so.
So, run along now, and clean up this mess of yours. I've got Bombadilian things to do. Ta-ta.
I think that makes the Bombadil digression make a little more sense.
Tolkein wants to show that in the great battles against evil it's the
common man who carries the burden of battle (see WWI). That the "great"
among us, have their own concerns.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 10:15 AM (CRRq9)
---
Bombadil and Goldberry are Maiar, similar to the Wizards, Sauron and the Balrog in nature. Angels, if you will. They're basically benevolent nature spirits.
At the Council of Elrond, they discuss giving the Ring to Bombadil, but he wouldn't take it, wouldn't take care of it, and in the end Sauron would ultimately be able to overcome him anyway.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:19 AM (cfSRQ)
103
Ya know, before the left suggests some kind of memorial to him, I think we should beat them to the draw and put him on the 3 dollar bill.
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 10:09 AM (WkPEU)
--------------
Phony and queer? I like it.
The left would never get the reference, though.
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 10:09 AM (WkPEU)
--------------
Phony and queer? I like it.
The left would never get the reference, though.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:20 AM (WEBkv)
104
This is really not true and quite unfair"
'Tis true. And I chuckle at the academy and it's attempt to pass off wordiness as thoughtfulness.
Just 'cause one has 200 colors of paint doesn't mean he has to use every one every time...
'Tis true. And I chuckle at the academy and it's attempt to pass off wordiness as thoughtfulness.
Just 'cause one has 200 colors of paint doesn't mean he has to use every one every time...
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:21 AM (6qErC)
105
104 This is really not true and quite unfair"
'Tis true. And I chuckle at the academy and it's attempt to pass off wordiness as thoughtfulness.
Just 'cause one has 200 colors of paint doesn't mean he has to use every one every time...
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:21 AM (6qErC)
Word.
'Tis true. And I chuckle at the academy and it's attempt to pass off wordiness as thoughtfulness.
Just 'cause one has 200 colors of paint doesn't mean he has to use every one every time...
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:21 AM (6qErC)
Word.
Posted by: Zombie Andrew Wyeth at September 30, 2018 10:23 AM (Izzlo)
106
You were not supposed to come away from "To Kill A Mockingbird" thinking Atticus Finch was the bad guy, Tom Robinson deserved to get shot, and Bob Ewell was a distraught father defending his daughter
Posted by: Sisqui at September 30, 2018 10:24 AM (ienGK)
107
I don't want to bring politics into the thread so early but I mentioned this week was difficult for reading. The hearings exposed the utter lying and hypocracy of the Dems and their supporters, usually without consequence. I spent several days in an absolute rage, blinding me to anything good in the world. Finally it occured to me that is part of their hope. It reminded me of a passage from LOTR when Frodo describes what the Ring is doing to him.
"No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes and all else fades."
I am more and more convinced that the Dems, the MFM and their ilk are not simply nasty and power obsessed. They are evil. They want the destruction of any joy or beauty. They are, while they can get away with it comfortably, anti-life.
It took a while to remember the other parts of LOTR, and some of CS Lewis, where they write about how there is still good in the world that is worth fighting for.
Books have always been a salvation for me. They came through again. But this week has been a struggle.
"No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes and all else fades."
I am more and more convinced that the Dems, the MFM and their ilk are not simply nasty and power obsessed. They are evil. They want the destruction of any joy or beauty. They are, while they can get away with it comfortably, anti-life.
It took a while to remember the other parts of LOTR, and some of CS Lewis, where they write about how there is still good in the world that is worth fighting for.
Books have always been a salvation for me. They came through again. But this week has been a struggle.
Posted by: JTB at September 30, 2018 10:24 AM (V+03K)
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:25 AM (6qErC)
109
I've started "The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O." by Neal Stephenson. It's about a woman hired by a fellow who works for the government in some mysterious capacity. She is hired for her knowledge of languages and at first does a lot of translating. Gradually she discovers that magic used to exist but for some reason died out in 1851.
After that it looks as if time travel comes into it; the book opens with the protagonist trapped in the past and writing a manuscript as a sort of "message in a bottle" in the hope that someone can travel back and rescue her. I enjoyed the first part of the book, as the project is coming togeter, but it gets very complicated very fast. It's a thick tome (over 700 pages) so I'm not entirely sure I will stick with it. One thing I like is that the fellow who hires her, clearly military, is not a thug but a pretty sharp fellow and enthusiastic physicist.
After that it looks as if time travel comes into it; the book opens with the protagonist trapped in the past and writing a manuscript as a sort of "message in a bottle" in the hope that someone can travel back and rescue her. I enjoyed the first part of the book, as the project is coming togeter, but it gets very complicated very fast. It's a thick tome (over 700 pages) so I'm not entirely sure I will stick with it. One thing I like is that the fellow who hires her, clearly military, is not a thug but a pretty sharp fellow and enthusiastic physicist.
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 10:25 AM (LaT54)
110
I read the last book in Ilona Andrew's Kate Daniels series. I like that series, and it wrapped up pretty well.
However, after I read it, I found out that a new series starts in the universe and the first book is set just before this one, and I should have read that first.
However, after I read it, I found out that a new series starts in the universe and the first book is set just before this one, and I should have read that first.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 10:25 AM (dMvl+)
111
Sam has the most character growth in LotR. By the end of the series he is still devoted to Frodo but it is more like he is taking care of an invalid rather than following him. And once you get to RotK Sam doaesn't take any shit from Merry and Pippin.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM (3DZIZ)
112
I believe the reason was the officer class tended to
be drawn from British upper classes and, as such, they were leading the
attacks when orders came down to go "over the top" and attack German
positions.
Any WW1 experts have better information?
WW1, what a bloody mess.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:17 AM (WEBkv)
---
The upper classes back then held to codes of honor, which required them to serve King and Country in times of war. Officers led from the front and because so many of them were proud of their commission, they bought riding pants and wore the cool cavalry boots. This led to the Germans picking them off like crazy and it was finally necessary for Army command to ban the wearing of the things.
The war traumatized the upper classes in particular and there's a passage in Sword of Honour where the protagonists (who was too young to fight in the Great War) has his older sister explain what it was like. She says something to the effect of:
"You remember the war as being a time when sweets were hard to get and everyone wore a uniform. But we watched all the young men go off and die, week after week, without any end in sight."
Goes a long way to explain pacifism and appeasement in the 30s.
be drawn from British upper classes and, as such, they were leading the
attacks when orders came down to go "over the top" and attack German
positions.
Any WW1 experts have better information?
WW1, what a bloody mess.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:17 AM (WEBkv)
---
The upper classes back then held to codes of honor, which required them to serve King and Country in times of war. Officers led from the front and because so many of them were proud of their commission, they bought riding pants and wore the cool cavalry boots. This led to the Germans picking them off like crazy and it was finally necessary for Army command to ban the wearing of the things.
The war traumatized the upper classes in particular and there's a passage in Sword of Honour where the protagonists (who was too young to fight in the Great War) has his older sister explain what it was like. She says something to the effect of:
"You remember the war as being a time when sweets were hard to get and everyone wore a uniform. But we watched all the young men go off and die, week after week, without any end in sight."
Goes a long way to explain pacifism and appeasement in the 30s.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM (cfSRQ)
113
"Hugs from Obama: A Photographic Look Back at the Warmth and Wisdom of President Obama".
-
Meanwhile . . .
Kanye West stumped by Jimmy Kimmel's Donald Trump question
Kanye West was stumped by TV host Jimmy Kimmel when he quizzed the rapper about his support for President Trump.
The usually verbose artist seemed lost for words when Kimmel asked him why he thought Mr Trump cared about black people, "or any people at all".
https://bbc.in/2Rf2muy
-
Meanwhile . . .
Kanye West stumped by Jimmy Kimmel's Donald Trump question
Kanye West was stumped by TV host Jimmy Kimmel when he quizzed the rapper about his support for President Trump.
The usually verbose artist seemed lost for words when Kimmel asked him why he thought Mr Trump cared about black people, "or any people at all".
https://bbc.in/2Rf2muy
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM (+y/Ru)
114
are not simply nasty and power obsessed. They are evil."
Isn't that the same thing? The love of money (and power) is indeed the root of all evil...
Isn't that the same thing? The love of money (and power) is indeed the root of all evil...
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:27 AM (6qErC)
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 10:27 AM (dMvl+)
116
Which translation are you reading?
Constance Garnet. In all fairness, there won't be a return visit (eyes stack of my own as yet unread books). It is the extended dialogues concerning this or that socialist system proposed for uplifting the peasants that preoccupy Levin which I find to be the kiss of death.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (pNxlR)
As I feared. A 117 year old translation by a Victorian Englishwoman. The only thing to recommend it is that is is out of copyright and therefore free on Kindle. It has been rightfully criticised as having "thousands of mistakes". Nabokov said that Garnett's translations were "dry and flat, and always unbearably demure."
I would recommend throwing the Garnett translation overboard now and moving on to your stack of unread books. You can always come back to Anna Karenina later in a better translation. It is not worth hating such a good book because you picked up possibly the worst translation.
Regarding the dialogues on what to do about the serfs: it was a major issue at the time, akin to slavery in the US. It is too bad the Russians didn't get it right; doing so at this time might easily have spared the world 70 years of Soviet communism.
Constance Garnet. In all fairness, there won't be a return visit (eyes stack of my own as yet unread books). It is the extended dialogues concerning this or that socialist system proposed for uplifting the peasants that preoccupy Levin which I find to be the kiss of death.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (pNxlR)
As I feared. A 117 year old translation by a Victorian Englishwoman. The only thing to recommend it is that is is out of copyright and therefore free on Kindle. It has been rightfully criticised as having "thousands of mistakes". Nabokov said that Garnett's translations were "dry and flat, and always unbearably demure."
I would recommend throwing the Garnett translation overboard now and moving on to your stack of unread books. You can always come back to Anna Karenina later in a better translation. It is not worth hating such a good book because you picked up possibly the worst translation.
Regarding the dialogues on what to do about the serfs: it was a major issue at the time, akin to slavery in the US. It is too bad the Russians didn't get it right; doing so at this time might easily have spared the world 70 years of Soviet communism.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (UGKMd)
117
All Hail Eris,
I have a gift I'd like to send you for something you did for me. A couple of years ago when my father's mind and body wasted away from alzheimer's and just plain old age, this place, and your comments in particular, helped get me through that time.
The gift is some Mad magazines from the 60's, and one from 1959. All are in outstanding condition. If you'd like them, I'll post my email so you can send me an address (not yours so as to maintain your privacy) of someone that could get them to you.
I have a gift I'd like to send you for something you did for me. A couple of years ago when my father's mind and body wasted away from alzheimer's and just plain old age, this place, and your comments in particular, helped get me through that time.
The gift is some Mad magazines from the 60's, and one from 1959. All are in outstanding condition. If you'd like them, I'll post my email so you can send me an address (not yours so as to maintain your privacy) of someone that could get them to you.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (5jAa5)
118
Book rec.
I like Harry Turtledove. Haven't read all (or even most) of his books but I've liked the ones I have read.
One of his NON-fantasy/sf historical novels is Justinian, based upon the life of a Byzantine emperor. I've known of this book for a long time and ignored it. Justinian is one of the most significant Roman emperors but I just wasn't in the mood to read again about how he almost fled Constantinople during some riots.
But that's not who the book is about. This novel is about Justinian II who lived much later and is an absolute WILD MAN. Takes place in the late 600s. Justinian II was one of the very few emperors who was removed from office in a coup... and, years later, led a revolution to take it back! When I say very few, I mean I can't think of any emperor who pulled that off (I think two Empresses retook the crown more-or-less peacefully).
Entertaining read and, since Turtledove is a Byzantine scholar, it's full of historical tidbits you didn't know about the Eastern Romans and their daily life.
I like Harry Turtledove. Haven't read all (or even most) of his books but I've liked the ones I have read.
One of his NON-fantasy/sf historical novels is Justinian, based upon the life of a Byzantine emperor. I've known of this book for a long time and ignored it. Justinian is one of the most significant Roman emperors but I just wasn't in the mood to read again about how he almost fled Constantinople during some riots.
But that's not who the book is about. This novel is about Justinian II who lived much later and is an absolute WILD MAN. Takes place in the late 600s. Justinian II was one of the very few emperors who was removed from office in a coup... and, years later, led a revolution to take it back! When I say very few, I mean I can't think of any emperor who pulled that off (I think two Empresses retook the crown more-or-less peacefully).
Entertaining read and, since Turtledove is a Byzantine scholar, it's full of historical tidbits you didn't know about the Eastern Romans and their daily life.
Posted by: ArthurK at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (JVBKB)
119
> One thing I like is that the fellow who hires her, clearly military, is not a thug but a pretty sharp fellow and enthusiastic physicist.
Military people get respect in most of Stephenson's books.
Military people get respect in most of Stephenson's books.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 10:29 AM (f5LwH)
120
''I'm trying to find an author similar to Steven Pressfield. Any recommendations? I tried Conn Iggulden but he fell way short for me.''
I've enjoyed Adrian Goldsworthy's "'Vindolanda" and "The Encircling Sea". A third in the series is coming out in June. Goldsworthy is a Roman scholar so he knows what of he speaks. What he's done is use the recent archeological discoveries at Vindolanda as starting points for his fiction. Clever really.
I've enjoyed Adrian Goldsworthy's "'Vindolanda" and "The Encircling Sea". A third in the series is coming out in June. Goldsworthy is a Roman scholar so he knows what of he speaks. What he's done is use the recent archeological discoveries at Vindolanda as starting points for his fiction. Clever really.
Posted by: Tuna at September 30, 2018 10:30 AM (jm1YL)
121
I am continuing my course of Stuff I Think I Should Have Read courtesy of free books on Kindle. This week, it's The American by Henry James.
James is particularly clever with names. Our main bad guy is named Urbain (he's Froggish, it means urbane) and if you didn't get it he describes our antagonist as urbane. The American who represents everything antithetical to the Froggish caste system is Newman. New Man, get it?
I'm almost finished. We're supposed to be on Newman's side because the perfidious Frogs have thwarted his pursuit of the damsel, but the author asks us to forget that Newman was pursuing her before he'd met her because she was the shiny possession that he lacked and he must have all that he desires.
In short, it's not very good but I will be glad to have read it so that I will have read it.
James is particularly clever with names. Our main bad guy is named Urbain (he's Froggish, it means urbane) and if you didn't get it he describes our antagonist as urbane. The American who represents everything antithetical to the Froggish caste system is Newman. New Man, get it?
I'm almost finished. We're supposed to be on Newman's side because the perfidious Frogs have thwarted his pursuit of the damsel, but the author asks us to forget that Newman was pursuing her before he'd met her because she was the shiny possession that he lacked and he must have all that he desires.
In short, it's not very good but I will be glad to have read it so that I will have read it.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:32 AM (fuK7c)
122
''Kanye West was stumped by TV host Jimmy Kimmel when he quizzed the rapper about his support for President Trump. ''
Could it be that West was actually stumped by Kimmel's stupidity?
Could it be that West was actually stumped by Kimmel's stupidity?
Posted by: Tuna at September 30, 2018 10:33 AM (jm1YL)
123
> And once you get to RotK Sam doaesn't take any shit from Merry and Pippin.
Sam winds up as a member of the landed gentry/low-level aristocracy in the end. Frodo leaves Bag End to him and his family, and Sam becomes Mayor of the Shire.
Perhaps not quite as highly ranked as Merry and Pippin (who are both hereditary nobility, or the closest to such that the Shire has), but definitely in the upper classes socially.
Sam winds up as a member of the landed gentry/low-level aristocracy in the end. Frodo leaves Bag End to him and his family, and Sam becomes Mayor of the Shire.
Perhaps not quite as highly ranked as Merry and Pippin (who are both hereditary nobility, or the closest to such that the Shire has), but definitely in the upper classes socially.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 10:33 AM (f5LwH)
124
I've always felt that Hobbits were the truest representative of mankind in LOTR. The race called man was, to my tiny little mind at least, far too elevated to represent humanity as they actually live in the world.
Posted by: Northernlurker lurkier than ever at September 30, 2018 10:33 AM (nBr1j)
125
118 Posted by: ArthurK at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (JVBKB)
I liked Turtledove's Guns of the South, didn't care too much for any of the others.
I liked Turtledove's Guns of the South, didn't care too much for any of the others.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (mpXpK)
126
... of course, complications arise because the ringleader (retired military out as much for revenge because his pension isn't enough) makes it with the hot girlfriend (megan fox type) of the computer geek who runs the drones.
Posted by: mjc, the very, at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (Pg+x7)
127
The Warmth and Wisdom of Bath House Barry.
Posted by: Burger Chef at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (RuIsu)
128
Goes a long way to explain pacifism and appeasement in the 30s.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM
----------------
Yeah, having read a lot about WWII, I wondered about British pacifism leading up to WWII until I started looking at WWI and the utter destruction of the British male wrought by the Great War.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM
----------------
Yeah, having read a lot about WWII, I wondered about British pacifism leading up to WWII until I started looking at WWI and the utter destruction of the British male wrought by the Great War.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (WEBkv)
129
Off to mass! Thanks for the conversation! I'll pop back in later to see if this is still active.
Posted by: A.H. Lloyd at September 30, 2018 10:36 AM (cfSRQ)
130
Lately I've been reading the Remo Williams/Destroyer series by Warren Murphy and Richard Sapir. These are "men's adventure" stories, mostly from the 60's and 70's. No one would call them great literature, but they're still pretty entertaining.
The first couple are free on Kindle.
The first couple are free on Kindle.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 10:39 AM (f5LwH)
131
"...the utter destruction of the British male wrought by the Great War."
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (WEBkv)
The British were tough bastards...and most of the toughest were killed in WWI, and the rest of the tough ones were killed in WWII.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:35 AM (WEBkv)
The British were tough bastards...and most of the toughest were killed in WWI, and the rest of the tough ones were killed in WWII.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at September 30, 2018 10:39 AM (wYseH)
132
... or is the girlfriend just playing the ringleader so she and the computer geek can take all the money from the heist?!
Posted by: mjc, the very, at September 30, 2018 10:40 AM (Pg+x7)
133
Slow reading week. I've vowed to stop returning from the library with an armload of books when I have a library of unread tomes in my own home.
So I went spelunking in my paperback sci fi collection and found Anarchaos by Curt Clark (real name Donald E. Westlake).
The planet Anarchaos circles the dying sun Hell. It is tidally locked, so the baleful eye of Hell is always casting rust-red light down on the inhabitants. It is a planet where there are no laws, hence nothing is a crime. Malone's brother died on Anarchaos and he has come o find out who and why.
The road trip begins with our hero killing his driver and stealing his car, money, and weapons.
It reads more like crime fiction with sci fi trappings, but that's fine. Westlake was a prolific author of mysteries and wrote the screenplay for The Grifters, if you care.
So I went spelunking in my paperback sci fi collection and found Anarchaos by Curt Clark (real name Donald E. Westlake).
The planet Anarchaos circles the dying sun Hell. It is tidally locked, so the baleful eye of Hell is always casting rust-red light down on the inhabitants. It is a planet where there are no laws, hence nothing is a crime. Malone's brother died on Anarchaos and he has come o find out who and why.
The road trip begins with our hero killing his driver and stealing his car, money, and weapons.
It reads more like crime fiction with sci fi trappings, but that's fine. Westlake was a prolific author of mysteries and wrote the screenplay for The Grifters, if you care.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 10:40 AM (kQs4Y)
134
Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey novels give an interesting picture of post WWI England, particularly "Unnatural Death." Even if you don't like the genre of the gentleman detective, I think this book is worth it.
The murder takes place in a gentlemen's club on Armistice Day. Wimsey himself has PTSD and another character, one of the suspects, has it really badly. You also get glimpses of the walking wounded, e.g. one of the members is nicknamed "Tin-Tummy Challoner." Reference is also made to other members with various amputations. The overall tone is light, but the background... not so much.
The murder takes place in a gentlemen's club on Armistice Day. Wimsey himself has PTSD and another character, one of the suspects, has it really badly. You also get glimpses of the walking wounded, e.g. one of the members is nicknamed "Tin-Tummy Challoner." Reference is also made to other members with various amputations. The overall tone is light, but the background... not so much.
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 10:41 AM (LaT54)
135
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea
from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking
lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to
be internally consistent.
Please remind me of where Santa made a Narnia appearance. I'm not drawing it out of my memory bank right now.
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea
from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking
lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to
be internally consistent.
Please remind me of where Santa made a Narnia appearance. I'm not drawing it out of my memory bank right now.
Posted by: Northernlurker lurkier than ever at September 30, 2018 10:41 AM (nBr1j)
136
And if the British prewar upper class was decimated, the old French military class was simply exterminated in World War I. Tuchman has a great detail: in the list of graduates killed in action on the wall at the French military academy, they saved a lot of space by putting up a single plaque for "The Class of 1914."
That's what happened to all the French leaders who might have stood up to the Germans twenty-five years later.
That's what happened to all the French leaders who might have stood up to the Germans twenty-five years later.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:41 AM (8uU3R)
137
FFS, it's not a job interview., it's a constitutional process. Advice and consent has been turned into trial by ordeal. It's medieval.
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 10:42 AM (1UZdv)
138
Northernlurker: Father Christmas shows up and starts handing out weapons while the children are on the run with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. It's a sign that the Witch's power is irrecoverably breaking.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:44 AM (8uU3R)
139
The gift is some Mad magazines from the 60's, and one from 1959. All are in outstanding condition. If you'd like them, I'll post my email so you can send me an address (not yours so as to maintain your privacy) of someone that could get them to you.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (5jAa5)
---
Jake, that is very thoughtful. Yes, I would love to have them.
The gift is some Mad magazines from the 60's, and one from 1959. All are in outstanding condition. If you'd like them, I'll post my email so you can send me an address (not yours so as to maintain your privacy) of someone that could get them to you.
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 10:28 AM (5jAa5)
---
Jake, that is very thoughtful. Yes, I would love to have them.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 10:44 AM (kQs4Y)
140
Northernlurker: Father Christmas shows up and starts handing out weapons while the children are on the run with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. It's a sign that the Witch's power is irrecoverably breaking.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:44 AM (8uU3R)
Now I remember. Thanks.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:44 AM (8uU3R)
Now I remember. Thanks.
Posted by: Northernlurker lurkier than ever at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (nBr1j)
Posted by: April at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (OX9vb)
142
Morning all
Got up at midnight to drive back home. With my wife now in Hospital- no big deal just precautionary. Go home later, do laundry, work Monday and Tuesday and drive back down to VA.
Sigh I live in my car. I need a shower and toilet in it. Oh and a small Fridge
Got up at midnight to drive back home. With my wife now in Hospital- no big deal just precautionary. Go home later, do laundry, work Monday and Tuesday and drive back down to VA.
Sigh I live in my car. I need a shower and toilet in it. Oh and a small Fridge
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (cH7ES)
143
My mom gave me a copy of Wind in the Willows when I was a kid. I love the world of Mr. Toad and his friends, but when Mr. Toad goes on his wild ride and talks to humans, that seemed to confuse me. It's like Grahame crossed the streams or something. Maybe I'm misremembering. I should probably re-read it.
Posted by: sinalco at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (yODqO)
144
Regarding Father Christmas in Narnia: that was a scene I absolutely expected the people making the movie of TLTWATW to cut out. But they didn't!
I think the later books show Lewis taking some of Tolkein's criticisms to heart. There's more effort to make the world of Narnia a consistent place.
I think the later books show Lewis taking some of Tolkein's criticisms to heart. There's more effort to make the world of Narnia a consistent place.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (8uU3R)
145
135, 138 - yes. "Always winter but never Christmas." But then Christmas comes. Santa is described as glad but not jolly, and his presents are "tools not toys."
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 10:46 AM (LaT54)
146
So this is the book thread.... I have a couple of recommendations..... " The Devils of Loudon", by Aldous Huxley; " The Trial", by Franz Kafka.... very timely....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 10:47 AM (DpEis)
147
Weren't the Alpha Males of Germany decimated the same as Britain and France?
Sweden was spared both WWs and Vikings turned into wimps.
Sweden was spared both WWs and Vikings turned into wimps.
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 10:47 AM (1UZdv)
148
Sinalco: I kind of agree with you about that part of Wind in the Willows. Often when I reread it I skip the Toad chapters, except the finale of course.
It's interesting to see that over the course of the novel the protagonist role shifts around. At first it's Mole's story, then it's Rat's story, and finally it's Toad's story.
I always liked Mr. Badger myself.
It's interesting to see that over the course of the novel the protagonist role shifts around. At first it's Mole's story, then it's Rat's story, and finally it's Toad's story.
I always liked Mr. Badger myself.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (8uU3R)
Posted by: Anon a mouse at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (6qErC)
150
I "know" that as well, though I have no idea where I get the idea from. I'm pretty sure it was the appearance of Santa Claus in a talking lion book that offended Tolkien, as he liked his imaginary world's to be internally consistent.
----
It bothered me not that Father Christmas, Greek mythological elementals, and European folk critters comingled with a Jewish lion in Narnia.
----
It bothered me not that Father Christmas, Greek mythological elementals, and European folk critters comingled with a Jewish lion in Narnia.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (kQs4Y)
151
I have the Anthony Briggs translation of War and Peace published by Penguin Classics.
Read it or burn it?
Read it or burn it?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (2eKoI)
152
... i think i'll call it "the drone gang" or maybe "the drone caper".
Posted by: mjc, the very, at September 30, 2018 10:49 AM (Pg+x7)
153
136 And if the British prewar upper class was decimated, the old French military class was simply exterminated in World War I. Tuchman has a great detail: in the list of graduates killed in action on the wall at the French military academy, they saved a lot of space by putting up a single plaque for "The Class of 1914."
That's what happened to all the French leaders who might have stood up to the Germans twenty-five years later.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:41 AM (8uU3R)
--------------
I'm somewhat of an Anglophile, so, I've ignored the French, which I admit is a failing on my part.
Which is sad, because that nation truly suffered during WW1.
It's one thing to lose your young men. It's another to lose your young men and have your country devastated by war.
That's what happened to all the French leaders who might have stood up to the Germans twenty-five years later.
Posted by: Trimegistus at September 30, 2018 10:41 AM (8uU3R)
--------------
I'm somewhat of an Anglophile, so, I've ignored the French, which I admit is a failing on my part.
Which is sad, because that nation truly suffered during WW1.
It's one thing to lose your young men. It's another to lose your young men and have your country devastated by war.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:49 AM (WEBkv)
154
Confirmation of Judges at the Federal Level:
There are checks and balances and then there are Checks and Balances. The process of confirming of a Supreme Court Justice exerts extreme pressure on those Checks and Balances. Reinforcing those Checks and Balances is a key component of ensuring Constitutional Rule.
Article Two of the United States Constitution requires that the head of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States, nominates a Supreme Court Justice, and that the Senate, the Upper Chamber of the Legislative Branch, confirms that nominee if they concur.
This is a extremely significant Check and Balance between the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government.
It is the Senates role to Check the Executive: That is, it is the Senates role to make sure that the Nominee put forward by the Executive is a Justice of the character that will protect and enforce the Constitution of the United States. The Executive itself cannot be the Power that decides whether a Nominated Justice meets that standard. That role must be executed by the Senate, part of the Legislative Branch.
The idea that a Nominee for the Supreme Court, Nominated by the Executive Branch, must pass through an Executive Branch Inquiry, an FBI background check, is anathema to the fundamental Check and Balance between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. By declaring that a Nominee is not admissible without a clearance by an executive branch agency, and that the clearance by that executive branch agency is Controlling as to the admissibility of the Nominee, the Senate is undermining a fundamental Check and Balance. The Senate is, in effect, saying that the Executive has both the Nomination and the Advice and Consent Power.
The Senate MUST be capable, via its own powers, of delivering the Advice and Consent function delegated to them by the Constitution. To declare otherwise is to undermine the Senates Power, and in this instance, to expand the Power of the Executive to a dangerous level. If the Senate would like theoretical examples, let me know, though I doubt it is necessary.
Senate Democrats have already undermined the procedural check and balance of the Senate by subverting the ordered procedure (the process), through which the Senate evaluates a candidate. In the Democrats defense, enforcement of the Consent procedure is entirely the responsibility of the Senate itself, so that the undermining of that procedure can be considered political in nature. However, the method that the Democrats have chosen to exert their political power has crossed the line into a Separation of Powers issue. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an Executive Branch agency. By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter, the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
The Constitutional method of exerting the Minority Democrats political power would have been to run their own internal investigation, and to expose their Discoveries through the Senate, taking advantage of the great power of the Free Press. Instead, the Democrats have called upon an Executive Branch Organ to determine the appropriateness of the Nominee. This is inconsistent with Separation of Powers Constitutional Rule. It i the Senates job to give Consent, not the Executives.
Lastly, during a period in which there is a question of whether this great experiment in self rule will survive, the question in doubt at least in part due to an undermining of self rule by the Administrative State, it is especially egregious that the Senate Minority would call upon the Executive Branch Administrative State to perform the duty which is Constitutionally delegated to the Senate itself.
Confirmation of Judges at the Federal Level:
There are checks and balances and then there are Checks and Balances. The process of confirming of a Supreme Court Justice exerts extreme pressure on those Checks and Balances. Reinforcing those Checks and Balances is a key component of ensuring Constitutional Rule.
Article Two of the United States Constitution requires that the head of the Executive Branch, the President of the United States, nominates a Supreme Court Justice, and that the Senate, the Upper Chamber of the Legislative Branch, confirms that nominee if they concur.
This is a extremely significant Check and Balance between the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government.
It is the Senates role to Check the Executive: That is, it is the Senates role to make sure that the Nominee put forward by the Executive is a Justice of the character that will protect and enforce the Constitution of the United States. The Executive itself cannot be the Power that decides whether a Nominated Justice meets that standard. That role must be executed by the Senate, part of the Legislative Branch.
The idea that a Nominee for the Supreme Court, Nominated by the Executive Branch, must pass through an Executive Branch Inquiry, an FBI background check, is anathema to the fundamental Check and Balance between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. By declaring that a Nominee is not admissible without a clearance by an executive branch agency, and that the clearance by that executive branch agency is Controlling as to the admissibility of the Nominee, the Senate is undermining a fundamental Check and Balance. The Senate is, in effect, saying that the Executive has both the Nomination and the Advice and Consent Power.
The Senate MUST be capable, via its own powers, of delivering the Advice and Consent function delegated to them by the Constitution. To declare otherwise is to undermine the Senates Power, and in this instance, to expand the Power of the Executive to a dangerous level. If the Senate would like theoretical examples, let me know, though I doubt it is necessary.
Senate Democrats have already undermined the procedural check and balance of the Senate by subverting the ordered procedure (the process), through which the Senate evaluates a candidate. In the Democrats defense, enforcement of the Consent procedure is entirely the responsibility of the Senate itself, so that the undermining of that procedure can be considered political in nature. However, the method that the Democrats have chosen to exert their political power has crossed the line into a Separation of Powers issue. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an Executive Branch agency. By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter, the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
The Constitutional method of exerting the Minority Democrats political power would have been to run their own internal investigation, and to expose their Discoveries through the Senate, taking advantage of the great power of the Free Press. Instead, the Democrats have called upon an Executive Branch Organ to determine the appropriateness of the Nominee. This is inconsistent with Separation of Powers Constitutional Rule. It i the Senates job to give Consent, not the Executives.
Lastly, during a period in which there is a question of whether this great experiment in self rule will survive, the question in doubt at least in part due to an undermining of self rule by the Administrative State, it is especially egregious that the Senate Minority would call upon the Executive Branch Administrative State to perform the duty which is Constitutionally delegated to the Senate itself.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
155
I've always felt that Hobbits were the truest representative of mankind in LOTR. The race called man was, to my tiny little mind at least, far too elevated to represent humanity as they actually live in the world.
Posted by: Northernlurker lurkier than ever at September 30, 2018 10:33 AM
Hobbits!
Posted by: Northernlurker lurkier than ever at September 30, 2018 10:33 AM
Hobbits!
Posted by: John McCain at September 30, 2018 10:51 AM (YTxkQ)
156
147 Weren't the Alpha Males of Germany decimated the same as Britain and France?
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 10:47 AM (1UZdv)
---------------
Hard to have much sympathy for the aggressor nation.
But, yes.
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 10:47 AM (1UZdv)
---------------
Hard to have much sympathy for the aggressor nation.
But, yes.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:51 AM (WEBkv)
157
but when Mr. Toad goes on his wild ride and talks to humans, that seemed to confuse me.
Mole and Rat and Toad and Badger are all animal-sized animals when they interact with each other, yet humans don't seem to notice that they are not human when they interact with them.
It is such a stretch that I just chalked it up to willing suspension of disbelief. All of the critters are, after all, country folk in various disguises.
One of my favorite parts is when Rat gets tempted by a gypsy Rat to take to the sea and have adventures but is gradually talked out of it by Mole.
Mole and Rat and Toad and Badger are all animal-sized animals when they interact with each other, yet humans don't seem to notice that they are not human when they interact with them.
It is such a stretch that I just chalked it up to willing suspension of disbelief. All of the critters are, after all, country folk in various disguises.
One of my favorite parts is when Rat gets tempted by a gypsy Rat to take to the sea and have adventures but is gradually talked out of it by Mole.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:51 AM (fuK7c)
158
Sigh I live in my car. I need a shower and toilet in it. Oh and a small Fridge
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (cH7ES)
--------------
Nic is aptly chosen, I see.
Prayer for your continued endurance offered.
And, with that, off to church.
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 10:45 AM (cH7ES)
--------------
Nic is aptly chosen, I see.
Prayer for your continued endurance offered.
And, with that, off to church.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 10:53 AM (WEBkv)
159
111 Sam has the most character growth in LotR. By the end of the series he is still devoted to Frodo but it is more like he is taking care of an invalid rather than following him. And once you get to RotK Sam doaesn't take any shit from Merry and Pippin.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM (3DZIZ)
I would add Pippin and Merry to this list. You don't really notice it until you get to the 'Scouring of the Shire' chapter and it suddenly dawns on you that they're totally different hobbits then when they started out. They know what a sword is for. Not scared of orcs, not scared of those half orc/men hybrids.
In short, "they know a thing or two, because they've seen a thing or two."
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 10:26 AM (3DZIZ)
I would add Pippin and Merry to this list. You don't really notice it until you get to the 'Scouring of the Shire' chapter and it suddenly dawns on you that they're totally different hobbits then when they started out. They know what a sword is for. Not scared of orcs, not scared of those half orc/men hybrids.
In short, "they know a thing or two, because they've seen a thing or two."
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 10:54 AM (tUqid)
160
JTB: Yes, the Left/Dems are simply evil.
That evil comes from 50 years of pushing legal abortion on demand up to the moment of birth down our throats as the most sacred and important of our "rights".
The DemonRats have become wholly owned by Satan, I firmly believe. The contortions of language and ethics and morals and law they put themselves and the rest of us through daily to keep us in thrawl to abortion as a good thing are incredible and incredibly damaging to our society.
If you look at our polity from a distance you see that every single institution and aspect of our civilizatuon has been subborned to their sick ideology.
It's no wonder they are so ready to destroy a good man and his family. It's all about killing babies.
I see that the number of Kavanaugh accusers has now risen to 14. I rest my case.
That evil comes from 50 years of pushing legal abortion on demand up to the moment of birth down our throats as the most sacred and important of our "rights".
The DemonRats have become wholly owned by Satan, I firmly believe. The contortions of language and ethics and morals and law they put themselves and the rest of us through daily to keep us in thrawl to abortion as a good thing are incredible and incredibly damaging to our society.
If you look at our polity from a distance you see that every single institution and aspect of our civilizatuon has been subborned to their sick ideology.
It's no wonder they are so ready to destroy a good man and his family. It's all about killing babies.
I see that the number of Kavanaugh accusers has now risen to 14. I rest my case.
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:55 AM (2eKoI)
161
So recent reads... I started Bernard Cornwell's "Sharpe's Tiger", but he couldn't seem to settle on a POV. I guess that's called omniscient POV or something. Anyway, I gave that book up and I'll just catch the movies, maybe.
Next, I picked up Old Man's War. Pretty good SF. Although John Perry seems to be a bit of a Mary Sue character. And Scalzi's idea that a less technologically advanced culture is "cheating" or a "fraud" for adopting tech from a more advanced culture is kind of dumb. Does he read any history?
Currently, I'm reading Sarah Hoyt's "Ill Met by Moonlight". I love the Shakespearean prose and that's made more impressive by the fact that English isn't her first language. It's probably not even her second. It's a little slower paced than I'd like, but still a good fantasy.
Next, I picked up Old Man's War. Pretty good SF. Although John Perry seems to be a bit of a Mary Sue character. And Scalzi's idea that a less technologically advanced culture is "cheating" or a "fraud" for adopting tech from a more advanced culture is kind of dumb. Does he read any history?
Currently, I'm reading Sarah Hoyt's "Ill Met by Moonlight". I love the Shakespearean prose and that's made more impressive by the fact that English isn't her first language. It's probably not even her second. It's a little slower paced than I'd like, but still a good fantasy.
Posted by: sinalco at September 30, 2018 10:56 AM (yODqO)
162
Votermom, I wanted to let you know that I am so grateful to you for sharing on the August 19 Book Thread that you were reading Strong Medicine by Dr. Donaldson.
Reading that has inspired me to re-assess my the way I have been treating my body and has started me down the path to what I hope will be better health.
I've already noticed a reduction in chronic pain and have lost 20 pounds. Dr. Donaldson's plan is very similar to the low carb high fat diets and the Keto diets that are popular now.
Right now I am reading Lies My Doctor Told Me: Medical Myths That Can Harm Your Health by Ken D. Berry, MD. He has a practice in the small town of Camden here in Tennessee. He comes across as sympathetic to the pressures physicians face in keeping up with so much new information, but is quite critical of the way the "system", unreliable studies, and big pharma have perpetuated practices that have harmed our health over the last fifty years, from the idea that fat makes you fat to ridiculousness of the food pyramid.
Dr. Berry also has a fantastic YouTube channel where he has numerous videos on health and the Keto diet.
Thank you, Votermom, for opening this door for me!
Reading that has inspired me to re-assess my the way I have been treating my body and has started me down the path to what I hope will be better health.
I've already noticed a reduction in chronic pain and have lost 20 pounds. Dr. Donaldson's plan is very similar to the low carb high fat diets and the Keto diets that are popular now.
Right now I am reading Lies My Doctor Told Me: Medical Myths That Can Harm Your Health by Ken D. Berry, MD. He has a practice in the small town of Camden here in Tennessee. He comes across as sympathetic to the pressures physicians face in keeping up with so much new information, but is quite critical of the way the "system", unreliable studies, and big pharma have perpetuated practices that have harmed our health over the last fifty years, from the idea that fat makes you fat to ridiculousness of the food pyramid.
Dr. Berry also has a fantastic YouTube channel where he has numerous videos on health and the Keto diet.
Thank you, Votermom, for opening this door for me!
Posted by: Elinor, Who Usually Looks Lurkily at September 30, 2018 10:56 AM (NqQAS)
163
In short, "they know a thing or two, because they've seen a thing or two."
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 10:54 AM (tUqid)
Their insurance salesman?
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 10:54 AM (tUqid)
Their insurance salesman?
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 10:56 AM (cH7ES)
164
I have the Anthony Briggs translation of War and Peace published by Penguin Classics.
Read it or burn it?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (2eKoI)
Read it; if it doesn't grab you, toss it.
Read it or burn it?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (2eKoI)
Read it; if it doesn't grab you, toss it.
Posted by: Captain Hate at September 30, 2018 10:57 AM (y7DUB)
Posted by: sinalco at September 30, 2018 10:57 AM (yODqO)
166
On WW1 and Britain:
-
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago reading Martin Middlebrook's Convoy about a particular U-boat v. Escorted transport ships battle. This week I read his The Battle of Nuremburg about a British night air raid in March 1944 in which they lost 100+ heavy bombers. (By contrast the US Air Corps was severely traumatized by each of two Schweinfurt raid in which they lost 60 bombers; traumatized to the extent they considered abandoning daylight strategic bombing.) I thought it a very good book generally but I wanted to mention one comparison the the author made.
He compared Arthur "Bomber" Harris to WWI's Douglas Haig. Both were widely respect by their men and the general public alike during the war. Both contributed significantly to victory. Both were demonized after the war for high casualties.
One other interesting detail from the book. One significant reason for the high loss was the German secret weapon Schrage (imagine an umlaut over the a) Musik. It literally means "slanted music" and it was the German name for jazz. It consisted of automatic cannon firing upwards at a 75 or 80 degree angle. The night fighter would shadow the bomber just under it at very close range minimizing deflection and just hose the rounds in. Most English bombers lacked a ventral gun position which meant not only couldn't they shoot back, they couldn't even see the attacking night fighter.
Some rogue group commanders had been installing ventral turrets despite headquarters lack of interest and they did much better. Similarly, German HQ was less interested in Schrage Musik than the pilots and many of those installation were jerry rigged (get it?). So the in both armies, the guys at the broken end of the bottle were inovating despite HQ's disinterest.
-
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago reading Martin Middlebrook's Convoy about a particular U-boat v. Escorted transport ships battle. This week I read his The Battle of Nuremburg about a British night air raid in March 1944 in which they lost 100+ heavy bombers. (By contrast the US Air Corps was severely traumatized by each of two Schweinfurt raid in which they lost 60 bombers; traumatized to the extent they considered abandoning daylight strategic bombing.) I thought it a very good book generally but I wanted to mention one comparison the the author made.
He compared Arthur "Bomber" Harris to WWI's Douglas Haig. Both were widely respect by their men and the general public alike during the war. Both contributed significantly to victory. Both were demonized after the war for high casualties.
One other interesting detail from the book. One significant reason for the high loss was the German secret weapon Schrage (imagine an umlaut over the a) Musik. It literally means "slanted music" and it was the German name for jazz. It consisted of automatic cannon firing upwards at a 75 or 80 degree angle. The night fighter would shadow the bomber just under it at very close range minimizing deflection and just hose the rounds in. Most English bombers lacked a ventral gun position which meant not only couldn't they shoot back, they couldn't even see the attacking night fighter.
Some rogue group commanders had been installing ventral turrets despite headquarters lack of interest and they did much better. Similarly, German HQ was less interested in Schrage Musik than the pilots and many of those installation were jerry rigged (get it?). So the in both armies, the guys at the broken end of the bottle were inovating despite HQ's disinterest.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 10:57 AM (+y/Ru)
167
I've always felt that Hobbits were the truest representative of mankind
in LOTR. The race called man was, to my tiny little mind at least, far
too elevated to represent humanity as they actually live in the world.
---
Mankind in the LOTR timeframe still had vague memories of Numenor and the influence of elves in their bloodline hadn't completely disappeared, so mankind was still a touch better than they would be in the present era.
in LOTR. The race called man was, to my tiny little mind at least, far
too elevated to represent humanity as they actually live in the world.
---
Mankind in the LOTR timeframe still had vague memories of Numenor and the influence of elves in their bloodline hadn't completely disappeared, so mankind was still a touch better than they would be in the present era.
Posted by: Methos at September 30, 2018 10:59 AM (XQvuQ)
168
I would recommend the Silmarillion to all interested in Middle Earth.... not that the AoS literati need MY advice.... I am only a little fellow, after all.....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 10:59 AM (DpEis)
Posted by: Jake Holenhead at September 30, 2018 11:00 AM (5jAa5)
170
If we allow Kafka Kollege Kangaroo Kourt to become the new standard for due process, look out. Can you imagine the power of google and Facebook to control "eligibility." when even HS antics are fair game. Note the uneven playing field when Ford pre-emptively bleach bit all her social media history.
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 11:00 AM (1UZdv)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 11:00 AM (cH7ES)
172
I have the Anthony Briggs translation of War and Peace published by Penguin Classics.
Read it or burn it?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (2eKoI)
Anthony Briggs 2006 translation is generally well regarded. Be warned, however, that the two Epilogues are possibly the worst ending to a good book ever. But that is Tolstoy's fault, not Briggs.
Read it or burn it?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 10:48 AM (2eKoI)
Anthony Briggs 2006 translation is generally well regarded. Be warned, however, that the two Epilogues are possibly the worst ending to a good book ever. But that is Tolstoy's fault, not Briggs.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 11:03 AM (UGKMd)
173
171 I was a big Lord of The Rings fan in High School
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 11:00 AM (cH7ES)
I still am.... have a soft spot for very moral sagas... written by a very moral author... not much ambiguity in Tolkien's writing...
171 I was a big Lord of The Rings fan in High School
Posted by: Nevergiveup at September 30, 2018 11:00 AM (cH7ES)
I still am.... have a soft spot for very moral sagas... written by a very moral author... not much ambiguity in Tolkien's writing...
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:03 AM (DpEis)
174
Kudo's to Rodrigo Borgia at #130
Barnes and Noble
The Day Remo Died - 99 cents for the nook.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y74vrvbs
I like to patronized competitors to Amazon because Amazon has gotten too big. Being big Amazon should have lower prices/lower costs. Mr. Rodrigo Borgia then mentions some of the Destroyer books are free on Amazon - some of those lower prices I'm looking for. Also some of the monopoly predatory pricing designed to drive competitors out of business.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
Now I am torn.
Incidentally, the opening to 'The Day Remo Died' is also the opening to Terminator Salvation, except it is a contract with CyberDyne, not a pill.
When you're on death row, minutes from the electric chair, and a hook-handed monk offers to save your life if you'll just swallow a simple little pill... what've you got to lose?
Barnes and Noble
The Day Remo Died - 99 cents for the nook.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y74vrvbs
I like to patronized competitors to Amazon because Amazon has gotten too big. Being big Amazon should have lower prices/lower costs. Mr. Rodrigo Borgia then mentions some of the Destroyer books are free on Amazon - some of those lower prices I'm looking for. Also some of the monopoly predatory pricing designed to drive competitors out of business.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
Now I am torn.
Incidentally, the opening to 'The Day Remo Died' is also the opening to Terminator Salvation, except it is a contract with CyberDyne, not a pill.
When you're on death row, minutes from the electric chair, and a hook-handed monk offers to save your life if you'll just swallow a simple little pill... what've you got to lose?
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:03 AM (oYD2h)
175
I dated a girl with an onion head once. Don't laugh.
Posted by: Fritz at September 30, 2018 11:05 AM (Z9C5C)
176
''I'm trying to find an author similar to Steven Pressfield. Any recommendations? I tried Conn Iggulden but he fell way short for me.''
I've enjoyed Adrian Goldsworthy's "'Vindolanda" and "The Encircling Sea". A third in the series is coming out in June. Goldsworthy is a Roman scholar so he knows what of he speaks. What he's done is use the recent archeological discoveries at Vindolanda as starting points for his fiction. Clever really.
-
Allow me to add George Shipway's Imperial Governor about Boudicca's revolt.
I've enjoyed Adrian Goldsworthy's "'Vindolanda" and "The Encircling Sea". A third in the series is coming out in June. Goldsworthy is a Roman scholar so he knows what of he speaks. What he's done is use the recent archeological discoveries at Vindolanda as starting points for his fiction. Clever really.
-
Allow me to add George Shipway's Imperial Governor about Boudicca's revolt.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:06 AM (+y/Ru)
177
For competitors to Amazon I highly recommend AbeBooks. Hard copies only, but it's always worth checking their website to compare prices.
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 11:06 AM (LaT54)
178
I dated a girl with an onion head once. Don't laugh.
Posted by: Fritz
Did she wear a belt on her head instead of a hat ?
Posted by: Fritz
Did she wear a belt on her head instead of a hat ?
Posted by: JT at September 30, 2018 11:08 AM (WkPEU)
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:09 AM (kQs4Y)
180
AbeBooks has been owned by amazon since 2008, so it is not exactly a competitor, if by that you mean keeping your money out of Jeff Bezos' hands.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 11:10 AM (UGKMd)
181
Hmmmm... Amazon.... have a brick and mortar used bookstore near me, which I patronize.... when they come up short, Amazon is great.
I used to go to a bookstore that would find any hard to get book for me, for a fee ( minimal), ran by elderly book worms.... they died, the place is now a copy type center....
I used to go to a bookstore that would find any hard to get book for me, for a fee ( minimal), ran by elderly book worms.... they died, the place is now a copy type center....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:10 AM (DpEis)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:11 AM (+y/Ru)
183
I read "Sanity" this week, written by moron Neovictorian. Enjoyed it thoroughly! Thanks for the recommendation here.
Posted by: Octopus at September 30, 2018 11:12 AM (A2KHh)
184
last book i read was black mass. it was a robert mueller biography. and, they said whitey was the bad guy.
Posted by: chavez the hugo at September 30, 2018 11:13 AM (KP5rU)
185
180 I wan't aware of that! Oh, well. Strictly for pricing I still think it's worth checking the site. Though there is no free shipping. I think abeBooks has more of a focus on used books than Amazon (though you can certainly get used books there too).
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 11:13 AM (LaT54)
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:16 AM (DpEis)
187
Flake on 60 minutes preview says he thought Kavanaugh was starting to get too partisan.
It's over. He wants to be like McCain and just dunk the confirmation.
It's over. He wants to be like McCain and just dunk the confirmation.
Posted by: Myriad Jack at September 30, 2018 11:19 AM (u/Uwa)
188
AbeBooks has been owned by amazon since 2008, so it is not exactly a competitor, if by that you mean keeping your money out of Jeff Bezos' hands.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 11:10 AM
I had the vague 'feeling' that I had seen AbeBooks listed as a supplier of used books on Amazon but didn't know for sure.
I don't begrudge Amazon/Bezos for their success nor Bezos for his billions. He did something that no one else did; created an online marketplace, and a distribution system to serve the demand he created.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 11:10 AM
I had the vague 'feeling' that I had seen AbeBooks listed as a supplier of used books on Amazon but didn't know for sure.
I don't begrudge Amazon/Bezos for their success nor Bezos for his billions. He did something that no one else did; created an online marketplace, and a distribution system to serve the demand he created.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
189
This about a book I'm planning to read. One of my favorite musicians is Christopher Parkening. I was perusing Amazon music and came across a new (to me) album of his, Grace Like a River. It's good but kind of a greatest hits album rather than new stuff. I got to reading about it and discovered that it is a soundtrack, so to speak, of his autobiography of the same name. Apparently, it is about his single minded quest to be the best musician possible which left him unfulfilled and his acceptance of Christianity. My birthday is next Thursday (I'll be 29) and I'll buy the book as a present to myself.
Incidentally, in addition to music, his two big interests are religion and fishing so the title, Grace Like a River, seems quite appropriate.
Incidentally, in addition to music, his two big interests are religion and fishing so the title, Grace Like a River, seems quite appropriate.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (+y/Ru)
190
I agree that Merry and Pippin definitely grow up and are not the same smarmy punk kids they are at the beginning of the saga. But if we are relating hobbits to England and their class system, they grow into the roles they are meant to take. The Thane of the Shire and the Master of Buckland are supposed to brave leaders. Sam on the other hand outgrows and rises well above his station in life.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 11:22 AM (3DZIZ)
191
Oh, before I go - I saw a reference to Katherine Ann Lindskoog's essay on Narnia "The Lion of Judah in Never-Never Land: the Theology of C.S. Lewis Expressed in his Fantasies for Children".
It was included in a two-volume set of the Narnia stories I've had since I was a kid. Never read it! I will start today.
According to GoodReads, "This was the very first celebration of the Chronicles of Narnia (begun in 1955, before the final volume was published), and is still the only one of its kind. Furthermore, it is the only book about himself and his writing that C. S. Lewis ever praised."
It was included in a two-volume set of the Narnia stories I've had since I was a kid. Never read it! I will start today.
According to GoodReads, "This was the very first celebration of the Chronicles of Narnia (begun in 1955, before the final volume was published), and is still the only one of its kind. Furthermore, it is the only book about himself and his writing that C. S. Lewis ever praised."
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:23 AM (kQs4Y)
192
>>>Did she wear a belt on her head instead of a hat ?<<<
She used to sit in the garden reading books, basking in the sunlight.
She used to sit in the garden reading books, basking in the sunlight.
Posted by: Fritz at September 30, 2018 11:23 AM (Z9C5C)
193
>>>Tolkien later lamented, "The most improper job of any man ... is bossing other men. Not one in a million is fit for it, and least of all those who seek the opportunity."
I don't think he'd enjoy living in modern England very much. Imagine if a midget was offended by his portrayal of hobbits or dwarves and reported him to the New South Wales police for hate speech. What if a woman was offended that there weren't enough female characters, or that none of them fought? If there are any statues of him, it wouldn't surprise me if they were pulled down one day.
I don't think he'd enjoy living in modern England very much. Imagine if a midget was offended by his portrayal of hobbits or dwarves and reported him to the New South Wales police for hate speech. What if a woman was offended that there weren't enough female characters, or that none of them fought? If there are any statues of him, it wouldn't surprise me if they were pulled down one day.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (/qEW2)
194
I don't begrudge Amazon/Bezos for their success nor Bezos for his billions. He did something that no one else did; created an online marketplace, and a distribution system to serve the demand he created.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
195
I'm pleased but surprised by the many references to LOTR after the shit news this week. Part of this, I suspect, is that it is the latest culmination of decades of rage and frustration. The struggles and dangers in the book reflect the current situation pretty closely.
This winter will be my 50-plus rereading of LOTR. I always find some new aspect but this year will be especially pertinent
BTW, if there are parallels between LOTR and the current situations, I think that the MFM are represented by the orcs. Sauron is Soros and Saruman is Obama and/or Clinton.
This winter will be my 50-plus rereading of LOTR. I always find some new aspect but this year will be especially pertinent
BTW, if there are parallels between LOTR and the current situations, I think that the MFM are represented by the orcs. Sauron is Soros and Saruman is Obama and/or Clinton.
Posted by: JTB at September 30, 2018 11:26 AM (V+03K)
196
i think i'll call it "the drone gang" or maybe "the drone caper".
Posted by: mjc, the
How about "The drone gambit"?
Posted by: mjc, the
How about "The drone gambit"?
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 11:29 AM (2eKoI)
197
We live in an Age of preeminence of the Original Sin... perhaps all of ths will burn itself out.... incidentally, LOTR and the Silmarillion are all about this....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:31 AM (DpEis)
198
Hi rons and ettes. I'm parked in Hickory NC for 24 hours so I can actually sit and read some of the wisest and wittiest prose on the web. But, before I do that I thought I would stop here.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:31 AM (Mv3A+)
199
Posted by: Elinor, Who Usually Looks Lurkily at September 30, 2018 10:56 AM (NqQAS)
Elinor, I am so glad it's helping!
I will have to check out Lies My Doctor Told Me
Elinor, I am so glad it's helping!
I will have to check out Lies My Doctor Told Me
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:31 AM (dMvl+)
200
Bezos owns WaPo to buy indulgences from the Left for his abysmal labor practices. If the Koch brothers did what Bezos does at Amazon there'd be protests night and day.
Tesla sells high-end models which use a flywheel to generate fantastic acceleration. Toys for rich assholes, paid for with government subsidies. He'll never deliver a general purpose car at a reasonable price point.
Tesla sells high-end models which use a flywheel to generate fantastic acceleration. Toys for rich assholes, paid for with government subsidies. He'll never deliver a general purpose car at a reasonable price point.
Posted by: Ignoramus at September 30, 2018 11:33 AM (1UZdv)
201
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is I think the first one written, although way after some others in Narnia time. As such, CS Lewis was feeling out Christian Apologetics for children, as well as wrestling with defining what was meant by "saving the world from Satan's grasp" and similar formulations that would have been familiar to any child who grew up listening to the Anglican hymns.
He wasn't going to describe Peckinpah depravity, he definitely wasn't going to use any sexual perversion or the crueler aspects of slavery. Even though the children were in the country to escape bombing in London, there were no real horrors of war, either in the story, or in the memories and hearts of the children. Peter and Susan know something, but not much, and they don't talk about it.
His formula for the explaining desperate lives of quiet desperation to the tweener (and younger) was "always winter, and never Christmas". His target child still knew that every life has a pattern of good and bad, poorly heated il-lit English houses and monotonous winter food and a little bit of annual malnutrition were part of the fabric of life, but they also featured Christmas! Oh how bad Winter would be if there was never Christmas!
This meant that Father Christmas makes an appearance as a Harbinger of the Great Thaw that ends the thousand years of the White Witch. Unending miserable times were becoming normal miserable times.
Father Christmas did not have an incidental role. He presented the children with the emblems of the adult virtues of Faith: Peter his Sword, Susan her Bow and the Great Horn, and Lucy her healing cordial for good works and healing the sick, along with a dagger for defense, but not for battle.
That Edward had to redeem himself without one of these gifts of Grace is central to a later part of the story.
Perhaps Lewis got better later, or perhaps he did it just right as a means to invite the reader in. I know it was the first book that induced me to read a "chapter book without pictures" when I was young. ti impatient to wait for the chapter read aloud on Sunday night that my mother tormented me with (smart woman). In any case, Father Christmas cannot be described as incidental.
He wasn't going to describe Peckinpah depravity, he definitely wasn't going to use any sexual perversion or the crueler aspects of slavery. Even though the children were in the country to escape bombing in London, there were no real horrors of war, either in the story, or in the memories and hearts of the children. Peter and Susan know something, but not much, and they don't talk about it.
His formula for the explaining desperate lives of quiet desperation to the tweener (and younger) was "always winter, and never Christmas". His target child still knew that every life has a pattern of good and bad, poorly heated il-lit English houses and monotonous winter food and a little bit of annual malnutrition were part of the fabric of life, but they also featured Christmas! Oh how bad Winter would be if there was never Christmas!
This meant that Father Christmas makes an appearance as a Harbinger of the Great Thaw that ends the thousand years of the White Witch. Unending miserable times were becoming normal miserable times.
Father Christmas did not have an incidental role. He presented the children with the emblems of the adult virtues of Faith: Peter his Sword, Susan her Bow and the Great Horn, and Lucy her healing cordial for good works and healing the sick, along with a dagger for defense, but not for battle.
That Edward had to redeem himself without one of these gifts of Grace is central to a later part of the story.
Perhaps Lewis got better later, or perhaps he did it just right as a means to invite the reader in. I know it was the first book that induced me to read a "chapter book without pictures" when I was young. ti impatient to wait for the chapter read aloud on Sunday night that my mother tormented me with (smart woman). In any case, Father Christmas cannot be described as incidental.
Posted by: Old Toby at September 30, 2018 11:33 AM (DFPku)
202
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Excellent, thoughtful, and correct.
Thank you.
Excellent, thoughtful, and correct.
Thank you.
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 11:33 AM (2eKoI)
203
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
Definitely Bond super villainy.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
Definitely Bond super villainy.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:33 AM (Mv3A+)
204
I don't think he'd enjoy living in modern England very much. Imagine if a midget was offended by his portrayal of hobbits or dwarves and reported him to the New South Wales police for hate speech.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (/qEW2)
In that case, Tolkien wouldn't have much to worry about because New South Wales is in Australia.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (/qEW2)
In that case, Tolkien wouldn't have much to worry about because New South Wales is in Australia.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 11:33 AM (tUqid)
205
Started miniature warming with Dungeon and Dragon figures but dropped them for Napoleonics. Still have all the figures I had, 1 hobbit but a few elves, dwarves and men.
Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2018 11:34 AM (T4oHT)
206
Dr. Alice--
I'm a Wimsey fan, too. I think the plot you're describing is from "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club," rather than "Unnatural Death." I agree that it does a good job of capturing the physical and psychological damage done to the British upper class survivors of WW I. I like re-reading mysteries, but that one gets harder to re-read each time because their suffering gets more real to me.
I'm a Wimsey fan, too. I think the plot you're describing is from "The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club," rather than "Unnatural Death." I agree that it does a good job of capturing the physical and psychological damage done to the British upper class survivors of WW I. I like re-reading mysteries, but that one gets harder to re-read each time because their suffering gets more real to me.
Posted by: Art Rondolet of Malmsey at September 30, 2018 11:35 AM (S+f+m)
207
I don't begrudge Amazon/Bezos for their success nor Bezos for his billions. He did something that no one else did; created an online marketplace, and a distribution system to serve the demand he created.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
Oh, Bondian Supervillainy for sure.
Bezos now has the capacity to delivery his Plague to Wipeout Deplorable Humanity along with your ordered copy of "Wind in the Willows".
While his Cadre of the Chosen, look on and laugh from outer space.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
Oh, Bondian Supervillainy for sure.
Bezos now has the capacity to delivery his Plague to Wipeout Deplorable Humanity along with your ordered copy of "Wind in the Willows".
While his Cadre of the Chosen, look on and laugh from outer space.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 11:36 AM (CRRq9)
208
In that case, Tolkien wouldn't have much to worry about because New South Wales is in Australia.
Yes, but Australia is upside down so if you look at a map of New South Wales in Australia you end up back in England.
Yes, but Australia is upside down so if you look at a map of New South Wales in Australia you end up back in England.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 11:37 AM (fuK7c)
209
Wait until Post Humans and AI start calling the shots.....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:37 AM (DpEis)
210
Be advised that the prices of book on Amazon are not controlled by Amazon so even if Bezos is a liberal turd you can't accuse him of gouging or anti-competitive practices in pricing. The price of books on Amazon are controlled by the publishers.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 11:38 AM (mpXpK)
211
Every Tesla comes with a kilo of blunts in the trunk.
Posted by: Fritz at September 30, 2018 11:38 AM (Z9C5C)
212
Thanks for all the good Tolkien and Inklings content, Oregon Muse! (And for everything else, too..... )
Posted by: Shoeless Guy at September 30, 2018 11:38 AM (p+/iO)
213
Been through the entire LoTR twice but not in 10 years.
Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2018 11:40 AM (T4oHT)
214
My War and Peace story. It may have saved my life.
Fear not! I will not speak of a broad tableaux of 19th century Russia.
Although I'm sure my parents did the best they could, I had a poor childhood which deeply affected me and my two sisters. Among other things, this left me with severe depression and lack of self esteem which caused me to be socially isolated and lonely. My thoughts turned to suicide.
Since I didn't have any friends, I had lots of time to read and began to read War and Peace. Relatively early in the book, big clumsy none to bright Pierre unexpectedly inherits vast wealth. Suddenly he's witty and charming and evil but beautiful Helene schemes to marry him. As I read that part, I was consumed by jealousy of Pierre even though I knew that his was a dysfunctional relationship, at least he had a relationship. I then realized that I was in serious trouble. I began counseling and got somewhat better although 40+ years later I'm still among the walking wounded.
Fear not! I will not speak of a broad tableaux of 19th century Russia.
Although I'm sure my parents did the best they could, I had a poor childhood which deeply affected me and my two sisters. Among other things, this left me with severe depression and lack of self esteem which caused me to be socially isolated and lonely. My thoughts turned to suicide.
Since I didn't have any friends, I had lots of time to read and began to read War and Peace. Relatively early in the book, big clumsy none to bright Pierre unexpectedly inherits vast wealth. Suddenly he's witty and charming and evil but beautiful Helene schemes to marry him. As I read that part, I was consumed by jealousy of Pierre even though I knew that his was a dysfunctional relationship, at least he had a relationship. I then realized that I was in serious trouble. I began counseling and got somewhat better although 40+ years later I'm still among the walking wounded.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:41 AM (+y/Ru)
215
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture.
I have a similar dream, but mine involves winning the lottery bigly. I'm too old, health is failing, and the odds against winning the lotto are huge.
I find the idea of personally owning a very large space station or otherworldly colony (aka. Pennsylvania, or any of the other 13 new world colonies) a very attractive fantasy. Of course, it is a fantasy when I dream of it.
I have a similar dream, but mine involves winning the lottery bigly. I'm too old, health is failing, and the odds against winning the lotto are huge.
I find the idea of personally owning a very large space station or otherworldly colony (aka. Pennsylvania, or any of the other 13 new world colonies) a very attractive fantasy. Of course, it is a fantasy when I dream of it.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:41 AM (oYD2h)
216
212 Thanks for all the good Tolkien and Inklings content, Oregon Muse! (And for everything else, too..... )
Posted by: Shoeless Guy at September 30, 2018 11:38 AM (p+/iO)
Thank the Horde. They do most of the work. I never cease to be amazed how many knowledgeable drunks we have on here on Sunday mornings.
And Muldoon, too.
Posted by: Shoeless Guy at September 30, 2018 11:38 AM (p+/iO)
Thank the Horde. They do most of the work. I never cease to be amazed how many knowledgeable drunks we have on here on Sunday mornings.
And Muldoon, too.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 11:43 AM (tUqid)
217
Been reading, ''How To Make Beach Friends and Influence Judicial Nominations", all week.
Not a fetching read.
Not a fetching read.
Posted by: Picard at September 30, 2018 11:43 AM (y3Hco)
218
Anonosaurus Wrecks, I'm glad it helped you.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:44 AM (dMvl+)
219
I began counseling and got somewhat better although 40+ years later I'm still among the walking wounded.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:41 AM (+y/Ru)
I hear you. That's why I started writing. Unfortunately I didn't understand that the solitary act of writing isolates you even more. Its one of the reasons my wife cites for my divorce after 25 years of marriage. Then I take a OTR Trucker job that isolates me even more.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:41 AM (+y/Ru)
I hear you. That's why I started writing. Unfortunately I didn't understand that the solitary act of writing isolates you even more. Its one of the reasons my wife cites for my divorce after 25 years of marriage. Then I take a OTR Trucker job that isolates me even more.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (Mv3A+)
220
Pennsylvania is a lovely state, I spent my formative years there and just visited Mama in Bucks County.
However, if you own it you become responsible for Philly sports fans. May god have mercy on your soul.
However, if you own it you become responsible for Philly sports fans. May god have mercy on your soul.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (fuK7c)
221
some of the Destroyer books are free on Amazon - some of those lower prices I'm looking for. Also some of the monopoly predatory pricing designed to drive competitors out of business.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
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I can't figure out how some books remain free indefinitely on Amazon. I have a friend who wrote a book series and wanted to price the first one at free-forever and he was not allowed to. IIRC he said Amazon would let him offer it for free for five days every X days, but otherwise it had to have a price at $0.99+. It seems there used to be some tricks to make amazon price match $0 elsewhere but that they'd cracked down on the manipulation practice.
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
---
I can't figure out how some books remain free indefinitely on Amazon. I have a friend who wrote a book series and wanted to price the first one at free-forever and he was not allowed to. IIRC he said Amazon would let him offer it for free for five days every X days, but otherwise it had to have a price at $0.99+. It seems there used to be some tricks to make amazon price match $0 elsewhere but that they'd cracked down on the manipulation practice.
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
222
So, Muse - I think we might need to examine the serial phenomena of Amish Women's book.
Saw some really funny Denim Bodice Rippers at Wal Mart this week.
Saw some really funny Denim Bodice Rippers at Wal Mart this week.
Posted by: garrett at September 30, 2018 11:46 AM (y3Hco)
223
213 Been through the entire LoTR twice but not in 10 years.
Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2018 11:40 AM (T4oHT)
Read the series 3 or 4 times. Back in the 90s, when I heard Jackson was working on filming them, my kids were old enough to know about this and wanted to see the movies. But I told them, you have to read the books first. So we sat down after dinner every night for several months and I read to them.
Very fond memories of that time.
Posted by: Skip at September 30, 2018 11:40 AM (T4oHT)
Read the series 3 or 4 times. Back in the 90s, when I heard Jackson was working on filming them, my kids were old enough to know about this and wanted to see the movies. But I told them, you have to read the books first. So we sat down after dinner every night for several months and I read to them.
Very fond memories of that time.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader & Contributing Editor, Vanity Fair Magazine at September 30, 2018 11:47 AM (tUqid)
224
Oldsailors poet , Hatchet is up next on my to read list. Thanks for putting your books on KU!
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:48 AM (dMvl+)
225
Its one of the reasons my wife cites for my divorce after 25 years of marriage.
-
I made only one mistake in my marriage. Showed up for the wedding.
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I made only one mistake in my marriage. Showed up for the wedding.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:48 AM (+y/Ru)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (IqV8l)
227
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
I don't. But what I have discovered about the free book thing is it devalues your work. You get a few downloads but it doesn't get read as much as you would think. A very successful author that wasn't always so successful gave me some advice. She said, don't price yourself out of the market but never give it away.
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
I don't. But what I have discovered about the free book thing is it devalues your work. You get a few downloads but it doesn't get read as much as you would think. A very successful author that wasn't always so successful gave me some advice. She said, don't price yourself out of the market but never give it away.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (Mv3A+)
228
Often through the years I think I need to write about my childhood, just for, I dunno, closure? I wouldn't want anyone to read it though.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:50 AM (dMvl+)
229
I don't begrudge Amazon/Bezos for their success nor Bezos for his billions. He did something that no one else did; created an online marketplace, and a distribution system to serve the demand he created.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
I don't begrudge Bezos his success or money and I think his space flight venture is intriguing.
I do begrudge his support of left-wing politics, including deplatforming right-wing products and censoring reviews on amazon, but especially his ownership of the rabidly left-wing, fake-news Washington Post.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:20 AM (oYD2h)
---
And it was just a means of getting the money for his space flight venture. That's long-term thinking there. Or Bond Supervillainy, take yer pick.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at September 30, 2018 11:25 AM (kQs4Y)
I don't begrudge Bezos his success or money and I think his space flight venture is intriguing.
I do begrudge his support of left-wing politics, including deplatforming right-wing products and censoring reviews on amazon, but especially his ownership of the rabidly left-wing, fake-news Washington Post.
Posted by: cool breeze at September 30, 2018 11:51 AM (UGKMd)
230
I made only one mistake in my marriage. Showed up for the wedding.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:48 AM (+y/Ru)
I married the same woman twice. After 6 years she convinced me it was all my fault and I should change. I assured her I would. However, she changed nothing.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:48 AM (+y/Ru)
I married the same woman twice. After 6 years she convinced me it was all my fault and I should change. I assured her I would. However, she changed nothing.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:51 AM (Mv3A+)
231
So we sat down after dinner every night for several months and I read to them.
Very fond memories of that time.
Reading to my kids is among the fondest memories of my life. I noted above that I read The Hobbit to them. Tried to move on to LotR, but they were too young.
The best of it was the Harry Potter books. I had a voice for each character and I credit Rowling with making the characters' voices distinct enough that it was easy to just inhabit each of them. (I cheated and used Churchill as Dumbledore's voice).
Of course they grew up as the series progressed and read the later books on their own, but the bedtime reading was a delight.
Very fond memories of that time.
Reading to my kids is among the fondest memories of my life. I noted above that I read The Hobbit to them. Tried to move on to LotR, but they were too young.
The best of it was the Harry Potter books. I had a voice for each character and I credit Rowling with making the characters' voices distinct enough that it was easy to just inhabit each of them. (I cheated and used Churchill as Dumbledore's voice).
Of course they grew up as the series progressed and read the later books on their own, but the bedtime reading was a delight.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 11:51 AM (fuK7c)
232
Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM
And you need either the self-confidence or the self-discipline to promote it (Gary Oldman's voice) everywhere. Always be selling, like that late night ShamWow guy.
And you need either the self-confidence or the self-discipline to promote it (Gary Oldman's voice) everywhere. Always be selling, like that late night ShamWow guy.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:52 AM (oYD2h)
233
Of course they grew up as the series progressed and read the later books on their own, but the bedtime reading was a delight.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 11:51 AM (fuK7c)
OM goodness, I started reading to mine when they could focus on the page. Both really bright kids. It was the smartest thing I did as a parent.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 11:51 AM (fuK7c)
OM goodness, I started reading to mine when they could focus on the page. Both really bright kids. It was the smartest thing I did as a parent.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:54 AM (Mv3A+)
234
221 Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
Just spitballin' here, but he could host the ePUB on his own webpage.
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
Just spitballin' here, but he could host the ePUB on his own webpage.
Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik: Air Pinochet trainee at September 30, 2018 11:55 AM (DTX3h)
235
228 Often through the years I think I need to write about my childhood, just for, I dunno, closure? I wouldn't want anyone to read it though.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:50 AM (dMvl+)
I have done this and shared it with someone else...the greatest positive was being able to talk about life more freely... objectivity is VERY healthy, IMO...
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:50 AM (dMvl+)
I have done this and shared it with someone else...the greatest positive was being able to talk about life more freely... objectivity is VERY healthy, IMO...
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 11:55 AM (DpEis)
236
Hi, strict lurker looking to join the book group
Posted by: Causticf at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (cfxc3)
237
Often through the years I think I need to write about my childhood, just for, I dunno, closure? I wouldn't want anyone to read it though.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:50 AM (dMvl+)
If it will provide catharsis, I would be honored not to read your story, votermom. I would not read it twice.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 11:50 AM (dMvl+)
If it will provide catharsis, I would be honored not to read your story, votermom. I would not read it twice.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (y87Qq)
238
And you need either the self-confidence or the self-discipline to promote it (Gary Oldman's voice) everywhere. Always be selling, like that late night ShamWow guy.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:52 AM (oYD2h)
Amen. That lesson was taught to me by Michael Isenberg. We shared a table selling books at CPAC 2014. You don't sit behind the table and wait. Stand up, approach, initiated conversation, press flesh. Unless of course you were the woman sitting across from us. Some skinny broad named Ann Coulter.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 11:52 AM (oYD2h)
Amen. That lesson was taught to me by Michael Isenberg. We shared a table selling books at CPAC 2014. You don't sit behind the table and wait. Stand up, approach, initiated conversation, press flesh. Unless of course you were the woman sitting across from us. Some skinny broad named Ann Coulter.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (Mv3A+)
239
I've almost finished the Parallel Classic Commentary on the Psalms, a book I've been reading almost daily for years now, probably over a decade.
Its each psalm presented with three commentaries: Spurgeon, Calvin, and Matthew Henry. Its interesting because depending on the psalm one or the other offers better, more insightful or (at least to me) helpful commentary, and no one is overall better than the others. Each one's style and approach is significantly different as well.
One Psalm left to go, it took me 3 months to get through Psalm 119 alone. This book has been a companion with me for so many years now its hard to see it be finished.
Its each psalm presented with three commentaries: Spurgeon, Calvin, and Matthew Henry. Its interesting because depending on the psalm one or the other offers better, more insightful or (at least to me) helpful commentary, and no one is overall better than the others. Each one's style and approach is significantly different as well.
One Psalm left to go, it took me 3 months to get through Psalm 119 alone. This book has been a companion with me for so many years now its hard to see it be finished.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 11:58 AM (39g3+)
240
Tesla sells high-end models which use a flywheel to generate fantastic acceleration.
No, electric motors produce great acceleration because they can deliver all their torque starting at 0 rpm.
No, electric motors produce great acceleration because they can deliver all their torque starting at 0 rpm.
Posted by: not relevant to the book thread at September 30, 2018 11:58 AM (/htJ4)
241
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Amazon allows you to do a promotional giveaway.
Amazon allows you to do a promotional giveaway.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 11:59 AM (39g3+)
242
221 I can't figure out how some books remain free
indefinitely on Amazon. I have a friend who wrote a book series and
wanted to price the first one at free-forever and he was not allowed to.
IIRC he said Amazon would let him offer it for free for five days
every X days, but otherwise it had to have a price at $0.99+. It seems
there used to be some tricks to make amazon price match $0 elsewhere but
that they'd cracked down on the manipulation practice.
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
I don't know where that come from but Amazon has a number of books for free and have been on their free list for a long time. Do an Amazon search on John Ringo and then sort by price. A lot of his 'first" books in a series are free as they used to be on the Baen books site. And they have been free for a long long time.
I will repeat, the prices of books on Amazon are set by the publisher.
indefinitely on Amazon. I have a friend who wrote a book series and
wanted to price the first one at free-forever and he was not allowed to.
IIRC he said Amazon would let him offer it for free for five days
every X days, but otherwise it had to have a price at $0.99+. It seems
there used to be some tricks to make amazon price match $0 elsewhere but
that they'd cracked down on the manipulation practice.
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Posted by: Moron Robbie's Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 11:45 AM (arika)
I don't know where that come from but Amazon has a number of books for free and have been on their free list for a long time. Do an Amazon search on John Ringo and then sort by price. A lot of his 'first" books in a series are free as they used to be on the Baen books site. And they have been free for a long long time.
I will repeat, the prices of books on Amazon are set by the publisher.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (mpXpK)
243
the human condition. it seems we all have imput.
I have spent eons not trying to blame a tribe, but the actual person that did the damage. and I that I still pray for his redemption angry spouted as it is.
I have spent eons not trying to blame a tribe, but the actual person that did the damage. and I that I still pray for his redemption angry spouted as it is.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (dPd5y)
244
I don't. But what I have discovered about the free book thing is it devalues your work. You get a few downloads but it doesn't get read as much as you would think. A very successful author that wasn't always so successful gave me some advice. She said, don't price yourself out of the market but never give it away.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (Mv3A+)
-
Yeah, I argued that, too. He countered with the meth dealer example (first one's free) and yeah, that makes sense, too.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (Mv3A+)
-
Yeah, I argued that, too. He countered with the meth dealer example (first one's free) and yeah, that makes sense, too.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (ncUYE)
245
I almost never read to my kids. I read a lot and simply assumed that they would pick it up -- and they all did very easily.
Posted by: mustbequantum at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (MIKMs)
246
"All Hail Eris' source she cited was this review of the book Bandersnatch: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings by Diana Glyer."
I'm late to the party, but I read this book some months ago, on a recommendation here, I think.
It's very informative, but don't expect it to be a scintillating read. It's written like a college term paper. She sets up a premise, then gives a bunch of examples. Keeps referring back to earlier points, which help illustrate the current topic being addressed.
So yeah, if you want to know about the relationship between these men, and how they shaped each others' work, it's informative. But not entertaining.
I'm late to the party, but I read this book some months ago, on a recommendation here, I think.
It's very informative, but don't expect it to be a scintillating read. It's written like a college term paper. She sets up a premise, then gives a bunch of examples. Keeps referring back to earlier points, which help illustrate the current topic being addressed.
So yeah, if you want to know about the relationship between these men, and how they shaped each others' work, it's informative. But not entertaining.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:02 PM (cY3LT)
247
>>>Hi, strict lurker looking to join the book group
Posted by: Causticf<<<
Jump right in, loosen you belt and let it all hang out.
Posted by: Causticf<<<
Jump right in, loosen you belt and let it all hang out.
Posted by: Fritz at September 30, 2018 12:02 PM (Z9C5C)
248
he is also shown as simple-minded and ignorant because he's working class
With inner qualities of wisdom. That idiot in the Fellowship who was treated like the fool he was wasn't Sam; it was Pippin.
With inner qualities of wisdom. That idiot in the Fellowship who was treated like the fool he was wasn't Sam; it was Pippin.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at September 30, 2018 12:02 PM (mAUSn)
249
58 52
Wife always looks out for books for me when she it at antique places or
flea markets. Found a couple of WWII books. She said the owner said
the history books disappear quickly. Said it seems the grandparents
want the books for their kids to read. Anyone get the impression that
the old times, not us 29 year olds, are stocking up before the PC crowd
wipes history clean?
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (J70i0)
searching the library database here for history books I found one written about the South and published in the late 1800s. I went to get it and it was gone but not checked out. So I assumed someone thought it was valuable and stole it.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:51 AM (mpXpK)
That, or full of dangerous and evil lies and must be cleansed.
Wife always looks out for books for me when she it at antique places or
flea markets. Found a couple of WWII books. She said the owner said
the history books disappear quickly. Said it seems the grandparents
want the books for their kids to read. Anyone get the impression that
the old times, not us 29 year olds, are stocking up before the PC crowd
wipes history clean?
Posted by: WOPR - Nationalist at September 30, 2018 09:47 AM (J70i0)
searching the library database here for history books I found one written about the South and published in the late 1800s. I went to get it and it was gone but not checked out. So I assumed someone thought it was valuable and stole it.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 09:51 AM (mpXpK)
That, or full of dangerous and evil lies and must be cleansed.
Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at September 30, 2018 12:03 PM (di1hb)
250
I don't know where that come from but Amazon has a number of books for free and have been on their free list for a long time. Do an Amazon search on John Ringo and then sort by price. A lot of his 'first" books in a series are free
-
Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Apparently Amazon allows some people to offer their work for free indefinitely, and others are allowed to offer it as a short term promotion.
-
Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Apparently Amazon allows some people to offer their work for free indefinitely, and others are allowed to offer it as a short term promotion.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:03 PM (ncUYE)
251
I'm reading City of Champions by Hank Gola. 'An American story of leather helmets, iron wills and the high school kids from Jersey who won it all', according to the cover blurb. I think that if you liked The Boys in the Boat, you'll like this. I'm reading an uncorrected proof, (brother is a head librarian) so it isn't out yet.
High school football fans from New Jersey and Florida should love this story. When it comes out, that is.
High school football fans from New Jersey and Florida should love this story. When it comes out, that is.
Posted by: Thanatopsis at September 30, 2018 12:04 PM (aIOfj)
252
If it will provide catharsis, I would be honored not to read your story, votermom. I would not read it twice.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (y87Qq)
LOL
a true friend.
Posted by: hogmartin at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (y87Qq)
LOL
a true friend.
Posted by: votermom pimping NEW Moron-authored books! at September 30, 2018 12:04 PM (dMvl+)
253
Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler
I am sad for you but also glad you discovered what needed to be addressed.
Will pray for you.
I am sad for you but also glad you discovered what needed to be addressed.
Will pray for you.
Posted by: Sharkman at September 30, 2018 12:04 PM (2eKoI)
254
votermom, hogmartin is a true mensch, it's li,e he realizes a diary is your alone, and won't hail it to the world in spite.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (dPd5y)
255
I have made Muldoon's Limerick-a-Day site a morning ritual.
Well done sir!!!
Well done sir!!!
Posted by: Diogenes at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (0tfLf)
256
Yeah, I argued that, too. He countered with the meth dealer example (first one's free) and yeah, that makes sense, too.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (ncUYE)
Some things are counterintuitive. I listen to people who are successful. My checks are good. I already gave mine away, it did nothing. There was a bell curve, the more I raised the price, the more I sold. Until I saw it fall down the other side, then I backed off.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:00 PM (ncUYE)
Some things are counterintuitive. I listen to people who are successful. My checks are good. I already gave mine away, it did nothing. There was a bell curve, the more I raised the price, the more I sold. Until I saw it fall down the other side, then I backed off.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (Mv3A+)
257
" Of all the gifts that God could give us,
to see ourselves as others see us..."
to see ourselves as others see us..."
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (DpEis)
258
250 Yeah, that's what I was talking about. Apparently
Amazon allows some people to offer their work for free indefinitely, and
others are allowed to offer it as a short term promotion.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:03 PM (ncUYE)
Well OSP was allowed to offer his first book for free on Amazon. I don't know how long he maintained it free though. Maybe he can contribute to this debate.
Amazon allows some people to offer their work for free indefinitely, and
others are allowed to offer it as a short term promotion.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:03 PM (ncUYE)
Well OSP was allowed to offer his first book for free on Amazon. I don't know how long he maintained it free though. Maybe he can contribute to this debate.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (mpXpK)
259
be nice if I could hit the right keys on the keyboard.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (dPd5y)
260
259 be nice if I could hit the right keys on the keyboard.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (dPd5y)
Overrratexd....
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (dPd5y)
Overrratexd....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (DpEis)
261
Unless of course you were the woman sitting across from us. Some skinny broad named Ann Coulter.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (Mv3A+)
Did you have a clear view of her below the table? If so, did you look up "there" to see if she was, you know, actually a dude?
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:56 AM (Mv3A+)
Did you have a clear view of her below the table? If so, did you look up "there" to see if she was, you know, actually a dude?
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (cY3LT)
262
kraken, a sweet thought, also terrifying.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (dPd5y)
263
Besides that, 99 cents is practically free anyway.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:07 PM (mpXpK)
264
262 kraken, a sweet thought, also terrifying.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (dPd5y)
Word.... like staring into the Abyss... and seeing a Starbuck's....
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (dPd5y)
Word.... like staring into the Abyss... and seeing a Starbuck's....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (DpEis)
265
kraken, i've nothing but lovely things to say about you when we are in line with those spokespersons (ha) that would say otherwise.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (dPd5y)
266
154
By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter, the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No 1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter, the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No 1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
Posted by: rickl at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (sdi6R)
267
265 kraken, i've nothing but lovely things to say about you when we are in line with those spokespersons (ha) that would say otherwise.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (dPd5y)
Hmmph... cephalopod prejudice....
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (dPd5y)
Hmmph... cephalopod prejudice....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 12:09 PM (DpEis)
268
kraken, may I say my youngest tot is a limo driver and a starbucks server?
it's not always a bitter brew .
it's not always a bitter brew .
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:09 PM (dPd5y)
269
Book pricing is a matter of some uncertainty to me. My personal belief is that no e-book is worth more than $5. You barely own the thing to begin with, and there's no physical presence. Apple has repeatedly shown they will simply delete or edit content if they choose to, even after you've "bought" the property. It can disappear if your device is damaged.
From an author's perspective, nearly all of the price is profit in an e-book. I get around 2.50 in earnings from a print book selling for 12-15 bucks and around $4 from an ebook at the five dollar price. So charging $15 for an e-book is basically ripping people off; it cost money to print and ship a physical book. It costs nothing to do so with an e-book. You're gouging at that price, in my opinion.
But at the same time, undervaluing your work might lead people to think its not worth very much and overlook it. So its a dilemma.
From an author's perspective, nearly all of the price is profit in an e-book. I get around 2.50 in earnings from a print book selling for 12-15 bucks and around $4 from an ebook at the five dollar price. So charging $15 for an e-book is basically ripping people off; it cost money to print and ship a physical book. It costs nothing to do so with an e-book. You're gouging at that price, in my opinion.
But at the same time, undervaluing your work might lead people to think its not worth very much and overlook it. So its a dilemma.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:10 PM (39g3+)
270
Well OSP was allowed to offer his first book for free on Amazon. I don't know how long he maintained it free though. Maybe he can contribute to this debate.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (mpXpK)
I was allowed to offer it for free for up to five days once a year. I think all of that has changed. Like I said, I stopped giving it away. I always advise not to. A good price point, an attractive cover and content worth reading sells books.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:05 PM (mpXpK)
I was allowed to offer it for free for up to five days once a year. I think all of that has changed. Like I said, I stopped giving it away. I always advise not to. A good price point, an attractive cover and content worth reading sells books.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:10 PM (Mv3A+)
271
ack, I don't do cephalopod. lol
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:11 PM (dPd5y)
272
268 kraken, may I say my youngest tot is a limo driver and a starbucks server?
it's not always a bitter brew .
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:09 PM (dPd5y)
Yes, you may say that... but Pumpkin Spice is from the Debbil, so....
it's not always a bitter brew .
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:09 PM (dPd5y)
Yes, you may say that... but Pumpkin Spice is from the Debbil, so....
Posted by: kraken at September 30, 2018 12:11 PM (DpEis)
273
266
154
By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a
professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee
is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter,
the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet
another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No
1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
Posted by: rickl at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (sdi6R)
The problem isn't advise and consent. The problems is one Party using arcane Senate rules to prevent a vote from ever reaching the floor or requiring 60 votes to allow a vote to take place.
There is NOTHING in the constitution that sanctions that.
154
By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a
professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee
is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter,
the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet
another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No
1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
Posted by: rickl at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (sdi6R)
The problem isn't advise and consent. The problems is one Party using arcane Senate rules to prevent a vote from ever reaching the floor or requiring 60 votes to allow a vote to take place.
There is NOTHING in the constitution that sanctions that.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:11 PM (mpXpK)
274
Did you have a clear view of her below the table? If so, did you look up "there" to see if she was, you know, actually a dude?
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (cY3LT)
She was really nice. She had time for people. I like her. Those bewbs are spectacular.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (cY3LT)
She was really nice. She had time for people. I like her. Those bewbs are spectacular.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:12 PM (Mv3A+)
275
Speaking of The Wind in the Willows...
Disney has long had rights to this story. For instance, one of the rides that I remember at Disneyland is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, based on a certain character's obsession with his new motor car.
Disney also has a "match 3" game available on mobile devices called Emoji Blitz. The idea in the game is to match emojis of Disney characters such as Mickey, Ariel, or Jiminy Cricket. As you play, you earn coins that allow you to unlock (mostly randomized) emojis that you can use in other applications on your mobile device, such as your text messenger (note that for some reason, the android version is cumbersome to use).
And through an odd coincidence, this week's event allows you to unlock an emoji for Mr. Toad.
On another note, one of my elementary school teachers read The Wind in the Willows to the class. This caused a bit of surprise for on my part years later when I read Watership Down, and reached the part where the rabbits very briefly encounter a badger. They have a realistic reaction to it, which contrasted heavily with how Badger is portrayed in TWitW.
Disney has long had rights to this story. For instance, one of the rides that I remember at Disneyland is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, based on a certain character's obsession with his new motor car.
Disney also has a "match 3" game available on mobile devices called Emoji Blitz. The idea in the game is to match emojis of Disney characters such as Mickey, Ariel, or Jiminy Cricket. As you play, you earn coins that allow you to unlock (mostly randomized) emojis that you can use in other applications on your mobile device, such as your text messenger (note that for some reason, the android version is cumbersome to use).
And through an odd coincidence, this week's event allows you to unlock an emoji for Mr. Toad.
On another note, one of my elementary school teachers read The Wind in the Willows to the class. This caused a bit of surprise for on my part years later when I read Watership Down, and reached the part where the rabbits very briefly encounter a badger. They have a realistic reaction to it, which contrasted heavily with how Badger is portrayed in TWitW.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:12 PM (UFGvr)
276
he is also shown as simple-minded and ignorant because he's working class
Sam is simple minded and ignorant, but not as an insult to the working class. He's not complicated and sophisticated, but he's the best person in the entire series and a heroic figure of solid constant virtue and truth despite his ignorance. Gandalf is sort of shifty and deceptive when he thinks he has to be, and all the others show a level of moral flexibility, but Sam is true and loyal and good.
Sam is simple minded and ignorant, but not as an insult to the working class. He's not complicated and sophisticated, but he's the best person in the entire series and a heroic figure of solid constant virtue and truth despite his ignorance. Gandalf is sort of shifty and deceptive when he thinks he has to be, and all the others show a level of moral flexibility, but Sam is true and loyal and good.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:13 PM (39g3+)
277
you are correct pumpkin spice is from the depths of hell.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:13 PM (dPd5y)
278
I finished "Debussy, Painter of Sound" a biography by Stephen Walsh.
Poor guy, always broke.
During his funeral there was a German artillery bombardment.
Poor guy, always broke.
During his funeral there was a German artillery bombardment.
Posted by: navybrat, stays off BART trains at September 30, 2018 12:13 PM (w7KSn)
279
Add me to the list of people who buy old history books and children's encyclopedias, btw.
It's depressing to see books aimed at middle schools in the 50s that most modern adults would not be able to easily read.
It's depressing to see books aimed at middle schools in the 50s that most modern adults would not be able to easily read.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (ncUYE)
280
By demanding that only an Executive Branch agency can deliver a
professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee
is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter,
the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet
another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No
1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
Posted by: rickl at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (sdi6R)
The
problem isn't advise and consent. The problems is one Party using arcane
Senate rules to prevent a vote from ever reaching the floor or
requiring 60 votes to allow a vote to take place.
There is NOTHING in the constitution that sanctions that.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:11 PM (mpXpK)
That and the fact that everyone knows the commies have turned the FBI so there's no reason to believe any investigation they perform.
professional evaluation of the Nominee, to the extent that the nominee
is not viable unless that Nominee passes the Executive Branch filter,
the Democrats are undermining a fundamental Check and Balance.
Posted by: LiveFreeOrDie at September 30, 2018 10:50 AM (N+/Kg)
Fascinating comment. I hadn't thought of it that way. It's yet
another example of how Congress has voluntarily neutered itself. No
1933-style Enabling Act was necessary.
Posted by: rickl at September 30, 2018 12:08 PM (sdi6R)
The
problem isn't advise and consent. The problems is one Party using arcane
Senate rules to prevent a vote from ever reaching the floor or
requiring 60 votes to allow a vote to take place.
There is NOTHING in the constitution that sanctions that.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:11 PM (mpXpK)
That and the fact that everyone knows the commies have turned the FBI so there's no reason to believe any investigation they perform.
Posted by: Methos at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (XQvuQ)
281
Hi, strict lurker looking to join the book group
Posted by: Causticf
Walk right in, sit right down
Baby, let your pants fall down
No, wait. Wrong thread.
Posted by: Causticf
Walk right in, sit right down
Baby, let your pants fall down
No, wait. Wrong thread.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (+y/Ru)
282
121---In short, it's not very good but I will be glad to have read it so that I will have read it.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:32 AM (fuK7c)
---------------------------
Heh.
I just finished up The Bostonians a couple of weeks ago.
If you were doing a Henry James penance, you should have picked that one.
It's a marvelous romp through late 19th century Progressivism, especially feminism, with a Southern romantic hero as the old-think foil.
The novel enraged the American Left, who even then had considerable sway on literary criticism, and a duly admonished James never touched politics so directly again.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:32 AM (fuK7c)
---------------------------
Heh.
I just finished up The Bostonians a couple of weeks ago.
If you were doing a Henry James penance, you should have picked that one.
It's a marvelous romp through late 19th century Progressivism, especially feminism, with a Southern romantic hero as the old-think foil.
The novel enraged the American Left, who even then had considerable sway on literary criticism, and a duly admonished James never touched politics so directly again.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (0jtPF)
283
Robbie, and likely have book burnings over.
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (dPd5y)
284
I'd recommend both 'Wasted: Tales of a GenX Drunk' (1997) and 'God and Man at Georgetown Prep' (2005) by conservative author Mark Judge. If you have any repressed memories and need some details for judicial confirmation hearings it's a rich source of details.
Good beach reading material.
I'd recommend both 'Wasted: Tales of a GenX Drunk' (1997) and 'God and Man at Georgetown Prep' (2005) by conservative author Mark Judge. If you have any repressed memories and need some details for judicial confirmation hearings it's a rich source of details.
Good beach reading material.
Posted by: 'Dr' Ford at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (URwyc)
285
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Having done "book for free" a few times, I think I'd advise against that.
Your expectation is that since a lot of people will download your book, they will read it and you will get a lot of reviews.
But, that doesn't seem to be the way it works.
People will download your book cuz free but maybe not because they have any interest in it.
I've used the free dealio in a couple of different ways on different platform and have literally a over a thousand free downloads.
Net result? 1 very stupid 2 star review on Amazon.
By someone who didn't read the book. yay!
I've had 4 people over the last year write 4-5 star reviews contact me and say their reviews were never published. So, maybe some shadow blocking going on there? I find that hard to believe though that that sort of effort would be wasted on me.
A-a-a-a-anyway, back to your point. I would now just price your book low and maybe do a quickie free session if that's what you wish.
Just don't expect downloads to equate to reviews in any way.
I do believe freebies can work in this way-
If you're an established author with a well-read series under your belt-
and you're coming out with a new book in the series-
giving the first volume away for free a couple of weeks before the release seems to work pretty well to getting new eyes and paying readers for your series.
Having done "book for free" a few times, I think I'd advise against that.
Your expectation is that since a lot of people will download your book, they will read it and you will get a lot of reviews.
But, that doesn't seem to be the way it works.
People will download your book cuz free but maybe not because they have any interest in it.
I've used the free dealio in a couple of different ways on different platform and have literally a over a thousand free downloads.
Net result? 1 very stupid 2 star review on Amazon.
By someone who didn't read the book. yay!
I've had 4 people over the last year write 4-5 star reviews contact me and say their reviews were never published. So, maybe some shadow blocking going on there? I find that hard to believe though that that sort of effort would be wasted on me.
A-a-a-a-anyway, back to your point. I would now just price your book low and maybe do a quickie free session if that's what you wish.
Just don't expect downloads to equate to reviews in any way.
I do believe freebies can work in this way-
If you're an established author with a well-read series under your belt-
and you're coming out with a new book in the series-
giving the first volume away for free a couple of weeks before the release seems to work pretty well to getting new eyes and paying readers for your series.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (CRRq9)
286
It's depressing to see books aimed at middle schools in the 50s that most modern adults would not be able to easily read.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (ncUYE)
My mom bought me the entire Funk and Wagnels youth encyclopedia in the seventies. I read them all, cover to cover. The shipped her one or two a month.
Posted by: Moron Robbie and his Beach Friends at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (ncUYE)
My mom bought me the entire Funk and Wagnels youth encyclopedia in the seventies. I read them all, cover to cover. The shipped her one or two a month.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (Mv3A+)
287
These are the kinds of books I take great delight in
turning over to hide the cover. Juvenile, I know, but at least it
makes clear my opinion on Zero.
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (wocQs)
There was the one used bookstore where I would put the Hillary books in with the Third Reich section
turning over to hide the cover. Juvenile, I know, but at least it
makes clear my opinion on Zero.
Posted by: SandyCheeks at September 30, 2018 09:58 AM (wocQs)
There was the one used bookstore where I would put the Hillary books in with the Third Reich section
Posted by: Kindltot at September 30, 2018 12:17 PM (mUa7G)
288
Did you have a clear view of her below the table? If so, did you look up "there" to see if she was, you know, actually a dude?
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (cY3LT)
She was really nice. She had time for people. I like her. Those bewbs are spectacular.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:12 PM (Mv3A+)
Yeah, my crass little comment is a result of the tendency of "tough women" on the right to be thought of, not as women.
Book relating here, I'm reading one of the Bosch books, and he's making an observation about Honey Chandler, the tough lawyer who is trying to accuse him of murdering her client's husband. No need to mash up the plot here, the point being, Bosch's character notes that people think Honey (who is nicknamed Money, because she always seems to win) must be sleeping with judges and others, and that's why she's so successful.
Bosch points out that cops seem to do this a lot, they'll see a successful woman, and think it's because she's spreading her legs, rather than thinking she might actually be good at what she does.
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:06 PM (cY3LT)
She was really nice. She had time for people. I like her. Those bewbs are spectacular.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:12 PM (Mv3A+)
Yeah, my crass little comment is a result of the tendency of "tough women" on the right to be thought of, not as women.
Book relating here, I'm reading one of the Bosch books, and he's making an observation about Honey Chandler, the tough lawyer who is trying to accuse him of murdering her client's husband. No need to mash up the plot here, the point being, Bosch's character notes that people think Honey (who is nicknamed Money, because she always seems to win) must be sleeping with judges and others, and that's why she's so successful.
Bosch points out that cops seem to do this a lot, they'll see a successful woman, and think it's because she's spreading her legs, rather than thinking she might actually be good at what she does.
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (cY3LT)
289
Good morning everyone of the literati orientation.
Rummaging in boxes in quest of things to perchance offload upon others for perhaps a little re-numeration stumbled across something I had completely forgotten about.
My Mom worked at a couple of elementary schools and while being most puzzled at how she raised such a voracious reader as me would try to keep me in books. So if the school was about to toss out some books, she would save them for me.
My most recent discovery is a series of World War II books written by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, Col US Army Ret, called The Military History of World War II and published in 1963. These are small hardcovers aimed at an elementary reading level.
Rummaging in boxes in quest of things to perchance offload upon others for perhaps a little re-numeration stumbled across something I had completely forgotten about.
My Mom worked at a couple of elementary schools and while being most puzzled at how she raised such a voracious reader as me would try to keep me in books. So if the school was about to toss out some books, she would save them for me.
My most recent discovery is a series of World War II books written by Trevor Nevitt Dupuy, Col US Army Ret, called The Military History of World War II and published in 1963. These are small hardcovers aimed at an elementary reading level.
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (4hBGN)
290
I had thought the executive branch would posit their goal, and the senate would be the check and balance, although when one has a senate abrogating their responsibility to their duty to the constitution Rule of law, and innocent until proven guilty , what do we have left?
Posted by: willow at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (dPd5y)
291
nood
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (mpXpK)
292
giving the first volume away for free a couple of weeks before the release seems to work pretty well to getting new eyes and paying readers for your series.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (CRRq9)
I am that Author you just described. I thought the same way. It wasn't true for me. We all must do our own thing. Maybe genre has something to do with it.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 12:16 PM (CRRq9)
I am that Author you just described. I thought the same way. It wasn't true for me. We all must do our own thing. Maybe genre has something to do with it.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (Mv3A+)
293
@276 Sam is simple minded and ignorant, but not as an insult to the working class. He's not complicated and sophisticated, but he's the best person in the entire series and a heroic figure of solid constant virtue and truth despite his ignorance. Gandalf is sort of shifty and deceptive when he thinks he has to be, and all the others show a level of moral flexibility, but Sam is true and loyal and good.
--------------------------
I think it's also noteworthy that aside from Aragorn, only one other character "gets the girl". And that character is Samwise Gamgee. In fact, the trilogy ends with Sam returning home to his wife. And he is literally the only ringbearer that the ring never has hold over, and is never tormented by his time carrying the ring.
--------------------------
I think it's also noteworthy that aside from Aragorn, only one other character "gets the girl". And that character is Samwise Gamgee. In fact, the trilogy ends with Sam returning home to his wife. And he is literally the only ringbearer that the ring never has hold over, and is never tormented by his time carrying the ring.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (UFGvr)
294
I finished The Ballad of Black Bart by Loren Estleman this week. Its the story of one of the most successful stagecoach robbers in history -- probably THE most. He targeted Wells, Fargo lines and robbed only the stagecoach, not the passengers. He had an unloaded shotgun, and walked to his robberies and back home. And for several of the robberies he left behind a poem, which identified him as Black Bart, the PO8 (poet).
The book is half about Bart and his background, robberies, and reasons (he blamed WF for his brother's death and for basically squeezing out small miners) and half covering the surprisingly modern and effective WF detectives who caught him.
Strangely, this appears to be the ONLY book ever written about Black Bart, whose name was more a standard part of the American lexicon even before Blazing Saddles gave it a new owner.
The book is half about Bart and his background, robberies, and reasons (he blamed WF for his brother's death and for basically squeezing out small miners) and half covering the surprisingly modern and effective WF detectives who caught him.
Strangely, this appears to be the ONLY book ever written about Black Bart, whose name was more a standard part of the American lexicon even before Blazing Saddles gave it a new owner.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (39g3+)
295
Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
Kindle Unlimited is a better deal for the Author; you get paid for pages read. Amazon tracks that.
Kindle Unlimited is a better deal for the Author; you get paid for pages read. Amazon tracks that.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (oYD2h)
296
Oh, duh. *smacks head*. South Wales.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at September 30, 2018 12:21 PM (/qEW2)
297
Kindle Unlimited is a better deal for the Author; you get paid for pages read. Amazon tracks that.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (oYD2h)
Ha, I use that too. I just wish you could figure out how many books were being read and finished. But that's okay. It's half my monthly check.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (oYD2h)
Ha, I use that too. I just wish you could figure out how many books were being read and finished. But that's okay. It's half my monthly check.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:22 PM (Mv3A+)
298
BTW, most of what I read are uncorrected proofs via my librarian brother. Most just suck. SJW crap infected into every one. Female authors are the worst. Are all the editors dead? Most of the stuff I read shouldn't make it into print. But they do. Sheesh. Give me non-fiction or give me death!
Posted by: Thanatopsis at September 30, 2018 12:22 PM (aIOfj)
299
I've used the free dealio in a couple of different ways on different platform and have literally a over a thousand free downloads.
Net result? 1 very stupid 2 star review on Amazon.
I had similar experiences with giveaways. I set my second novel Old Habits to free as a giveaway on Amazon to promote interest and over 200 were downloaded. As nearly as I can tell i got ZERO reviews as a result. I'm not even sure they read the thing.
I think people who only grab a book when its free are the least likely to write a review. You don't really get dedicated, interested readers from free downloads, you get people who want a free book. That's my impression, at least.
Net result? 1 very stupid 2 star review on Amazon.
I had similar experiences with giveaways. I set my second novel Old Habits to free as a giveaway on Amazon to promote interest and over 200 were downloaded. As nearly as I can tell i got ZERO reviews as a result. I'm not even sure they read the thing.
I think people who only grab a book when its free are the least likely to write a review. You don't really get dedicated, interested readers from free downloads, you get people who want a free book. That's my impression, at least.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:23 PM (39g3+)
300
*looks at new thread and sees a plowing of old ground*
Perhaps best to go prepare lunch and then get to writing.
Perhaps best to go prepare lunch and then get to writing.
Posted by: Anna Puma (HQCaR) at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (4hBGN)
301
I've had 4 people over the last year write 4-5 star reviews contact me and say their reviews were never published. So, maybe some shadow blocking going on there? I find that hard to believe though that that sort of effort would be wasted on me.
----------------------
Authors have abused the Amazon review system (for instance, a group of authors all giving each others' books 5 star reviews), so Amazon has taken steps to try and fight that. It's possible that your reviewers got caught by that.
----------------------
Authors have abused the Amazon review system (for instance, a group of authors all giving each others' books 5 star reviews), so Amazon has taken steps to try and fight that. It's possible that your reviewers got caught by that.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (UFGvr)
302
That idiot in the Fellowship who was treated like the fool he was wasn't Sam; it was Pippin.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at September 30, 2018 12:02 PM (mAUSn)
I think Gandalf referred to him as a "fool of a Took" after he gazed into the Palantir.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at September 30, 2018 12:02 PM (mAUSn)
I think Gandalf referred to him as a "fool of a Took" after he gazed into the Palantir.
Posted by: Fox2! at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (brIR5)
303
>>>you are correct pumpkin spice is from the depths of hell<<<
Surely this is not something to lose your head over. eh?
Surely this is not something to lose your head over. eh?
Posted by: Ichabod Crane at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (Z9C5C)
304
Tolkien....the dude who can describe a pebble as it rolled across the dirt in the sun in 184 dimensions.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 30, 2018 12:25 PM (9Om/r)
305
Kindle Unlimited is a better deal for the Author; you get paid for pages read. Amazon tracks that.
I signed on to that early and after a year dropped it because you can't have your books ANYWHERE else, and because... nobody ever used it. Not a single page. Might have been because it was so early on, might be people just didn't know about my books, I don't know.
I signed on to that early and after a year dropped it because you can't have your books ANYWHERE else, and because... nobody ever used it. Not a single page. Might have been because it was so early on, might be people just didn't know about my books, I don't know.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:26 PM (39g3+)
306
@302 I think Gandalf referred to him as a "fool of a Took" after he gazed into the Palantir.
-------------------
And when he dropped the rock down the well in Moria.
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And when he dropped the rock down the well in Moria.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:27 PM (UFGvr)
307
I always felt bad for Pippin, he was a rebellious teenager in a very serious situation and kept doing dumb stuff that almost got everyone killed. He did get better, though, eventually.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:28 PM (39g3+)
308
Authors have abused the Amazon review system (for instance, a group of authors all giving each others' books 5 star reviews), so Amazon has taken steps to try and fight that. It's possible that your reviewers got caught by that.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (UFGvr)
I'm so glad they have a handle on that. I saw these shitty books with hundreds of reviews and I'm like, WTF? Then these same Authors started crying when most of them disappeared. I giggled like a little girl. Every review is so precious and so hard to get. Only thing, I have a friend who I gave a paper copy to. She loved it but could not write a review because she did not have an amazon account.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (UFGvr)
I'm so glad they have a handle on that. I saw these shitty books with hundreds of reviews and I'm like, WTF? Then these same Authors started crying when most of them disappeared. I giggled like a little girl. Every review is so precious and so hard to get. Only thing, I have a friend who I gave a paper copy to. She loved it but could not write a review because she did not have an amazon account.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 12:29 PM (Mv3A+)
309
121---In short, it's not very good but I will be glad to have read it so that I will have read it.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:32 AM (fuK7c)
---------------------------
Heh.
I just finished up The Bostonians a couple of weeks ago.
If you were doing a Henry James penance, you should have picked that one.
It's a marvelous romp through late 19th century Progressivism, especially feminism, with a Southern romantic hero as the old-think foil.
The novel enraged the American Left, who even then had considerable sway on literary criticism, and a duly admonished James never touched politics so directly again.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (0jtPF)
I read Washington Square, I'm pretty sure as an assigned book while I was in high school. At the time I thought it might have been the best thing I had ever read.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 10:32 AM (fuK7c)
---------------------------
Heh.
I just finished up The Bostonians a couple of weeks ago.
If you were doing a Henry James penance, you should have picked that one.
It's a marvelous romp through late 19th century Progressivism, especially feminism, with a Southern romantic hero as the old-think foil.
The novel enraged the American Left, who even then had considerable sway on literary criticism, and a duly admonished James never touched politics so directly again.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM (0jtPF)
I read Washington Square, I'm pretty sure as an assigned book while I was in high school. At the time I thought it might have been the best thing I had ever read.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:29 PM (cY3LT)
310
Any of you read "The Myth of Repressed Memory: False Memories and Allegations of Sexual Abuse" by Dr. Elizabeth Loftus? Sounds topical.
As an aside, pretty clever of the Dems to introduce into the body politic the false notion that repressed memory is not controversial and is generally accepted scientifically when there are significant questions about whether such memories can be created by suggestion.
Also clever to leverage Ford's PhD to give the impression she is an expert in all things psychological when her expertise is in statistics. Also because she was the designated "victim" who could not be seriously cross-examined, her credentials and the "science" of repressed memory was also not subject to meaningful examination.
As an aside, pretty clever of the Dems to introduce into the body politic the false notion that repressed memory is not controversial and is generally accepted scientifically when there are significant questions about whether such memories can be created by suggestion.
Also clever to leverage Ford's PhD to give the impression she is an expert in all things psychological when her expertise is in statistics. Also because she was the designated "victim" who could not be seriously cross-examined, her credentials and the "science" of repressed memory was also not subject to meaningful examination.
Posted by: The Poster Formerly Known as Mr. Barky at September 30, 2018 12:30 PM (fYr5Q)
311
Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:15 PM
The Bostonians - I searched it out, 99 cents on the kindle. For 99 cents how bad can it be?
The Bostonians - I searched it out, 99 cents on the kindle. For 99 cents how bad can it be?
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:30 PM (oYD2h)
312
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at September 30, 2018 11:11 AM (+y/Ru)
And probably a good forecast of what would happen with Hellary/radfems in charge. Boudicca was succeeding until she got too caught up in the blood-lust of vengeance and *completely* forgot what the greater goal was.
And probably a good forecast of what would happen with Hellary/radfems in charge. Boudicca was succeeding until she got too caught up in the blood-lust of vengeance and *completely* forgot what the greater goal was.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 30, 2018 12:30 PM (phT8I)
313
Book relating here, I'm reading one of the Bosch books . . .
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (cY3LT)
I am a huge Bosch fan myself. Just went on a month long binge re-reading 5-6 of the books.
And as a woman who heads a medical department with a multi-million dollar revenue and about 50 employees, I know what the stereotypical assumptions about women's success are like. It's either she slept to get there or she really isn't doing the job or some combination of both.
Really appreciated your comment!
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (cY3LT)
I am a huge Bosch fan myself. Just went on a month long binge re-reading 5-6 of the books.
And as a woman who heads a medical department with a multi-million dollar revenue and about 50 employees, I know what the stereotypical assumptions about women's success are like. It's either she slept to get there or she really isn't doing the job or some combination of both.
Really appreciated your comment!
Posted by: Jade Sea at September 30, 2018 12:35 PM (UDXIi)
314
I did one book review on Amazon. it was a book by David Eddings and I praised the book and gave it a good review. But I included a statement or question wanting to know why so many of his books were only available for the Kindle outside the US.
Amazon killed the review and said it was not a review. I have never reviewed another book.
Amazon killed the review and said it was not a review. I have never reviewed another book.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:35 PM (mpXpK)
315
We are six days away from MiMoMe 2018!
Join us at Smokehouse 52 (sh52bbq.com) in Chelsea, Michigan (in the shadow of the Jiffy Mix plant) next Saturday evening for MiMoMe 2018.
Hit the website for details: mimomee.stoatnet.org
For stout & sturdy 'ettes & 'rons with a sense of adventure & questionable judgement, we have a cabin campsite reserved what is totes not built on a cursed ancient Indian burial ground. Totes. We'll light the fire around 7:00 PM Friday evening with pants-less dancing commencing shortly thereafter & continuing until they throw us out on Sunday.
Camping or not, make sure you join us for the luncheon seminar on Saturday afternoon. This year's topic: IKEA Shelving: Threat or Menace?
Serious You Guys, the bestest way to "own the libs" is to be at the MiMoMe!
We are six days away from MiMoMe 2018!
Join us at Smokehouse 52 (sh52bbq.com) in Chelsea, Michigan (in the shadow of the Jiffy Mix plant) next Saturday evening for MiMoMe 2018.
Hit the website for details: mimomee.stoatnet.org
For stout & sturdy 'ettes & 'rons with a sense of adventure & questionable judgement, we have a cabin campsite reserved what is totes not built on a cursed ancient Indian burial ground. Totes. We'll light the fire around 7:00 PM Friday evening with pants-less dancing commencing shortly thereafter & continuing until they throw us out on Sunday.
Camping or not, make sure you join us for the luncheon seminar on Saturday afternoon. This year's topic: IKEA Shelving: Threat or Menace?
Serious You Guys, the bestest way to "own the libs" is to be at the MiMoMe!
Posted by: AltonJackson at September 30, 2018 12:38 PM (KCxzN)
316
I find the "Look inside" preview feature more useful to me than book reviews.
I have always made my choice by opening the book to a random page in the middle and reading a few paragraphs.
I find the "Look inside" preview feature more useful to me than book reviews.
I have always made my choice by opening the book to a random page in the middle and reading a few paragraphs.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:41 PM (oYD2h)
317
I've also started re-reading The Little Sister by Raymond Chandler. I went on a big Chandler/Hammett kick in high school and read pretty much everything they wrote, but its been so long now the memories are sketchy for Chandler.
Its really, really good. Compelling, easy to read, pulls you in, funny, sad, fascinating. Like most Chandler stories, the mystery plot doesn't make a lot of sense but it doesn't matter because the ride is so good.
Its really, really good. Compelling, easy to read, pulls you in, funny, sad, fascinating. Like most Chandler stories, the mystery plot doesn't make a lot of sense but it doesn't matter because the ride is so good.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:41 PM (39g3+)
318
How do these AMAZON wimmen climb to the top of the tree...with laddered panty hose?
No of course not they drove a FORD across country to
fuck up a nice guy.
Were life so easy peasy as the sleazy media pretend.
FFS !!!!!
No of course not they drove a FORD across country to
fuck up a nice guy.
Were life so easy peasy as the sleazy media pretend.
FFS !!!!!
Posted by: saf at September 30, 2018 12:43 PM (5IHGB)
319
The Bostonians - I searched it out, 99 cents on the kindle. For 99 cents how bad can it be?
If you search "free books Henry James" you will find the two volumes of The Bostonians for free.
I'm not sure. Some of you Morons are tempting me to read more of James.
If you search "free books Henry James" you will find the two volumes of The Bostonians for free.
I'm not sure. Some of you Morons are tempting me to read more of James.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at September 30, 2018 12:43 PM (fuK7c)
320
Now that's a take out Pizza place,and books to read while you wait for a slice or a pie.
Posted by: saf at September 30, 2018 12:45 PM (5IHGB)
321
Book relating here, I'm reading one of the Bosch books . . .
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (cY3LT)
I am a huge Bosch fan myself. Just went on a month long binge re-reading 5-6 of the books.
And as a woman who heads a medical department with a multi-million dollar revenue and about 50 employees, I know what the stereotypical assumptions about women's success are like. It's either she slept to get there or she really isn't doing the job or some combination of both.
Really appreciated your comment!
Posted by: Jade Sea at September 30, 2018 12:35 PM (UDXIi)
Excellent! I tend to walk into the book thread rather late, then it dries up shortly thereafter.
So be it, lots of other things to do on a Sunday.
There's a lot of that in this world. Not just cops.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:18 PM (cY3LT)
I am a huge Bosch fan myself. Just went on a month long binge re-reading 5-6 of the books.
And as a woman who heads a medical department with a multi-million dollar revenue and about 50 employees, I know what the stereotypical assumptions about women's success are like. It's either she slept to get there or she really isn't doing the job or some combination of both.
Really appreciated your comment!
Posted by: Jade Sea at September 30, 2018 12:35 PM (UDXIi)
Excellent! I tend to walk into the book thread rather late, then it dries up shortly thereafter.
So be it, lots of other things to do on a Sunday.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:49 PM (cY3LT)
322
"It's depressing to see books aimed at middle schools in the 50s that most modern adults would not be able to easily read."
My grandmother (born 1898, died 1990) had several 4th and 5th grade readers left over from her days in the Gary, Indiana (!) public schools -- around 1910 or so (the city itself didn't exist until 1906). They contained excerpts from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, famous speeches by Daniel Webster and other 19th century orators, poems by Longfellow, Emerson, et al. Stuff I NEVER saw taught in school until at least high school (70s-early 80s). She even had a Latin textbook titled "Bellvm Helveticvm" with the v's instead of the u's. Yes, they still taught Latin in urban PUBLIC schools back in her day because Latin was considered a prerequisite for going to college!
My grandmother (born 1898, died 1990) had several 4th and 5th grade readers left over from her days in the Gary, Indiana (!) public schools -- around 1910 or so (the city itself didn't exist until 1906). They contained excerpts from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, famous speeches by Daniel Webster and other 19th century orators, poems by Longfellow, Emerson, et al. Stuff I NEVER saw taught in school until at least high school (70s-early 80s). She even had a Latin textbook titled "Bellvm Helveticvm" with the v's instead of the u's. Yes, they still taught Latin in urban PUBLIC schools back in her day because Latin was considered a prerequisite for going to college!
Posted by: Secret Square at September 30, 2018 12:49 PM (9WuX0)
323
......But what I have discovered about the free book thing is it devalues your work. You get a few downloads but it doesn't get read as much as you would think. A very successful author that wasn't always so successful gave me some advice. She said, don't price yourself out of the market but never give it away.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (Mv3A+)
---------------------------------------
This brings to my mind the medical ethics of Hippocrates.
He admonishes his followers never to serve the rich exclusively but to give at least a small portion of time to serving the poor.
Nevertheless..... he insists that, barring a rare emergency, a physician should always charge SOMETHING, however small, for his services. This gives the patient a stake in the game and creates a more cooperative effort at healing.
And as you say, that which is free is too often devalued.
Posted by: Oldsailors poet at September 30, 2018 11:49 AM (Mv3A+)
---------------------------------------
This brings to my mind the medical ethics of Hippocrates.
He admonishes his followers never to serve the rich exclusively but to give at least a small portion of time to serving the poor.
Nevertheless..... he insists that, barring a rare emergency, a physician should always charge SOMETHING, however small, for his services. This gives the patient a stake in the game and creates a more cooperative effort at healing.
And as you say, that which is free is too often devalued.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:49 PM (0jtPF)
324
This week I read the new Ciaphas Cain novel, "Choose Your Enemies". Not vintage Cain, but entertaining enough, if you like that sort of thing.
My wife, the lovely and accomplished Annalucia, and I read the first volume of Robert Remini's biography of Andrew Jackson aloud, though Remini's depiction of the Battle of New Orleans and its aftermath. Remini tells a good story and as an historian he is impeccable; but we had to put the book aside because both of us had come to loathe Jackson. Although he saved New Orleans and was the ablest American general in the War of 1812, we came to detest his use of bribes when dealing with Indian chiefs, his staged temper tantrums, his willingness to bludgeon or even kill those who stood in his way, his absolute conviction that he was always and forever in the right. The founder of the Democratic Party was truly a piece of work.
My wife, the lovely and accomplished Annalucia, and I read the first volume of Robert Remini's biography of Andrew Jackson aloud, though Remini's depiction of the Battle of New Orleans and its aftermath. Remini tells a good story and as an historian he is impeccable; but we had to put the book aside because both of us had come to loathe Jackson. Although he saved New Orleans and was the ablest American general in the War of 1812, we came to detest his use of bribes when dealing with Indian chiefs, his staged temper tantrums, his willingness to bludgeon or even kill those who stood in his way, his absolute conviction that he was always and forever in the right. The founder of the Democratic Party was truly a piece of work.
Posted by: Brown Line at September 30, 2018 12:50 PM (S6ArX)
325
For a real good book that critiques socialism and why it will never work I highly recommend Terry Goodkind's Faith of the Fallen" in the Sword of Truth series.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at September 30, 2018 12:54 PM (mpXpK)
326
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (39g3+)
Black Bart was real?! I sort of figured he was mythical since his "hideout" is a feature at Casa Bonita in Denver.
Black Bart was real?! I sort of figured he was mythical since his "hideout" is a feature at Casa Bonita in Denver.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 30, 2018 12:54 PM (phT8I)
327
Another Inkling of note is Charles Williams. His books are pretty dry, but the ideas behind them are incredible, and often involve philosophy. They're kind of like fantasy set it contemporary (mid-20th century) England. The only author I can compare him to is Tim Powers who is absolutely incredible.
One of Williams's books involves finding the jewel from King Solomon's crown that is pure matter without form (Many Dimensions). It can be used to do just about anything. Another has the Platonic forms becoming instantiated and invading England (The Place of the Lion). Again, they're pretty dry, but the ideas behind them are great. C.S. Lewis loved Williams, and the third book of his science fiction trilogy, That Hideous Strength, is strongly and clearly influenced by Williams.
One of Williams's books involves finding the jewel from King Solomon's crown that is pure matter without form (Many Dimensions). It can be used to do just about anything. Another has the Platonic forms becoming instantiated and invading England (The Place of the Lion). Again, they're pretty dry, but the ideas behind them are great. C.S. Lewis loved Williams, and the third book of his science fiction trilogy, That Hideous Strength, is strongly and clearly influenced by Williams.
Posted by: Jim S. at September 30, 2018 12:56 PM (ynUnH)
328
Bartholomew Roberts, notorious 18th century pirate was the original "Black Bart".
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at September 30, 2018 12:58 PM (3DZIZ)
329
309---I read Washington Square, I'm pretty sure as an assigned book while I was in high school. At the time I thought it might have been the best thing I had ever read.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:29 PM (cY3LT)
--------------------------
Still my favorite of his!
I think.
(The only James novel I've read that I didn't like is Wings of the Dove. But there are still a few I haven't read yet.)
Posted by: BurtTC at September 30, 2018 12:29 PM (cY3LT)
--------------------------
Still my favorite of his!
I think.
(The only James novel I've read that I didn't like is Wings of the Dove. But there are still a few I haven't read yet.)
Posted by: Margarita DeVille at September 30, 2018 12:59 PM (0jtPF)
330
Hope this doesn't get willowed, I didn't see this posted earlier:
Humphrey Carpenter's 1977 biography of Tolkien cites a private letter in which Tolkien said: "My 'Sam Gamgee' is indeed a reflexion (sic) of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself."
Humphrey Carpenter's 1977 biography of Tolkien cites a private letter in which Tolkien said: "My 'Sam Gamgee' is indeed a reflexion (sic) of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself."
Posted by: Secret Square at September 30, 2018 12:59 PM (9WuX0)
331
Black Bart was real?! I sort of figured he was mythical since his "hideout" is a feature at Casa Bonita in Denver.
Not much evidence he spent any time in Denver, he was mostly San Francisco based. But yeah, he was a real guy. A middle aged gent who didn't like or trust horses. And in a setting where the slightest clue about a horse was read by any cowboy or cop, he had a huge advantage.
Not much evidence he spent any time in Denver, he was mostly San Francisco based. But yeah, he was a real guy. A middle aged gent who didn't like or trust horses. And in a setting where the slightest clue about a horse was read by any cowboy or cop, he had a huge advantage.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 01:03 PM (39g3+)
332
But at the same time, undervaluing your work might lead people to think its not worth very much and overlook it. So its a dilemma.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:10 PM (39g3+)
The Laffer curve. It's not just for taxes.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at September 30, 2018 12:10 PM (39g3+)
The Laffer curve. It's not just for taxes.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 30, 2018 01:04 PM (iwUO9)
333
Is Blasey's home address well known or did another site break ground today?
Posted by: CN at September 30, 2018 01:09 PM (mlmZR)
334
> BTW, if there are parallels between LOTR and the current situations, I think that the MFM are represented by the orcs. Sauron is Soros and Saruman is Obama and/or Clinton.
Obama isn't important enough to be Saruman.
I'd say he's the nameless Mouth of Sauron.
Obama isn't important enough to be Saruman.
I'd say he's the nameless Mouth of Sauron.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 01:11 PM (f5LwH)
335
Kindle Unlimited is a better deal for the Author; you get paid for pages read. Amazon tracks that.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (oYD2h)
-----------------
I've got a few short stories on Amazon and my target audience is Kindle Unlimited. (KU people can read my stuff without paying for it beyond their account, yet I still get paid)
Hardly any success but, I've not exactly tried to promote what I've written either.
I figure I'll get enough short stories published on Amazon then put together a short story collection that will be available for people to not purchase in paperback form.
Posted by: Sumat Naandur at September 30, 2018 12:20 PM (oYD2h)
-----------------
I've got a few short stories on Amazon and my target audience is Kindle Unlimited. (KU people can read my stuff without paying for it beyond their account, yet I still get paid)
Hardly any success but, I've not exactly tried to promote what I've written either.
I figure I'll get enough short stories published on Amazon then put together a short story collection that will be available for people to not purchase in paperback form.
Posted by: Blake - used bridge salesman at September 30, 2018 01:12 PM (WEBkv)
336
> Any morons have any insight on how to offer a book for free?
I have heard (but have not confirmed) that if you manage to make it free on any other major platform, Amazon will price-match it down to free on Kindle as well.
I have heard (but have not confirmed) that if you manage to make it free on any other major platform, Amazon will price-match it down to free on Kindle as well.
Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 30, 2018 01:13 PM (f5LwH)
337
I cannot think of anything but baseball today. This morning I was at Costco and people started a "Go Brewers!" chant while in the checkout lines.
Posted by: Donna&&&&&&V at September 30, 2018 01:16 PM (d6Ksn)
338
Authors have abused the Amazon review system (for instance, a group of authors all giving each others' books 5 star reviews), so Amazon has taken steps to try and fight that. It's possible that your reviewers got caught by that.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (UFGvr)
Yeah, that's not me. Nor something I would do.
My thinking on reviews is that someone reads the entire book on their own and then writes what they think about it.
A review where they don't read the whole book and then give it a review is worthless.
and, if you pay for a phony review that's worse than worthless.
I have no writer friends, so no logrolling here.
That pisses me off though, if they're screwing me over cuz of what others have done.
Crappittycrapcrapcrap.
Posted by: junior at September 30, 2018 12:24 PM (UFGvr)
Yeah, that's not me. Nor something I would do.
My thinking on reviews is that someone reads the entire book on their own and then writes what they think about it.
A review where they don't read the whole book and then give it a review is worthless.
and, if you pay for a phony review that's worse than worthless.
I have no writer friends, so no logrolling here.
That pisses me off though, if they're screwing me over cuz of what others have done.
Crappittycrapcrapcrap.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 30, 2018 01:41 PM (CRRq9)
339
A writer quite Limericky,
sold literary gimcrackery.
no craven poltroon,
this moron Muldoon,
beats down William Makepeace Thackeray!
sold literary gimcrackery.
no craven poltroon,
this moron Muldoon,
beats down William Makepeace Thackeray!
Posted by: Deacon Bleau at September 30, 2018 03:30 PM (yScAF)
340
If anyone listens to John Batchelor, you can go to his website or iTunes, and download several interviews with a literary-type (scholar? researcher?) who wrote about Tolkien, CS Lewis, and the others in that clique. I found it interesting, and I don't even read that often. Other than dick & fart jokes and the AoSHQ, but I repeat myself.
Posted by: Arch Stanton at September 30, 2018 03:35 PM (qHJDl)
341
https://bit.ly/2NVxYrd
There's the audio for the first third of the interview. Fuck if I know how to find the rest.
There's the audio for the first third of the interview. Fuck if I know how to find the rest.
Posted by: Arch Stanton at September 30, 2018 03:37 PM (qHJDl)
342
109 I've started "The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O." by Neal Stephenson. It's about a woman hired by a fellow who works for the government in some mysterious capacity. She is hired for her knowledge of languages and at first does a lot of translating. Gradually she discovers that magic used to exist but for some reason died out in 1851.
After that it looks as if time travel comes into it; the book opens with the protagonist trapped in the past and writing a manuscript as a sort of "message in a bottle" in the hope that someone can travel back and rescue her. I enjoyed the first part of the book, as the project is coming togeter, but it gets very complicated very fast. It's a thick tome (over 700 pages) so I'm not entirely sure I will stick with it. One thing I like is that the fellow who hires her, clearly military, is not a thug but a pretty sharp fellow and enthusiastic physicist.
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 10:25 AM (LaT54)
Neal Stephenson used 10 pages to describe the consumption of Captain Crunch cereal in Cryptonomicon. I'll pass.
After that it looks as if time travel comes into it; the book opens with the protagonist trapped in the past and writing a manuscript as a sort of "message in a bottle" in the hope that someone can travel back and rescue her. I enjoyed the first part of the book, as the project is coming togeter, but it gets very complicated very fast. It's a thick tome (over 700 pages) so I'm not entirely sure I will stick with it. One thing I like is that the fellow who hires her, clearly military, is not a thug but a pretty sharp fellow and enthusiastic physicist.
Posted by: Dr Alice at September 30, 2018 10:25 AM (LaT54)
Neal Stephenson used 10 pages to describe the consumption of Captain Crunch cereal in Cryptonomicon. I'll pass.
Posted by: CatchThirtyThr33 at September 30, 2018 04:28 PM (8FQ09)
343
I like to patronized competitors to Amazon because Amazon has gotten too big. Being big Amazon should have lower prices/lower costs. Mr. Rodrigo Borgia then mentions some of the Destroyer books are free on Amazon - some of those lower prices I'm looking for. Also some of the monopoly predatory pricing designed to drive competitors out of business.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
This says it all. One of the biggest lies perpetrated in America is that we love, celebrate, and cherish success. Not true. Americans deeply hate success and achievement. (and if you wish to argue that point, ask yourselves why the Democratic party exists...although I argue that the greater part of this society on all sides hates success and achievement) I'm no big fan of Mr. Bezos, nor have I bought anything from Amazon over the past year. But he better wake up fast to the truth, and that this will destroy him and his company for "being too big". In this country, that is a crime worse than murder.
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yb8jpaw2
This says it all. One of the biggest lies perpetrated in America is that we love, celebrate, and cherish success. Not true. Americans deeply hate success and achievement. (and if you wish to argue that point, ask yourselves why the Democratic party exists...although I argue that the greater part of this society on all sides hates success and achievement) I'm no big fan of Mr. Bezos, nor have I bought anything from Amazon over the past year. But he better wake up fast to the truth, and that this will destroy him and his company for "being too big". In this country, that is a crime worse than murder.
Posted by: CatchThirtyThr33 at September 30, 2018 04:42 PM (8FQ09)
344
I get my books at a cheaper then AMAZON and i still mail order
Posted by: Spurwing Plover at September 30, 2018 05:37 PM (FLiOE)
345
The Ring tried to seduce Sam. It showed him the Garden Of Mordor.* But Sam saw through it.
*I wish Peter Jackson had shown us this dream-sequence.
*I wish Peter Jackson had shown us this dream-sequence.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at September 30, 2018 06:12 PM (N1ZXu)
Posted by: Justinian Rhinometus at September 30, 2018 06:17 PM (N1ZXu)
347
I think i've used "cack handed" before
Posted by: hurricane567 at September 30, 2018 09:11 PM (7N29x)
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