Sunday Morning Book Thread - 07-31-2022 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

(ht: Dr_No)

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading (now with a sequel - Michael's Magical Monkeypox!). Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material, even if it's nothing more than the test results of my colonoscopy. As always, pants are required, especially if you are wearing these pants...(Contains a spell for warding off monkeypox!)

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, drink some warm prune juice, and crack open a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

BOOKS FOUND IN ODD PLACES

Regular Moron fd posted this comment last week:

Perfessor Squirrel a good topic one day might be "Interesting books you have found old book sales and flea markets." I have a picture of one I will send you to ruminate on. It's not the WW1 book I just mentioned, but another with a closer family connection.
Posted by: fd at July 24, 2022 10:08 AM (sn5EN)

He also sent me the following via email, describing one of the interesting books he's acquired:

I freely admit it. I have a family connection to J. Carter. It's close enough that I have autographed copies of all his books, but I have read none of them.
I do however have a book that both of us may have read. American Demagogues 1954, Reinhar Luthin. This particular copy was retired from the Plains Georgia High School Library in 1991, and also spent some time at Ft Benning in its early life. I first came across it some 29 years or so ago while staying at a relative's house. I read it then and this book, along with the emergence of El Rushbo, helped shape my political thinking into the realistically cynical view that I have today.
The book covers demagogues from the North and South, including Eugene Talmadge (another family connection I will not go into), Theodore Bilbo, William "Big Bill" Thompson, Huey Long, Vito Marcantonio, and others, ending with Joe McCarthy. I don't think the author gives a fair treatment of McCarthy (who started out as a Democrat btw), but the rest he describes pretty accurately. In 1954 the author could not have foreseen how right McCarthy was in some ways, demagogue or not.
It's all summed up in the chapter at the end, "The Mark Of A Demagogue", where the author says "Demagogues, exploiting racial and religious rivalries, stirring up sectional and class antagonisms, and appealing to people's hopes and hates, won high public place and power in the United States throughout the first half the 20th Century."
Some things never change, huh? Anyway, I never fail to notice demagoguery now, from whichever side it comes from. That's almost all politics is now. There is very little done in the best interests of the country over what the special interest and grievance groups want.
I grabbed this book for my collection when the aforementioned relative passed and their worldly goods were redistributed. I passed however on the shelf of autographed copies of all of Jimmy's book, as did everyone else because they already had a set. I did snag a painting of Billy Carter's horse though, and it hangs proudly in our upstairs library.
- fd

One of the most interesting books I found was at a museum of sorts in Toledo, Ohio about 7 years ago. I was attending a friend's wedding reception. I spent the day before with his family and we went exploring the city and found this little museum. It also had a number of old books for sale. One of which was Our Public Schools: Their Teachers, Pupils, and Patrons by former Ohio State Commissioner of Common Schools.

It's a *fantastic* examination of the proper relationship teachers, schools, administrators, and communities should have with each other. Every school teacher in the country should read this book. Of course, it would explode the brains of the most Leftist teachers, but that's no great loss.

What are some of YOUR most interesting finds?

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(Sarah's new marketing strategy for earning $92/hour)

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BOOKS BY MORONS

My name is David Howell. I have been a reader of Ace for many years now; Ace and Instapundit are my required reading every day. I am hoping for a shout out in the Sunday Book Thread for my Moron-written new book. This is my first book. The book is called The Unofficial Parent Handbook and is designed for parents of kids in the Scouts BSA program (formerly the Boy Scouts; renamed when girls could join). The organization is over a century old and has developed many specialized terms, processes and culture. Much of this is pretty opaque to new parents and can be offputting. My goal is to explain a lot of this so new parents (and existing ones) can "get it" and really help their kids take advantage of what the program has to offer.
Perhaps some of your readers will have kids going into Scouts, or friends and family with such children. Some have written off the Boy Scouts/Scouts BSA for various ideological reasons, but it really does have a lot to offer young people and the leadership training and independence it can engender is critically important.
I appreciate this is a somewhat specialized target audience, but every little bit of marketing helps. Here's the link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6RQLVPL. There is a pretty long "Look Inside" feature that gets people through the Table of Contents, Introduction, etc., so readers can really see what they are getting.
Thank you in advance for your kind consideration. Of course I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.
With kind regards,
David Howell

Comment: I know we have folks among the Horde who have become much more active in their communities by participating in school boards. Well, Scouting is another local community program that could really benefit from the involvement of Horde members. Let's take back our schools! Let's take back Scouting! Return both institutions to their original functions! In the end, we'll have a much better cohort of citizens to lead the future of this country.

More Books By Morons can be found HERE!

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MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

I am reading an old book called A Man Called Intrepid, about Bill Donovan, and Stephenson, and the secret shit that was going on before and during WWII. Interestingly, there was a bit of 'deep state' shit, although 'good' deep state stuff, since it counteracted Neville Chamberlain's appeasement, and helped Britain more quickly defend and mobilize against the goddam Nazis. These people knew that reading secret messages was key to winning the war, and efforts to get the Enigma machine were made well before Hitler started the hot war.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at July 27, 2022 10:50 PM (ufFY

Comment: Fighting any war successfully requires good, actionable intelligence. LOTS of shady stuff goes down on both sides to try and obtain that intelligence. Spy thrillers are a popular genre for a reason. True stories about what goes on behind the scenes in war, especially the most epic war in human history, are fascinating.

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There's a Kindle deal today on The Rose Code [NOTE: I don't think that deal is still in place -- PS], a tale of the Enigma codebreakers through the eyes of three women who work in secrecy to defeat the Nazis. The blurb sounds promising and the ratings are excellent. Rated Amazon's Best for Suspense Thriller. The only thing holding me back is a description in the blurb that talks about female solidarity. I hate female solidarity.
Posted by: grammie winger at July 24, 2022 09:13 AM (45fpk)

Comment: This is just one more facet of the behind-the-scenes activities involved in gathering intelligence during wartime. Bletchley Park, where a lot of codebreaking took place, was full of unsung heroes decrypting messages tha ultimately led to an Allied victory in World War II.

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Reading Black Elk Speaks. A very interesting "as-told-to" autobiography (related by John Neihardt). Obviously there is some interpolation (and perhaps some idealization) in the translation from original narrator, to Neihardt, to the reader.
But what gives it more credibility (IMO) is Neihardt devoted an academically rigorous life to Indian studies, i.e. was not some journalist just coming up with a one-off to sell books. Also, it was written in the 30s, when the rot of revisionism hadn't yet become the default position, and so the less-than-flattering portraits of much of our approach to the Indians in the 19th century was not so much to grind an axe, but simply to relate things as they happened.
There is a lot mysticism in it (Black Elk was, of course, a medicine man). But what I find most intriguing in the book are the matter-of-fact accounts of every day plains Indian life, such as the incredible physicality and risk-taking among very young boys of 6, 7, 8 etc. Anyone who loves Western history or American history for that matter should read more about and by Indians.
Posted by: Zek at July 24, 2022 10:44 AM (OzNIz)

Comment: I've seen this book on the shelves of the library in which I work (but do not work for). I may have to pull it off the shelf and give it a read.

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One of the books I consulted is Communist China: The Early Years, 1949-55 by A. Doak Barnett.
Barnett is a journalist from an age where that actually meant something. He covered China and worked in Hong Kong and the book is a series of essays about various aspects of the Communist takeover.
I was able to pull some good information out of it, but it's true value to me was to be reminded of an age when it was expected that someone writing about a topic had actual expertise - practical experience - in order to be taken seriously.
Also of note is the lack of credentials - even famous professors might not have a doctorate (Tolkien never did) because it was quality of knowledge rather than credentials that counted.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 24, 2022 09:41 AM (llXky)

Comment: A.H. Lloyd points out that credibility through practice, rather than credentials, is an important quality to develop. Unfortunately, we tend to look at a person's credentials today to confer credibility that might not be earned. Where did this person go to school? What degrees and certificates have they earned? I have Master's in Education, but that doesn't make me an expert in education. My 15 years or so working as an instructional designer, reading tons of books on education, psychology, teaching, and so forth, and assisting faculty in improving their courses and student outcomes demonstrates that I know what I'm talking about on the subject.

More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (322 Moron-recommended books so far!)

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WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

Diagnois: Terminal edited by F. Paul Wilson -- Medical horror stories. Just the thing to read before a major medical procedure.

Star Wars: Allegiance by Timothy Zahn -- Takes place between the end of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Luke is just barely starting to learn how to master the Force. Han and Leia are still at the belligerent stage of their relationship

The Impossible Cube by Steven Harper -- Slightly wokish, but not overly so. Still a decent story about steampunk run amok in the Victorian era (1850s).

That's about all I have for this week. Thank you for all of your kind words regarding my Sunday Morning Book Thread. This is a very special place. You are very special people (in all the best ways!). The kindness, generosity, and wisdom of the Moron Horde knows no bounds. Let's keep reading!

If you have any suggestions for improvement, reading recommendations, or writing projects that you'd like to see on the Sunday Morning Book Thread, you can send them to perfessor dot squirrel at-sign gmail dot com. Your feedback is always appreciated! You can also take a virtual tour of OUR library at libib.com/u/perfessorsquirrel. Since I added sections for AoSHQ, I now consider it OUR library, rather than my own personal fiefdom...

PREVIOUS SUNDAY MORNING BOOK THREAD - 07-24-22 (hat tip: vmom stabby stabby stabamillion) (NOTE: Do NOT comment on old threads!)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM

Comments

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1 Tolle Lege

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 09:00 AM (k8B25)

2 Currently on a re-read of the Recluce Saga. I will probably only read the first 3 books.

Posted by: vic /s at July 31, 2022 09:00 AM (mZwKe)

3 hiya

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:01 AM (T4tVD)

4 Happy reading everyone.

Posted by: Tonypete at July 31, 2022 09:02 AM (Msys3)

5 Just started "Uncivil War" by PA Piatt. It's the 7th Abner Fortis novel.

Just finished the 6 MurderBot Diaries as well as the novel Network Effect by Martha Wells. Outstanding.

Posted by: Sharkman at July 31, 2022 09:02 AM (Lqf5w)

6 I read one of the classics that I failed to read in my misspent youth, Kim, by Rudyard Kipling. It was mentioned here a few weeks ago.

Posted by: Zoltan at July 31, 2022 09:02 AM (wpMS0)

7 3/4 the way through Sharpe's Battle.

“Heartbroken,” Hogan said callously. “Keeps claiming that nothing was his fault. He doesn’t seem to grasp that isn’t the point.”

Exactly what I think about all the Jan6 prisoners

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 09:03 AM (k8B25)

8 I was in a bookstore in Dublin, Ireland and came across a hardback version of Don Quixote, illustrated by Salvador Dali. The jacket was cut, so I got it cheap. Score!

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at July 31, 2022 09:03 AM (PiwSw)

9 Today is Harry Potter's birthday as well as J.K.Rowling's.

Posted by: redridinghood at July 31, 2022 09:03 AM (NpAcC)

10 The squirrel's pimp hand is strong today.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 31, 2022 09:04 AM (EZebt)

11 Continued my Tom Wolfe re-read binge. I'm on his collection _Mauve Gloves and Madmen, Clutter and Vine_, which includes the fabulous long piece "The Truest Sport: Jousting With Sam and Charlie." It's about Navy pilots operating off carriers in the South China Sea during the Vietnam War. Fascinating stuff.

It's obvious that this piece was the germ of _The Right Stuff_. There's a whole bit about one of the pilots, who started as a basketball star in college and then went into the Navy. The Navy would have been happy for him to keep winning basketball games, but he realized that in the service, sports aren't "where the action is" -- so he eventually worked his way to being a carrier jet pilot because that was the top of the pyramid.

Right Stuff takes that pyramid a few levels higher, to the test pilots and then the disruptive arrival of the astronauts.

Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2022 09:08 AM (QZxDR)

12 Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:08 AM (7EjX1)

13 Hiya JTB !

Regards to the Missus !

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:09 AM (T4tVD)

14 To anyone thinking of involving themselves in Scouts BSA: Please be aware that they are subject to the same rot as most other institutions right now. The recent addition of "Citizenship in Society"--the newly-instituted diversity merit badge--should stand as a warning regarding what is happening on the National level.

That being said...as always, there is much good to be done on the local level. And potential for countering some of the more questionable influences likely to seep in as time goes on. There are still legions of good people doing their level best to help Scouts grow into the sorts of people America will need if it's ever going to turn itself around.

So I have to agree--it's a fine place to make a positive mark. But as always in 2022, keep your eyes peeled...and as the old Boy Scout slogan said, "Be Prepared."

Posted by: Brother Tim sez at July 31, 2022 09:10 AM (03Hhr)

15 nice hat

Posted by: muttering vikings fan at July 31, 2022 09:10 AM (oTZbj)

16 Maj. Gen. Kenneth Strong wraps up his memoirs, "Intelligence at the Top: The Recollections of a British Intelligence Officer," with his postwar departure from the army and his entry into the Civil Service, where he wound up as the first director of military intelligence in the Ministry of Defense. (He later joined the corporate world.)

He devotes the final chapters to extolling Eisenhower, including a defense of Ike's decision not to enter Berlin before the Soviets, whose help might have been needed against Japan.

What is intelligence at the top? To Strong, it's analysis. Espionage has a role, but it provides only a small part of all the data that must be sifted. (Stalin might have disagreed.)

P.S. Strong frequently mentions his friend U.S. Gen. Bedell Smith, a close co-worker of Strong's at Allied headquarters who became the first director of the CIA. I'd never heard of him. A new topic for research.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:11 AM (Om/di)

17 It's interesting to compare-and-contrast Wolfe's studies of the status pyramids within various subcultures with C.S. Lewis's essay about "The Inner Ring" and the compromises people make to become "insiders."

The key difference, obviously, is that Lewis's "Inner Ring" is a _false_ elite, a sham maintained essentially by pretense and (at times) coercion, whereas Wolfe's "pyramids" tend to be meritocratic. Although it gets a little fuzzy when he's talking about the subtleties of New York high society in the 1970s.

Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2022 09:11 AM (QZxDR)

18 Thanks Perfessor for mentioning The Rose Code, and the codebreakers at Bletchley Park. And thanks to the commenter who encouraged me to read it despite my 'Girl Power' concerns. It's a wonderfully non-woke, tense read. I'm about 7 hours in with another hour to go. I wish it went on twice as long.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:12 AM (45fpk)

19 I am reading Pete Hegseth's book, Battle for the American Mind Uprooting a Century of Miseducation.

Very informative.

Posted by: redridinghood at July 31, 2022 09:12 AM (NpAcC)

20 I will research the Parent's Guide for BSA. Three of my nephews are Eagle Scouts, but they don't have kids yet. BSA around here is gone and GS as well. Sad.

Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2022 09:13 AM (MIKMs)

21 Good morning, bibliophiliacs!

Nice wee free library. The Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts around here make a lot of them, and I think it's a great idea for sharing good books (some killjoys discard old text books and seminar printouts from boring classes -- you know who you are!).

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:13 AM (Dc2NZ)

22 My favorite sentence this week:

"Beneath them the bedsprings yowled like Cab Calloway's horn section on nose candy."

-- from "The Listener" by Robert McCammon

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:15 AM (Dc2NZ)

23 A friend gave me a second-grade reader about Ben Franklin. Published in the late 1800's. Too many big words to pass for a 6th or higher-grade reader today I suppose.

Posted by: Fool Otto at July 31, 2022 09:15 AM (DB16e)

24 An addendum:

Wikipedia notes that Strong published his memoirs several years before the British codebreaking was declassified. It would have been enlightening to have read an updated version.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:15 AM (Om/di)

25 Morning again, folken,

I'm currently reading a collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman, Trigger Warning. It has no "theme," he admits, but that's fine. He is very good: a short story about an "uninventor" that would have made a fine Twilight Zone, another about the elderly Sherlock Holmes raising bees in 1920s China, and a Doctor Who story about the beginning of Time.

If you have not read his []i]The Graveyard Book, see to it smartly. It is one of those ultra-rare books where you want to go back and reread it after you finish!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:15 AM (c6xtn)

26 Another cool book about codebreaking and intelligence is _The Woman Who Smashed Codes_ about Elizabeth Smith Friedman. She started codebreaking in WWI, then spend Prohibition working for the Coast Guard decrypting messages from rum-running boats and tracking them by radio direction-finding and transmission characteristics. In short, Al Capone gave her exactly the right training to hunt U-Boats.

The author (as the title hints) tries to make her some big stunning-and-brave feminist icon kept down by the Patriarchy, but in fact she seems to have been devoted to her husband and very well-respected within the top secret codebreaking community during her lifetime and afterward.

Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2022 09:16 AM (QZxDR)

27 This week I also read Agatha Christie's "They Came to Baghdad", a slightly different crime novel from her usual Hercule Poirot/Miss Marple fare. It involves major powers converging on Baghdad to ultimately form some type of New World Order.

What struck me is that this was written in the '40's, yet the same themes we see now, she saw then:
People deadset to force a Millennial Kingdom here on earth by the eradication of the individual and the rise of the elite. People intent on usurping God's order and substituting their own, in all areas of life. She saw it all those years ago.

There are some wonderfully spot-on bits of commentary in there, I wish I could remember them. Alas.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:16 AM (45fpk)

28 Last week I talked about CR Wiley's "In the House of Tom Bombadil" and his views on Tom's place in the story and importance to Tolkien. I enjoyed it so much, both for his ideas and writing, I re-read it immediately. (It's a short book.) Then I went back to the parts of Fellowship of the Ring that deals with Bombadil, paying a lot of attention to the actual wording and tempo for Tolkien's narration and Tom's and Goldberry's (love her name) dialogue. It is delightful reading.

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:16 AM (7EjX1)

29 Good morning all!

This week I reread To Have and Have Not. Of course I empathize with the people offended by the ethnic and racial slurs, but it doesn't mean that Hemingway himself was a racist, no matter what the people on Goodreads say. He let the characters speak in their own voices, he wrote about people as they were and did not sanitize their language and outlook in order to make offensive characters less offensive. I think we forget that an unpleasant character is unpleasant in many ways, or that have nots lash out at haves, or that haves often turn have nots into savages to justify their own behaviors (you will own nothing and be happy comes to mind)

Also started reading the collected letters of that same author.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:16 AM (ONvIw)

30 I've decided that I need to pick up a hardback copy of Lewis's Screwtape Letters to keep in the car, for those times when I have to kill a half hour at a coffee shop but have forgotten to bring my latest book. SL is very much the kind of thing you can dip into at any time. Plus I would now as an adult appreciate the lessons much better.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:17 AM (c6xtn)

31 I am reading an old book called A Man Called Intrepid, about Bill Donovan, and Stephenson, and the secret shit that was going on before and during WWII.

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I'm reading And the Walls Came Tumbling Down by Jack Fishman. It is about a Mosquito raid on a Gestapo prison in Amiens shortly before D Day intended to breach the walls allowing numerous underground prisoners to escape so that their organizations could continue to prepare for the invasion. Dulles and Donovan were prominently featured during the planning phase.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:17 AM (FVME7)

32 The Worlds Longest Yard Sale (on Highway 127 from Michigan to Alabama) is next week and runs close to my house. I always enjoy rummaging through the stacks of books at the various vendors. Among the books I've bought are interesting picto-books about various wars (always fascinating) and a book explaining how the various unseen components of a car work. (It's a little embarrassing that I might need such a book, but can any of y'all explain how a differential works.) Last year's big purchase - for $1 - was a Cool Whip cookbook. Oh well. (It had a tasty-looking icebox pumpkin custard pie recipe!)

Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at July 31, 2022 09:18 AM (d9Cw3)

33 A couple of weeks ago one of the threads got talking about Jackson Crawford, his writings and sicussions on Old Norse poetry and culture. I got his "The Wanderer's Havamal" and his translation of the "Poetic Edda". Haven't started on the Edda yet but the Havamal is turning out to be informative and entertaining. Crawford knows his subject and explains it well. He also has a sense of humor so his writing isn't stodgy. His cowboy Havamal is a hoot. Given the influence the subject had on Tolkien, CS Lewis, and the other Inklings, it should be fun to see the connections. (Yes, I'm a nerd.)

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:20 AM (7EjX1)

34 I braved the throngs of hot sweaty book nerds at the library book sale. And on opening night, when they're even more jumpy and desperate! Got a nice bag o' books:

*The Two-Timers by Bob Shaw (Lester del Rey/Harlan Ellison - "May well be the most important science fiction discovery of this decade!" "Knocked me cold: painfully good!" Me - "Who?!")
*We Who Are About To by Joanna Russ
*Fanglith by John Dalmas
*Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey
*Invaders on the Moon by Kris Neville
*The Legion of Space by Jack Williamson (c. 1947!)
*The Starry Rift by James Tiptree Jr.
*The Year's Best Science Fiction edited by Gardner Dezois - 1995
*At the Sign of the Reine Pedauque by Anatole France
*Salome by Oscar Wilde

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:21 AM (Dc2NZ)

35 Glad I went opening night, because NOTHING appealed to me on round two in the clear light of day. I was amused to see one of Jackie Collins' coke- and gossip-fueled corkers in the "Quality Books" section. Maybe it was a first edition.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:21 AM (Dc2NZ)

36 13 ... "Hiya JTB !"

Hey JT.

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:23 AM (7EjX1)

37 Some have written off the Boy Scouts/Scouts BSA for various ideological reasons, but it really does have a lot to offer young people and the leadership training and independence it can engender is critically important.

If you are interested in an explicitly Christian, patriotic scouting organization for your kids, I highly recommend American Heritage Girls (for girls) and Trail Life (for boys). Same type of wilderness skill-craft, leadership development, and fun, without the cookie sales and political correctness.

The Boy Scouts are gone, via Conquests's Second Law.

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:23 AM (/wAlz)

38 35: or just a silly idea of "quality". Quality often just means popular, like the people who enter a bookstore or library armed with a best seller list.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:23 AM (ONvIw)

39 Finding strange books is one of the reasons I look in the discount (and sometimes even discard) shelves of bookstores.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:24 AM (olroh)

40 Wolfus sometimes, especially before had a smart phone kept a book in truck for down times.

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 09:25 AM (k8B25)

41 like the people who enter a bookstore or library armed with a best seller list.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:23 AM (ONvIw)

Am I the only one who sees "Best Seller", and immediately ignores it?

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (45fpk)

42 Bill Donovan was in China meeting KMT officials. Dia Li the head of Chiang's secret police got into a heated dispute with Donovan and at one point Dia says "you can't talk to me like that, " and Donovan responds "I'm talking to you like that."

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (WT2k0)

43 In Hemingway's letters I found one bitching about a month of little rain and temperatures consistently in the 90s. The year was 1926. Funny how that works, summer is summer, is summer.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (ONvIw)

44 Never tried a book on phone as doubt it would be enjoyable

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (k8B25)

45 Nope, Grammie!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (Dc2NZ)

46 41. Nope.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:27 AM (ONvIw)

47 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I like to pick up books at thrift and antique stores. One of my most interesting finds, which I have mentioned here before, is Flight From Terror, by Alya Rachmanova, copyright 1933.

Alya was an affluent college student in Russia during the revolutionary period, was becoming radicalized herself by the commie students, and describes the revolution as she saw it happen. So many parallels to events in our own country today. At first, she and others had sympathy for the working classes, then understood too late how far the pendulum would swing.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 09:27 AM (OX9vb)

48 I don't think the pants guy owns a weedwhacker. (if you catch my drift....)

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:28 AM (T4tVD)

49 Just started Disease and History by Frederick Cartwright. 1972 was it's print year.
Starts out with a look at pre written history then right into the Black Death of 1348-52.

I'm about 60 pages in and wondering why they are calling anything these days a pandemic. The Black Death in some isolated communities (ships, outposts) had a 100% kill rate. They didn't have enough people left to dig graves. Throwing a corpse in a river was considered a Christian burial in some places.

We didn't go through a pandemic... they just turned a bad flu season into a scam.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 09:29 AM (ndQh8)

50 Okay....here we go.....comin' out.....open the door, Richard !

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:29 AM (T4tVD)

51 I braved the throngs of hot sweaty book nerds at the library book sale. ...
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:21 AM (Dc2NZ)
===

This story didn't go where I thought it was going.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 31, 2022 09:29 AM (EZebt)

52 31. The guy from whom I buy vintage and antique stuff has a room full of books. I didn't know that, and am excited to go through it. Seems few people are interested. I certainly am. When it cools down a bit, I plan to spend a few glorious hours in the old book room.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:30 AM (ONvIw)

53 In 2021 in a tiny St. Augustine bookstore, I found a fascinating book, Cyberwar: Security, Strategy and Conflict in the Information Age. It’s a 1990s collection of essays for military leadership, and is interesting less for its predictive ability (it has little) than for what they thought was important at the time,

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:30 AM (olroh)

54 For longer term placement, is it better to place book on edge or lay flat? I'm Unpacking books from storage and I have less shelving (by like 60%). If I lay them flat? I can get the extra space above (at the cost of a bit of difficulty removing the book and organizing simplicity). At the same time, 97% of the books just sit there for months to years without being removed).

Posted by: Legion of Boom at July 31, 2022 09:31 AM (1ceR8)

55 Am re-reading Robert H. Bork's SLOUCHING TOWARDS GOMORRAH: MODERN LIBERALISM AND AMERICAN DECLINE. If you haven't read it, you will see how prescient Bork was about our current situation. If you have read it, please take your blood pressure medication.

Posted by: FIIGMO at July 31, 2022 09:31 AM (5Xtai)

56 I got an old book from 1887 at a Friends of the Library book sale, "The Library Of Universal Knowledge, Vol XV". This edition covers the letters V-Z, so my universal knowledge is somewhat incomplete, but it does have very detailed descriptions of everything from Vegetable Chemistry to Zymotic Diseases.

700 pages in tiny print on super thin paper like you would find in a Bible. Is there a name for paper like that?

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:32 AM (sn5EN)

57 This story didn't go where I thought it was going.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at July 31, 2022 09:29 AM (EZebt)
---

I subverted your expectations!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (Dc2NZ)

58 Good morning, Perfessor, Horde,

"internationally acclaimed" ...

* eyes go wide in awe *

Posted by: callsign claymore at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (Vn19V)

59 Is there a name for paper like that?

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:32 AM (sn5EN)

Parchment paper?

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (45fpk)

60 I've mentioned this many times: I found a battered copy of "The Dogs of War" by Frederick Forsythe on an outdoor (but covered) table at our local -- and now only -- used-book store. Cost: 25 cents.

It took me several attempts to read it, but that's because I kept stopping at a favored passage. Finally soldiered on.

Most of the book had to do with the organization of the mercenary squad hired to overthrow the dictator of a tin pot African country that happens to have a mountain of a valuable mineral. A British mining magnate wants it.

I like the logistics stuff. Later read another Forsythe book that was mostly about setting up a secret organization to stop drug trafficking, but the ending fell horribly flat.

Haven't tried another FF book; I fear more disappointment.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (Om/di)

61 Years and years ago I bought a box of books at auction and among the books was a I.O.O.F members manual inscribed-dated 1848. It was in really bad condition. It had a few strange engravings like an eye-in-the-palm sort of thing. Five years ago I bought a Dune Encyclopedia at the local friends of the library book sale - in very good shape for .50¢.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 09:35 AM (WT2k0)

62 Eris, Bob Shaw is best known for a series of stories about an invention of our near future called "slow glass." With this substance, light enters one side, but it does not emerge from the other side for a specific period of time -- 5 years, 10 years (more expensive), etc. So you can have a picture window made of slow glass installed in your house that has been storing up a view of the Rocky Mountains, and your window will have that view for the specified time.

Shaw rang some dramatic and effective changes on that idea. Light of Other Days is one volume.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:35 AM (c6xtn)

63 My best 'lucky' book find was a one volume hardcopy of all the CS Lewis Signature books. For free. It was in the discard bin at a local used book store. No idea if it was in there by mistake or if the employee making the decision was an idiot. It sure worked out to my benefit.

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:35 AM (7EjX1)

64
Unless I miss my mark, that top photo of a lending library was an Eagle Scout project.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 31, 2022 09:35 AM (ZvxPV)

65 The strangest book I've ever come across in the antique stores is one that I failed to purchase. It was called Pyramids, and I don't recall the author.

Was it about Egyptian pyramids? No. I didn't read any of the text, but, flipping through, I saw page after page with diagrams of stick figures in various configurations of pyramids.

I wish I had gotten it that day, because that booth was gone the next time I went, and I'm really curious about why such a book was written.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 09:35 AM (OX9vb)

66 Yay! Book thread!

I've crested 80,000 words and expect to finish the first draft...today? Really close to the end.

At this point, the need for a title is not something I can continue to put off. Here's what I'm looking at. All have the same subtitle "A military history of China 2500 BC to 2020 AD."

Eternal Empire (or China's Eternal Empire)
Tigers and Dragons
Tigers, Dragons and Maoists

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (llXky)

67 Parchment paper?
Posted by: grammie winger"

I suppose but more specifically this very thin parchment.

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (sn5EN)

68 Booken Morgen Horden!

Question of the day - anyone heard of The Storygraph? It's a book/reading tracking software (kinda like goodreads but with less "community") that seems to be getting popular.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (gbzeC)

69 700 pages in tiny print on super thin paper like you would find in a Bible. Is there a name for paper like that?
Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022

***
Rice paper?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (c6xtn)

70 Is there a name for paper like that?
=====

Onionskin?

If someone knows, what are the old weights and measures of paper thickness and composition. I seem to remember 'rag' content being important. Old Crane stationery?

Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (MIKMs)

71 Thanks to Perfessor Squirrel for the book promo last week. Between this blog and the Sarah Hoyt weekly indie promo I sold a few books. Greatly appreciated. Do the other moron writers have suggestions on other places to promote?

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (/wAlz)

72 I found a hardcover copy of Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum for $5 at San Diego Comic-Con several years ago. At the time that was an incredible price for that book. As I was browsing the rest of the stall, an announcement came over the loudspeakers that Morrison was signing books on the mezzanine.

I don’t normally go for signings, but that seemed too serendipitous to pass up. So I quickly paid for my book and headed upstairs, got it signed, and went back to finish browsing that seller’s table.

I could not find him. It was as if that vendor no longer existed.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (olroh)

73 Re: 11--It's good to re-read any of Tom Wolfe's stuff now and then. Also, P.J. O'Rourke; I just re-read DON'T VOTE: IT JUST ENCOURAGES THE BASTARDS last week.

Posted by: FIIGMO at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (5Xtai)

74 I feel like I'm walking past starving orphans when I don't purchase a good old book at a book sale. Who will take care of this precious poppet if not I?

I see sharp-eyed people at these sales buying up quality old books but their gimlet stare tells me they are going to resell them. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:38 AM (Dc2NZ)

75 I'm not sure what to say about those pants. They speak to me in an alien language.

*frantically deciphers*

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (sn5EN)

76 Wiki says this:

Bible paper, also known as scritta paper, is a thin grade of paper used for printing books which have many pages, such as a dictionary. Technically, Bible paper is a type of woodfree uncoated paper. This paper grade often contains cotton or linen fibres to increase its strength in spite of its thinness.

It is used for making Bibles, encyclopedias and dictionaries.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (45fpk)

77 My reading over the past week centered on Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, aka The Little Red Book.

Handy little tome.

I also have been trying to rehab a very musty copy of Small Arms of the World, which I bought used through the unnamed evil. I asked to return it, but the seller just did a refund and said to keep it (probably because they knew it stinked when they packed it).

I'm relying on sunlight and dryer sheets to make it tolerable. Read some of it yesterday on the deck, but that was only possible in the open air with a light breeze allowing me to breathe. I hate to toss it, but if it doesn't get better, I'm going to have to.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (llXky)

78 . . . When it cools down a bit, I plan to spend a few glorious hours in the old book room.
Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022

***
I have to wait until Christmas for that to happen.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (c6xtn)

79 DINK MORE OVLATINE?

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (sn5EN)

80 A.H. my suggestion would be to stay away from the Tigers and Dragons imagery, too often done.

The Tao of Mao: A military history of China 2500 BC to 2020 AD

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:40 AM (/wAlz)

81 >>> 66 Yay! Book thread!

I've crested 80,000 words and expect to finish the first draft...today? Really close to the end.

At this point, the need for a title is not something I can continue to put off. Here's what I'm looking at. All have the same subtitle "A military history of China 2500 BC to 2020 AD."

Eternal Empire (or China's Eternal Empire)
Tigers and Dragons
Tigers, Dragons and Maoists Oh My!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (llXky)

Isn't that required for any list of three dangerous critters?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 09:40 AM (llON8)

82 73 O'Rourke's "Parliament of Whores" is brilliant and hilarious.

Posted by: callsign claymore at July 31, 2022 09:40 AM (Vn19V)

83 The key difference, obviously, is that Lewis's "Inner Ring" is a _false_ elite, a sham maintained essentially by pretense and (at times) coercion, whereas Wolfe's "pyramids" tend to be meritocratic. Although it gets a little fuzzy when he's talking about the subtleties of New York high society in the 1970s.

Which of those two options most closely describes our current "elites"? It's a mystery.

Posted by: Archimedes at July 31, 2022 09:41 AM (/NCI4)

84 I'm not sure what to say about those pants. They speak to me in an alien language.

*frantically deciphers*

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:39 AM (sn5EN)
---
"In forgotten R'yleh a trouser snake lies dreaming."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:41 AM (llXky)

85 Speaking of dragons . . .

A Florida man tried to break into a Space Force base in a stolen truck to warn the government about a war between aliens and Chinese dragons

-
I don't know who to root for. Leaning aliens because dragons are Chinese.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:41 AM (FVME7)

86 Onion paper?

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 09:41 AM (yikp0)

87 I once read a Perry Mason book on my phone. Got it through Internet Archive. (Some day I'll subscribe.)

Great read -- but the last page, with the killer's name, was missing! Had to get a physical copy through MOBIUS.

"TCOT Moth-Eaten Mink." I want my own copy.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:42 AM (Om/di)

88 recall at the time, forsyth was a stringer for mi6 with reuters cover, the dogs of war was about an operation to put moises tsombe in power, who was an honest warlord, as far as one could find that in the Congo, of course the company went with Mobutu, thanks to Larry Devlin who went to work for Mobutu, and we know what happened next

Posted by: johan gambulputty sivoncer naglethrasher of dingle danger at July 31, 2022 09:42 AM (i0Lci)

89
grammie, "best seller" is a sure sign of don't waste your time or money on this one.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 31, 2022 09:42 AM (ZvxPV)

90 I could not find him. It was as if that vendor no longer existed.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (olroh)

Your encounter with the Adjustment Bureau.

Posted by: blaster at July 31, 2022 09:42 AM (jXzQN)

91 About "found" books. I have read various books in vacation rentals we stayed in and my favorite of these finds was "Random Harvest" by James Hilton. (He also wrote "Lost Horizon.") It's delightful and filled with interesting observations about pre-WW II Europe. That's a fabulous (happy) twist at the end that made me sob like a baby.

The book was made into a very successful movie with Ronald Colman and Greer Garson. It's not as good as the book, in large part because it necessarily spoils the surprise ending, but it's worth it to see Greer Garson as a music hall entertainer (in a shortie kilt, no less).

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (fTtFy)

92 Wolfus, that is why I love SF -- the exploration of wild and wooly ideas.

I was just joshing about Shaw. What I don't know could fill infinite space.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (Dc2NZ)

93 A.H. my suggestion would be to stay away from the Tigers and Dragons imagery, too often done.

The Tao of Mao: A military history of China 2500 BC to 2020 AD

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:40 AM (/wAlz)
---
Counterpoint: people randomly noodling through will stumble on the book. I did a search and yeah, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon pops, but is that a bad thing?

I don't want to oversell Mao. Maybe the "Tao of War"?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (llXky)

94 My comment disappeared...I got the ol' your comment looks like spam BS.

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (T4tVD)

95 78. I was thinking September, here in NJ. I found this out about the shop when I noticed a pile of books that included the Robert Service book, which I gratefully accepted as "gift with purchase", and will bring a nice apple cake and coffee when I come to browse.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (ONvIw)

96 I could not find him. It was as if that vendor no longer existed.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (olroh)
---
He vanished back into L-Space...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (K5n5d)

97 "scritta paper"

Well there's a new word. I figured there had to be a name. Thanks grammie!

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (sn5EN)

98 Nope, Tao of War is taken. Crap.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:44 AM (llXky)

99 >>> 66
[title? we don't need no stinking title!]
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (llXky)

Perhaps something referring to the Middle Kingdom or the Mandate of Heaven?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 09:44 AM (llON8)

100 Terracotta Tao

Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2022 09:46 AM (MIKMs)

101 Wolfus, that is why I love SF -- the exploration of wild and wooly ideas.

I was just joshing about Shaw. What I don't know could fill infinite space.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022

***
It's not a memorable name like "Harlan Ellison," so it's a little harder to remember. His novelette "Skirmish on a Summer Morning" is also very very good -- it mixes SF (time travel) with the Western genre, not in a comic way.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:46 AM (c6xtn)

102 (some killjoys discard old text books and seminar printouts from boring classes -- you know who you are!).
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes

That ain't even right.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 09:46 AM (OX9vb)

103 I'm reading Thunder Road by Colin Holmes. Its one of those books that grab ya by the lapels and PULLS you in.

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:46 AM (T4tVD)

104 >>> 85 Speaking of dragons . . .

A Florida man tried to break into a Space Force base in a stolen truck to warn the government about a war between aliens and Chinese dragons

-
I don't know who to root for. Leaning aliens because dragons are Chinese.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:41 AM (FVME7)

Clearly you are not aware of the assistance I rendered to your species in Las Vegas.

Posted by: Management at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (llON8)

105 Nope, Tao of War is taken. Crap.

"Kung Pao of War" is wide open.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (olroh)

106
Search for "grades of paper" on DDG.

Here is one out of many responses --

https://www.jampaper.com/paper-weight-chart.asp

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (ZvxPV)

107 Finished Virginia Woolf (and I thin I'm finished with her). Started Eminent Victorians by Lytton Strachey. Much better.

Posted by: who knew at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (4I7VG)

108 56 ... "700 pages in tiny print on super thin paper like you would find in a Bible. Is there a name for paper like that?"

Paper like that for letter writing was called onion skin paper. It's very thin and light weight (and surprisingly tough). Not sure if that is what it's called for use in books.

Posted by: JTB at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (7EjX1)

109 I don't want to oversell Mao. Maybe the "Tao of War"?

I can see that. Do you see a mindset, a thought pattern that runs through the military minds of the Chinese leaders through that span?

So maybe slight change, "The Tao of War", to play off of Sun-Tzu.

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:48 AM (/wAlz)

110 P.S. Strong frequently mentions his friend U.S. Gen. Bedell Smith, a close co-worker of Strong's at Allied headquarters who became the first director of the CIA. I'd never heard of him. A new topic for research.
Posted by: Weak Geek

aka Beetle Smith.

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 09:48 AM (T4tVD)

111 Ooops. slow on the comment.

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:48 AM (/wAlz)

112 About "found" books. I have read various books in vacation rentals we stayed in and my favorite of these finds was "Random Harvest" by James Hilton. (He also wrote "Lost Horizon.") It's delightful and filled with interesting observations about pre-WW II Europe. That's a fabulous (happy) twist at the end that made me sob like a baby. . . .

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 31, 2022

***
I always get that title mixed up with Hammett's Red Harvest.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 09:49 AM (c6xtn)

113 >>> 105 Nope, Tao of War is taken. Crap.

"Kung Pao of War" is wide open.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:47 AM (olroh)

Now you've done it.

Moo Shoo Pork of War

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 09:49 AM (llON8)

114
"Tau of War" would be a clever title for a work covering any of the innumerable wars involving the Greeks.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at July 31, 2022 09:49 AM (ZvxPV)

115 The thin paper in Bibles is actually called Bible paper, or scritta.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:49 AM (ONvIw)

116 Paper like that for letter writing was called onion skin paper. It's very thin and light weight (and surprisingly tough). Not sure if that is what it's called for use in books.
=====

Carbon copies as well.

Posted by: mustbequantum at July 31, 2022 09:50 AM (MIKMs)

117 Another tidbit about the dragon /UFO war . . .

According to his arrest affidavit, Johnson said he was ordered by President Biden in his head to steal the truck and drive it to the Space Force base to "warn the government' about "U.S. aliens fighting with Chinese dragons."

-
President Biden, is there anything he can't do?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:50 AM (FVME7)

118 Demagogues, exploiting racial and religious rivalries, stirring up sectional and class antagonisms, and appealing to people's hopes and hates, won high public place and power in the United States throughout the first half the 20th Century."

I also hear the word demi-god when I read the demagogues.

I see it is an ancient greek word: demagogos, "popular leader, mob leader.

PS a demagogos sound like an uncool place to dance!

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 31, 2022 09:50 AM (BRHaw)

119 Did General Tso write the Kung-Pau of War?? And you probably thought the guy was a chicken.

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 09:51 AM (yikp0)

120 Didn't feel well this week so have been listening to Patricia Wentworth' s Miss Silver mysteries while knitting a massive project from handspun. There are 32 and I believe I'm on 14, having skipped a couple I'd listened to recently.

Miss Maude Silver is the *other* elderly knitting detective in British fiction. She knits Continental style, as I do, and it's clear Wentworth was familiar with knitting. As much as I generally like Agatha Christie books, I'm not convinced she knew much about knitting based on her quite minimal mentions of it in Miss Marple books.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2022 09:51 AM (nC+QA)

121 "President Biden, is there anything he can't do?"

Walk up steps?

Ride a bike?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at July 31, 2022 09:51 AM (1n+EO)

122 Am now a bit over 3/5 of the way through War and Peace. Would be done already but I keep looking at other things between sections -- right now mostly Simenon's non-Maigret books.

Finds? In a hole-in-the-wall comic shop, eons ago, a copy of the Regency Books first printing of Harlan Ellison's Gentleman Junkie, not plastic-bagged but out there with the regular paperbacks; the guy let it go for 60 cents. At a library book sale, also eons ago, a copy of Cornelius Hirschberg's The Priceless Gift -- I'd been thinking moments earlier about how nice it would be to find a copy of that one, and badda-bing, there it was. And at the late lamented Aspidistra Bookshop on Clark Street in Chicago a copy of Don Robertson's merely terrific novel Mystical Union.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (a/4+U)

123 At this point, the need for a title is not something I can continue to put off. Here's what I'm looking at. All have the same subtitle "A military history of China 2500 BC to 2020 AD."

Eternal Empire (or China's Eternal Empire)
Tigers and Dragons
Tigers, Dragons and Maoists
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09

Suggested title:

Talk to the Han
Han Me Downs
China is Asshole

Posted by: Beartooth at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (+ksY7)

124 there was a similar arrangement with lansdale, who put diem in power, and was not as bad as his successors, the merrygoround of colonels,

ot I came across Rick Prados my paisan Black Ops memoir, he grew up in Miami, hung out with some dubious sorts in high school, served as a pararescue, then special forces, eventually made it to liason with the nicaraguan resistance (don't say contras) the government even under reagan, was nickle and diming the fighters on the northern front, while the sandinistas had a blank check, the amount of money they are giving the ukrainians now, is nose bleeds to the pittance they were given, years later some poison pens like scahill, blackened prados name, as well as a drug dealer, john roberts, who gave good type, to two documentarians who loved the cocaine cowboys era, of course he explains the accusations against him, fell on a time he was out of the country,

Posted by: johan gambulputty sivoncer naglethrasher of dingle danger at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (i0Lci)

125 There's a Chinese word very much like the French word "terroir," but the Chinese word refers to battle planning and warfare in the way terroir refers to winemaking, region and wine. I'll try to find it now.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (WT2k0)

126 Glad I went opening night, because NOTHING appealed to me on round two in the clear light of day. I was amused to see one of Jackie Collins' coke- and gossip-fueled corkers in the "Quality Books" section. Maybe it was a first edition.
---------------------------
Ah. The Great One.

Posted by: mr spock at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (yikp0)

127 I can see that. Do you see a mindset, a thought pattern that runs through the military minds of the Chinese leaders through that span?

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:48 AM (/wAlz)
---
Absolutely, that's the theme of the book.

The Chinese Way of War looks available.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (llXky)

128 Don't order the chicken sub gum of war; it's mostly just celery with scraps of thigh meat.
On an actual book-related note, my wife has been working on her own writing project for quite some time and is fairly close to finishing it. I have an idea of the content, but am waiting until the final version before reading it. If she gets to the publishing stage (she's working on that angle), I may do a blurb here. I suspect it'll be of more interests to the 'ettes, especially those who would like a story with Christian themes embedded.

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (KabLM)

129 Aliens vs. dragons?

On whose side is Fin Fang Foom?

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (Om/di)

130 "According to his arrest affidavit, Johnson said he was ordered by President Biden in his head to steal the truck and drive it to the Space Force base to "warn the government' about "U.S. aliens fighting with Chinese dragons."
---

I would watch the hell out of this if it was on Netflix.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (Dc2NZ)

131 You could still use Tao of War, and maybe add dates covered. Titles can be trademarks, but are exempt from copyright, so adding dates or an extra word will do.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (ONvIw)

132 "Kung Pao of War" is wide open.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair

Kung Pao would be a good name for a Chinese superhero.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (FVME7)

133 Not a book, but I have a couple of 8-½ by 11 sheets of typed recipes from a 1954 Chicago television show, Home Cooking with Eddie Doucette. Someone’s aunt had typed them from the show, and they wanted a buck plus a stamp.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (olroh)

134 Eternal Empire (or China's Eternal Empire)
Tigers and Dragons
Tigers, Dragons and Maoists Oh My!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:36 AM (llXky)

Isn't that required for any list of three dangerous critters?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 09:40 AM (llON

General Tso's Army - the Moo Goo Gai Pan of War.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 09:54 AM (q3gwH)

135 China is Asshole

Posted by: Beartooth at July 31, 2022 09:52 AM (+ksY7)
---
The Tao of Asshoe

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:54 AM (llXky)

136 I think Eternal Empire, works best, because its about China's own conception of itself, the continuity going back thousands of years,

Posted by: johan gambulputty sivoncer naglethrasher of dingle danger at July 31, 2022 09:55 AM (i0Lci)

137 In my personal experience, Kittens are not good curling up with material...if they are still they are recharging which seems to happen rather quickly. Otherwise, they are scratchy, jumpy, bitey, and curious. They are fun to watch though.

Posted by: lin-duh at July 31, 2022 09:55 AM (UUBmN)

138 130. Oddly, Biden has long been popular with delusional types. Some of the Biden delusions and hallucinations I've heard over the past 30 years have been hilarious.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:55 AM (ONvIw)

139 you want a serious title, not some of the knockoff ones suggested,

Posted by: johan gambulputty sivoncer naglethrasher of dingle danger at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (i0Lci)

140 You could still use Tao of War, and maybe add dates covered. Titles can be trademarks, but are exempt from copyright, so adding dates or an extra word will do.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (ONvIw)
---
The problem of duplicate titles is differentiating one's work.

Do you know how many books are titled "The Spanish Civil War"? Try all of them. You have to go by author because no one could think of anything else.

That's why I used Long Live Death, which is also cool and catchy.

I mean, that's the real question: do you go with ploddingly obvious or something catchy? Because the subject isn't beaten to death, I can afford to be ploddingly obvious.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (llXky)

141 Speaking of dragons, I am at the part in Pliny's Natural History where he describes dragon. One excerpt:

"The dragon, which is perpetually at war with the elephant, and is itself of so enormous a size, as easily to envelope the elephants with its folds, and encircle them in its coils. The contest is equally fatal to both; the elephant, vanquished, falls to the earth, and by its weight, crushes the dragon which is entwined around it."

There are some fantastic animals described in this section. One of my favorites is the Bonasus, which is described as being able to defend itself by "sending forth it's excrements", sometimes to a distance of 100 feet".

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (sn5EN)

142 "According to his arrest affidavit, Johnson said he was ordered by President Biden in his head to steal the truck and drive it to the Space Force base to "warn the government' about "U.S. aliens fighting with Chinese dragons."
---

I would watch the hell out of this if it was on Netflix.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (Dc2NZ)
----
It does sound like a good "hook" for a story...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (K5n5d)

143 There are some fantastic animals described in this section. One of my favorites is the Bonasus, which is described as being able to defend itself by "sending forth it's excrements", sometimes to a distance of 100 feet".
Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (sn5EN)
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Damn. That's impressive!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 09:58 AM (K5n5d)

144 I could not find him. It was as if that vendor no longer existed.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 09:37 AM (olroh)

Spooky.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 09:58 AM (OX9vb)

145 140. Anyone looking at your book from an academic perspective would probably prefer obvious, anyway, with the dates on the cover.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 09:59 AM (ONvIw)

146 In my personal experience, Kittens are not good curling up with material...if they are still they are recharging which seems to happen rather quickly. Otherwise, they are scratchy, jumpy, bitey, and curious. They are fun to watch though.

Posted by: lin-duh at July 31, 2022 09:55 AM (UUBmN)
---
Proper petting technique produces kitten purrs, which are delightful.

Our 11-year old cat is sleeping on my legs as I type. As always, she tried to climb on the keyboard, but I prevailed.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 09:59 AM (llXky)

147 142 "According to his arrest affidavit, Johnson said he was ordered by President Biden in his head to steal the truck and drive it to the Space Force base to "warn the government' about "U.S. aliens fighting with Chinese dragons."
---

I would watch the hell out of this if it was on Netflix.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 09:53 AM (Dc2NZ)
----
It does sound like a good "hook" for a story...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 09:57 AM (K5n5d)

hey I kind of believe the dude! Am I crazy?

Posted by: rhennigantx at July 31, 2022 10:00 AM (BRHaw)

148 Shi is the Chinese word that applies to all things warfare - the feng shui of battle.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:00 AM (WT2k0)

149 There was a fairly influential military history written in the 80s titled "The American Way of Way" by Russell Weigley. Using the title "The Chinese Way of War" might help bring up your book if people are using search engines to look for military history books.

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:00 AM (KabLM)

150 59 Is there a name for paper like that?

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 09:32 AM (sn5EN)

Parchment paper?

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (45fpk)
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Parchment paper is vellum IIRC.

Posted by: Ciampino -- tough thin paper at July 31, 2022 10:01 AM (qfLjt)

151 General Tso's Army - the Moo Goo Gai Pan of War.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 09:54 AM (q3gwH)
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The Kung Pow! Pow! Pow! of War.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:01 AM (llXky)

152 In my personal experience, Kittens are not good curling up with material...if they are still they are recharging which seems to happen rather quickly. Otherwise, they are scratchy, jumpy, bitey, and curious. They are fun to watch though.
Posted by: lin-duh at July 31, 2022

***
Thus the reason Stirling the Black Kitten of War has made few appearances on the Book Thread.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:01 AM (c6xtn)

153 140. I suppose Chinese military history is less wildly emotional than the Spanish Covil War. My elderly, but alive at 96, cousin's late husband was a Spanish Civil War vet and it got him invited to glossy parties for many years. He could also flash around his redacted FBI file.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:01 AM (ONvIw)

154 what do lefties consider demagogues long, wallace, you can throw in nixon reagan and trump, but johnson, clinton and obama are certainly more in that vein, the last bordering on megalomania,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:02 AM (i0Lci)

155 For all y'all into spy-stuff, this one's pretty obscure (maybe impossible to find?) but worth a read: SPY CATCHER: THE CANDID AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, by Peter Wright, former Assistant Director of MI5. A lot of attention paid to trying to find rat-bastard commies inside the British intelligence services.

Posted by: FIIGMO at July 31, 2022 10:02 AM (5Xtai)

156 "I see it is an ancient greek word: demagogos, "popular leader, mob leader."

Yep. Demagoguery is nothing new. Times change but people don't.

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 10:03 AM (sn5EN)

157 I suppose Chinese military history is less wildly emotional than the Spanish Covil War. My elderly, but alive at 96, cousin's late husband was a Spanish Civil War vet and it got him invited to glossy parties for many years. He could also flash around his redacted FBI file.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:01 AM (ONvIw)
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Oh, it's heavily politicized, just in a different way.

I think obvious makes it more accessible. It tells you what it is.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:03 AM (llXky)

158 Spooky.

I figured he must have been on Danny the Street.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at July 31, 2022 10:04 AM (olroh)

159 I have "Spy Catcher" on cassette tape. Never played it.

Lost to the ages now.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 10:04 AM (Om/di)

160 88 recall at the time, forsyth was a stringer for mi6 with reuters cover, the dogs of war was about an operation to put moises tsombe in power, who was an honest warlord, as far as one could find that in the Congo, of course the company went with Mobutu, thanks to Larry Devlin who went to work for Mobutu, and we know what happened next

Posted by: johan gambulputty sivoncer naglethrasher of dingle danger at July 31, 2022 09:42 AM (i0Lci)

Forsyth weaved non-fiction into barely fiction quite well. I remember being assigned to read "The Odessa File" in High School for a report. I was facinated. Read it 4 times and never wrote the report. Teacher let me get in front of the class and do it verbally with the class giving me my grade. I got a B-. I still to this day am trying to prove one way or the other if that book was mostly true.
It was.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 10:04 AM (GF3Jj)

161 "what do lefties consider demagogues long, wallace, you can throw in nixon reagan and trump, but johnson, clinton and obama are certainly more in that vein"

It's a tool used by both sides. For some, it's the only tool they have.

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 10:06 AM (sn5EN)

162 Many years ago(and I mean many) my husband bought The Pillsbury Family Cookbook at a book sale after the book store had a fire. It has a hardcover set up like a three ring binder and has all the traditional basic recipes. It has a singed cover and the title page is missing so I'm not sure when it was published but after all these years, is still my go to cookbook if I want to learn how to make something from scratch.
It is sitting on the sideboard right now as I made banana bread this week.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 10:06 AM (Y+l9t)

163 yes wright came from working class roots, a bloke or a moron if you will, and didn't get why toffs like philby and burgess would betray their country, he pondered about the persons who enabled their espionage like roger hollis who seemed rather dodgy, if he wasn't a soviet spy he did everything to empower them,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:06 AM (i0Lci)

164 Read Star Trek novel A Stitch in Time written by the actor that played Garak. Pretty good book but only interesting if you liked DS9 and Garak. He's my favorite character outside the original series.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:06 AM (WT2k0)

165 I still to this day am trying to prove one way or the other if that book was mostly true.
It was.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 10:04 AM (GF3Jj)
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The sheer numbers of troops who served with the SS meant that nothing short of extermination camps would have gotten rid of them.

If you take the long view, it didn't really matter if the SS goons had secret clubs and got each other rich because Germany today is a bunch of low T pussies begging Russia for table scraps.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:07 AM (llXky)

166 "The Dogs of War" was supposedly based on a coup attempt by mercenaries in Equatorial Guinea. One of Thatcher's sons was allegedly involved.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (Om/di)

167 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (7bRMQ)

168 I'll cop to having read a "best-seller" this week. Cold Storage, by David Koepp. It is not intellectual by any stretch of the imagination, but it was very funny in parts, and I must have been in the mood for a laugh. I sat on my front porch laughing out loud like a fool.

A space fungus makes its way to Earth on some space debris, gets shoved into some deep underground storage space to keep it from destroying humanity, and, inevitably, makes its way to the surface a generation later.

Silliness, unlikely heroes, witty banter, and slime. It was fun.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (OX9vb)

169 Greetings:

"700 pages in tiny print on super thin paper like you would find in a Bible. Is there a name for paper like that?"

"Bible paper" is, in fact a term of art/craft.
Onionskin, too.
9-pound bond.

Nowadays, we have "super-calendared" papers in which the paper is pounded extra thin and smooth (at a somewhat greater cost). If you pick up a 500 pp+ book and it feels very heavy in to your hand it may be super-calendared.

Good responses above, folks.

Posted by: 11B40 at July 31, 2022 10:10 AM (uuklp)

170 >>> 167 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (7bRMQ)

You could ask a bunch of Morons for suggestions...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 10:10 AM (llON8)

171 take odessa files, this largely stems from simon wiesenthal, who was an unreliable narrator, the big bad wasn't really rorschman, (max schell) in the movie, but alois brunner, he was eichmann's no 2, he rampaged from france to greece (phil kerr addresses him in one of his last gunther tale) despite that the gehlen org employed him in syria, wheren he went back to his old job of killing jews through nassers rocket program,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:10 AM (i0Lci)

172 155 For all y'all into spy-stuff, this one's pretty obscure (maybe impossible to find?) but worth a read: SPY CATCHER: THE CANDID AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SENIOR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, by Peter Wright, former Assistant Director of MI5. A lot of attention paid to trying to find rat-bastard commies inside the British intelligence services.
Posted by: FIIGMO at July 31, 2022 10:02 AM (5Xtai)

Seconded. Just finished it about a month ago. I am not able to garner one ounce of trust for anyone or anything dealing with Cambridge anymore. I see that name and I know you had to do the gauntlet to even slightly succede there, thus commie.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (GF3Jj)

173 > Rice paper?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Yeah, rice paper is what I've always heard it called.

Cigarette papers are also made from rice paper, I believe.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (bW8dp)

174 60 I've mentioned this many times: I found a battered copy of "The Dogs of War" by Frederick Forsythe on an outdoor (but covered) table at our local -- and now only -- used-book store. Cost: 25 cents.

It took me several attempts to read it, but that's because I kept stopping at a favored passage. Finally soldiered on.

Most of the book had to do with the organization of the mercenary squad hired to overthrow the dictator of a tin pot African country that happens to have a mountain of a valuable mineral. A British mining magnate wants it.

I like the logistics stuff.
Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (Om/di)
----
I think the mercenary leader was a caricature of Mike Hoare.
https://tinyurl.com/mr284skv

Posted by: Ciampino -- what an amazing life at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (qfLjt)

175 If you take the long view, it didn't really matter if the SS goons had secret clubs and got each other rich because Germany today is a bunch of low T pussies begging Russia for table scraps.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:07 AM (llXky)

I imagine they're all gone by now, like most all of our WW2 vets; but the worst punishment for an SS member would have been to have to live to see what Germany has turned into today.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (q3gwH)

176 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (7bRMQ)
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Usually I have the title before I write. Nonfiction imposes more restrictions since you want people interested in the subject to know what it's about.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (llXky)

177 > Eternal Empire (or China's Eternal Empire)

How about Eternal Dragon?

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at July 31, 2022 10:12 AM (bW8dp)

178 Speaking of the politicization of history, an interesting example is the burning of Moscow. Shortly after Napoleon occupied Moscow, a great fire broke out burning much of the city. Depending on whose ox you want to gore, the fire was intentional or accidental and caused by the evil French or patriotic Russians. (The fire certainly did make Napoleon's option of wintering in Moscow rather than retreating more problematic.)

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:13 AM (FVME7)

179 Greetings:

I remember Congo. When Lumumba went missing, the Bronx joke was "They found his body...in Kasavubu's stomach".

Posted by: 11B40 at July 31, 2022 10:15 AM (uuklp)

180 Mmm. Salome.

Posted by: homer simpson at July 31, 2022 10:15 AM (yikp0)

181 177. Will people never tire of dragons? It's like "lies", so many new fiction works have the word "lies" in the title. Dragons and lies are so hackneyed these days.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:15 AM (ONvIw)

182 Also read Predator: South China Sea by Jeff Vandermeer. It was okay. Vandemeer is a good writer - his Area X Annihilation series is super weird. The problem with the premise being no matter how good humans are at combat the predator-alien must be near Greek demigod ability.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:16 AM (WT2k0)

183 many of these figures including eichmann were enabled by characters like hudal, who was a fringe nut, but he did have control of one particular monastery on the border with Austria, San Girolamo and of course the company and the firm used many of these characters at one time or another,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:18 AM (i0Lci)

184 I imagine they're all gone by now, like most all of our WW2 vets; but the worst punishment for an SS member would have been to have to live to see what Germany has turned into today.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (q3gwH)
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A Luftwaffe with no functional combat aircraft. A Bundeswehr with no functional tanks. Ship construction that is so inept the vessels have a permanent list and had to be rejected.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:18 AM (llXky)

185 Ha ha, Wolfus. I think "Random Harvest" and "Red Harvest" are about as far apart as you can get. If you were looking for one and selected the other, you'd get a big surprise.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 31, 2022 10:19 AM (fTtFy)

186 Really spitballing here, but how about a Chinese military adage that sounds foreign yet compelling to Western minds.

Attack as morning dew: Chinese military history...

But, ya know, with something they might have actually said.

Posted by: Motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 10:20 AM (Lg6Bd)

187 I think the mercenary leader was a caricature of Mike Hoare.

Posted by: Ciampino -- what an amazing life at July 31, 2022 10:11 AM (qfLjt)
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Not a lot of folks like that today. Everything's about being cautious, staying in one's lane. Ex-military guys want to work for Raytheon, not dabble in geopolitics.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:20 AM (llXky)

188 It is sitting on the sideboard right now as I made banana bread this week.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 10:06 AM (Y+l9t)
--------

Old-school cookbooks are the best. I have a falling-apart copy of Better Home and Gardens (three-ring binder like your book) which I bought new in the 80s after growing up cooking from my Mom's falling-apart copy.

I have a couple REALLY old cookbooks too, including a great one given to me by Eris and hogmartin, which is a real treasure.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:21 AM (aeePL)

189 take odessa files, this largely stems from simon wiesenthal, who was an unreliable narrator, the big bad wasn't really rorschman, (max schell) in the movie, but alois brunner, he was eichmann's no 2, he rampaged from france to greece (phil kerr addresses him in one of his last gunther tale) despite that the gehlen org employed him in syria, wheren he went back to his old job of killing jews through nassers rocket program,
Posted by: no 6

J.J.'s item in the Morning Report a few days ago about the new biography of Heydrich and his wife, The Hangman and His Wife by Nancy Dougherty, caused me to buy it although I've barely begun. (I'm still in the introduction.)

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:21 AM (FVME7)

190 on the other hand germany runs europe, which was the big objective, the eu is more of a commie dream, but they have an antihuman ethos see how starvation is the order of the day,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (i0Lci)

191 Your book questions always call up good memories, Perfessor. In my case, T.S. Eliot's Book of Practical Cats. I first came across Macavity in high school and since I'm 29, had never heard of Cats--and apparently neither had anyone else, because I couldn't find a copy of the full book. It came up in conversation with a boyfriend, who was on his way to England for the summer. He scoured the bookshops there, and found a copy--tiny, no pictures, not much more than a pamphlet--and sent it to me, with his own observations of each poem at the bottom of each page.

Posted by: Wenda at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (gPRZb)

192 186. Sound much better than more effing dragons.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (ONvIw)

193 Really spitballing here, but how about a Chinese military adage that sounds foreign yet compelling to Western minds.

Attack as morning dew: Chinese military history...

But, ya know, with something they might have actually said.

Posted by: Motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 10:20 AM (Lg6Bd)
---
I was hoping something like that would come up, but it hasn't. The Chinese seriously are not that interested in war. Their interest peaked 2,200 years ago. After that it's been sledge-hammer tactics and walls of bodies.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (llXky)

194 I just now added "Cold Storage" to my "someday" list, and, upon skimming said list, I found "Cold Storage" already on it.

That's an omen. Will now check library for it.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 10:23 AM (Om/di)

195 And fd, I'm glad you came to the Right side

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:23 AM (aeePL)

196 sledge-hammer tactics and walls of bodies.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (llXky)

That there's your title.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:25 AM (7bRMQ)

197 conversation with a boyfriend, who was on his way to England for the summer. He scoured the bookshops there, and found a copy
-------------
So a McCavity search.

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 10:25 AM (yikp0)

198 > "They found his body...in Kasavubu's stomach".

Didn't they actually find some of Idi Amin's enemies in his freezer after he bugged out?

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at July 31, 2022 10:25 AM (bW8dp)

199 Just finished a Greg Bear HALO trilogy, Cryptum, Silencium and something something.

Bear always spins a good yarn, he's great with vast sweeping tales, and does not disappoint. It's kind if cool to get a fill -in on Forerunner history, and he sets the galaxy up for the start of the game narrative perfectly.

Posted by: Naked, sitting in a sensory deprivation room, smoking crack. at July 31, 2022 10:25 AM (qOBOT)

200 Heydrich was rather small fry compared to eichmann or karl wolf, he was the big cheese, looking back it's interesting the characters that aren't referenced take Skorzeny the hulking brute that actually freed Mussolini, that directed the Ardennes infiltration, (he's mentioned in Odessa) in passing, but his role between Egypt Spain and Argentina, he was working for Mossad, at one point, so he was peter miller of a sort,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:25 AM (i0Lci)

201 You could ask a bunch of Morons for suggestions...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 10:10 AM (llON

It's a disguised request.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (7bRMQ)

202 "Walls of Bodies" isn't bad.

Recalls a story from Fehrenbach on Korea - How many Chinese in a horde?

Posted by: Motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (Lg6Bd)

203 Sound much better than more effing dragons.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:22 AM (ONvIw)
---
I think The Chinese Way of War is the best option so far.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (llXky)

204
Old-school cookbooks are the best. I have a falling-apart copy of Better Home and Gardens (three-ring binder like your book) which I bought new in the 80s after growing up cooking from my Mom's falling-apart copy.

I have a couple REALLY old cookbooks too, including a great one given to me by Eris and hogmartin, which is a real treasure.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:21 AM (aeePL)

I agree wholeheartedly! I have two of my grandmother's "commercial" cookbooks from the 1920's, when she own a few cafes. One of the interesting things the books mention is "health diets for slimming." It's the mediterranean diet essentially: lean meats and fish, vegetables, legumes and fruits cooked simply.

Granny skipped that part though, her cafe featured all things country fried and was full of cakes and pies.

Posted by: Moki at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (JrN/x)

205 Best seller lists -- one of the things I don't miss at all about working in the bookstore and libraries is having to keep up with what was on those freaking lists. Not doing that gives me the kind of good feeling I get when somebody mentions some current actor or television show and my immediate response is "Who? Wha?" These days I'm out of it, and I like that a lot.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (a/4+U)

206 I love American tourists. I just had two for lunch!

Posted by: zombie idi amin, vc with bar at July 31, 2022 10:27 AM (yikp0)

207 Dragons never tell the truth.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 31, 2022 10:28 AM (KgQyR)

208 Good morning everyone. Late to the thread due to a doggeh walk.

Cool book I found out in an antique store was a 1950s Army Officer's Guide. That book series has been in print continuously since then. I remember getting my own copy over 20 years ago.

One thing that is kinda cool is that the Army has gone back to the "pinks and greens" style of Class A uniform from the WW2 era.
Other than that, re-reading the Mote in God's Eye (SF book). Also been reading some Army manuals- most of them are available online. One that is very interesting and can be of use in the civilian world is the Army Design Methodology. Useful for critical thinking, framing problems etc.

Posted by: Secret Squirrel, author of sci fi, kids books and one silly army play on Amazon at July 31, 2022 10:28 AM (xPpHn)

209 All of the recent Europe/WWII books forget to mention that Ernst Rohm was an aggressive out of the closet LBGQTBBQ. Funny how that works.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:29 AM (WT2k0)

210 193. They have a few cool war proverbs : The first blow is half the battle, War is death's feast, and Sun Tsu's lines about thunderbolt and becoming your enemy.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:30 AM (ONvIw)

211 "Walls of Bodies" isn't bad.

Recalls a story from Fehrenbach on Korea - How many Chinese in a horde?

Posted by: Motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (Lg6Bd)
---
"Good men are bulwarks; while the walls are the multitudes that ring the land;"

That's from the Odes, songs and poems from the time of Confucius.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:30 AM (llXky)

212 Read Star Trek novel A Stitch in Time written by the actor that played Garak. Pretty good book but only interesting if you liked DS9 and Garak. He's my favorite character outside the original series.
Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022

***
Andrew Robinson, I think? He'd been around the biz for a while before DS9 -- one of the Dirty Harry films, I believe, maybe even the first one, comes to mind. You'd have a hard time recognizing him as Garak without the Cardassian makeup.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:30 AM (c6xtn)

213 Granny skipped that part though, her cafe featured all things country fried and was full of cakes and pies.
Posted by: Moki at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (JrN/x)
-------

I would happily eat at Granny's cafe. I can make the boring stuff myself at home.

Country-fried steak. Mmmmm.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:30 AM (aeePL)

214 consider another value judgement, about Degaulle, that forsyth maintained why was offing him bad, he had a whole Soviet spy ring around him, he was terrible toward Israel, the patron of the Arabists that empowered khomeini among others,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:31 AM (i0Lci)

215 All of the recent Europe/WWII books forget to mention that Ernst Rohm was an aggressive out of the closet LBGQTBBQ. Funny how that works.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:29 AM (WT2k0)
---
In recounting the Night of Long Knives in The Second World War, Churchill refers to Rohm as a sexual pervert.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:31 AM (llXky)

216 I'm adventurous musically and at one point was exploring traditional Chinese music. One piece was entitled something like Attack From Thirteen Sides. I was surprised because I didn't even know there were thirteen sides.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:32 AM (FVME7)

217 Andrew Robinson, I think? He'd been around the biz for a while before DS9 -- one of the Dirty Harry films, I believe, maybe even the first one, comes to mind. You'd have a hard time recognizing him as Garak without the Cardassian makeup.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:30 AM (c6xtn)
---
That's true of a lot of veteran Star Trek actors...But they often have a distinctive voice, so when you suddenly hear an actor speak in a different role, you suddenly remember their Star Trek role. Armin Shimerman (Quark from DS9) is kind of like that...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:32 AM (K5n5d)

218 I was surprised because I didn't even know there were thirteen sides.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:32 AM (FVME7)
-------
Nobody remembers me.

Posted by: tridecagon at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (aeePL)

219 Oh the first Nazis would have fitted well into the LGBQXYZ crowd

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (k8B25)

220 *All of the recent Europe/WWII books forget to mention that Ernst Rohm was an aggressive out of the closet LBGQTBBQ. Funny how that works."

During PRIDE Month?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (KgQyR)

221 Ah, Steampunk. I've wanted to like that genre, but back-to-back reading disasters killed desire to seek it out. I don't remember the name of the books (one novel and one anthology) but both of them are now rotting in a landfill. They books weren't 'woke', per se, but they wallowed in filth and perversion. The authors were more interested in deconstruction and shocking the bourgeoisie than actually writing anything Steampunk.

I still like the idea of Steampunk, but I've never sought out the genre since....

Posted by: Castle Guy at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (Lhaco)

222 But they often have a distinctive voice, so when you suddenly hear an actor speak in a different role, you suddenly remember their Star Trek role. Armin Shimerman (Quark from DS9) is kind of like that...
------------------
Stan the Caddy.

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 10:35 AM (yikp0)

223 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022

***
I have trouble myself. One way I've come up with is to think up a line of dialogue by one of the characters describing the situation they have lived through, or are living through . . . and then don't have him say it. If it's apt enough, the reader should get it.

No reason why you can't have the character say it, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:35 AM (c6xtn)

224 >>>Best seller lists -- one of the things I don't miss at all about working in the bookstore and libraries is having to keep up with what was on those freaking lists. Not doing that gives me the kind of good feeling I get when somebody mentions some current actor or television show and my immediate response is "Who? Wha?" These days I'm out of it, and I like that a lot.

>There is nothing I enjoy more than busting a salesperson's ass about high fructose corn syrup when they come up and offer to help me buy BBQ sauce.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 10:37 AM (0ocXn)

225 During PRIDE Month?

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (KgQyR)
---
No one expects the gay Nazis!

Today they'd have rainbow armbands and pink swastikas.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:37 AM (llXky)

226 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?

20 bucks. Same as a limerick.

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at July 31, 2022 10:37 AM (KgQyR)

227 Currently reading:

Flashman In The Great Game
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self
Screwtape Letters

In Scripture:

Job
1st Epistle of John

Posted by: Bitter Clinger at July 31, 2022 10:37 AM (gQxsT)

228 I still like the idea of Steampunk, but I've never sought out the genre since....
Posted by: Castle Guy at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (Lhaco)
---
Hmmm. You might try the Agatha H series of novels by Phil and Kaja Foglio. They are rollicking good fun and very little filth and perversion, though the "Sparks" (mad scientists) do have a warped sense of humor. These books are based on the Girl Genius webcomic they wrote/illustrated together (Phil's a talented artist).

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:38 AM (K5n5d)

229 Recalls a story from Fehrenbach on Korea - How many Chinese in a horde?

-
I had a college professor who had attended West Point but was kicked out /resigned because he opposed Vietnam. He made fun of the media's use of horde describing the Korean War. It started out fairly legitimate but before long they spoke of a horde of a battalion of Chinese.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:38 AM (FVME7)

230 > Today they'd have rainbow armbands and pink swastikas.

And the uniforms would be designed by Bob Mackie rather than Hugo Boss.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at July 31, 2022 10:38 AM (bW8dp)

231 Hi to Perfesser and the other commenter who asked about me (maybe more than one). I'm still around but not as frequently as formerly.

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 31, 2022 10:39 AM (y7DUB)

232 I still like the idea of Steampunk, but I've never sought out the genre since....

Posted by: Castle Guy at July 31, 2022 10:34 AM (Lhaco)
---
My limited exposure to steampunk is that people don't really know a lot about old technology and they think they're being original when it's just derivative.

The Mauser c96 was one of several really odd looking over-engineered handguns. The Spanish Civil War featured improbable tanks and armored cars improvised from whatever was handy.

The issue is always the story. Settings are just that. People increasingly confuse setting and premise with plot.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:39 AM (llXky)

233 You could ask a bunch of Morons for suggestions...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 10:10 AM (llON

It's a disguised request.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:26 AM (7bRMQ)

I'm guessing you missed the thread with the Trump romance novel title ideas.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (DgWEj)

234 So, coming near the end of a writing attempt, how does one think of a title?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022
***
I have trouble myself. One way I've come up with is to think up a line of dialogue by one of the characters describing the situation they have lived through, or are living through . . . and then don't have him say it. If it's apt enough, the reader should get it.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:35 AM (c6xtn)
---
You could also try basing the title off a major theme running through the story. For instance, Timothy Zahn's Star Wars: Allegiance is based on the different conflicts of allegiance faced by the three groups of protagonists.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (K5n5d)

235 One of the most unusual books I've seen, at least by the cover, I found in a used bookstore in Boston in 2019. It's called Rats, Lice, and History: A Study in Biolography by Hans Zinsser. Title aside (and I must admit, that was doozy enough), there was a little blurb on the front that read:

"This modern classic, witty, racy and profound, is the biography of a bacillus, the history of a world scourge against which the author fought the good fight."

The book is about typhus. I didn't buy the book, although perhaps I should have.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (aeePL)

236 The Boy Scouts are gone, via Conquests's Second Law.

Posted by: motionview, a National Divorcee at July 31, 2022 09:23 AM (/wAlz)

I'm curious to what they even teach in the scouts anymore. A few years ago I was at a dinner, ceremony, whatever the hell they call it for a kid who made eagle. I saw a troop that was nothing more than an eagle scout mill, as if it was the whole purpose, just grind out eagle scouts. I talked to some of the scouts. They didn't do anything. They camped maybe once or twice a year. It was a frigging social club that spit out merit badges. We did at least 30 camping trips a year, and a lot was high adventure stuff. 15 years old and I'm hanging on the side of a cliff with ropes on Mt Washington repelling down, and yet this merit badge mill barely camped. I don't even remember what merit badges I had, but I remember all the serious skills we learned.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (VwHCD)

237 I thought the main character in Digs of War was based in Bib Denard, another infamous mercenary leader. I suppose he could be a composite of several people. I read Hoare's book "Congo Mercenary" - I got it, along with several others - when Paladin Press had a closeout sale and went out of business.

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:41 AM (KabLM)

238 Reading Black Elk Speaks. A very interesting "as-told-to" autobiography (related by John Neihardt). Obviously there is some interpolation (and perhaps some idealization) in the translation from original narrator, to Neihardt, to the reader.

***

I just borrowed this from the library

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 10:41 AM (gbzeC)

239 Hi to Perfesser and the other commenter who asked about me (maybe more than one). I'm still around but not as frequently as formerly.
Posted by: Captain Hate at July 31, 2022 10:39 AM (y7DUB)
---
Great to hear from you! Several commenters have been asking about you!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:41 AM (K5n5d)

240 Timothy Zahn is always worth reading, especially his non-Star Wars stuff like the Cobras series.

I abandoned a book series, though I have to finish the book I'm on so I can review it honestly. The books are by P A Piatt, who is indie or indie-adjacent (I think he does have an editor/publisher, but they're small). It's space Marines fiction and it is simple and moves quickly. But, for a former Navy man, Piatt makes some major fuckups about how rank works and how lawful orders work. (and he has NCOs assaulting officers a bit more often than actually would happen). He also has his Marines deploying without artillery supports of any kind. Just infantry and mechs for 'armor' support...though they're more like APCs than walking tanks. Anyway, book 3 pissed me off so I'm done with him.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022 10:41 AM (xcxpd)

241 230 Only Gaultier would do, we need shit like in the Fifth Element for that group.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (ONvIw)

242 taking a page from rodney whitaker, (trevanian) shibumi, I named by departed in the desert tale, jambiya, after the traditional arab dagger in the region,

Rohm was entirely wrong not because of this personal predilictions but he believed in the anticapitalism of the Esser wing, of the party, so the magnates, krupp thyssen, the heads of ig farben, said he had to go, or you get no more marks,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (i0Lci)

243 Bob, not Bib.

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (KabLM)

244 I liked "Eternal Dragon" as a title but feel I'm deep in the minority

Posted by: who knew at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (4I7VG)

245 I read Hoare's book "Congo Mercenary" - I got it, along with several others - when Paladin Press had a closeout sale and went out of business.
Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:41 AM (KabLM)

Mad Mike was very cool. I miss Paladin Press, I have a bunch of their books, too.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (xcxpd)

246 If you can manage it, too, you can have your title be a sentence. Wait Until Dark, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and the classic by John Farris, All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:43 AM (c6xtn)

247 I don't even remember what merit badges I had, but I remember all the serious skills we learned.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (VwHCD)
---
Looks good on a college application or admission to a service academy.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:43 AM (llXky)

248 That's an omen. Will now check library for it.
Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 10:23 AM (Om/di)

I'm pretty sure someone here recommended it, because it's pretty far outside of my usual fare. I would not have thought to read it, otherwise.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 10:43 AM (OX9vb)

249 Sorry and yes- the author is Andrew Robinson. He's great in the role of Garak. The writing was just right. Watch the utube clip of Quark-Garak and root beer.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (WT2k0)

250 This site really needs an "edit comment" feature...

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (KabLM)

251 Today they'd have rainbow armbands and pink swastikas.

And the uniforms would be designed by Bob Mackie rather than Hugo Boss.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia

And more prance in their goose step.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (FVME7)

252 On the plus side, I'm reading Invasion Rabaul, trying to get through Bruce Gamble's 3 book series about the fight over Rabaul. He's of the 'white wash' school of talking about soldiers (rather deliberately doesn't mention booze and hookers on Leave) but so far, so good.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (xcxpd)

253 I have trouble myself. One way I've come up with is to think up a line of dialogue by one of the characters describing the situation they have lived through, or are living through . . . and then don't have him say it. If it's apt enough, the reader should get it.

No reason why you can't have the character say it, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:35 AM (c6xtn)

Thanks.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (7bRMQ)

254 And more prance in their goose step.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (FVME7)
---
Step, step KICKTURN, step step KICKTURN.

Posted by: The Producers at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (llXky)

255 More sentences as titles: And Then There Were None, They Came to Baghdad, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (c6xtn)

256 Do like the concept of steam punk, lots of gaming opportunities

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (k8B25)

257 249 Sorry and yes- the author is Andrew Robinson. He's great in the role of Garak. The writing was just right. Watch the utube clip of Quark-Garak and root beer.
Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (WT2k0)

Plain, simple Garak has a book out?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (xcxpd)

258 Hi to Perfesser and the other commenter who asked about me (maybe more than one). I'm still around but not as frequently as formerly.
Posted by: Captain Hate at July 31, 2022 10:39 AM (y7DUB)
--------

Definitely more than one because Eris made the comment and I said yeah, what she said.

Very good to see you. I hope you are doing well.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (aeePL)

259 I'm guessing you missed the thread with the Trump romance novel title ideas.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (DgWEj)

Yep. If I find the thread is an hour old or more I usually skip the comments and just read the content.

Heh, read the content.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (7bRMQ)

260 Paladin had a whole bunch of garbage, but there were a few gems buried in the muck. Nowadays, I guess kids just use the internet to learn how to make improvised explosives and homemade silencers.

Posted by: PabloD at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (KabLM)

261 Perfessor Squirrel a good topic one day might be "Interesting books you have found old book sales and flea markets."

**

I have one! Must remember to take a pic and send it

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (gbzeC)

262 I liked "Eternal Dragon" as a title but feel I'm deep in the minority

Posted by: who knew at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (4I7VG)
---
I'm surprised no one commented on the walls of bodies.

It is a bit macabre. I was thinking of Bulwarks of Empire because that's the Ode that I quoted from, but I have an irrational hatred of the word "bulwark" at the moment.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (llXky)

263 what the heydrich and esser wings was pagan, anti human ethos, what we see in europe and in what orwell would call oceania today, the Americans,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (i0Lci)

264 I am reading an old book called A Man Called Intrepid, about Bill Donovan, and Stephenson, and the secret shit that was going on before and during WWII.

-
I'm reading And the Walls Came Tumbling Down by Jack Fishman. It is about a Mosquito raid on a Gestapo prison in Amiens shortly before D Day intended to breach the walls allowing numerous underground prisoners to escape so that their organizations could continue to prepare for the invasion. Dulles and Donovan were prominently featured during the planning phase.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 09:17 AM (FVME7)

You might enjoy "Bodyguard of Lies" by Anthony Cave Brown, on the British covert operations during WWII.

Posted by: Wethal at July 31, 2022 10:48 AM (ZzVCK)

265 One of the most unusual books I've seen, at least by the cover, I found in a used bookstore in Boston in 2019. It's called Rats, Lice, and History: A Study in Biolography by Hans Zinsser. Title aside (and I must admit, that was doozy enough), there was a little blurb on the front that read:

"This modern classic, witty, racy and profound, is the biography of a bacillus, the history of a world scourge against which the author fought the good fight."

The book is about typhus. I didn't buy the book, although perhaps I should have.

***
I read that many years ago! Later in a story I used it as the inspiration for a fictional study of how intoxicants have affected human history, The Bottle, the Needle, and History.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:49 AM (c6xtn)

266

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:49 AM (c6xtn)

267 Bulwarks of Empire: A Military History of China

Walls of Bodies: The Chinese Way of War

The Chinese Way of War, 2500 BC to 2020 AD

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:49 AM (llXky)

268 You could also try basing the title off a major theme running through the story. For instance, Timothy Zahn's Star Wars: Allegiance is based on the different conflicts of allegiance faced by the three groups of protagonists.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:40 AM (K5n5d)

Hm, I'd have to think a bit about that.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:49 AM (7bRMQ)

269 251 Today they'd have rainbow armbands and pink swastikas.

And the uniforms would be designed by Bob Mackie rather than Hugo Boss.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia

And more prance in their goose step.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:44 AM (FVME7)
----
Can you goose-step in high heels?

Posted by: Ciampino -- A faggot is also a bundle of wood - see fascism at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (qfLjt)

270 More sentences as titles: And Then There Were None,

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:45 AM (c6xtn)

Well that was the title after it had been renamed from the un-PC original title.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (DgWEj)

271 262. I prefer Walls of Bodies to anything with dragons. Walls of bodies are real

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (ONvIw)

272 Biography, not biolography. I'm just making up words here.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (aeePL)

273 I snagged a copy of Life On The Mississippi which was illustrated by Thomas Hart Benton at the Goodwill store.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at July 31, 2022 10:51 AM (a4EWo)

274 A.H. Loyd re: titles: I have no specific suggestion, but I had to write a lot of titles in my magazine days, and I developed a method. Take a big yellow legal pad and just put down words at random that seem to apply. No lists. No attempt at cleverness. From what you've said, I'd have words like Unchanging and Eternal, as in China's Unchanging Way of War.

Sooner or later a word will pop out at you, then it suggests another similar better word, or a link to some other word, and suddenly your brain is hot as it takes over the job for you.

Posted by: Wenda at July 31, 2022 10:51 AM (gPRZb)

275 Well that was the title after it had been renamed from the un-PC original title.
Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (DgWEj)
--------

Ten Little First Peoples.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:51 AM (aeePL)

276 >>>Nowadays, I guess kids just use the internet to learn how to make improvised explosives and homemade silencers.

>I've never heard of such a thing. Where is this at?

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (0ocXn)

277 If you can manage it, too, you can have your title be a sentence. Wait Until Dark, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, and the classic by John Farris, All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:43 AM (c6xtn)

The funny thing is, I've thought up titles like that, but don't have stories to go with the titles!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (7bRMQ)

278 I completed "History of the English speaking Peoples" Vol. I by Churchill.
On to Vol. II.

Posted by: gourmand du jour, staying hungry at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (jTmQV)

279 Ten Little First Peoples.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:51 AM (aeePL)

That was the first renaming after the even more un-PC first title.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (DgWEj)

280 Plain, simple Garak has a book out?
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022

***
I suspect there were 2 intentional in-jokes buried in the fact that Garak, the former spy, is a now a tailor. John Le Carre had one of his Smiley books entitled Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. And the fictional U.N.C.L.E. HQ, as we all know, was hidden behind a tailor shop . . . and Peter Allan Fields, who wrote for DS9, had begun his writing career on that show.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (c6xtn)

281 How Mao Kicked Chiang's Teeth Into the Back of His Head.

Too long for a title?

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:53 AM (WT2k0)

282 275 Well that was the title after it had been renamed from the un-PC original title.
Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (DgWEj)
--------

Ten Little First Peoples.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:51 AM (aeePL)
----
Ten Little Non-Pushstart and Non-Pullstart Peoples

Posted by: Ciampino -- No Pakis these at July 31, 2022 10:54 AM (qfLjt)

283 That was the first renaming after the even more un-PC first title.
Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:52 AM (DgWEj)
--------

There was a title before Ten Little Indians? I didn't know that. I saw an old black and white movie made probably in the early 40s, and that's what it was called then.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:54 AM (aeePL)

284 You might enjoy "Bodyguard of Lies" by Anthony Cave Brown, on the British covert operations during WWII.
Posted by: Wethal

I read that many years ago and did like it although it horrified me the extent to which the Allies were willing to betray their own agents to deceive the Germans.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 10:54 AM (FVME7)

285 262. I prefer Walls of Bodies to anything with dragons. Walls of bodies are real
Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (ONvIw)

Yeah, of those three, Walls of Bodies stands out. If I were doing a search, I would see that and be curious.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 10:54 AM (OX9vb)

286 More sentences as titles: And Then There Were None,

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022
*
Well that was the title after it had been renamed from the un-PC original title.
Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022

***
True; Ten Little N***ers. I think the U.S. publishers insisted on the change -- long before PC-ness -- because of sensitivity even then to mass-market use of the word.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:55 AM (c6xtn)

287 "biolography"

How would one define biolography?

Posted by: Tuna at July 31, 2022 10:55 AM (gLRfa)

288 I rerereread Hans Schantz The Hidden Truth trilogy this week, still waiting on that fourth book...or the Once and Future Theory of Everything. Hopefully he's able to finish one or both soon.

Still reading Dr. Zhivago, it's formed in my mind a picture of the hope (some) Russians had for communism, and their background and situation for so doing. That was good. Also, the dream of the peasants, as stated in the book,is basically the American dream (own own land and house, produce what is needed and not be fundamentally dependent on anyone else), but more homestead focused--which makes perfect sense given the time (American dream was probably similarly homestead focused in popular understanding/implementation at the time) and the agrarian society they had. Interestingly, the core of those dreams are private property, which is obviously not compatible with communism. But that's probably part of what fueled their civil war.

I'm enjoying the philosophical and social explorations of the book. It's more broad ranging than the movie, which seemed to be about the man himself, in this situation. The book seems to be about the situation and the ideas and the man.

Posted by: .87c at July 31, 2022 10:55 AM (ltjFF)

289 I'd forgotten that And Then There Were None had the "Indians" title.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:56 AM (c6xtn)

290 Oh dear, Wolfus, I didn't know that. Yikes. Terrible name, I'm glad they forced the change.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:56 AM (aeePL)

291 Titles are important, who'd have read Trimalchio in West Egg?

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 10:56 AM (ONvIw)

292 Walls of Bodies: The Chinese Way of War

That one.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 10:56 AM (45fpk)

293 There was a title before Ten Little Indians? I didn't know that. I saw an old black and white movie made probably in the early 40s, and that's what it was called then.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:54 AM (aeePL)

The original book title was Ten Little N-words.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:56 AM (DgWEj)

294 How would one define biolography?
Posted by: Tuna at July 31, 2022 10:55 AM (gLRfa)
-------

Biolography: a typo made by bluebell with insufficient coffee in her and a tendency not to proofread. See: comment 272.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:57 AM (aeePL)

295 Never mind, Wolfus beat me to it.

Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022 10:57 AM (DgWEj)

296 right it's a military history, but the Army is an embodiment of the ethos of the state, well it is in centralized autocracies,

you look at schwab, and he's a real life vision of blofeld, of the cartoon villains that matt helm and flint and solo all fought against,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (i0Lci)

297 >There is nothing I enjoy more than busting a salesperson's ass about high fructose corn syrup when they come up and offer to help me buy BBQ sauce.

Never had to push what was on the list (thank God), but had to know what was there because so many people looking for list titles never quite had the titles or authors right.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (a/4+U)

298 Both of my DILs collect cookbooks but I don't think it has the nostalgia value that our hand me down cookbooks have.
One thing one of my sons and DIL did though was genius. During the height of Covid, when I was still in MA and all alone, they sent me an Israeli cookbook. We would pick a day and both make the same recipe sending pictures throughout the process. A terrific way to stay connected when no hugs were to be had.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (Y+l9t)

299 Robinson wrote the book in 2000. I think. I'm just now getting around to it! It's Garak's origin story and also the post Cardassian apocolypse. Not ghostwritten or co-authored. He pretty good.

Posted by: 13times at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (WT2k0)

300 "Biolography: a typo made by bluebell with insufficient coffee in her and a tendency not to proofread. See: comment 272. "

Seems like a fine word to me. All we need now is a definition.

Posted by: Tuna at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (gLRfa)

301 I'm surprised no one commented on the walls of bodies.

It is a bit macabre. I was thinking of Bulwarks of Empire because that's the Ode that I quoted from, but I have an irrational hatred of the word "bulwark" at the moment.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 10:47 AM (llXky)

I did! Comment 196.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 10:59 AM (7bRMQ)

302 The original book title was Ten Little N-words.
Posted by: Jordan61 at July 31, 2022

***
Based as far as I know on the original British children's rhyme, which itself was bowdlerized to "Indians" either there or when it crossed the Atlantic to us. In Christie's time, too, literal dot Indians were often referred to, even in polite society, by the now-censored term.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 10:59 AM (c6xtn)

303 Mad Mike was very cool. I miss Paladin Press, I have a bunch of their books, too.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards (Logan Tiberius 2012-2021) at July 31, 2022 10:42 AM (xcxpd)

Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time.

Recently was doing research on something going on in Colorado that sent me after a particular Soldier of Fortune magazine. Had to buy the whole year worth but I do not regret it. Some of the best reporting of the 80's right there. The adds are absolute gold.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 11:01 AM (B7gy7)

304 A terrific way to stay connected when no hugs were to be had.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 10:58 AM (Y+l9t)
-------
That was such a good idea!

My daughter's friend (who lives here) is from the Czech Republic, and her mother is a pastry chef there. At Christmas the friend calls her mom via Facetime and mixes up different cookie doughs with her mom giving her real-time instructions. The mom doesn't cook with measurements, so this is the best way and she can see the consistency of the dough, etc.

And the cookies, many kinds of them, are all delicate and delicious.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:01 AM (aeePL)

305 Biolography: a book written in the first person about a mid life gender change.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 11:02 AM (Y+l9t)

306 I'm guessing you missed the thread with the Trump romance novel title ideas.
Dammit, Jordan, I missed that thread!

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at July 31, 2022 11:03 AM (a4EWo)

307 Biography, not biolography. I'm just making up words here.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:50 AM (aeePL)

Stop stealing my stuff!

Posted by: Joe Mushbrain at July 31, 2022 11:03 AM (7bRMQ)

308 it's a military history, but the Army is an embodiment of the ethos of the state

-
I think this can be seen in the famous Japanese Zero fighter plane. It had remarkable performance but achieved this by eliminating armor, self-sealing fuel tanks and other pilot protecting things that we would never have abided.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 11:03 AM (FVME7)

309 Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 10:09 AM (OX9vb)

I enjoyed it too! I liked that the lead guy and gal were both smart young people who made some very dumb choices in life but were dealing with it and improving themselves.

I read that it is being made into a movie, with the guy who plays Steve Harrington in Stranger Things set to be Teacake.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 11:04 AM (Dc2NZ)

310 I read "Normandy 44 and the Battle for France" by James Holland. Holland focused not just on the front lines, but on the logistics and supply lines, which is something I never thought about that much. His descriptions of how quickly the Allies were able to move fresh troops, supplies, etc. to the front compared to the Germans, who by 44 were short of everything - men, oil, equipment etc. was interesting. Holland notes that while the Germans were rolling lots of new planes off the assembly lines (made with slave labor), they had lost so many well-trained pilots that the guys flying them were novices compared to the US Air Force and RAF. Most of those planes were bombed by he Allies before they ever took off and many of the rest didn't have gas to fly them. Holland said Hitler stupidly focused on things like the V-1 and V-2 bombers, which killed civilians but not one single combat troop.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&&&V at July 31, 2022 11:04 AM (HabA/)

311 That's true of a lot of veteran Star Trek actors...But they often have a distinctive voice, so when you suddenly hear an actor speak in a different role, you suddenly remember their Star Trek role. Armin Shimerman (Quark from DS9) is kind of like that...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:32 AM

I was watching a Netflix cartoon (DOTA Dragon's Blood) and I literally squealed with joy when I recognized one of the characters as Jeffery Combs (Weyon, Shran, and so many others)

And of course, back in the day, Gargoyles was essentially a TNG reunion party...

Posted by: Castle Guy at July 31, 2022 11:05 AM (Lhaco)

312 I have a couple REALLY old cookbooks too, including a great one given to me by Eris and hogmartin, which is a real treasure.
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 10:21 AM (aeePL)
---

*preens*

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 11:06 AM (Dc2NZ)

313 I get paid over $85 per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. I never thought I'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 10k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. The potential with this is endless.
Here's what I've been doing... http://www.Jobs234.com

Posted by: Sarah at July 31, 2022 11:06 AM (TgcRj)

314 I read that it is being made into a movie, with the guy who plays Steve Harrington in Stranger Things set to be Teacake.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 11:04 AM (Dc2NZ)

I thought while reading it, that it would make a popular movie.

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 11:06 AM (OX9vb)

315 Look! Sarah's back up to $85/hour!

Recovery summer, baby!!!!

Posted by: Geraldo Rivera at July 31, 2022 11:08 AM (llON8)

316 maybe teeth of the dragon, since they were the enforcement arm of the chinese dragon, I think that was one of clancy's last tales, but that was 20 years ago,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 11:08 AM (i0Lci)

317 Several months ago a moron recommended "The Making of the Atomic Bomb," by Richard Rhodes. I started it this week. I really enjoy the author's virtuosity in weaving the biographies of dozens of actors, political and military history, the armchair philosophy characteristic of scientific circles, and a thorough explication for the lay reader of the scientific research that resulted in harnessing the atom, into a lengthy tapestry, a la Bayeux.

I'm grateful for the referral. That's why I come here.

Posted by: Brett at July 31, 2022 11:08 AM (Qv1ad)

318 Another way of finding a title is from song lyrics, if you don't mind borrowing.

Guy Clark's The Randall Knife starts out with the line, "My father had a Randall knife, my mother gave it to him
When he went off to World War II to save us all from ruin."

When I novelized my dad's WWII diary, it became about ordinary men doing extraordinary things as if they were the things that ordinary men do. If you can get past the bit about the hamster, that is.

To Save Us All From Ruin became the title.

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (kXYt5)

319 Hey Sarah! Perfessor Squirrel has a new job strategy for you!

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (aeePL)

320 Sarah has kids?

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (45fpk)

321 Sarah has kids?
Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (45fpk)
--------

She's come a long way, baby.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:10 AM (aeePL)

322 Any man caught squealing with joy gets a night in the box.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 31, 2022 11:10 AM (XG2Fi)

323 Poor old Sarah. I suspect it's a guy.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:10 AM (ONvIw)

324 She's come a long way, baby.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:10 AM (aeePL)

When I grow up, I want to be like Sarah.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 11:11 AM (45fpk)

325 Book titles and wine labels are simular, it can be why you pick it up.

Posted by: Skip at July 31, 2022 11:11 AM (k8B25)

326 Sarah is pimping out two kids now. Horrible.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 31, 2022 11:11 AM (XG2Fi)

327 Are there pictures of Sarah posted somewhere? If only we could see some photos of what Sarah is pimping, I might take the bait.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 11:11 AM (0ocXn)

328 I like the title, "Imperial Stagnation".

Or something along those lines.

From my limited knowledge and understanding of Chinese history, for literally hundreds of years, no matter what happens, they always wind up with an Emperor/Empress surrounded by a strict and strictly vertical, glacial bureaucracy.

Even with Mao, same same. Even with Xi and an "opening China", it's a collapse back to the imperial model.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:12 AM (5NkmN)

329 Got stuffs to do, horde. Have a wonderful day!

Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at July 31, 2022 11:13 AM (OX9vb)

330 Are there pictures of Sarah posted somewhere? If only we could see some photos of what Sarah is pimping, I might take the bait.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 11:11 AM (0ocXn)

How can you trust any pic online. Though I'm sure it'd be a hot looking female. A bating pic, you might say.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:13 AM (7bRMQ)

331 Haven't tried another FF book; I fear more disappointment.

Posted by: Weak Geek at July 31, 2022 09:34 AM (Om/di)

Day of the Jackal...movie was only so-so.

Posted by: BignJames at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (AwYPR)

332 322 Any man caught squealing with joy gets a night in the box.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 31, 2022 11:10 AM (XG2Fi)
----
I'm squealing on Castle Guy.

Posted by: Ciampino -- claps hands and jumps for joy, for he was here before Kilroy at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (qfLjt)

333 Are there pictures of Sarah posted somewhere?

Think Ruth Buzzi.

Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (45fpk)

334 I was watching a Netflix cartoon (DOTA Dragon's Blood) and I literally squealed with joy when I recognized one of the characters as Jeffery Combs (Weyon, Shran, and so many others)

And of course, back in the day, Gargoyles was essentially a TNG reunion party...
Posted by: Castle Guy at July 31, 2022 11:05 AM (Lhaco)

One of my favorite Trek voices was Wallace Shawn, aka the Grand Nagus. Of course he's wonderful in everything.

Andreas Katsulus was an appropriately menacing Cardassian, another great voice.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (q3gwH)

335 The Kingsmen headquarters was also behind a tailor shop.
Interesting connection....

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (Y+l9t)

336 333 Are there pictures of Sarah posted somewhere?

She's either a guy or an obese blue haired screecher.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 31, 2022 11:15 AM (PTLUG)

337 Still reading Sister Beckett's History of Art. Highly recommended.

Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at July 31, 2022 11:16 AM (HlgoT)

338 To Save Us All From Ruin became the title.

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (kXYt5)

That's nice. I don't know of any song that would fit.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:16 AM (7bRMQ)

339
To Save Us All From Ruin became the title.

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:09 AM (kXYt5)

"My hand burned for the Randall Knife."

Posted by: BignJames at July 31, 2022 11:16 AM (AwYPR)

340 My novel's title, "Wearing the Cat" came from a Japanese folk saying, "wearing the cat" that applies to the main character, as well as other characters.

And is mentioned off-handedly by a Japanese character in relation to another person in the story.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:17 AM (5NkmN)

341 I like the title, "Imperial Stagnation".

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:12 AM (5NkmN)
---
That's a phase in the dynastic cycle, but not a constant.

Thanks for the input, everyone, I'm thinking of making a slight alteration.

Walls *and* Bodies: The Chinese Way of War etc.

I think that captures the Great Walls (the Chinese built lots of walls) and the whole "bury them with our own dead" mentality.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:17 AM (llXky)

342 She's either a guy or an obese blue haired screecher.

Posted by: NR Pax at July 31, 2022 11:15 AM (PTLUG)

They can be the same...right?

Posted by: BignJames at July 31, 2022 11:17 AM (AwYPR)

343 Any man caught squealing with joy gets a night in the box.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 31, 2022

***
Depends on the cause of the joy, IYKWIM

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:18 AM (c6xtn)

344 My novel's title, "Wearing the Cat" came from a Japanese folk saying, "wearing the cat" that applies to the main character, as well as other characters.

And is mentioned off-handedly by a Japanese character in relation to another person in the story.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:17 AM (5NkmN)
---
Yes, I recall the payoff of finally seeing it in the text.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:18 AM (llXky)

345 335. Upper class Brits seem to be focused on tailoring and refined features. Seems natural for them. Saville Row, Aspinal leather, Burberry. One would expect a line of fit guys to walk in regularly

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:19 AM (ONvIw)

346 maybe teeth of the dragon, since they were the enforcement arm of the chinese dragon, I think that was one of clancy's last tales, but that was 20 years ago,

Posted by: no 6 at July 31, 2022 11:08 AM (i0Lci)
---
CN vetoed dragons.

Actually, for a long time I had "The Dragon's Brittle Claws" on my title page as a placeholder so you're not far off.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:20 AM (llXky)

347 One of my favorite Trek voices was Wallace Shawn, aka the Grand Nagus. Of course he's wonderful in everything.

Posted by: Tom Servo at July 31, 2022 11:14 AM (q3gwH)

Inconceivable!

Posted by: Vizzini at July 31, 2022 11:20 AM (7bRMQ)

348 "And fd, I'm glad you came to the Right side .
Posted by: bluebell "

For 29 years or so I didn't really care one way or the other. When I started hearing Rush on the radio, I was glad to hear someone who was saying a lot of what I had been thinking myself all along.

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 11:21 AM (sn5EN)

349 The Kingsmen headquarters was also behind a tailor shop.
Interesting connection....
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022

***
Man From U.N.C.L.E. was a major influence on a lot of people, both my generation and even later. When I went to the 50th anniversary bash in 2014, there were people there who hadn't been born in 1964, and even 2 ladies from Japan who had flown in for the occasion!

I've never watched DS9 that much, but I understand that on the promenade on the station, there is indeed a "Del Floria's Tailor Shop" sign to be seen. . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:21 AM (c6xtn)

350 That's nice. I don't know of any song that would fit.
Posted by: OrangeEnt

*******

Obviously there has to be a relevant connection. In my case it was very personal. The Randall Knife is a spoken ballad about a man coming to grips with his father's death. I cry every time I hear it. As a tribute to my dad in the book, it became a perfect source for the title.

As Bign James pointed out, "...my hand burned for the Randall knife." Not the law books. Not the watch.

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:22 AM (kXYt5)

351 Guten morgen, Booken Horden! I am crashed out at JAX, waiting for my flight to DTW to board. Of course I've got both of David Eddings' Malloreon omnibii with me, and if I get bored, I'm working on a novel on my phone (don't worry, it's not on Google Docs, but local memory).

Posted by: pookysgirl, in sunny *north* Florida at July 31, 2022 11:22 AM (PoAFr)

352 346. I relinquish any veto power...lol

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:22 AM (ONvIw)

353 My novel's title, "Wearing the Cat" came from a Japanese folk saying, "wearing the cat" that applies to the main character, as well as other characters.

And is mentioned off-handedly by a Japanese character in relation to another person in the story.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:17 AM (5NkmN)

You've really got to write those pulp novels your protagonist was reading in those books for real. They are some of my favorite parts.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at July 31, 2022 11:25 AM (xcxpd)

354 I read somewhere that celebrity voice overs in commercials are effect because even if you don't recognize the voice, they seem familiar and comforting.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 11:25 AM (FVME7)

355 I'm smelling bacon and it's a very cruel joke because nobody in this household is cooking bacon.

This is unacceptable.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 11:26 AM (0ocXn)

356 I'm smelling bacon and it's a very cruel joke because nobody in this household is cooking bacon.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 11:26 AM (0ocXn)

Do you have a mustache?

Posted by: BignJames at July 31, 2022 11:27 AM (AwYPR)

357 CN, now that you mention it, most Brits are especially well dressed in novels and in Movies and TV.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 11:29 AM (Y+l9t)

358 That's nice. I don't know of any song that would fit.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:16 AM (7bRMQ)
---
Did you listen to any special music while writing it?

Every novel I've written has its own playlist that helps get me in a creative mood.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:29 AM (llXky)

359 I'm smelling bacon and it's a very cruel joke because nobody in this household is cooking bacon.

********

There's a code for that:

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R44.2
Olfactory hallucination

(*there's a code for EVERYthing)

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:30 AM (kXYt5)

360 Every novel I've written has its own playlist that helps get me in a creative mood.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:29 AM (llXky)
-------

Maybe your book should be titled Kung Fu Fighting.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:30 AM (aeePL)

361 You've really got to write those pulp novels your protagonist was reading in those books for real. They are some of my favorite parts.
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at July 31, 2022 11:25 AM (xcxpd)

I'm hoping to finish the novel I'm currently working on before the end of the year.

After that I'm planning on writing a pulp novel for fun if everything lines up properly.

Posted by: naturalfake at July 31, 2022 11:30 AM (5NkmN)

362 I read somewhere that celebrity voice overs in commercials are effect because even if you don't recognize the voice, they seem familiar and comforting.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022

***
If I don't recognize the voice, I'm so busy trying to place it that I pay no attention to the product. Years ago I was trying to ID the voice for some insecticide product (I think Nixon was still president), until my brother said, "That's Stuart Whitman." Ding, ding, ding!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (c6xtn)

363 Did you listen to any special music while writing it?

Every novel I've written has its own playlist that helps get me in a creative mood.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:29 AM (llXky)

No, I write with no one around and no noise.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (7bRMQ)

364 ...those pulp novels your protagonist was reading...

The pulps I'd have kinda liked to see were the Mark Savage novels that Jeff Goldblum was always reading in Tenspeed and Brownshoe. The books unfortunately did not exist, they were made up for the show and the author pic on the jackets was series creator/writer Stephen Cannell, but they'd have been hilarious.

You'd be amazed how many people asked for those books at the store I worked during the short run of that series.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (a/4+U)

365 Weirdest thing I ever found at any bookstore was in the 'ephemera' boxes at a place nowhere near my home. I mean those boxes of old photos and magazine and such. I found an original photograph of MY HOUSE from over 100 years ago.
No lie, it's my house.
So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know.

Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (43xH1)

366 "which is described as being able to defend itself by "sending forth it's excrements", sometimes to a distance of 100 feet"."

Ever been to the San Diego Zoo? Those rhinoceros's can shoot it quite a ways.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (C1rbv)

367 I read somewhere that celebrity voice overs in commercials are effect because even if you don't recognize the voice, they seem familiar and comforting.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Summer of Our Discontent n at July 31, 2022 11:25 AM (FVME7)
---
Getting the narrator from "Frontline" to do the "World's Most Interesting Man" voiceover was epic brilliant.

As a beer, Dos Equis is fairly bland, but the ads actually got me to buy some!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:32 AM (llXky)

368 357. Posh Brit brands drove the preppies of the 80s....they had that upper class veneer that is still coveted by "elites" here. They also have a penchant for bespoke items.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:32 AM (ONvIw)

369 "So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know."

Cue eerie music.

Posted by: Tuna at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (gLRfa)

370 Most recent read, well, I learned about them here: the Haribo Sugar-Free Gummi Bears reviews on Amazon.
Funniest stuff I've read in ages.
I almost shit myself laughing.

Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (43xH1)

371 I tend to put on classical music when I'm writing. After the first few minutes I pay no attention to the music at all -- whereas something more in the pop music line I'd be following with my mind, instead of focusing on the writing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (c6xtn)

372 "Biolography: a typo made by bluebell with insufficient coffee in her and a tendency not to proofread. See: comment 272. "
----
Seems like a fine word to me. All we need now is a definition.

I assumed it was a real word that I had not seen before and that it meant something like "writing about life(forms)." See, this is how language evolves.

Posted by: Zombie Zero Mostel at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (nfrXX)

373 Crap. /comic-actor-sock

Posted by: Oddbob at July 31, 2022 11:34 AM (nfrXX)

374 The Kingsmen headquarters was also behind a tailor shop. Interesting connection....

Things went rather more badly for the Tailor of Panama.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at July 31, 2022 11:34 AM (x61Im)

375 Chinese military history:

The Pho of War.

Posted by: Naked, sitting in a sensory deprivation room, smoking crack. at July 31, 2022 11:35 AM (qOBOT)

376 So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know.

Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (43xH1)

The opening of your next novel....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:35 AM (7bRMQ)

377 Finally, finished assembling a book this week and got it sent to LULU for a couple of hard-copy proofs to see what it looks like in A4 format. Waiting for a Euro colleague to look it over and write a foreword. It's a survey of Narrative Imagery (multiple-picture narratives) in history. It's been a long time in the making.

Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:36 AM (43xH1)

378 Just finished Double Death by Gavin Mortimer, chronical of the Pryce Lewis and his exploits as a Union spy st the start of the Civil War. Lewis tried to get his memoir published before his death. His daughter Mary gave it a try, but also failed to interest a publisher. Mary's friend took up the cause with similar results.

When this friend died, whoever cleared her apartment came upon the manuscript and offered it to the county historical society. Mortimer tells this story in his introduction. The rest of the book is just as compelling.

Posted by: Joe Kidd at July 31, 2022 11:37 AM (RMN7W)

379 "So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know."

What a cool story.

Posted by: Infidel at July 31, 2022 11:37 AM (mn1Pi)

380 whereas something more in the pop music line I'd be following with my mind, instead of focusing on the writing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (c6xtn)
---
That's the idea. When trying to evoke crazy sexy vampires, listening to "No. 1 Crush" or "Stripped" works brilliantly.

The playlist for Battle Officer Wolf was Enya's "Amarantine" album, which reminded me of the actual Beowulf. Scorpion's Pass borrowed from Moulin Rouge and Three Weeks with the Coasties was the music from when I went to the oil spill.

Man of Destiny had an eclectic list including the Star Wars soundtrack (only bits of it) and 90s music.

What I guess I'm calling Walls and Bodies has been mostly written using my 90s playlist, which I've always found to be a source of creative energy as it reminds me of being 20 and restless, eager to write.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:38 AM (llXky)

381 Scout Parent Handbook...

Reminded me of something I hadn't thought about for many years: When our boys were young, we gave each of them a copy of The American Boy's Handybook, which we had rebound so the covers said, Junior Woodchuck Guidebook. Because, as all fans of Don Rosa's Uncle $crooge adventures comics know, the Woodchuck Guidebook knows everything, including all the lost books from Alexandria.

Posted by: mindful webworker - used to be literate at July 31, 2022 11:38 AM (50XzL)

382 Oh, almost forgot: Long Live Death was mostly 80s music, not particular theme other than Cold War references.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:38 AM (llXky)

383 Cue eerie music.

Posted by: Tuna at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (gLRfa)

Erie music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep1hi6VBaWg

Posted by: BignJames at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (AwYPR)

384 Actually, for a long time I had "The Dragon's Brittle Claws" on my title page as a placeholder so you're not far off.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:20 AM (llXky)

I like Brittle Claws.

Posted by: Reforger at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (p2qtE)

385 Hi to Perfesser and the other commenter who asked about me (maybe more than one). I'm still around but not as frequently as formerly.
Posted by: Captain Hate

Hope ya feel better Captain !

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (T4tVD)

386 >>re there pictures of Sarah posted somewhere?

No. But her Videos are available on OnlyFans.

Posted by: garrett at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (8NwfY)

387 Things went rather more badly for the Tailor of Panama.

*******

Likewise for Taylor The Planet of the Apes

Posted by: Muldoon at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (kXYt5)

388 Time for Mass. Back later.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:39 AM (llXky)

389 "So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know."

Jack Finney would have had a field day with that.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022 11:40 AM (a/4+U)

390 Dr. Bone, I suspect that you are smelling bacon because the bacon wench herself, Jordan, has been wafting about the thread.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at July 31, 2022 11:40 AM (a4EWo)

391 Look! Sarah's back up to $85/hour!

Recovery summer, baby!!!!
Posted by: Geraldo Rivera

Yeah; and MY comment looked like spam !

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 11:41 AM (T4tVD)

392 I have several cookbooks but I find I only use the same few over and over. I find myself going online most of the time these days

Posted by: lin-duh at July 31, 2022 11:41 AM (UUBmN)

393 370 Most recent read, well, I learned about them here: the Haribo Sugar-Free Gummi Bears reviews on Amazon.
Funniest stuff I've read in ages.
I almost shit myself laughing.

Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:33 AM (43xH1)
----
Obligatory link
https://tinyurl.com/3xph5bdu

Posted by: Ciampino - maybe earworm at July 31, 2022 11:41 AM (qfLjt)

394 *preens*
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread)

lol !

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 11:43 AM (T4tVD)

395 392. I usually wing it or rely on Martha Dixon or Joy of Cooking.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:43 AM (ONvIw)

396 I wrote a pulpy story which included a sword-fight scene, so I listened to the Korngold music for Robin Hood battling Sir Guy over and over while writing it.

Posted by: Trimegistus at July 31, 2022 11:43 AM (QZxDR)

397 "which is described as being able to defend itself by "sending forth it's excrements", sometimes to a distance of 100 feet"."

"Ever been to the San Diego Zoo? Those rhinoceros's can shoot it quite a ways.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse"

I Have been to the San Diego zoo lo some 29 years ago. It was a very nice zoo then.

I forgot to add that the Bonasus's excrement burns like fire, so don't chase them.

Posted by: fd at July 31, 2022 11:45 AM (sn5EN)

398 Korngold is great music!

Posted by: gourmand du jour, staying hungry at July 31, 2022 11:46 AM (jTmQV)

399 380
That's the idea. When trying to evoke crazy sexy vampires, listening to "No. 1 Crush" or "Stripped" works brilliantly.
----
Stripped is by Depeche Mode. I like the music.
Who does No.1 Crush ?

Posted by: Ciampino - Crush - is that like orange juice? at July 31, 2022 11:48 AM (qfLjt)

400 The Kingsmen headquarters was also behind a tailor shop. Interesting connection....

Things went rather more badly for the Tailor of Panama.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at July 31, 2022

***
Mr. Del Floria was an actual character in some MfU episodes. Certain fans imagined that he was a former Enforcement agent, retired from active service but still retaining his skills and invaluable in spotting trouble. He got knocked out by a sleep gas in at least one episode, but was never killed.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:48 AM (c6xtn)

401 Korngold is great music!
Posted by: gourmand du jour, staying hungry

Is Kornpop the lead singer ?

Posted by: JT at July 31, 2022 11:49 AM (T4tVD)

402 Almost forgot. The last day of the last month before everything changes. Good to have the book thread, thanks Perfessor.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:49 AM (7bRMQ)

403 398. He was certainly popular with Hollywood

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:49 AM (ONvIw)

404 Am I the only one who sees "Best Seller", and immediately ignores it?
Posted by: grammie winger at July 31, 2022 09:26 AM (45fpk)

Me too!
It's why I've been putting off reading that " Where the Crawdads Sing" book

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 11:50 AM (gbzeC)

405 So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know.
-----------------------
House hunters!

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 11:50 AM (yikp0)

406 The last day of the last month before everything changes. Good to have the book thread, thanks Perfessor.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:49 AM (7bRMQ)

what? What changes?

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 11:50 AM (gbzeC)

407 "So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know."
*
Jack Finney would have had a field day with that.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at July 31, 2022

***
The kicker in the chapter: Someone the narrator knows who had not yet been born in 1922 is visible in the 100-year-old picture. . . .

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:50 AM (c6xtn)

408 402. What changes? Some fresh hell?

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:51 AM (ONvIw)

409 >>> 365 Weirdest thing I ever found at any bookstore was in the 'ephemera' boxes at a place nowhere near my home. I mean those boxes of old photos and magazine and such. I found an original photograph of MY HOUSE from over 100 years ago.
No lie, it's my house.
So I have a photo of my current residence from 100 years past, found in a box of old photos at a faraway bookstore. No idea how it got there, and the owner didn't know.
Posted by: LenNeal at July 31, 2022 11:31 AM (43xH1)

Ace has a time machine...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 31, 2022 11:52 AM (llON8)

410 Almost forgot. The last day of the last month before everything changes. Good to have the book thread, thanks Perfessor.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:49 AM (7bRMQ)
-------
According to my daughter, today is the day George Jetson is born. Is that what you mean?

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:52 AM (aeePL)

411 The book club at my condo has been reading a bunch of terrible books and then holding sessions with a group leader who chose the book to be discussed. As an example, the last book was by David Gergen on leadership. Needless to say, I have not joined in. It is MD after all.
However, in a "departure from previous choices", they are going to read Baldacci's newest book, The 6:20 Man. Was thinking about infiltrating the group, but it is a brand new book so library probably doesn't have a copy available quickly and it is $15 on Amazon.
So typical.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 11:52 AM (Y+l9t)

412 Germany stopping the purchase of Russian coal?

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:52 AM (ONvIw)

413 Korngold is a part of the story of early Hollywood when there was a mass exodus of talent of all kinds from Europe.

Posted by: gourmand du jour, staying hungry at July 31, 2022 11:53 AM (jTmQV)

414 Sharon, put it on hold on the library anyway. You never know. Sometimes people buy it or get tired of waiting and don't want it when their turn comes up.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:53 AM (aeePL)

415 Some pancake bacon strips...

https://tinyurl.com/2hvj5hau

JPG how-to photo; not a complicated recipe.

Posted by: andycanuck (yikp0) at July 31, 2022 11:54 AM (yikp0)

416 Korngold is a part of the story of early Hollywood when there was a mass exodus of talent of all kinds from Europe.
Posted by: gourmand du jour, staying hungry at July 31, 2022

***
Erich von Stroheim and, later, Alfred Hitchcock and Billy Wilder are good examples.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:55 AM (c6xtn)

417
Look! Sarah's back up to $85/hour!

Recovery summer, baby!!!!
Posted by: Geraldo Rivera

Putin's wage hikes

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at July 31, 2022 11:56 AM (63Dwl)

418 what? What changes?
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 11:50 AM (gbzeC)

402. What changes? Some fresh hell?
Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:51 AM (ONvIw)

According to my daughter, today is the day George Jetson is born. Is that what you mean?
Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 11:52 AM (aeePL)

Eighteen years ago, the oldest arrived at the house. In two weeks I take her to college. Mixed feelings. She was always here, now she won't be....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:56 AM (7bRMQ)

419 My work is done here. (Well, actually, my usual Sunday chores have been done; vacuuming and making my salad for the week are about the only things left.)

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 11:56 AM (c6xtn)

420 Whatever you think of Anthony Burgess (and one realises that he has his detractors), he was really deuced clever at titles. I'm still mystified by "A Vision of Battlements," set in Gibraltar. The title is an old medical text description of a migraine aura.

He could mine Shakespeare as few have. In Borneo, writing about Malaya, he needed a title and came up with "Beds In The East." I just walked around with a question mark in my cartoon bubble for several years, until I stumbled across the line, in Antony and Cleopatra. "Time for A Tiger" is a little more direct -- it's a beer ad.

Toss-off Shakespeare lines used to be kind of a game, when "erudition" was something you wanted to have.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at July 31, 2022 11:57 AM (x61Im)

421 Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at July 31, 2022 09:43 AM (fTtFy)

I remember reading that in the Readers' Digest version as a teen. Pretty sure the twist took me by complete surprise, but it's been long enough I'm not sure.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2022 11:58 AM (nC+QA)

422 418; Personal changes. When my kids went to college, I heard from them often, now Kid1 lives a mile away. You may be surprised at how often they text and call.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:58 AM (ONvIw)

423 Who is the old bastard reflecting in the glass of the book box?

It could be Marlon Brando but I'm thinking a bare chested Robert Duvall.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022 11:58 AM (0ocXn)

424 Forgot to mention in the Patricia Wentworth comment that I found out about her through Sarah Hoyt's blog and now have not only all the Miss Silver books but several others as well.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at July 31, 2022 12:00 PM (nC+QA)

425 Who is the old bastard reflecting in the glass of the book box?

It could be Marlon Brando but I'm thinking a bare chested Robert Duvall.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at July 31, 2022

***
Unfortunately, to me, it looks like a mustache-wearing F. Joe.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at July 31, 2022 12:01 PM (c6xtn)

426 WE HAZ A NOOD

Posted by: Skip's nood advisory at July 31, 2022 12:01 PM (k8B25)

427 Bluebell, checked and there is a hardcover copy in one of the libraries in the system so it may take a while to get to my local library but I can get it it. Question now is, can I influence them to read more interesting stuff. I think they have been losing participation because of the wokeness of their choices. It would be fun to see if I could get them to read some Sci-fi and just enjoy the process.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 12:02 PM (Y+l9t)

428 Personal changes. When my kids went to college, I heard from them often, now Kid1 lives a mile away. You may be surprised at how often they text and call.

Posted by: CN at July 31, 2022 11:58 AM (ONvIw)

We'll see, CN. Don't know how she feels about it, seemed to think she didn't want to live in our town. But, who knows.

Ok, new thread, see you all next Sunday or other threads.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 12:04 PM (7bRMQ)

429 Whoever bestowed my nic on me way back when I first started commenting had no idea how right they were going to be.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 12:05 PM (Y+l9t)

430 Question now is, can I influence them to read more interesting stuff. I think they have been losing participation because of the wokeness of their choices. It would be fun to see if I could get them to read some Sci-fi and just enjoy the process.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at July 31, 2022 12:02 PM (Y+l9t)
--------
I bet you could. It sounds like if you are willing to lead the group one month, you can pick the book, right? And there may be more people there like you that are secretly hoping for something different.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 12:06 PM (aeePL)

431 Eighteen years ago, the oldest arrived at the house. In two weeks I take her to college. Mixed feelings. She was always here, now she won't be....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:56 AM (7bRMQ)
-------
I get it. I felt the same way when our oldest went off to college, and I still feel the same way now that our youngest is heading off to his senior year. Stay close to her. I never texted until my oldest went off to school and we figured out that that way she could still "talk" to me when she was studying at the library.

Posted by: bluebell at July 31, 2022 12:08 PM (aeePL)

432 With regard to found books, years ago Brandeis University used to sponsor a used-book sale in Chicago's northern suburbs as a fundraiser. There were hundreds of thousands of books donated from all around the Chicago area. Rare collectors' items were in a special tent, but if you were patient, you could find some real treasures among the ordinary books. The best one I found was a children's edition of "Kon Tiki" that was autographed by Thor Hyerdahl.

Speaking of used books and the people who love them, I strongly recommend "The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade", by Gary Goodman, who was a key seller in the "book village" of Stillwater, Minnesota (a suburb of Minneapolis), a town whose economy was, for a while, centered on books. He describes how he became crazy enough to try to make a living selling used books, how he built up his business, and some of the wild characters who inhabit the fringes of the book world. "The Last Bookseller" is out of print, but you can, appropriately, find a used or remaindered copy via alibris.com, which is my go-to site for used books and media.

Posted by: Nemo at July 31, 2022 12:16 PM (S6ArX)

433 "I read somewhere that celebrity voice overs in commercials are effect because even if you don't recognize the voice, they seem familiar and comforting."

It is so effective that sometimes the ad-men would fake it. I remember how Sugar Bear (of Post Sugar Crisp) sounded like Bing Crosby.

Posted by: Brett at July 31, 2022 12:17 PM (Qv1ad)

434 Every novel I've written has its own playlist that helps get me in a creative mood.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at July 31, 2022 11:29 AM (llXky)
---

Vangelis: Chung Kuo

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 12:28 PM (Dc2NZ)

435 The Shahanshah being a US/UK client would have been enough for deGaul supporting his opponents.

Posted by: Fox2! at July 31, 2022 12:29 PM (0rU8g)

436 Toss-off Shakespeare lines used to be kind of a game, when "erudition" was something you wanted to have.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at July 31, 2022 11:57 AM (x61Im)
--

Same with Star Trek (old school, anyway). Probably because there were so many theater hams in it!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 12:36 PM (Dc2NZ)

437 Bonasus's excrement burns like fire
---

Brian Eno album.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 12:38 PM (Dc2NZ)

438 Same with Star Trek (old school, anyway). Probably because there were so many theater hams in it!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 12:36 PM (Dc2NZ)

How many episode titles were Shake's quotes?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 12:38 PM (7bRMQ)

439 Thanks for another great book thread, peeps and Perf!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 12:39 PM (Dc2NZ)

440 Eighteen years ago, the oldest arrived at the house. In two weeks I take her to college. Mixed feelings. She was always here, now she won't be....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 11:56 AM (7bRMQ)

Oh. When we dropped KTE off at college, I mourned her absence for a whole week. I'd go walk walk walk to get through it.
This was pre-doggeh.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 12:44 PM (gbzeC)

441 With regard to found books, years ago Brandeis University used to sponsor a used-book sale in Chicago's northern suburbs as a fundraiser. There were hundreds of thousands of books donated from all around the Chicago area. Rare collectors' items were in a special tent, but if you were patient, you could find some real treasures among the ordinary books. The best one I found was a children's edition of "Kon Tiki" that was autographed by Thor Hyerdahl.

Case Western Reserve used to have something similar at the start of the school year whereby you could find some real gems on the cheap. More than once I had some "holy shit" moments, surprising even today.

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 31, 2022 12:50 PM (y7DUB)

442 Oh. When we dropped KTE off at college, I mourned her absence for a whole week. I'd go walk walk walk to get through it.
This was pre-doggeh.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at July 31, 2022 12:44 PM (gbzeC)

Thanks, vmom. I still have the second one here. For eight more years....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 12:50 PM (7bRMQ)

443 What are some of YOUR most interesting finds?
--------

An 1866 printing, 'The Life and Campaigns of General U. S, Grant', by P.C. Headley.

Jekyl Island Club: Brunswick, Georgia, private printing by Charles Lanier
-------

The former a paen to Grant, and it seems, a brush-up prior to his Presidential run. It's marked $25.00, and that's probably what I paid for it. The latter is far more interesting, and far more valuable. I've only found a couple of copies, one at the Univ. of GA., and one at the museum at what is now 'Jekyll'. I paid $3.50 for it, the last copy that I saw sold was $1000.00.

Both of these came from an old Victorian house in Oxford, IN, where I had been invited for Christmas dinner. The owners had once operated a used bookstore.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 12:51 PM (kT5Bb)

444 I have occasionally ID'd books in auction lots that I found interesting. One such was 'Rotary Piston Machines' by Felix Wankle. Fascinating book, and proved to be a good investment. I bought it as part of a lot, probably $25.00 for the whole. I later sold it to a Japanese buyer for $125.00. That was some years ago, I now see a price at Amazon, $275.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 12:56 PM (kPbVu)

445 I later sold it to a Japanese buyer for $125.00. That was some years ago, I now see a price at Amazon, $275.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 12:56 PM (kPbVu)

About 50 years ago or so, True West ran a story about my Great great grandmother. We have a tattered copy, so I went looking on e-bay and found a very good conditioned copy. I only wanted that magazine, but seller wouldn't break up the set. I bought it anyway and have the other mags sitting around deciding what to do with them.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 01:02 PM (7bRMQ)

446 Last week started P.D. James' 'Time to be in Earnest'. It's a autobiography, of sorts. She was certainly a fascinating person, and led what I would describe as an archetype of a life well-lived. A good, entertaining read, even if you are not a fan.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 01:03 PM (dx9uU)

447 I only wanted that magazine, but seller wouldn't break up the set. I bought it anyway and have the other mags sitting around deciding what to do with them.
Posted by: OrangeEnt
--------
If you're not attached, sell them. Otherwise, they are going to become dust-collectors.

Selling on auction sites is a little tedious, but rewarding. I've found that the best thing to do, is get the item ready for shipping, *before* it is listed. Just get it over with, then you're on cruise.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 01:06 PM (dx9uU)

448 If you're not attached, sell them. Otherwise, they are going to become dust-collectors.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 01:06 PM (dx9uU)

I know a guy who has a YT site on the Old West. I might just mail them to him. He knows about the story already, so I'm sure he'd be glad to have the other mags.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 01:09 PM (7bRMQ)

449 I know a guy who has a YT site on the Old West. I might just mail them to him. He knows about the story already, so I'm sure he'd be glad to have the other mags.
Posted by: OrangeEnt
------

If he's interested in some 50's 'Boy's Life' mags, let me know...

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 01:14 PM (dx9uU)

450 If he's interested in some 50's 'Boy's Life' mags, let me know...

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at July 31, 2022 01:14 PM (dx9uU)

I'll ask.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at July 31, 2022 01:17 PM (7bRMQ)

451 Hmmm. You might try the Agatha H series of novels by Phil and Kaja Foglio. They are rollicking good fun and very little filth and perversion, though the "Sparks" (mad scientists) do have a warped sense of humor. These books are based on the Girl Genius webcomic they wrote/illustrated together (Phil's a talented artist).
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 31, 2022 10:38 AM (K5n5d)

One of my favorite little drawings Phil Foglio has done is "La Petit Mort" featuring a smiling little Grim Reaper on the shoulder of a very happy female...

Posted by: Brewingfrog at July 31, 2022 02:07 PM (Dljjf)

452 Found at an estate sale on a lawn near my house, serendipitously: a 190x copy of "Just So Stories" by R. Kipling.

Great illustrations, too!

And then I noticed: the illustrations were done by R. Kipling. o.o

Goodness; how many talents did this fellow have?

Posted by: Wry Mouth at July 31, 2022 03:15 PM (T9xXt)

453
I remember shopping at a New York-branded
fancy store, and displays had hardbound books
as "filler" on shelves. Now, trying to piece-together
memory, which chain store? It was very impressive.

Posted by: zigzag at July 31, 2022 05:06 PM (QCU3R)

454
Local 'Fairfield Inn' (Marriott Corp.) had a Lobby,
Welcome Area with huge seating area
and fireplace, built-in shelving on both sides,
FULL of books.
That site became Comfort Inn, and
changed the decor.

Posted by: zigzag at July 31, 2022 05:18 PM (+0DTC)

455 Captain Hate, if you are still around, I hope you are well! Missed your comments over the last couple of weeks and delighted to see you back at the HQ.

I am hoping to be headed back in Russell sometime in August, and I'll wave in your general direction as I drive my usual 50 mph through Beachwood, daring fate.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at July 31, 2022 05:20 PM (wsJPE)

456
Great place for books was
Tower Records, & their Magazine
Collection! Amazing, astounding.
bought a Dozen of this fine book,
for gifts.
http://www.joannedugan.com/taxi-driver-wisdom

Posted by: zigzag at July 31, 2022 05:32 PM (uL0l/)

457
The Tin Drum, Gunter Grass.
Our Lady of the Flowers, Jean Genet.
Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do,
Peter McWilliams.
Friends of Library Bookstore,
Biography section, all great choices.

Posted by: zigzag at July 31, 2022 05:38 PM (1o6bS)

458 I get paid over $85 per hour working from home with 2 kids at home. I never thought I'd be able to do it but my best friend earns over 10k a month doing this and she convinced me to try. The potential with this is endless.
Here's what I've been doing... http://www.salarycash1.com

Posted by: Sarah at July 31, 2022 08:39 PM (zTGnI)

459 I took Nemo's suggestion and I'm reading "The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade" by Gary Goodman. It's very funny, and a little too on the nose as regards the typical personalities one encounters in the used book world (as in, *I* felt uncomfortable, as I looked around my Smaug stash).

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at July 31, 2022 08:43 PM (Dc2NZ)

460 Huck,

Just saw your note. Wave as you drive through...

Posted by: Captain Hate at July 31, 2022 09:37 PM (y7DUB)

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