Sunday Morning Book Thread 11-02-2014: I Got Dem NaNoWriMo Blues Again [OregonMuse]

Cafebreri'a El Pe'ndulo Bookstore In Mexico City, Mexico

Good morning morons and moronettes and welcome to AoSHQ's stately, prestigious, and high-class Sunday Morning Book Thread. The only AoSHQ thread that is so hoity-toity, pants are required. Or kilts. Kilts are OK, too. But not tutus.

It's That Time of Year

Well, it's November, and you know what that means, don't you? Yes, the time for NaNoWriMo, supposedly the dread of authors' agents everywhere, has come upon us once again. For writers, the goal is to muster the strength, discipline, and above all, the gluteal stamina to create a 50,000-word rough draft of a novel in the 30 days of November. The whole process is outlined here.

And if you need motivation, here are some pep talks from celebrity authors (heh, I've actually only heard of one of them).

Although this author argues that what we need is not so much a writing month, but rather a national editing month:

So I've decided to try to maximize my NaNoWriMo. I'm calling it NaWriSoMo. National Write [or edit] Something [seriously, anything] Month. My goal is just to write, futz around with, or retool, something creative every single day this month, from ten minutes' worth of scribbles to a few hours of story revision, with a particular focus on getting early-morning writing time onto my calendar.

So what are you waiting for? Get to work! Remember, as the NaNoWriMo site motto reminds us, the world needs your novel.

Money For Me, But Not For Thee

Of course, the public life and persona of Lena Dunham is such a target-rich environment, it's almost too easy, but I can't resist piling on.

So, the story is: it turns out that Dunham is, hold on to your hats, a big fat hypocrite:

It has come to light that Dunham has hired performers to entertain the audiences at her new book tour. She told The New York Times, "I wanted it to have an arts festival feel, which is why we now have all these remarkable, special weirdos who I found on the Internet." What a hoot. But here's the problem: prior to a Twitter storm, Dunham planned to pay her special weirdos nothing.

I guess she was shamed into paying them. But the article, while not excusing Dunham's hypocrisy, does point out that working for free is not unheard of in the entertainment industry and the exposure and resume' enhancement is sometimes offered as compensation in lieu of actual pay. And everyone involved is OK with this.

But all of this aside, I think the real question is, are there really people out there willing to pay $38 to see Lena Dunham on her book tour? Really?

Impossible Murders

A dead body is found in a room. The cause? Murder. But all the doors were locked. No one could have gotten in or out. The classic "locked room" crime has been a staple in mystery/crime stories for over a century. What would be cool, though, would be if someone grabbed a bunch of these locked-room mysteries and put them in a single volume. Fortunately, that has now been done. In The Black Lizard Big Book of Locked-Room Mysteries,

Edgar Award-winning editor Otto Penzler has collected sixty-eight of the all-time best impossible-crime stories from almost two hundred years of the genre. In addition to the many classic examples of the form - a case of murder in a locked room or otherwise inaccessible place, solved by a brilliant sleuth - this collection expands the definition of the locked room to include tales of unbelievable thefts and incredible disappearances. Among these pages you'll find stories with evocative titles like "The Flying Death", "The Man From Nowhere", "A Terribly Strange Bed", and "The Theft of the Bermuda Penny", not to mention appearances by some of the cleverest characters in all of crime, including Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Georges Simenon's Jules Maigret, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Dashiell Hammett's Continental Op, and many more.

A Conservative Fiction Site

From going to and fro on the internet and from walking up and down it, I was made aware of the site ConservativeFiction.com. Upon subsequent investigation, though, it unfortunately appears to be pretty much dead. The readers' forum is apparently gone, and the last blog entry was posted last June. But the reason I'm bringing this up is because there is still something of value on that site, an authors page where you can find a pretty good selection of books by conservative and libertarian authors. It's got your usual suspects like Sarah Hoyt and Larry Correia, but there are others I'd never heard of, and maybe you haven't either. While I can't vouch for the quality of any of what's listed, you might find something that looks interesting to you.

Books of Note

All of the other cobs have already mentioned this, so I'll get on board, too, albeit a bit late. I'm talking about ex-CBS reporter Sharyl Attkisson's book Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama's Washington, which, even though it won't be released until later this week, is a #1 best seller in multiple Amazon categories, and #28 over all. Good for her. I can hardly wait to read the hysterical 1-star reviews.

Of course, this is not the first time this has happened at CBS. This is not the first time one of their reporters got fed up with the incessant partisan hackery that so constitutes CBS News and took their business elsewhere.

I'm referring, of course, to ex-CBS reporter Bernard Goldberg, who describes his awakening to the reality of CBS hackery in his first book Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News. This book was, if you can believe this, not well received by CBS, who did what they usually do when criticized, namely, circled the wagons and called him names. That brought Goldberg's next book Arrogance: Rescuing America from the Media Elite, and I guess he really thought it could be reformed. But the title of his last book, A Slobbering Love Affair: The True (And Pathetic) Story of the Torrid Romance Between Barack Obama and the Mainstream Media, sounds like he has given up all hope. You can see the sad progression in his books from "we need to fix some things" to "serious reform is necessary" to finally "aw, screw it."

But getting back to Attkisson, I really hope she doesn't choose to pursue a career with Fox News. Then she could be written off as just more "faux noise" by the progressive gang of howler monkeys, and ignored.

Books by Morons

Gunnar Grey, A long-time ~~stalking~~ lurking moronette wants me to introduce to her latest novella, Star of Wonder, which she describes as an "inspirational Christmas paranormal~paramilitary adventure~romance". To flesh that out a bit:

Star of Wonder is the story of Captain Kenneth Rutland, a libertarian combat engineer on loan to the NATO Rapid Response Team. His life's gone horribly off course, this Christmas he's looking to shake things up a bit, and things shake him up instead.

She has provided an excerpt from the first chapter, which you can read here.

Grey is also the author of Deal with the Devil, which won the 2013 Chaucer Award for Historical Fiction.

___________

We all know longtime moron commenter Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing, who regales us on the weekday morning thread with amusing gossip and other stories from the Hollywood of yesteryear. It's obvious that MP⁴ has forgotten more about the early days of Hollywood and the film industry than the rest of us will ever know. And not only that, but he's also an expert in "Ripperology", i.e the body of accumulated knowledge concerning the Jack-the-Ripper murders. He's currently reading a book about another mysteriously unsolved murder: Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood by William Mann. MP⁴ tells me:

[This is] a reexamination of one of Hollywood's biggest mysteries, the 1922 murder of director William Desmond Taylor. Most theories around the case center on either Taylor's unwanted lover, ingenue Mary Miles Minter, or her dragon-like stage mother as Taylor's murderer, but Mann has a different theory that sees the murder as a blackmail plot gone bad.

And like many Hollywood productions, it's a full and diverse cast of characters, including

three beautiful, ambitious actresses; a grasping stage mother; a devoted valet; and a gang of two-bit thugs, any of whom might have fired the fatal bullet. And overseeing this entire landscape of intrigue was Adolph Zukor, the brilliant and ruthless founder of Paramount, locked in a struggle for control of the industry and desperate to conceal the truth about the crime.

This story sounds so fantastic that if it hadn't actually happened, somebody would have to have written it.

Of course, MP⁴ is an author in his own right. His book The Director's Cut, which he tells me is perfect "for fans of silent films and/or cozy mysteries", is available on Amazon:

When makeup artist Toby Swanson joined the Fox Film Corporation in 1914, he hoped to sneak a kiss from the studio's newest star, the seductive vamp Theda Bara. But when a scene goes horribly wrong, Bara's film is cancelled and her dreams of stardom crushed. Unless...she can prove what looked like an accident was really murder

Kindle price, $2.99.

___________

Author Rodney Page wants you to know about his book, Powers Not Delegated, a political thriller involving

...an administration plagued by corruption and erupting scandals...A legal challenge to the administration's overt violation of First Amendment rights makes its way to the Supreme Court, itself on the verge of succumbing to Washington's creeping deception. An evil alliance between Al Qaeda and Iran plots the murder of thousands of Americans, but the danger is ignored by distracted politicians more intent on subverting the Constitution in order to retain power...In the midst of a government run amuck, remarkable courage is displayed by a group of governors, the CEO of an automobile company, and a congressman from coastal Georgia as they fight to bring the country back from the abyss. But are they too late?

Kindle price, $4.61.

___________

So that's all for this week. As always, book thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to OregonMuse, Proprietor, AoSHQ Book Thread, at the book thread e-mail address: aoshqbookthread, followed by the 'at' sign, and then 'G' mail, and then dot cee oh emm.

What have you all been reading this week? Hopefully something good, because, as you all know, life is too short to be reading lousy books.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:16 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Book thread!

I am reading "To Train the Fleet for War"

http://tinyurl.com/pxu8egt

An analysis of how the USN prepared for WW2 Pacific from 1923-1940.

Back when the military focused on shit like destroying the opfor not what your bedtime habits were...

http://tinyurl.com/qhbkndz

Posted by: Sven 10077 at November 02, 2014 10:17 AM (/4AZU)

2 NaNo whatsit.
I'm retired. Have nothing else to do, except
get the snow thrower running and the oil changed,
change the oil in the big John Deere lawn tractor, and get battery out before it freezes

patch the roof leak before the roof collapses from the weight of the snow

housekeeping (as if, you've seen the TV shows, the crack houses, the hoarders, the elderly, Ya, well I don't sell crack so there's that)

plastic over the windows, as if it will say x% on the heat bill

wood burner in the basement for when the power goes out, and doesn't come back, ever

Ya, I'm retired.

Posted by: Skandia Recluse at November 02, 2014 10:20 AM (mu8kZ)

3 I am currently re-reading the James Clavell Asian Saga starting with Tai Pan.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 10:20 AM (u9gzs)

4 Working on Richard Rhodes' Dark Sun, about the hydrogen bomb. Good so far. The first part is about the industrial level spying the Soviets undertook to steal the A bomb and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Posted by: Secundus at November 02, 2014 10:24 AM (ucOoP)

5 I'd pay $38 to watch Lena Dunham be killed and swallowed by a Kimodo Dragon

Posted by: TexasJew at November 02, 2014 10:24 AM (ThYdK)

6
Obviously I haven't adjusted to the freakin' time change which is why I'm barging in here half hungover. Planning restoratives to avoid a full hangover.
Meantime, been really scattered on reading. Readof couple of Parker's Spenser novels. Wrapping up a non-fiction book that lets me exploit my 'expertise'.
Got my second novel on a Kindle count down deal for half price. http://tinyurl.com/kj53wud
And I don't do 50,000 words in a month. Tried it, forced things, gotsideways, and decided to keep doing stuff the way that works for me.
Also did a visit with a creative writing class followed by a cross country meet. That's a pretty good day in my world.

Posted by: Long Running Fool at November 02, 2014 10:26 AM (77WNv)

7 But not tutus.

I do what I want!

*dons tutu*

Lena Dunham pitching an enormous fit that Kevin Williamson had the temerity to read her book and then quote from it may be the Platonic ideal of the proposition that it is horrible and terrible to quote accurately anyone on the left.

Posted by: alexthechick - Oh save us mighty SMOD at November 02, 2014 10:27 AM (IrByp)

8 That library above is what my living room would look like if I had not bought a Kindle and then a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 10:28 AM (u9gzs)

9 That's photo is amazing
I've been in cities in Mexico with well over a million people and just one tiny crappy bookstore

Not the most literate culture..

Posted by: TexasJew at November 02, 2014 10:28 AM (ThYdK)

10 But all of this aside, I think the real question is, are there really
people out there willing to pay $38 to see Lena Dunham on her book tour?
Really?

Count me in!

Posted by: Injuin Elizabeth at November 02, 2014 10:29 AM (0FSuD)

11 I'd pay $38 to watch Lena Dunham be killed and swallowed by a Kimodo Dragon
Posted by: TexasJew at November 02, 2014 10:24 AM (ThYdK)

What did Komodo Dragons ever do to deserve that?

Posted by: alexthechick - Oh save us mighty SMOD at November 02, 2014 10:30 AM (IrByp)

12 I just finished the last of The Last Policeman trilogy, World of Trouble, and quite liked it. I thought each book in the trilogy got better and darker. There will apparently be no more because the end of the world is strongly implied at the end of this one. One hopes I can be forgiven for seeing a certain similarity between the crumbling civilization of these novels and Obama's America.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 10:32 AM (8MlTP)

13 8
That library above is what my living room would look like if I had not bought a Kindle and then a Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 10:28 AM (u9gzs)

I had a drinking buddy, use to teach Mechanical engineering at Va Tech and had a law degree from Duke.
Great guy, dad was CIA, but he was a commie. His entire house looked like that book store. You could hardly find a place to sit for all his books.
He died in June and I have no idea what his widow is going to do with all that shit.

Posted by: Injuin Elizabeth at November 02, 2014 10:32 AM (0FSuD)

14 off injuin sock

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 10:32 AM (0FSuD)

15
It wouldn't kill for these multi-million dollar celebs to actually throw a few bucks peoples way. If anything forces me to go commie is to see how these talentless hacks makes millions of dollars per year for what? And they still expect everything for free.

Posted by: The Progs at November 02, 2014 10:33 AM (iQIUe)

16 >>I'd pay $38 to watch Lena Dunham be killed and swallowed by a Kimodo Dragon
Posted by: TexasJew

That is reptile cruelty.

Posted by: Aviator at November 02, 2014 10:34 AM (VpthP)

17 $38 seems pricey for a Coney Island freak show...

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 10:38 AM (apF45)

18 re: impossible murders...I remember reading a book called "The Locked Room Reader" that sounds just like the one OreMuse described - this was back in - oh - about 1969, I think...high school or thereabouts

Posted by: geezer der mensch at November 02, 2014 10:39 AM (6aFlV)

19 Good used web book stores? I was googling around looking for a used copy of the "ARRL Radio Amateurs Handbook." 50 bucks new in paper. Since I need it mostly for reference on things that don't change much, a 9-year old version is fine with me. I paid $5.53 in "very good" condition, with free shipping. (Book is about 5 pounds.)

I bought from thriftbooks.com and paid with PayPal. We'll see what I get in a week or two, but the ordering process was very professional.

Any other good used book stores on the Interwebs?

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 10:40 AM (mhQWh)

20 Dear Lord, can't we please leave Lena Dunham in the last thread? To much ick!

I'm thinking of kitties, sunrises, blizzards , lunar moths anything to get her out of my head!

Posted by: mindful webworker at November 02, 2014 10:40 AM (HK2/i)

21 There is a combination kilt-tutu, which I call a kuku or a tilt:
http://tinyurl.com/mpyqnh8

Posted by: ms. docweasel at November 02, 2014 10:46 AM (t57ij)

22 I am actually treating NaNoWriMo as an editing month and putting together the Final Draft of Book 12.

Also, Book 10 of the Worlds Apart saga is now available for download. It's about Shakespeare, pornography, capitalism, and a really obvious Firefly parody.

http://tinyurl.com/mxtnjfe

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at November 02, 2014 10:46 AM (9y18Y)

23 Unfortunately written headline.

http://tinyurl.com/pothmgl

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 10:46 AM (8MlTP)

24 Well for this NaNoWriMo I am concentrating on getting some existing stories in a semblance of order. So no new story this time around; after winning it twice think I somewhat proved I could do it.

*waves to AlextheChick*

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 10:47 AM (apF45)

25 I'm just about to finish a sci-fi book about an alien invasion that takes place in the latter years of the Roman Empire. Called 'Birds of Prey' by David Drake, who seems to have a damn fine idea of how things were back then.

Then I'm going to start a novel that was sent to me about the Berlin Brigade. Sort of a combo of 'M*A*S*H' and 'Catch-22'. It's title is '110 Miles Behind the Lines', by Robert Marabito. The reason I'm going to read it is my oldest brother apparently is one of the characters in the book. While just briefly reading the first chapter and finding a character whose last name is very, very close to mine, I think I found him.

I don't know if it's in the book, but my brother got some really excellent photos of JFK when he visited Berlin. So that should be fun.

Posted by: HH at November 02, 2014 10:48 AM (Ce4DF)

26
Hello from Way Down Here and it's Monday morning here

My reading this week - the latest Ed James book on Kindleabout DC Scott Cullen - "Windchill" - this is book number 6 about this Scottish copper - easy enjoyable reading

Right now I'm into Niall Ferguson's book "Civilization - The 6 Killer Apps of Western Power" and it's reallygood to read - beautifully written, interesting and well referenced

The author is Scottish, a historian and is a prof at Harvard - he is also married to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and I'm sure you all know about her story

Have a wonderful yesterday everyone !

Posted by: aussie at November 02, 2014 10:49 AM (w7lLL)

27 (Whew! That six-minute pause had me thinking I'd killed the book thread!)

Posted by: mindful webworker - thread killer at November 02, 2014 10:50 AM (HK2/i)

28 10 But all of this aside, I think the real question is, are there really
people out there willing to pay $38 to see Lena Dunham on her book tour?
Really?

Will she be barefoot?

Posted by: Dickie Morris at November 02, 2014 10:50 AM (lG2E3)

29 19 Any other good used book stores on the Interwebs?

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 10:40 AM (mhQWh)

http://www.abebooks.com/ (new and used)
I have a old copy of that radio book. Another useful book if you DX AM radiio is White's Radio Log. You can download old ones in pdf format from sites on the internet.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 10:52 AM (u9gzs)

30 Another useful book if you DX AM radiio is White's Radio Log. You can
download old ones in pdf format from sites on the internet.

Ha Ha. I am the only moron that ever did that besides you and I am betting most of the Horde has no idea what DX means (or AM).

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 10:56 AM (0FSuD)

31 Lena Dunham pitching an enormous fit that Kevin Williamson had the temerity to read her book and then quote from it may be the Platonic ideal of the proposition that it is horrible and terrible to quote accurately anyone on the left.

Posted by: alexthechick - Oh save us mighty SMOD at November 02, 2014 10:27 AM (IrByp)

That hogger is herefore going to be referred to by me as "Baby Diddler"

Her fans and defenders are calling it "innocent childhood sexual experimentation". How does a 1 year old consent to "experimentaion"?

Looking at her hippie perv parents, I'd say it's lucky for them that daddy comes from old money or maybe social services would have paid a few visits

Posted by: kbdabear at November 02, 2014 10:56 AM (aTXUx)

32 Used bookstores? Try your local library to see if they are having a book sale.

This week found at mine -
The Age of the Religious Wars, 1559 - 1689 by Richard S. Dunn.
L-1011 TriStar and The Lockheed Story by Douglas J. Ingells.

Not bad for $1.25. Though I did pass on the book written by Jimmy Carter, $1 is way too much for that.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 10:57 AM (apF45)

33 Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 10:40 AM (mhQWh)

I have had excellent luck with used books (fiction) from Amazon Prime and their secondary sellers as well. Doubt they would stock stuff like ARRL tomes, but I never checked.

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 10:59 AM (/GgDU)

34 I picked up a copy of Conversations With Pioneer Women by Fred Lockley.
Lockley was a reporter from the Oregon Journal in Portland OR - the paper and Lockley are both long gone - but he went around and talked to all sorts of old pioneers for a regular feature, and kept his notes. There are three or so book published out of his notes.
The women talk about everything from being a survivor of the Whitman Indian Massacre to watching side-wheeler steamboats on the Willamette while they were young and playing on the bank. Some are very hard women who faced huge tragedies in their lives, and others lived fairly good lives, but they all exuded confidence that the world would keep going on and things will get better.

I have to buy the other books written from the notes, one about interviews with men, and the other from interviews from movers and shakers.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 02, 2014 10:59 AM (t//F+)

35 My nanowrimo project is a young adult fantasy that's way outside my usual wheelhouse of snarky, dystopian speculative fiction.

I wanted to try something different, but it's definitely a challenge getting in the right mindset. Thus far I have an amazing 1200 words.

Posted by: Lauren at November 02, 2014 11:01 AM (BPMYx)

36 Finished 2 books by Dmitri Glukhovsky - Metro 2033 and Metro 2034.
The novel that gave birth to the video games 'Metro 2033' and 'Metro: Last Light'.

Set in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow. In 20 years after nuclear war, survivor population are living in Moscow subway. Each station became mini state. You could see different station-states - communist, fascist, merchant, spartan type.

Posted by: redmonkey at November 02, 2014 11:01 AM (mSvfz)

37 30 Ha Ha. I am the only moron that ever did that besides you and I am betting most of the Horde has no idea what DX means (or AM).

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 10:56 AM (0FSuD)

I used to do that a lot but it requires a good long-wire antenna and a thunderstorm blew mine down and I have never put it back up. Just not into it any more.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:02 AM (u9gzs)

38 Lena Dunham pitching an enormous fit that Kevin Williamson had the temerity to read her book and then quote from it may be the Platonic ideal of the proposition that it is horrible and terrible to quote accurately anyone on the left.

Do you have a link for Dunham's hissy fit?

Also, that Williamson piece was absolutely brutal.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:02 AM (yRdR4)

39 $1 is way too much for that.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 10:57 AM (apF45)

How many pages?

A roll of toilet paper has about 200 sheets.....

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at November 02, 2014 11:02 AM (Zu3d9)

40 19 Any other good used book stores on the Interwebs?

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 10:40 AM (mhQWh)

www.alibris.com

You can curse my name later.

Posted by: Kindltot at November 02, 2014 11:02 AM (t//F+)

41 Sounds like a good read, Kindlot. Maybe the "feminists" of today should take note!

Posted by: Lauren at November 02, 2014 11:03 AM (BPMYx)

42 Posted by: geezer der mensch at November 02, 2014 10:39 AM (6aFlV)

I read some collection of Locked Room Mystery stories years ago also. Probably the same book.

Posted by: HH at November 02, 2014 11:04 AM (Ce4DF)

43 I used to do that a lot but it requires a good
long-wire antenna and a thunderstorm blew mine down and I have never put
it back up. Just not into it any more.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:02 AM (u9gzs)

I still have spool of copper antenna wire in the garage and a long ground pipe. I got lazy and never put one up. I did collect SW radios for a while. I have about 20. Some really cool ones. Also have an Atwater Kent that my grandfather owned, but no speaker.
Now that there is no code for a Ham license, I should get one. I got to 5 words per minute, but never took the test.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:05 AM (0FSuD)

44 i guess there's even more in that book....

Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl, 123 days until Spring Training at November 02, 2014 11:06 AM (u8GsB)

45 Ha Ha. I am the only moron that ever did that besides you and I am betting most of the Horde has no idea what DX means (or AM).

Au contraire, youngster. Me, licensed continually since I got my Novice ticket back in 1970.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:06 AM (yRdR4)

46 Lena Dunham deserves every bit of molestation charges that come to her. He molested her little sister. Period. End of story. She *brags* about acting like a child molester. It's one of the most disturbing stories I've heard. OF course, the weirdo sex crazed Dunham parents should be locked up too. They had a very unhealthy sexual relationship with Lena as well as it's presented in her book.

Posted by: Lauren at November 02, 2014 11:06 AM (BPMYx)

47 @33 I've been pleased with SELLING my books to Amazon. You can print off pre-paid shipping labels and the prices seem fair to me. Drop box at UPS store.

I've bought a few used books from the Amazon sellers and have been happy.

@40 With trepidation, I chose to let Thrift Books send me emails about sales. I will be strong. (I think). ;-)

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:08 AM (mhQWh)

48 DX = long-distance radio communication. AM = talk-radio (or amplitude modulation).
I have a barely used general class license I got in 2008 or so.

Posted by: PabloD at November 02, 2014 11:09 AM (roESk)

49 In honor of NaNoWriMo (what an awful acronym, by the way: it's like something the Navy would come up with), I'm going to complete the novel that I promised I'd have done by October.

Posted by: Trimegistus at November 02, 2014 11:09 AM (tjZQz)

50 Here's a question: was there ever a genuine "locked room" mystery in real life? Or did mystery writers invent the whole thing?

Posted by: Trimegistus at November 02, 2014 11:11 AM (tjZQz)

51 Locked Room mysteries, they seem to have missed one science fiction locked room mystery. It was written by Larry Niven.

ARM investigator Gil Hamilton is called in to investigate the strange death of a brilliant inventor. And is the person in the auto-doc the real killer or an innocent bystander?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:11 AM (apF45)

52 BTW I finished the unedited long version of The Stand this past week. I will repeat, if you have the original short version of the book keep it. The asshole went out of his way in the new additions to trash Republicans in general and Ronald Reagan in particular. It didn't' even fit in the narrative but he forced it in anyway.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:11 AM (u9gzs)

53 Woo hoo! In by 50! I finished the Magicians series by Lev Grossman and found it to be fun, witty, and highly entertaining. Loved it!

Posted by: Captain's daughter at November 02, 2014 11:13 AM (QvnEj)

54 I have to give a miss to NaNoWriMo ...I've already proved to my own satisfaction that I can write to order in a specified length of time, and November is going to be insanely busy for me anyway, with various author events and fairs leading up to December. And my Tiny Publishing Bidness finally signed a contract with a very well to do client, so in between packing up for the drive to various venues, I am clearing the decks of other work so that I can concentrate on that project.

Yesterday, I spent a morning otherwise wasted at the Harker Heights Public library with about a dozen other authors. I didn't sell any books, hardly any of us did as we were in competition with a huge used book sale to benefit the library, where the hardbacks were going for a dollar and the paperbacks for 50 cents. So, who was going to come out and pay full price for our books, then? But I swapped one of my books for a copy of Myra Hargrave Mcgilvain's HF novel, Stein House. It's about a German immigrant widow and her four children, running a boarding house in Indianola, Texas. (That was a thriving port city which only lasted fifty years, before being wiped out by a pair of disastrous hurricanes.) We have a kind of overlap in focus, being that we both wrote about the Germans settling in Texas.

And the other reason that the day wasn't entirely wasted was that I shared a table with a local comedienne, Tranea Prosser - also known as Miz T, the Gospel Comedienne - she had a book, too. And she was hilarious, and quick on the uptake and very outgoing - a sort of female Bill Cosby for this decade. We had a blast, riffing of each other and pitching to the few people passing our table.

And on the way home we stopped at the Ikea in Georgetown, otherwise known as Walmart for pretentious people. The meatballs in the cafeteria are awesome, BTW - but I would hate to be in that place during a fire alarm.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at November 02, 2014 11:13 AM (95iDF)

55 Trimegistus, if you want to buddy me on the nanowrimo page, I'm under laurenette

Posted by: Lauren at November 02, 2014 11:13 AM (BPMYx)

56 48 AM = talk-radio (or amplitude modulation).

I have a barely used general class license I got in 2008 or so.

Posted by: PabloD at November 02, 2014 11:09 AM (roESk)

Not all AM radio has gone to the "talk" format, just a lot have and that makes DXing AM tough now. Another reason I gave it up.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:15 AM (u9gzs)

57 @43 I recently started studying for the Technician (entry-level) license. Bought "The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual." Excellent book.

However, If you have a good understanding of basic electronics, there are lots of free and cheap training resources. Think web sites, Kindle books, and iOS and Android apps.

After studying the Technician stuff for a few days, I started studying for the General class license (next step up) and plan to take both tests next Saturday. Using web, Kindle, and Android app for the General.

Technician is dead easy, even if you are totally new to radio. General is a bit of a challenge. No Morse code for either.

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:15 AM (mhQWh)

58 the book written by Jimmy Carter

-
The Jewish butler did it.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 11:16 AM (8MlTP)

59 51 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:11 AM (apF45)

Christopher Pike in "A Very Sci-Fi Locked Box Murder Mystery"....

http://youtu.be/O7bubqLV5pI

Posted by: sven10077@sven10077 at November 02, 2014 11:16 AM (/4AZU)

60 Lauren glad you were able to recover your research material and get 1,200 words done on top of everything else going on.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:17 AM (apF45)

61 I wonder if child molester Dunham realizes she is not only butt ugly, but that special kind of utterly disgusting fugly that makes men cringe at the very mention of her name.

Posted by: Havedash at November 02, 2014 11:17 AM (G1XMn)

62 57 Technician is dead easy, even if you are totally new to radio. General is a bit of a challenge. No Morse code for either.

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:15 AM (mhQWh)

They gave up the Morse code requirement?

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:17 AM (u9gzs)

63 50 was there ever a genuine "locked room" mystery in real life?

Schr�dinger's cat?

Posted by: cool breeze at November 02, 2014 11:17 AM (A+/8k)

64 A real life "locked room" mystery?

The President's transcripts count?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:19 AM (apF45)

65 I really have to stop reading the Book thread. My combined stack of hard copies plus my Kindle collection is sufficient to carry me through to December without further augmentation.

I couldn't really get into Correia's Monster Hunter series, but based on a recommendation here I started the Grimnoir series and find it very good light reading. Just finished Book 2 and ordered Book 3.

Started reading a Reilly Steel novel on Kindle (recommended here) and it is pretty good although a bit formulaic. I have found the Kindle app on the iPad to be very easier on the eyes than my first generation Kindle.

I also got a really nice boxed set of the LOTR trilogy as a gift that is now in the queue. There sure are a lot of words in there, I am amazed I got through it all many years ago.

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 11:19 AM (/GgDU)

66 64 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:19 AM (apF45)

Hehehe

//Dean Butler of Hahvahd Law

Posted by: sven10077@sven10077 at November 02, 2014 11:20 AM (/4AZU)

67 The President's transcripts count?
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:19 AM (apF45)

No, they no longer exist!

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 11:20 AM (/GgDU)

68 The favorite thing I read yesterday was the Gawker post "Lena Durham Responds to Right-Wing Claim of Sibling Sexual Abuse", then reading the comments from lefties saying, "Meh, she is an idiot." Couple of my favorites...

Her entire life is the seeking of attention. She's probably THRILLED it
backfired since it gives her yet another platform on which to showcase
her tired-ass schtick.

Lena Dunham is the kind of uninteresting girl who
has NOTHING to say. She's not interesting, smart, deep, creative,
logical, funny. But she wants your attention. She will get it any way
she can. Do I need to shock you to notice me? Fine, I will. Bla blah my
sister's vagina, masturbation, sex, look at my boobies. I laugh at
anyone who calls her a feminist. She gives feminism a bad name. She's an
attention seeking troll.
For the record, I don't think she
molested her sister. But I bet you $100 bucks she embellished this story
to make herself sound "weird, omg I'm so quirky LOL." Not realizing
that she was making herself sound like a fucking pervert. It is not
unheard of that children who were molested, go on and molest other kids.
This is not funny, as it carries the same consequences.

Posted by: Dave S. at November 02, 2014 11:20 AM (UvR6d)

69 I'm trying something different for NaNo this time. Instead of the usual violence and political thriller (which is therapeutic if nothing else) this one will be light-hearted, almost a kids story. It may well fade out after a few thousand words but I need a break from the constant rage the news brings out. I can deal with cute for awhile.

The manual typewriter has a good ribbon, the basic notes are done, and it's time for stream of consciousness to take over.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 11:21 AM (FvdPb)

70 65 I have found the Kindle app on the iPad to be very easier on the eyes than my first generation Kindle.

I also got a really nice boxed set of the LOTR trilogy as a gift
that is now in the queue. There sure are a lot of words in there, I am
amazed I got through it all many years ago.

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 11:19 AM (/GgDU)

That's odd. I found the Kindle to be easier on the eyes than the Kindle app om my Samsung. But I still prefer the Samsung because color.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:22 AM (u9gzs)

71 Lauren: I don't even know what that means.

Posted by: Trimegistus at November 02, 2014 11:22 AM (tjZQz)

72 "Sgt. Mom: And on the way home we stopped at the Ikea in Georgetown, otherwise known as Walmart for pretentious people. The meatballs in the cafeteria are awesome, BTW - but I would hate to be in that place during a fire alarm."

Ikea is a good place to shop when you're young and struggling and can't afford really good furniture. A few years later you can leave it out on the curb without any qualms.

That is, if you manage to put the furniture together, given the cryptic instructions. I always seemed to end up with a few extra screws or something.

But yeah, the meatballs are good.

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at November 02, 2014 11:22 AM (+XMAD)

73 @67 No morse@ See bit.ly/1qlCM2r

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:22 AM (mhQWh)

74 Goof your computer works

Posted by: Sven 10077 at November 02, 2014 11:23 AM (/4AZU)

75 Trimegistus, if you go to the NaNoWriMo site they let you "buddy" people. All it means is that it shows you their word count so you get a kick in the butt to keep writing. There are several of us morons over there.

Posted by: Lauren at November 02, 2014 11:25 AM (BPMYx)

76 They gave up the Morse code requirement?

Yes, several years ago.

It was a shock to me to hear that happened, coming back into ham radio in 2010 after 3 decades of inactivity.

Blasphemy and sacrilege, I thought.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:27 AM (yRdR4)

77 real life "locked room" mystery?

http://tinyurl.com/kurxymm

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 11:28 AM (8MlTP)

78 "...Lena Dunham deserves every bit of molestation charges that come to her. He molested her little sister. Period. End of story. She *brags* about acting like a child molester. It's one of the most disturbing stories I've heard. OF course, the weirdo sex crazed Dunham parents should be locked up too. They had a very unhealthy sexual relationship with Lena as well as it's presented in her book.
Posted by: Lauren..."

How much you wanna bet Dunham is all totes #waronwomen? No, not the pervy WoW that's in her book, or her book tour's interns working for free WoW, just the minimum wage WoW that, you know, others support. To call these Hollywood elites vacuous just isn't fair to interstellar space.

Posted by: Daisy Cutter at November 02, 2014 11:31 AM (WS+CW)

79 73's to all. Yeah, Vic they gave up the code requirement years ago.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:31 AM (0FSuD)

80 So I was looking to see if this book had it made it to Kindle. Alas no.
http://tinyurl.com/lqweg85

When I stumbled across this book at only three pages in length and now pondering if I should raise the price of my book.
http://tinyurl.com/no9z79x

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:32 AM (apF45)

81 Tater Dunham whining.

http://tinyurl.com/mmf4zkl

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 11:32 AM (8MlTP)

82 @76 I've been talking to several older hams who tell me how much they enjoy morse, even today. Sort of a skill, like playing a musical instrument. Something to be enjoyed for its own sake, in addition to the efficiency and potential for long-distance communication.

@67 Forgot to mention that a Technician can get on the air for as little as $32 for a Chinese-made transceiver on 136-174 / 400-480MHz

The hobby has changed a **lot**

Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:32 AM (mhQWh)

83 I just finished a collection of James Ellroy short stories, _Hollywood Nocturnes_. I'd never read any Ellroy before but these are great. He's like a cross between Chandler and Hunter S. Thompson.

I'm going to seek out more of this guy's stuff.

Posted by: Trimegistus at November 02, 2014 11:33 AM (tjZQz)

84 Posted by: Kindltot at November 02, 2014 10:59 AM (t//F+)

Kindltot, is there any cussing or anything else that would be sort of offensive to an 89 year old Southern Baptist lady?

I am desperate to find some books for my great aunt; she loves to read, and especially loves books about the pioneer days, but such.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 11:33 AM (qYuXr)

85 Off, old, stale, smelly sock!

Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2014 11:33 AM (o78gS)

86 Lauren: it's a nice idea, but I've got an agent, an editor, and my wife to nag me already.

Posted by: Trimegistus at November 02, 2014 11:35 AM (tjZQz)

87 Just finished December 7, 1941 by Gordon W. Prange. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the events of the day. For some reason the preceding book, At Dawn We Slept, is not available for Kindle.

Next up: Typee: A Peep At Polynesian Life by Herman Melville.

Posted by: Top.Man. at November 02, 2014 11:35 AM (LuUKj)

88 For the rest of the horde that have no idea what 73's means.

http://tinyurl.com/6bpmadb

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:35 AM (0FSuD)

89 Talked to Eldest Kidlet's teacher. She'll be reading 1984 and Anthem instead of The Road. This works for me (and EK, since asking for an alternative was at her request).

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 02, 2014 11:36 AM (GDulk)

90 153 Posted by: Cloister the Stupid, who gave of his life that we might life at November 02, 2014 12:32 PM (o78gS)

Yeah back in the old days we had an antenna on the roof with a channel 6 and channel 13 bars. On Sundays in the early morning you could get stuff from all over the country.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:36 AM (u9gzs)

91 36
Set
in the shattered subway of a post apocalyptic Moscow. In 20 years after
nuclear war, survivor population are living in Moscow subway. Each
station became mini state. You could see different station-states -
communist, fascist, merchant, spartan type.

Once read a book titled Moscow: 2042 in which Moscow is a walled nation-state, the last bastion of communism. Among other fine japery, they solved their health care problem by deporting anyone who got sick.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2014 11:36 AM (o78gS)

92 Hollywood and LeVine. Mystery taking place in 1947 Los Angeles. Hardboiled NY detective is hired by an old friend, goes to L.A. to solve a mystery, friend winds up dead. Good snappy dialogue and wry commentary by the shamus.

The Count of Monte Cristo. Never outdated romantic novel.

Posted by: microcosme at November 02, 2014 11:37 AM (/7imL)

93 Care to share the agent and editor with the rest of the Horde??

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:37 AM (apF45)

94 Hmm. Comments I make are not showing up.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2014 11:37 AM (o78gS)

95 Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at November 02, 2014 10:46 AM (9y18Y)

Yay!

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at November 02, 2014 11:37 AM (GDulk)

96 "Lena Dunham is the kind of uninteresting girl who
has NOTHING to say. She's not interesting, smart, deep, creative,
logical, funny. But she wants your attention. She will get it any way
she can. Do I need to shock you to notice me? Fine, I will. Bla blah my
sister's vagina, masturbation, sex, look at my boobies."

The sad thing that here is someone who (materially) was granted every advantage in life - born to wealthy parents, went to elite schools (although every Oberlin grad I have ever met is left wing loon).

Once upon a time, old money WASPs had a sense of noblesse oblige - they might have been a stuffy, snobbish bunch, but they loved this country and felt bound to serve it. Dunham's family is an example of what happens when that old money is unmoored from religion, morals and tradition.

For all her education and privilege, she and her family are as trashy as Honey Boo Boo's.

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at November 02, 2014 11:38 AM (+XMAD)

97 Parody of Firefly, now that's blasphemy.

Posted by: Cloven Crivens at November 02, 2014 11:38 AM (oceuM)

98 Had an old intercept operator as a boss for a bit. He said in his prime, he could transcribe Morse while reading a novel!
Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 12:02 PM (/GgDU)
-------
I remember seeing ditty chasers transcribe while they were knitting or yakking about the monster truck pull show. They had the headphones off the ears and right over the brain pan and it totally bypassed their grey matter and went right to the fingers. Amazing.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at November 02, 2014 11:40 AM (QBm1P)

99 When we were kids, a group of HAM radio operators would set up and camp in our city park for a week. My brother was fascinated by it. He would have stayed all week if my parents had let him. It's no surprise he became a commo guy in the Army. He showed me how to use a tree as an antenna, but I'll be danged if I can remember what he did. Wish he was still around to show my kids all of the crazy stuff he learned.

Posted by: no good deed at November 02, 2014 11:40 AM (w3a0Z)

100 there is an editing month NaNoEdMo in March

Posted by: Bigby's Knuckle Sandwich at November 02, 2014 11:41 AM (Cq0oW)

101 Howdy, y'all.

I expressed a desire to read Sheryl Atkisson's new book the other day and was told of this remarkable new invention called a "library."

Does anybody know how long it takes them to receive a newly released book? I'd rather not be forced to answer the nice policeman's questions as to why I'm just walking around aimlessly for days waiting for it to magically appear on the shelf.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 11:41 AM (0HooB)

102 Back when I lived in L.A., I had a Scanner. Kind of like a big Walkie-Talkie. Used to hear some really strange stuff at 3 in the morning, especially on the week-ends. Plus it picked up cell phone conversations, which I understand the later models blocked.

But I would listen to the Ham operaters. And when I moved to KS, I still had the Scanner and would listen occasionally to the Ham guys here also. And it was the same thing. Pretty much to a person, all they ever talked about was their equipment. That was, it seems, the only major topic. Kind of boring.

Posted by: HH at November 02, 2014 11:41 AM (Ce4DF)

103 Nice looking library. Of course all the books are in Spanish (or as Obama would say, Mexican) so no use to me.

Read Black is Back (Black #2) by Russell Blake, an entertaining murder-mystery. A rap star has apparently been murdered, someone is trying to kill his protege, and Black's cat (Fat Bastard) is missing. Look forward to continuing the series.

Read Dies The Fire, first in a series by S.M. Stirling, a pretty good story where something like a global EMP has destroyed all technology, even gunpowder fizzles so guns are useless. Something like a medieval society springs up which is pretty cool. I knock it a bit because I found one of the main characters irritating.

Also read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which is old-fashioned in it's storytelling but raises interesting questions about who really is the monster.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 11:43 AM (x+P8L)

104 What is it with liberals and whining that someone DARED to directly quote their book?

Posted by: pookysgirl at November 02, 2014 11:45 AM (bRPUY)

105 Does anybody know how long it takes them to receive a newly released book?

Given that most libraries are run by progtards, for this book I would say "longer than most".

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:45 AM (yRdR4)

106 I would download Attkisson's book, but am afraid of what might come with it.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at November 02, 2014 11:45 AM (vSxTY)

107 My nascent keyboard playing sounds a lot like Morse Code.

Bad Morse Code.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 11:45 AM (0HooB)

108 For locked room mysteries a master is John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (4RSqo)

109 I'll bet Dunham's book was available in libraries within the first week of publication.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (yRdR4)

110
Testes

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (8v9fw)

111 Well I just spent money on another book off the RZM web-site. Better to pay the $25 + shipping with them on the Hans-Joachim Marseille book on the ace's planes than the up to $300 price for a used copy on Amazon.

http://annapuna.blogspot.com/2011/07/star-of-africa.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (apF45)

112 100!

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (yRdR4)

113 Well I just ordered a book off the RZM website. A book on the planes flown by Hans-Joachim Marseille. Better $25 + shipping with the official importer than up to $300 for a used copy on Amazon.

http://annapuna.blogspot.com/2011/07/star-of-africa.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:48 AM (apF45)

114 100!

Thread Winner!

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 11:48 AM (0HooB)

115 Frankly, it's as bad an indictment of her fan base and pholosophy as it is of her.

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 11:55 AM (MMC8r)

And by a long stupid chain of stuff, an indictment of our entire American society!

I am not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America.

Posted by: Otter at November 02, 2014 11:49 AM (LvVQC)

116 Test

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:49 AM (0FSuD)

117 Backwordboy - Does your library have its catalog online? Mine tells me how many copies each branch has of a given book. They may have a "hold/reserve" feature, too.
The one benefit of being in a liberal town is that the waitlists for new books are short!

Posted by: Lizzy at November 02, 2014 11:50 AM (D/504)

118 Anyone else notice that Pixy has not adjusted to the time change?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:50 AM (apF45)

119 Not That Kind of Girl - 25 cents

Posted by: Barns & Noble Bargain Table at November 02, 2014 11:50 AM (vn2RY)

120 Haven't tried AM DX for some years. I used a GE Super Radio (still have it) and pulled in a surprising number of stations at night in the winter. I suspect the variety is much less these days.

I got an Extra license when they still had a code requirement. This winter I want to get my antenna back up after a few years and revive my code skills. My code has gone from a usable 18 WPM to shit. Sorry for the technical lingo. There are times when I believe Morse code and a simple rig, even QRP, may be important.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 11:51 AM (FvdPb)

121 Twitchy has some of the Dunham fit pitching along with people who are not on the Right freaking out.

By the way I also have suspicions that she is either embellishing greatly or has appropriated someone else's life. She says she is an unreliable narrator and that there were other people's stories being presented as her own. I would love to see addressed the issue of hey if you read the book why didn't you tell us this in the review.

Posted by: alexthechick - Here SMOD SMOD SMOD at November 02, 2014 11:51 AM (zNG8+)

122 I just noticed that goodreads.com has a giveaway for 20 advance copies of Sharyl Attkisson's Stonewalled. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, 11/4, and there are currently 238 entries, so roughly a 1 in 12 chance of scoring a copy.

Posted by: cool breeze at November 02, 2014 11:52 AM (A+/8k)

123 freaky.

Posted by: Doc Brown at November 02, 2014 11:52 AM (LvVQC)

124 I've been reading John Norman, "Tarnsman of Gor". (Thanks to the best used bookstore in the Front Range, the Book Stop @ 44th Avenue in Wheat Ridge.)

So far: Characters are cutouts. Plot seems iffy. World building is okay so far - yes, it's a caste society based on dominance, but the lead character seems to draw the line at outright slavery.

It reads like something a fifteen year old boy would write.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (AVEe1)

125 I read American Gods by Neil Gaiman this past week. It was compelling reading I guess, but once I got to the end I thought, that's it? And I realized I disliked on the whole, and that I hadn't actually enjoyed reading it just been drawn along. I found another review that said almost the exact same thing. He's also a Brit writing about America and appears to have no love for the place at all. Once I realized he was a brit, a couple of foreign turns of phrase made sense, and I thought, who's this limey to criticise us?

Anyway, I read Pygmalion by Shaw. I enjoyed it and the characters quite a lot. I've also never seen any of those films based on it, not even the "school nerd learns to wear contacts and do her hair and becomes homecoming queen" films that were popular a little while back.

Now I'm reading George Bernard Shaw, by G. K. Chesterton

Posted by: .87c at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (8WvF9)

126 Read Dies The Fire, first in a series by S.M.
Stirling, a pretty good story where something like a global EMP has
destroyed all technology, even gunpowder fizzles so guns are useless.
Something like a medieval society springs up which is pretty cool. I
knock it a bit because I found one of the main characters irritating.

Also read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which is old-fashioned in it's storytelling but raises interesting questions about who really is the monster.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 11:43 AM (x+P8L)

The first three books in that Dies the Fire series were good but he jumped the shark trying to extend it. I gave it up after going through the first 3 or 4 later books.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (u9gzs)

127 I'll second the vote for Russell Blake's "Black" series. Very entertaining!

And since I'm commenting let me note that I wanted to punch Lena Dunham's dad in the junk before I knew he and his wife turned her into a child molester. Now, if someone jumps a curb and mows down 20 people in Manhattan, including her parents and I'm on the jury?

I'm voting to acquit on at least 2 counts. Societal self-defense.

Posted by: Oschisms at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (uqV2n)

128 But the article, while not excusing Dunham's hypocrisy, does point out that working for free is not unheard of in the entertainment industry and the exposure and resume' enhancement is sometimes offered as compensation in lieu of actual pay. And everyone involved is OK with this.

Except, of course, for "OMG! MINIMUM WAGE!"

The bigger hypocrisy, of course, are those who have unpaid interns.

Posted by: AmishDude at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (b65cm)

129 I got my ham license more as a way of learning another potentially useful skill. If the lights go out, a good radio operator could still communicate with others. Of course, I found out that getting the license doesn't require you to actually learn any practical skills; you just learn how to pass a test. Like most things, you have to meet someone who knows what they're doing and learn from them. Old timers ("Elmers") are literally a dying breed, however, so unless you're hanging out at the retirement home you're unlikely to meet one.

Posted by: PabloD at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (roESk)

130 @104

18 wpm! That's good shit. I still have QSL cards back when radio stations use to send them out.

WBT in CLT is a 50,000 watt clear channel station. You can hear it in the Keys.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (0FSuD)

131 Lizzy, I'll check. It's pretty purple here so it's kinda hard to tell who' who in charge of the library that's closest to Casa Backwardio.

Also, ISWYDT.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (0HooB)

132 100!

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 11:46 AM (yRdR4)

Might get more posts if you relaxed the wearing-pants requirement.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (x+P8L)

133 Might get more posts if you relaxed the wearing-pants requirement.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (x+P8L)

What? oops. Be back after I put some on.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:55 AM (0FSuD)

134 By the way I also have suspicions that she is either embellishing greatly or has appropriated someone else's life. She says she is an unreliable narrator and that there were other people's stories being presented as her own.

So she's an admitted liar, and possibly an admitted perv.

It strikes that she lives in an environment that doesn't think it was a bad thing to do or admit to, and that she'd be celebrated for doing it.

Frankly, it's as bad an indictment of her fan base and pholosophy as it is of her.

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 11:55 AM (MMC8r)

135 Ugh - I meant: The one benefit of being in a liberal town is that the waitlists for new CONSERVATIVE books are short!
* * *

I haven't read anything this week. Bad Lizzy!

Posted by: Lizzy at November 02, 2014 11:55 AM (D/504)

136 Ah. It's not that the comments aren't showing up, it's that the hamsters are in shuffle mode due to the time change.

Posted by: Anachronda at November 02, 2014 11:56 AM (o78gS)

137 (151): "There's a chinese guy in my department who mentioned he thinks reading is for children. ... He's another physics grad so he's no idiot ... I was hoping to eventually get him to reading things that would bring his basic worldview around to something more american. ... Any suggestions?"

Yang Jisheng, Tombstone: The Great Chinese Famine, 1958-1962, blames the famine on collectivization, the politicized bureaucracy, and the cult of Mao. Yang contrasts the command economy with market-ordered systems and specifically mentions Hayek.
Friedrich Hayek: The Road to Serfdom and The Constitution of Liberty.

Posted by: Malcolm Kirkpatrick at November 02, 2014 11:57 AM (uHUBu)

138 I have a cousin who is Lena Dunham without the rich parents: no filter, loud, obnoxiously left, thinks she's wiser than she actually is, thinks she's more mature than she actually is, wears the most horrible parts of her personality like a badge of honor. She and her cohort are the reason why Lena Dunham is a thing. They don't aspire to be better people, more put-together and less cartoonish, they just aspire for everyone else to adore them as they are. Lena Dunham, with the benefit of her parents' wealth and social connections, is the manifestation of that fantasy for them.

Posted by: not the mama at November 02, 2014 11:57 AM (5dxeo)

139 Frankly, it's as bad an indictment of her fan base and pholosophy as it is of her.

-
That's a bingo.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 11:58 AM (8MlTP)

140 Gun thread up

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:58 AM (u9gzs)

141 Gaiman's also a Brit writing about America and appears to have no love for the place at all.

Jewish too, and has no love for Christianity either (especially Catholicism). This oozes through "Sandman".

Too much Jewish writing about Christianity - ironically, it's almost always the secular Jews - is just Der Sturmer turned inside out.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo, also judaeo-english at November 02, 2014 11:59 AM (AVEe1)

142 So Lena is an unreliable narrator...

You know what,
Lena Dunham,
Working hard,
To rescue
Joe Biden

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 11:59 AM (apF45)

143 Like most things, you have to meet someone who knows what they're doing and learn from them. Old timers ("Elmers") are literally a dying breed, however, so unless you're hanging out at the retirement home you're unlikely to meet one.

Coming back into ham radio after 30 years, I can see it's a dying hobby. There are few, if any, young punk kids getting into it to replace the old Elmers who are dying off. Back in my day, I was a young punk kid and there were many of us in the local ham clubs and on the air, but now, all the young punk kids, those who would potentially be interested in radio, are all playing Skyrim and fiddling with their smart phones.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 12:00 PM (yRdR4)

144 MP4 is a GUY?!!

Posted by: .87c at November 02, 2014 12:00 PM (8WvF9)

145 It is now 11:08 by my watch.

Posted by: Doc Brown at November 02, 2014 12:01 PM (LvVQC)

146 "I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes. An American intelligence agent wants to get out of the biz but is drawn back in by an unusual case whose perpetrator is using his obscure criminology textbook (written under a pseudonym) as a guide to committing murder. That case, seemingly unrelated, is intertwined with the real meat of the story, his race against the clock to find and defeat a Saudi bio-terrorist. It's wordy, but I could not put it down.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at November 02, 2014 12:01 PM (QBm1P)

147 Not going to kid myself about NaNoWriMo this year.

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 12:02 PM (MMC8r)

148 Posted by: doug at November 02, 2014 11:32 AM (mhQWh)

Had an old intercept operator as a boss for a bit. He said in his prime, he could transcribe Morse while reading a novel!

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 12:02 PM (/GgDU)

149 OregonMuse: thanks for plugging my book efforts last week!

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at November 02, 2014 12:02 PM (AVEe1)

150 MP4 is a GUY?!!

Why yes, yes he is. And a damned fine writer to boot.

Get The Director's Cut. You'll be glad you did.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 12:03 PM (0HooB)

151 Does Gaiman still try to pull off the leather jacket and hipster hairdo?

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 12:03 PM (MMC8r)

152 A Street in Arnhem.
I would like to read that. (Outa my price range. ) If I can find it at the library.

I can guess what it might be like, but I can't understand why any civilian would remain in the area. I get it that you don't want to abandon everything you have acquired over your lifetime, and the fear and uncertainty of the unknown circumstances you would find yourself in if you left. But when two opposing armies are fighting tank battles in your street, or aircraft are dropping bombs on the neighboring building, or artillery rounds are exploding nearby, it's time to leave.

Posted by: Cloven Crivens at November 02, 2014 12:04 PM (oceuM)

153 The first three books in that Dies the Fire series were good but he jumped the shark trying to extend it. I gave it up after going through the first 3 or 4 later books.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (u9gzs)

I want to continue the series at least to the point of finding out what that EMP-like blast was, since it even affected steam power. One of the characters suggested aliens may be behind it.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 12:04 PM (x+P8L)

154 WBT in CLT is a 50,000 watt clear channel station. You can hear it in the Keys.
Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:53 AM (0FSuD)

Used to play the DX AM game, but when the Hallicrafters croaked I gave it up.

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 02, 2014 12:04 PM (/GgDU)

155 This just might be an interesting read as its about one street in Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.

A Street in Arnhem by Robert Kershaw
http://www.rzm.com/books/cp/cp2644.cfm

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 12:04 PM (apF45)

156 Agree with others that while Lena Dunham is messed up thanks to her parents, she's currently being celebrated and used in Hollywood to spread the dysfunction big time.
RS McCain, who can be so absolutely brutal with feminists, has had Lena's number for a while:

"In a way,it's hard not to feel sorry forpeople like her. She's not
really that fat or that ugly, but she just can't get over the fact that
she's not pretty and skinny.

She can never manage to recover from some deep psychic wound,a sort
of juvenile ego-trauma that left her with such a profoundly damaged
personality that she spends the rest ofher life trying to get revenge
against the world for bad things that happened to her years ago.

Anyway, if you know somebody like Lena, you understand what she's doing: "I'm fat and ugly and unpopular, but
maybe if I add 'cruel' and 'obnoxious' to the list, I can pretend like
people who don't like me are intimidated by my intelligence and courage."
This isn't really an effective compensation, but it provides her an
excuse -- a rationalization, a defense mechanism --she can alternately
cling to as a crutch or wield as a weapon, harming others without
actually helping herself. The damage is never healed, because her inner
feelings of worthlessness are so intense, she scorns as contemptible
anyone who wants to help her: "If you like me, there must be something
wrong with you."

Posted by: Lizzy at November 02, 2014 12:05 PM (D/504)

157 I recall reading that in the pre-war Navy radio operators could identify the sending vessel by the operator's "fist."

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 12:05 PM (4RSqo)

158 Her editor didn't seem to see a problem with publishing that, either.

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 12:07 PM (MMC8r)

159 Get The Director's Cut. You'll be glad you did.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at November 02, 2014 12:03 PM (0HooB)

I was hoping he would publish book #2 in the Theda Bara series sometime this year, maybe next year. Apparently he doesn't realize that should be his full-time job

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 12:07 PM (x+P8L)

160 Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 12:00 PM (yRdR4)

In not only 'The Day After', in which Kansas City gets nuked, but also in the PBS film 'Testament', in which a town in California is isolated after a nuclear war, Ham radio is featured. And in 'Testament', it's an old guy, in his late 60's, trying to contact the outside world.

And in 'The Day After', it's John Lithgow at the end of the film asking "Anyone out there"?

"Anyone"?

Posted by: HH at November 02, 2014 12:07 PM (Ce4DF)

161 (160): "iThere's a chinese guy in my department who mentioned he thinks reading is for children. .... He's another physics grad so he's no idiot ... but doesn't read. And he's chinese, so I was hoping to eventually get him to reading things that would bring his basic worldview around to something more american. ... Any suggestions?"

Yang Jisheng, Tombstone: The Great Chinese Famine, 1958-1962. The author blames the famine on collectivization, the politicized bureaucracy, and Mao.
Hayek, The Road to Serfdom and [The Constitution of Liberty.

Posted by: Malcolm Kirkpatrick at November 02, 2014 12:08 PM (uHUBu)

162 So she's an admitted liar, and possibly an admitted perv.

It strikes that she lives in an environment that doesn't think it
was a bad thing to do or admit to, and that she'd be celebrated for
doing it.

Frankly, it's as bad an indictment of her fan base and pholosophy as it is of her.

Posted by: --- at November 02, 2014 11:55 AM (MMC8r)

-------

Yeah, that she thought this was a cute anecdote worth sharing says much. I'd venture to guess that this is a byproduct of a obscenely self absorbed view on life, where you are always the protagonist. If her sister had to endure something like that as a kid, it's an afterthought. Even as an adult, Lena has matured so little that her sister now has to deal with this story being shared with the world now. And why? Lena wanted it in the book, so it must be in the book.

Posted by: Dave S. at November 02, 2014 12:10 PM (UvR6d)

163 Coming back into ham radio after 30 years, I can see
it's a dying hobby. There are few, if any, young punk kids getting into
it to replace the old Elmers who are dying off. Back in my day, I was a
young punk kid and there were many of us in the local ham clubs and on
the air, but now, all the young punk kids, those who would potentially
be interested in radio, are all playing Skyrim and fiddling with their
smart phones.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 12:00 PM (yRdR4)

There were a bunch of us kids into shortwave back when I was a kid. But it truly is dying out. I still have my old Radio Shack DX-150. But if I crank one up now it is my Icom R-71a

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 12:14 PM (u9gzs)

164 Well to be fair to NaNo, they actually DO have an Editing month later in the year. And they DO include a number of sources to help you edit said novel. I think some of these all-too-snide folks really can't be bothered to look at the site before going of half-cocked.

As for and active Right Wing writing outlet, Check out Liberty Island. https://www.libertyislandmag.com/

The usual suspects are active there, as well as a host of new right-brained folks you can get hooked on.

Posted by: Shawn at November 02, 2014 12:18 PM (eK3xL)

165 I'll check that out.

Any scifi book recommendations for a non-reader?

There's a chinese guy in my department who mentioned he thinks reading is for children. I mentioned I'd get him a book or two to try out and somehow we seemed to settle on somethig scifi. He's another physics grad so he's no idiot, he likes Game of Thrones on TV, but doesn't read. And he's chinese, so I was hoping to eventually get him to reading things that would bring his basic worldview around to something more american.

My thoughts so far were The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Hyperion, or possibly Starship Troopers (but I think that was more dense). Any suggestions?

Posted by: .87c at November 02, 2014 12:19 PM (8WvF9)

166 "...What is it with liberals and whining that someone DARED to directly quote their book?
Posted by: pookysgirl..."

They don't expect anyone to actually read them. Progressives don't read books, they only write them. Reading is for the little people. (Putting them on your bookshelf unread: definitely!)

Posted by: Daisy Cutter at November 02, 2014 12:19 PM (WS+CW)

167 I recall reading that in the pre-war Navy radio operators could identify the sending vessel by the operator's "fist."

Yes, they'd be using those old semi-automatic keys, wherein you would lever a bouncy, weighted metal strip against a contact for "dits", and then hit the lever on the other side to make the "dahs", and the results were often very idiosyncratic.

So, too, with the straight keys.

But those electronic keys, with their precisely generated dits and dahs, all of uniform length, takes a lot of the individuality out of it. You may send great code, but you sound like everyone else.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 12:20 PM (yRdR4)

168 "If you like me, there must be something
wrong with you."

-
Blind squirrel. Acorn.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at November 02, 2014 12:21 PM (8MlTP)

169 131 I want to continue the series at least to the point
of finding out what that EMP-like blast was, since it even affected
steam power. One of the characters suggested aliens may be behind it.

Posted by: waelse1 at November 02, 2014 12:04 PM (x+P8L)

The last book I read in the series was "The High King of Montival" copyrighted in 2010; That is the 7th book in the series and he still had not explained it. If he has not explained it by the 7th book he is likely not going to explain it.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 12:21 PM (u9gzs)

170 I still have spool of copper antenna wire in the
garage and a long ground pipe. I got lazy and never put one up. I did
collect SW radios for a while. I have about 20. Some really cool ones.
Also have an Atwater Kent that my grandfather owned, but no speaker.
Now that there is no code for a Ham license, I should get one. I got to 5 words per minute, but never took the test.

Posted by: Nip Sip at November 02, 2014 11:05 AM (0FSuD)

My younger brother collects old radios.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 12:23 PM (u9gzs)

171 There's a chinese guy in my department who mentioned he thinks reading is for children.

If this is his serious, thought-out opinion, there's probably no hope for him.

In order to disabuse him of his ignorance, I would see if I could get him interested in some of the classic Chinese writers, and needless to say, they wrote for adults.

Posted by: OregonMuse at November 02, 2014 12:28 PM (yRdR4)

172 To keep radio stuff on a book theme, I still have an old Hardy Boys book that was based on using ham radio. Can't recall the title at the moment but I read an original version, before they were dumbed down, as a child and it stayed with me. Time for a re-reading after a 50+ year gap.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 12:28 PM (FvdPb)

173

One does not generally just wake up one morning and decide to molest ones little sister.

I have no doubt whatsoever that one of mommy and daddy's grown ass friends explored Ms Dunham's vagina when she was a little girl, and offered her candy to kiss her on the lips.

I said it weeks ago and I will say it again....her parents' freaky friends had full access to both those girls, I'm sure.

I feel sorry for her.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 12:30 PM (qYuXr)

174 The Short Wave Mystery, JTB.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 12:31 PM (4RSqo)

175 Lena Dunham: Ask those winemakers in California how having people work for free worked out for them.

Posted by: TimothyJ at November 02, 2014 12:31 PM (ep2io)

176 30
Ha Ha. I am the only moron that ever did that besides you and I am betting most of the Horde has no idea what DX means (or AM).

Back when I was stranded in Myton, Utah (officially a ghost town, but people still live there, including me between the time dad retired from the Army and I went to college), there were certain times of the year you could DX TV. I remember watching a station in Texas for a bit one summer.

Had a ham ticket for a while, but, being an introvert, could never think of anything to say to anyone. Kind of makes it hard to be a radio amateur.

Posted by: Cloister the Stupid, who gave of his life that we might life at November 02, 2014 12:32 PM (o78gS)

177 he Short Wave Mystery, JTB.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 12:31 PM (4RSqo)

My version was published in 1945.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 12:32 PM (4RSqo)

178 Posted by: redmonkey at November 02, 2014 11:01 AM (mSvfz)

***************
Thanks. These are interesting to me -- am keen on the Moscow metro stations.

Posted by: gracepmc at November 02, 2014 12:36 PM (rznx3)

179 I am desperate to find some books for my great aunt; she loves to read, and especially loves books about the pioneer days, but such. Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 11:33 AM (qYuXr)Hey, Miss Tammy! Long time, no hear! I have an aunt who has the same tastes and I recommended the "Lily" series to her, by Cindy Bonner. They may not exactly be "pioneer," but more "old west" and are set around 1883.I see on Amazon that there's a newish one out, "For the Love of Lily," that I haven't read, but back in the '90s I read the other two and enjoyed them immensly. Hope your aunt likes them!

Posted by: RushBabe at November 02, 2014 12:38 PM (gEuvX)

180 re. The Chinese physicist. Maybe Andy Weir's the Martian? Have not actually read it but from reviews here on the book thread I think it would fit the bill. I'm still in good weather mode, I don't want to get absorbed with a great novel and skip doing outside stuff in good weather. I'll pick back up on the snowy winter days that are coming.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 02, 2014 12:38 PM (Zo60C)

181 I'm reading Game of Thrones, on book 5 now. Alas, I should be Nano'ing my own book but the chair in this hotel room is SO uncomfortable....

Posted by: zeera at November 02, 2014 12:41 PM (ZPlHh)

182
In the tail end of a Stephen Hunter marathon, re-reading the Swagger books. I've found that Hunter's quality has really fallen off in the later books. Still more interesting and entertaining to read than the earlier books (and more than most other authors), but the drop off is noticeable.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at November 02, 2014 12:52 PM (8v9fw)

183 "I Am Pilgrim" by Terry Hayes. An American intelligence agent wants to get out of the biz but is drawn back in by an unusual case whose perpetrator is using his obscure criminology textbook (written under a pseudonym) as a guide to committing murder. That case, seemingly unrelated, is intertwined with the real meat of the story, his race against the clock to find and defeat a Saudi bio-terrorist. It's wordy, but I could not put it down. Posted by: All Hail Eris at November 02, 2014 12:01 PM (QBm1P)^^This^^I'm halfway through "Pilgrim," butI made the mistake of opening the new (library copy) John Sandford, "Prey" book and got roped in by the first sentence. I'm halfway through it, and there are more people waiting for the Sandford book than Terry Hayes's book, so "Lucas Davenport" will make it back to the 'brary first. I had gotten a bad taste for Sandford after his libtardation came through loud and clear around '09, but he seems to have settled down.

Posted by: RushBabe at November 02, 2014 01:02 PM (gEuvX)

184 RushBabe! Muchas Gracias, mi bella amiga!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 01:09 PM (qYuXr)

185 For those who need more of a challenge than NaNo, Dean Wesley Smith has his own November challenge (at the bottom of the post): http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/writing-in-public-year-2-month-4-day-1/

Posted by: Shandiss at November 02, 2014 01:10 PM (HxILJ)

186 Tammy! Good to see you posting. re: pioneer books, I enjoyed "Never miss a Sunset" by Jeanette Gilge. I see on Amazon she did a series. Your aunt might also like "The Children who stayed alone" By Bonnie Bess Worline, and Providence by Karen Noland. Solo book authors but they are good IMO. Children is probably YA but my Dad's favorite books are the Hank the Cowdog series written for 4th-5th grade level.

Posted by: PaleRider at November 02, 2014 01:22 PM (Zo60C)

187 Testing

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at November 02, 2014 01:43 PM (SYtQT)

188 I am re-reading "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. I am discovering that I like some parts more than others. Because of my fondness for Terry, I am assuming that it is his parts I like.

Posted by: LochLomondFarms at November 02, 2014 01:51 PM (dbbPP)

189 12
I just finished the last of The Last Policeman trilogy, World of
Trouble, and quite liked it. I thought each book in the trilogy got
better and darker. There will apparently be no more because the end of
the world is strongly implied at the end of this one. One hopes I can be
forgiven for seeing a certain similarity between the crumbling
civilization of these novels and Obama's America.

Thanks for the info. I rather liked Last Policeman, but was hesitant on the next books, but "better and darker" sells me on reading the next two.

Posted by: Charlotte at November 02, 2014 02:37 PM (f/7EO)

190 Thanks for the Hardy Boys title. I think my copy is from the same era; they still used the old brownish covers.

Ham radio is diminished but not dead, yet. The digital modes have brought in some younger people. To my surprise, there is still an enthusiastic CW group, even if the overall numbers are down. And the QRP folks are mostly CW. I have my late Elmer's Vibroplex Bug that he used in WW II, a gift for helping him in his last years. I treasure it even though my sending with it is, charitably, terrible. It really is an art to use one well. The WW II operators were amazing. As one of them told me, it was radio school or the infantry. That provided a certain motivation to learn the code.

Not quite radio, but the book "The Victorian Internet" is fun. It's about the huge impact Morse Code and the telegraph on the world of the 1800's.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 02:43 PM (FvdPb)

191 Damn errands! How dare they get in the way of The Book Thread.

I mentioned last week that I was going to re-read the original Conan stories. It was the right move. Howard had an incredible ability with pacing, description and atmosphere. Doesn't matter if it was a 10 page short story or a novel.

Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 02:52 PM (FvdPb)

192 Posted by: JTB at November 02, 2014 02:43 PM (FvdPb)

You're welcome!

"As one of them told me, it was radio school or the infantry. That provided a certain motivation to learn the code"

My dad was US Army 1953-55 and was trained to work plotting tables for the artillery. When he got to Germany he was told infantry and after seeing a bunch of guys come in from a winter exercise he was told "clerk/typist" was open. He couldn't type fast enough and was finally told QMC was open.

Go to western France and count crates of typewriters in a depot? He couldn't get there fast enough.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Igor Brand Pitchforks and Torches at the Outrage Outlet! at November 02, 2014 03:32 PM (4RSqo)

193

Normal
0

MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

19 Used books on the 'web: www.bookfinder.com
This site helps one find used, rare, and out-of-print books from all over the place with the prices. I have found it to be too useful; my house looks like that picture but not nearly as tidy.

Posted by: Linda Roberts at November 02, 2014 03:40 PM (tKcuX)

194 For those of you who aren't aware of Calibre, this might be a useful tip.

I'm a big fan of ebooks from the library. Unfortunately, I often have multiple books stacked up up in my "to read" list, and there's usually a wait list for the popular ebooks. So, I regularly scroll through the new additions to offerings and put holds on what I want. Then when they become available, I use Calibre (free software available online) to make a copy without the DRM. Then I return the "library" copy and keep the DRM-free one to read whenever I get to it.

Posted by: RightWingProf at November 02, 2014 03:53 PM (cI22C)

195 Rodney Page's book sounds like NON-fiction to me.

Posted by: WannabeAnglican at November 02, 2014 05:00 PM (24eei)

196 73 to all the other moron hams out there !

Got started DXing AM radio as a kid in bed after lights out. SW listener later, now an Extra.

My local club turns out about a dozen new Techs a year through classes and testing, we're at least slowing the decline.

Still use a straight key, timing & spacing is important; never even tried to use a bug.

Still work DX to add countries to the DXCC, occasional contester, I also like to operate QRP portable when traveling.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at November 02, 2014 05:18 PM (jNNWD)

197 We had a lakeside plot leased by a private club at work. A friend and I used to like to take our SW radios out there and DX without any interference from lights etc. Good times.

Posted by: Vic at November 02, 2014 05:35 PM (u9gzs)

198 So true. A world of difference in background noise between the North Woods and my station at home.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at November 02, 2014 05:42 PM (jNNWD)

199 Thank you, PaleRider!

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 07:53 PM (qYuXr)

200 Posted by: Linda Roberts at November 02, 2014 03:40 PM (tKcuX)

Oh lord. I can see where this could be...... dangerous.

Posted by: Tammy al-Thor at November 02, 2014 07:54 PM (qYuXr)

201 Anna Puma @ 80

I'd been looking for an old story by Kristine Rusch that I remembered liking but couldn't recall the title. Finally stumbled across it on Amazon; it's called "Chameleon." The ebook is $2.99 ... for 14 pages.

Posted by: RovingCopyEditor at November 02, 2014 09:48 PM (UMsIr)

202 "[W]orking for free is not unheard of in the entertainment industry and the exposure and resume' enhancement is sometimes offered as compensation in lieu of actual pay. And everyone involved is OK with this."

In my experience as a lawyer on the other side of their lawyers from time to time, I can confirm that the Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division is NOT okay with this kind of thing.

There's no "cool kids exception" from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Posted by: Beldar at November 02, 2014 09:55 PM (6UjsO)

203 "[W]orking for free is not unheard of in the entertainment industry and the exposure and resume' enhancement is sometimes offered as compensation in lieu of actual pay. And everyone involved is OK with this."

In my experience as a lawyer on the other side of their lawyers from time to time, I can confirm that the Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division is NOT okay with this kind of thing.

There's no "cool kids exception" from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Posted by: Beldar at November 02, 2014 09:55 PM (6UjsO)

204 dunham really is the epitome of the clueless elitist. she has so little regard for the "little people" that it never occurs to her that she should actually pay people for a job done, i.e., entertaining her lame ass book tour fans. she is an utter piece of human detritus although that is probably an insult to detritus.

Posted by: Miss So Totally Done at November 03, 2014 12:08 AM (2/oBD)

205 ...i forgot to point out that ms. dunham also happens to be a democrat AND a leftie.

Posted by: Miss So Totally Done at November 03, 2014 12:10 AM (2/oBD)

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