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Sunday Morning Book Thread 04-19-2015 [OregonMuse]


Pioneer Bookstore, Provo, Utah .jpg
Pioneer Books, Provo, Utah


Photo stolen from here. I like the 'before' and 'after' photos of this bookstore.


Good morning to all of you morons and moronettes and bartenders everywhere and all the ships at sea. Welcome to AoSHQ's stately, prestigious, internationally acclaimed 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. Unless you're a girl.

[Update: Terrific. Pixy must've made some changes, because once again, I am unable to post comments. They just don't show up. And this time, I can't find a proxy server that works, so it looks like I'm pretty much screwed]

[Update 2: I can now comment again. Not sure why I couldn't before, or why it's working now. Weird]

Book Quote

What you don’t know would make a great book.

-Sydney Smith


Genocide? What Genocide?

The Armenian Massacres of 1915, where 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered by the Ottoman Turks, will be commemorated on April 24th. Last Sunday, Pope Francis called for international recognition of what he has called 'the first genocide of the 20th century'. This year marks the 100th anniversary of this holocaust.

Turkey's response was to recall its ambassador to the Vatican.

The Turkish government has been in denial about this pretty much ever since it happened, and it really, really hates being called out on it. Which is what Pope Francis' statement did.

Not many people know that the Ottoman Empire tried this earlier, in 1894-1895, but managed to murder "only" 200-300 thousand Armenians. But this was only a warm-up act for the Metz Yeghern, the 'Great Evil' as the Armenians call it, in 1915.

The Turkish government likes to pretend that the slaughter was due to civil war and more historical research is needed, but the facts have been well-known since 1916, when the British historian Arnold J. Toynbee wrote:

In one way or another, the Central Government enforced and controlled the execution of the scheme, as it alone had originated the conception of it; and the Young Turkish Ministers and their associates at Constantinople are directly and personally responsible, from beginning to end, for the gigantic crime that devastated the Near East in 1915.

His full statement can be read here.

There are a number of books on the Armenian Genocide, some are historical research, others are personal remembrances and memoirs. This one in particular caught my eye: Operation Nemesis: The Assassination Plot that Avenged the Armenian Genocide by Eric Bogosian:

In 1921, a small group of self-appointed patriots set out to avenge the deaths of almost one million victims of the Armenian Genocide. They named their operation Nemesis after the Greek goddess of retribution. Over several years, the men tracked down and assassinated former Turkish leaders.

Apparently, there was a bit of payback. I never knew this. See also the graphic novel Operation Nemesis: A Story of Genocide & Revenge by Josh Blaylock, which has just been released. Seem that that in 1921, one of the Nemesis assassins killed the former Ottoman Interior Minister Talaat Pasha in broad daylight on the streets of Berlin, in front of witnesses, and the jury acquitted him.

He eventually moved to America, where he lived out the remainder of his life, and after he died, he was buried in Fresno, California, which is home to a large Armenian community.

Also in 1916, another British historian, Viscount Bryce, published the primary source documents that Toynbee had assembled. His book is entitled The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 1915-16 and you can read it online on Brigham Young University's web site here.

Most Turks are Muslims. Most Armenians are Christians. Would the Turks have slaughtered them if they were also Muslims? Is the Armenian genocide an instance of ethnic cleansing or religious persecution? On the one one hand, this question doesn't matter: the Armenian victims are still dead, regardless of why were they killed, or how history labels the event. But on the other hand, it really does matter, in that we need to call things what they really are, and given Islam's propensity to murder and slaughter Christians, I'm not sure that 'ethnic cleansing' is a large enough concept to encompass all that is going on.

But, as Dennis Miller says, I could be wrong.

Remembering the Fallen

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

These lines are from Robert Lawrence Binyon's famous WW I poem For the Fallen, published in 1914. And they're the inspiration for this book I heard about from the publisher who contacted me and asked me to tell you all about it: At The Going Down Of The Sun: Love, Loss and Sacrifice in Afghanistan by Graham Bound. He said

Being a book of life stories of twenty of our dead from Afghanistan, it’s obviously mostly of interest to Brits, but some of your military-minded readers might be interested in it too.

Each of these stories is a biography of one of these fallen soldiers, their lives, their deaths, and the grieving families and friends who now have to deal with the loss. Listening to them about the heartache and the loss is sometimes painful and I find myself being drawn in to the story, and I can well imagine what they're feeling. So I have to limit myself to one chapter, one life at a time.

The only problem I had with this book is that I am not familiar with the everyday British colloquialisms that are sprinkled throughout, this being a British book for a British audience. I would like to see an American version of this book, with 20 stories of American's soldiers for American readers. I think such a book might do pretty well.


Character Counts

Columnist David Brooks is the NY Times "house conservative", their go-to guy when they want to have conservatives and conservative ideas criticized by a Republican just like their Democrat columnists so the newspaper can claim to be unbiased. As such, Brooks takes it on the chin a lot on this blog, not that I'm complaining. However, he has come out with a new book, The Road to Character, which might be worth a read. In it, Brooks argues that external success, what he calls 'résumé' success, is less essential than inner goodness.

To us, this is 2+2=4 obvious, but if Brooks is pointing this book at the progressives he pals around with, this is not something they're accustomed to hearing:

"We're raised in a society called the 'big me' society...In 1950,Gallup asked high school kids, are you a very important person? Then 12 percent said yes. Asked again in 2005, 80 percent said, yes, I'm a very important person. We all think we're super important.

"That's great for your career if you're branding yourself...but if you want inner growth...the road to character is built by confronting your own weakness."

Further evidence that we're not the main audience Brooks wants to impress are the historical figures he uses as examples, notably far-left Catholic socialist Dorothy Day, labor activist Frances Perkins, and a couple of early civil rights pioneers, A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. Absent are some famous Americans who had a lot to say about attaining to a good character, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. I think Dwight Eisenhower is as close to that as this book gets.

But his selection of examples isn't fatal to Brooks' argument asserting the importance of virtue over achievement and self-promotion, which I hope achieves wide currency. After all, we all could use some self-improvement:

As for himself, Brooks told NPR he is "paid to be a narcissistic blowhard, to volley my opinions, to appear more confident about them than I really am, to appear smarter than I really am, to appear better and more authoritative than I really am. I have to work harder than most people to avoid a life of smug superficiality."

And if Brooks achieves this personal goal, I doubt that anyone here would complain.


Great Books For Children

So when I came across this list of the 11 greatest children's books and saw that it was from the BBC, I immediately thought, oh crap, it's going to be a carload of PC nonsense that's come out within the last 25 years, and I'll not have heard of it. But no, it turns out I was wrong. Aside from one questionable book (and I'm not sure what I'd replace it with), the list, which was put together after polling a number of book critics, pretty much nails it.


Books By Morons

Randy Beck asked me to tell y'all that his alt-history novel One Thousand Years ("Nazis, Time Travel, and a Tuskegee Airman who won't quit") will be on sale for 99 cents for the next week starting today. Also in the UK.

Randy has written a sequel novella, The Time Bridge at Orion, which you can also get for 99 cents. He's also working on a "big" sequel which, hopefully, we won't have to wait too long to read.


___________

David Dubrow, author of The Blessed Man and the Witch offers his latest his short story, Hold On, which he says is about "about parenting, marriage, and loss in the not-too-distant future".

And while I was over on the LibertyMag site, I also read this one, by Frank Fleming, and I thought it was pretty funny.


What I'm Reading

I'm about half-way through the military sci-fi adventure novel To Honor You Call Us by H. Paul Honsinger, which is the first of his "Man of War" series. It's 2315, and the Terran Union is engaged in an all-out interstellar war against the Krag, an alien race bent on the extermination of humankind. Lieutenant Max Robichaux has just been given command of a ship staffed wih an ill-used and ill-trained crew. The Admiralty does not have a lot of confidence in Robichaux (due to an as yet undiscussed prior incident), but the war is pretty tight and there's not a lot options. His orders are to harass and disrupt enemy shipping, and in order to do this successfully, Robichaux has to take all of the lemons he's been given and make lemonade.

So if you're a fan of military sci-fi, you might want to put this one on your list. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.


___________

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 09:01 AM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Yo.

Posted by: Y-not at April 19, 2015 08:59 AM (9BRsg)

2 Wow, neat store.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 09:00 AM (wlDny)

3 I literally have never seen that store. Can't place it, even referring to a map.

Don't go to downtown Provo much b/c the restaurants are pretty meh, most don't serve booze, and nothing is open on Sundays.

Posted by: Y-not at April 19, 2015 09:03 AM (9BRsg)

4 books is addictive!

Posted by: TangoNine at April 19, 2015 09:04 AM (x3YFz)

5 Don't go to downtown Provo much b/c the restaurants are pretty meh, most don't serve booze, and nothing is open on Sundays.

Posted by: Y-not at April 19, 2015 09:03 AM (9BRsg)


Did a stretch in Sandy UT.

(prison reference implied)

Posted by: TangoNine at April 19, 2015 09:05 AM (x3YFz)

6 Weird, supposedly across the street from the Covey Center, to which I've been recently. Hmmm.

Posted by: Y-not at April 19, 2015 09:05 AM (9BRsg)

7 I am currently re-reading the Island In The Sea of Time series. On the second book now. I had started on a book my younger brother recommended, The Coming Economic Armageddon by Dr. David Jeremiah. But I found while he was up on his religious stuff he spent too much time being like the MFM and he spouted a lot of Democrat talking points. So even though I paid $9 for this book I gave it up about half way through. I may go back later.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 09:06 AM (wlDny)

8 that's definitely some... architecture? I guess?

Posted by: TangoNine at April 19, 2015 09:07 AM (x3YFz)

9 The Matt Helm series is being released, finally, as ebooks. The first one, "Death of A Citizen" is 99 cents for the next few days on Kindle and Nook. The later books are going for 7+ bucks each.

I've probably read about everything Donald Hamilton wrote and have most of them. Like all of them. But my earliest copies are falling apart. These are some of the books I re-read often, so having decent copies helps.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2015 09:08 AM (FvdPb)

10
If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.

Frank Zappa

Posted by: SE Pa Moron at April 19, 2015 09:08 AM (xQX/f)

11 I'm reading the Wool Omnibus. On the third book. Good enough so far.

Posted by: NCKate at April 19, 2015 09:09 AM (sX5Dn)

12 I was an Alastair Reynolds fan, but his last book was like someone loaded a shotgun with some science and fired it at some paper.

Gonna give it to the guys who pick up my trash.

Can't win 'em all.

Posted by: TangoNine at April 19, 2015 09:10 AM (x3YFz)

13 If you want to get laid, go to college.


Posted by: SE Pa Moron at April 19, 2015 09:08 AM (xQX/f)


Church.

Posted by: TangoNine at April 19, 2015 09:11 AM (x3YFz)

14 RE: Great Books for children. I have read about half of those books and have seen the movies for most of the rest. I liked the original movie for Willi Wonka. I thought the Johnny Dep remake blew chunks.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 09:13 AM (wlDny)

15 Love the outside (and inside) of that book store. And I approve of most of the 'books' used on the outer walls. No modern, transgender vampire zombie teen romances. Maybe there's hope for Utah.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2015 09:15 AM (FvdPb)

16 i was a contractor at Hill AFB in Ogden, Utah. Usually stayed in SLC and commuted. Utah is quit pretty, but very, very "different."

Locals told me that life as a "gentile" in Utah meant that you were part of the "out" group. LDS socialized with LDS, gentiles with gentiles. Not much mixing.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:18 AM (qYWZ5)

17 You will like the "Man of War" books.
I grabbed them off of Kindle Unlimited and devoured them in 3 days. Very well written, good fluid story and the mmain character is excellent

Posted by: exsanguine at April 19, 2015 09:19 AM (V0oj4)

18 Question for those in and around the business: How viable a form is the short story these days? I mean that as in publishing, in mags or collections.

Posted by: Brother Cavil, by the Pale Moon light at April 19, 2015 09:21 AM (m9V0o)

19 If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.



Frank Zappa
Posted by: SE Pa Moron at April 19, 2015 09:08 AM (xQX/f)


Drat, drat, drat, drat.

Did it backwards again.

Posted by: Kindletot at April 19, 2015 09:22 AM (t//F+)

20 The Matt Helm books have been re-released on digits? I might have to grab some of those. I used to read that series when I would run across them in used book stores. Donald Hamilton was not a fan of bleeding-heart liberals (especially anti-gun BHLs) and he broadcast it loud and clear in those books. I know that they made some Matt Helm movies (with Dean Martin as Matt Helm, if I remember correctly) but I never saw one of them.

Currently, working my way through "The Everlasting Man" by ol' G.K. himself. Great book so far, I can see why it had such a profound impact on C.S. Lewis. (By the way, why is it that the really great British writers had initials instead of first names? G.K., C.S., J.R.R., etc... Maybe I need to start insisting that everyone use my initials, get a little classier that way...) It is not an easy book to read, Chesterton has a very precise, yet verbose, style that can be hard to follow if you're used to reading Facebook and Buzzfeed (ugh). But I'm really enjoying it so far...

Posted by: Pave Low John at April 19, 2015 09:23 AM (b5yHT)

21 Hey y'all.

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, if not on the book thread then on another thread, but I just gotta say it again.

We are really enjoying a series of math books!

Yes, even the kids who never liked math much before.

The Life of Fred books are very very different than anything else I've ever read. The author works math into everyday life...everyday really wacky life for a very special little guy.

They aren't for everyone. And we had to go back a bit and go over stuff they'd already done, but it was worth it. He works review problems in in almost every chapter, so retention is sooooo much better.

The author comes across as conservative *gasp* and Christian *gasp gasp*. More preachy on the conservative stuff and a very light touch on the Christian bits. Eh, not preachy really, but a little of a lecture now and then. Love it.

My oldest and I are now on Pre Algebra and Physics. After that is Pre Alg. and Biology, then Pre-Al and Economics. That should be good.

You can see sample chapters of all the books at FredGauss dot com. I highly recommend reading the Table of Contents. You can also order the books there. Each one is pretty cheap, most $19.

No, I'm not getting paid for this, just wanted to share!

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 19, 2015 09:24 AM (0xTsz)

22 I never regarded it this way but realized last week that this is the month to read The Canterbury Tales. "Whan that Aprille ..." etc.

Haven't read the Tales in decades and forgot what fun they are. I also realized my grasp of Middle English has diminished since college but not as badly as I feared. Finished the Prologue and started the Knights Tale. It's slow going because I keep doing a linguistic analysis of all the words that are unfamiliar. But That is part of the fun.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2015 09:25 AM (FvdPb)

23
Someone mentioned pzmeyers here and I went and checked his site. He and his followers are still whining about Sad Puppies. LOL

Posted by: Bruce J. at April 19, 2015 09:26 AM (iQIUe)

24 For fans of the pbs series: I'm listening to the first Wolf Hall book on audible and it's pretty good, if a bit slow paced. The guy who is reading it is very good.

Posted by: not the mama at April 19, 2015 09:27 AM (5dxeo)

25 Read Lorenzo Carcaterra's "The Wolf."

Interesting premise: US organized crime bosses' family is killed during terrorist attack on airplane. Islamic terrorists are funded by Russian organized crime which benefits by chaos from terrorism.

US, Italian, Chinese, Japanese organized crime benefit from stable society because much of their profits come from legal enterprises.

US OC boss, with aid from other OC groups, goes up against Islamic terrorists and Russian funders.

Intriguing premise, but book doesn't quite do it justice. Not bad, but not great.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:28 AM (qYWZ5)

26 Currently, working my way through "The Everlasting Man" by ol' G.K. himself. Great book so far, I can see why it had such a profound impact on C.S. Lewis. (By
Posted by: Pave Low John at April 19, 2015 09:23 AM (b5yHT)


If you like that, check out The Size of Chesterton's Catholicism by David Fagerberg.

You'll see where his influences came from and then in turn what was passed on to C.S. Lewis.

Despite the title, it's not preachy on the religion side. The title comes from a reference Chesterton once made about faith.

Posted by: Lord High Treasurer of Ireland Hugh de Mapilton, Bishop of Ossory at April 19, 2015 09:29 AM (V+kmg)

27 Most likely your kidding yourself on Brooks. It's all Pharisee thanking the god of SJW that he isn't like them evil Gentiles. At least that is the way to bet.

Posted by: theTruth at April 19, 2015 09:30 AM (PGh+Q)

28 20 I know that they made some Matt Helm movies (with Dean Martin as Matt
Helm, if I remember correctly) but I never saw one of them.


Posted by: Pave Low John at April 19, 2015 09:23 AM (b5yHT)



They turned them into a comedy and ruined them. You didn't miss anything.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 09:31 AM (wlDny)

29 Most likely your kidding yourself on Brooks. It's all Pharisee thanking the god of SJW that he isn't like them evil Gentiles. At least that is the way to bet.
Posted by: theTruth at April 19, 2015 09:30 AM (PGh+Q)


THIS

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 19, 2015 09:31 AM (V+kmg)

30 @24 PBS showed a one hour history of Henry VIII that covered the period of "Wolf Hall."

I really liked the history hour, but found "Wolf Hall" to be tedious, despite great actors like Damien Lewis.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:31 AM (qYWZ5)

31 O/T early! A few days ago someone in a thread mentioned a great You Tube video concerning art...I took note at the time, and went back last night to look for it again, but I can't find the comment. Anyone remember what it was? I got a Chromecast for my TV and I'm looking for Quality things to watch. Thanks!

Posted by: TX ette at April 19, 2015 09:33 AM (sUJHF)

32 It was a documentary. Forgot to mention that .

Posted by: TX ette at April 19, 2015 09:34 AM (sUJHF)

33 Test?

Posted by: Nip Sip at April 19, 2015 09:36 AM (0FSuD)

34 Did I kill the thread?

Posted by: TX ette at April 19, 2015 09:37 AM (sUJHF)

35 >>Did I kill the thread?

Posted by: TX ette

Maybe just stunned it.

Posted by: Aviator at April 19, 2015 09:38 AM (sQzB6)

36 Don't bother with the Dean Martin Matt Helm movies. They have nothing to do with the books and were played for laughs (they mostly failed) and to be campy (they were).

If you like the Matt Helm series, check out his westerns. Same attitude and he maintained the accurate (no pun intended) firearms knowledge that helped make the Helm books so attractive.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2015 09:39 AM (FvdPb)

37 Most Turks are Muslims. Most Armenians are Christians. Would the Turks
have slaughtered them if they were also Muslims? Is the Armenian
genocide an instance of ethnic cleansing or religious persecution?




There is NO question it was religious persecution or cleansing.



Mohammedans go not believe non believers have a right to exist.

Posted by: Nip Sip at April 19, 2015 09:39 AM (0FSuD)

38 "I'm about half-way through the military sci-fi adventure novel To Honor You Call Us by H. Paul Honsinger, which is the first of his "Man of War" series."

Two volumes so far. Basically, David Weber pretty much owns "Hornblower in Space" so Mr. Honsinger has decided to update the other Napoleonic naval franchise, the Aubrey - Maturins by Patrick O Brian.

Posted by: SDN at April 19, 2015 09:40 AM (p/ktF)

39 @22 JTB. I'm with you. Nobody beats The Geoff. nobody.

Posted by: retropox at April 19, 2015 09:42 AM (kWFqE)

40 How Dark the World Becomes by Frank Chadwick.
Excellent in parts. Action and adventure good. Social cometary and romance weak. My opinion is that it had a weak ending. I can understand that others might disagree. Excellent protagonist. Military parts excellent. Not as good as Lost Fleet. Not as good as Ciaphas Cain. Better than Farnham's Freehold. :-)

Posted by: Book Report at April 19, 2015 09:42 AM (PGh+Q)

41 Rereading Austen ' s "Pride and Prejudice". I find that reading the classics helps alot when I'm feeling discoraged. I read most of the books on the children's list as a child: loved them all.

Posted by: small town girl, crusader at April 19, 2015 09:42 AM (nMj2X)

42 24 For fans of the pbs series: I'm listening to the first Wolf Hall book on audible and it's pretty good, if a bit slow paced. The guy who is reading it is very good. Posted by: not the mama at April 19, 2015 09:27 AM (5dxeo)

Simon Slater. You many find this interesting:

http://goo.gl/C8R0gh

Posted by: Bruce J. at April 19, 2015 09:43 AM (iQIUe)

43 I think the fact the Turks crucified a bunch of the Armenians might point to the motive.

As for books, I'm rereading Princess of Mars while I wait for my Hugo packet and for pollen to stop attacking my sinuses.

Posted by: Achilles at April 19, 2015 09:44 AM (TpeIH)

44 And speaking of The Canterbury Tales.

Horde: What's your doing-life-without-parole or marooned on a desert island forever book? Mines The Canterbury's. An un-mine-able depth.

Posted by: retropox at April 19, 2015 09:46 AM (kWFqE)

45 35 >>Did I kill the thread?

Posted by: TX ette

Maybe just stunned it.
Posted by: Aviator at April 19, 2015 09:38 AM (sQzB6)



It's pining for the fjords.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at April 19, 2015 09:47 AM (yxw0r)

46 Locals told me that life as a "gentile" in Utah
meant that you were part of the "out" group. LDS socialized with LDS,
gentiles with gentiles. Not much mixing.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:18 AM (qYWZ5)

As a recent transplant to Utah I have to say that I have found this not true. I am not a Mormon, I'm not particularly religious, but I have found this to be a very welcoming place, my neighbors are so friendly and I've been invited to several gatherings and outdoor events. Moving to St George from Commiefornia has been the highlight of my life. People I meet here have the values - family and political -that I am in agreement with.

Posted by: Tunafish at April 19, 2015 09:49 AM (/3og5)

47 Brother Cavil, shorts are hot in a lot of genres and recommended by the likes of Dean Wesley Smith for building skill, cash, and an audience.

Posted by: Long Running Fool at April 19, 2015 09:49 AM (/A5gb)

48 O/T, but great writing-- "When did America forget that its America?" by Natan Sharansky in today's WaPo - hat tip Hogewatch.com.

link -- wapo.st/1DUnZFP

Pixy's error messages really suck!!

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:49 AM (qYWZ5)

49 46 Locals told me that life as a "gentile" in Utah
meant that you were part of the "out" group. LDS socialized with LDS,
gentiles with gentiles. Not much mixing.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:18 AM (qYWZ5)

As a recent transplant to Utah I have to say that I have found this not true. I am not a Mormon, I'm not particularly religious, but I have found this to be a very welcoming place, my neighbors are so friendly and I've been invited to several gatherings and outdoor events. Moving to St George from Commiefornia has been the highlight of my life. People I meet here have the values - family and political -that I am in agreement with.
Posted by: Tunafish at April 19, 2015 09:49 AM (/3og5)




Eyes out for the Danites.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at April 19, 2015 09:50 AM (yxw0r)

50 Last month in the poker game I play in one of the guys loaned me a book called "Five Came Back" by Mark Harris. It's about five Hollywood directors (John Ford, John Huston, Frank Capra, William Wyler, George Stevens) who enlisted during WWII and made films for the U.S. Government. Very good book, as it follows each of the directors before and during the war. Couple of interesting things. In 1938 Stevens wanted to make the film 'Paths of Glory', but his studio turned him down, saying it was too anti-war. Stanley Kubrick wound up making it in 1957.

Stevens wound up being the most interesting to me. He was the first (and pretty much the only one) who fully documented the death camps. In fact probably all the footage you have ever seen of that was filmed by him and his crew. He also made 2 films specifically for the Nuremburg trials, which were shown in that court.

Funny thing. When reading the book I remembered that I had taped a documentary about his footage years ago. It was called 'Normandy to Berlin'.
Well, I found the tape and duped it to DVD and gave it to the guy who loaned me the book at last nights game. Weird thing is, when I duped the tape I was wondering how long ago I had made it. Turns out it was 1985! OMG, 30yrs ago.

Oh well, at least I still had it.

Posted by: HH at April 19, 2015 09:50 AM (Ce4DF)

51 Eyes out for the Danites.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at April 19, 2015 09:50 AM (yxw0r)

What does that mean?

Posted by: Tunafish at April 19, 2015 09:51 AM (/3og5)

52 Horde: What's your doing-life-without-parole or marooned on a desert island forever book? Mines The Canterbury's. An un-mine-able depth.

Posted by: retropox at April 19, 2015 09:46 AM (kWFqE)

How to Pick Locks or How to Build a Boat, as circumstances dictate.

Posted by: Emmett Milbarge at April 19, 2015 09:51 AM (nFdGS)

53 I read all of the books on the BBC list, or read them to younger brother, and approve of the choices. Not much to report here on the book front, since this week I was doing more research and writing on my own books, and editing/formatting other people's for the Tiny Publishing Bidness.

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at April 19, 2015 09:55 AM (95iDF)

54 Still working through the Librivox recording of A Day With Great Poets. It seems like a fundamental disconnect with the rest of humanity really *is* a common thread among poets whose work lasts.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 19, 2015 09:56 AM (GDulk)

55 Pixy's error messages really suck!!

1. cut and paste to

http://www.unicodetools.com/unicode/convert-to-html.php

2. press 'convert'
3. cut and paste converted text (don't worry if you see numbers) to AoS
4. ʇᴉɟoɹd



Posted by: SE Pa Moron at April 19, 2015 09:57 AM (xQX/f)

56 46 - Tunafish That's really great news. My Utah experience was 20-25 years ago. Things may have changed for the better.

I've worked with some really nice LDS people. We shared conservative values, but no religious beliefs. Very solid people.

The thing that puzzles me about the LDS church is some of the ethical outliers like Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid or some of the business frauds like the SCO Group or the breakup of Novell. The LDS people I knew were highly ethical.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 09:57 AM (qYWZ5)

57 Back on topic, I'm reading Skulduggery Pleasant - recently recommended here. Also read the first two Matthew Dunn books - also recommended here.
Recently read Endangered by C.J.Box, Mammoth Boy by John Hart, Guns of the Dawn by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Half a King and Half the World by Joe Abercrombie.
I'm just reading escapist stuff, not the historical stuff I see so many of you guys reading.

Posted by: Tunafish at April 19, 2015 09:58 AM (/3og5)

58 I picked up Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent. It reads like a polished Hornblower book so far. I prefer the language O'Brien brings to the Aubrey/Maturin books, but his characters tend to both evolve to various new attitudes and then devolve back.

A friend of mine was looking for Napoleonic war Naval Fiction from the French Navy side.
I asked around and I was told there was such stuff, but it was by French writers and no-one could remember an author's name.

Do any of you know of such books or series?

Posted by: Kindletot at April 19, 2015 09:59 AM (t//F+)

59 I'm also reading a Kindle book on family disaster prep but it's a bit of a slog because everything is from a 'global warming is real, deregulation will destroy our infrastructure' point of view. The advise appears to be sound but, if I'm sitting at the computer, it's easy to decide to read the HQ instead.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 19, 2015 10:00 AM (GDulk)

60 Just finished the Notice by Daniella Bova. A little dystopia, a little love story, lots of suspense. The book is part two of a trilogy. the second book is about the same as the the first.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:00 AM (KbNXw)

61 My new neighbors here in St George were VERY glad to hear that I'm not bringing California values here - that we came here because their values were what we're looking for.

Posted by: Tunafish at April 19, 2015 10:00 AM (/3og5)

62 Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 19, 2015 10:00 AM (GDulk)

Wednesday at 8:30 my radio show is on prepping. I'll have Erin Palette who runs the face book page Blue Collar Prepping. It's not crazy hillbilly stuff but common sense stuff for everyone.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:04 AM (KbNXw)

63 As for himself, Brooks told NPR he is "paid to be a narcissistic blowhard, to volley my opinions, to appear more confident about them than I really am, to appear smarter than I really am, to appear better and more authoritative than I really am.

He is doing a fine job, I might add. And yeah, about that Turk/Armenian thing; its about damn time someone called a spade a spade.

Good morning everyone!

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:04 AM (60Vyp)

64 Slightly OT, but it's a question regarding a book. What did Ted Cruz mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord of the Flies"?

http://tinyurl.com/nka8746

Posted by: olddog in mo at April 19, 2015 10:05 AM (3eZI/)

65 Polliwog:

Try this blog

http://ferfal.blogspot.com/

They advertise books

Posted by: Kindletot at April 19, 2015 10:06 AM (t//F+)

66 Good morning C O J.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:07 AM (KbNXw)

67 Might be too specialized for this thread, but I'm new to amateur radio and just went on my first ARES deployment. My local ARES group is pretty informal and training is not a group priority.

Is there any amateur radio emergency communications book that anyone would recommend?

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 10:07 AM (qYWZ5)

68 I've been thinking lately (dangerous, I know) about a book I read a while back, called The Alliance by Gerald Lund. The basic premise is two men saw a great war coming and took actions to save what they could of humanity. The first man gathered good people and found a secluded valley in Idaho, where they waited out the war and learned how to live without high technology. The second man used the resources of the government--before it was destroyed--to form his own city. The second man, not wanting to see humanity go to war again, "implanted" his citizens. If they get angry, they get a zap to the brain.

It's a quick read, and I think many in the Horde would appreciate the themes of free will and the dangers of a government with all power.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:08 AM (MYPM9)

69 Also: good morning!

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:10 AM (MYPM9)

70 Slightly OT, but it's a question regarding a book. What did Ted Cruz
mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord
of the Flies"?

-----

Hopefully he means there are going to be a bunch of half-naked boys running around without any adults paying attention to them.

Posted by: Harry Reid, rubbing his "hands" together gleefully at April 19, 2015 10:12 AM (MYPM9)

71 been re-reading Prof Sowell's excellent book on the "Housing Boom and Bust" again. Read it if you can get a copy, it's not a long read and the Prof writes well.

and Dopey Wasserman Schultz is on c-span right now. If I woke up next to her I think I'd scream and promptly pass out. She's answering a question as well as Hillary or Barky would answer a question without a prepared answered.

Posted by: mallfly at April 19, 2015 10:15 AM (vcI3n)

72 Didn't read most of those kids books so I can't judge em but c'mon, no...
Huck Finn
Tom Sawyer
Call of the Wild
White Fang
Old Yeller
And a relative unknown I really enjoyed, "Bristle Face" by Zachary Ball.
Too much of the white, male patriarchy stuff?

Posted by: teej at April 19, 2015 10:15 AM (9/OH8)

73 70 Posted by: Harry Reid, rubbing his "hands" together gleefully at April 19, 2015 10:12 AM (MYPM9)

or he was describing you as a pig fucker Harry...your choice.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at April 19, 2015 10:15 AM (/4AZU)

74 Hello?

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:15 AM (MYPM9)

75 64>> I think he was making the analogy between the current political conditions and those in the book. Specifically, the practice by politicians in general, and the asshat administration in particular (and their willing accomplices in the MSM) of enforcing group think and justice for the 'common good' in an effort to retain their power. That kind of behavior invariably leads to human catastrophe.

I hope it indicates that Cruz is going to be relentless and unmerciful in combating that condition, because I don't see anyone else leading that effort.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:16 AM (60Vyp)

76 For TX ette: The art series you are looking for is "The Shock of the New" and I concur with the recommendation. Also, the first Sister Wendy art series.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 19, 2015 10:16 AM (MIKMs)

77 Posted by: mallfly at April 19, 2015 10:15 AM (vcI3n)


You can always tell when Barky is working without a net. Lots of "ums' and "ahs"

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:17 AM (KbNXw)

78 or he was describing you as a pig fucker Harry...your choice.


Posted by: Sven S Blade

=====

I've--I've done things, Sven. Terrible things.

But did you know NONE of the Republican presidential hopefuls have ever paid taxes, or even told their mothers they love them?

Posted by: Harry Reid, eye(s) cast down at April 19, 2015 10:18 AM (MYPM9)

79 Good morning OSP! Howz things?

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:18 AM (60Vyp)

80 yo

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:20 AM (p+gjf)

81 Fun Fact: The author of that book on the Armenian Genocide, Eric Bogosian, was the bad guy in Steven Seagal's "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory."

Posted by: Dig Dug at April 19, 2015 10:20 AM (i4XvR)

82 Wow. now I can post. I think.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:20 AM (p+gjf)

83 What did Ted Cruz
mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord
of the Flies"?

Simon envisions the pig head, now swarming
with scavenging flies, as the "Lord of the Flies" and believes that it
is talking to him. The pig's head tells Simon that the boys themselves "created" the beast and claims that the real beast is inside them all.

Posted by: LordOfTheFlies at April 19, 2015 10:22 AM (PGh+Q)

84 Also a good short story I read somewhere while in 4th or 5th grade that speaks to work ethic was called, I think, The Five Dollar Yard.
A boy wants to be the first to do such a good job mowing a neighbor lady's yard that he earns 5 dollars for his efforts.

Posted by: teej at April 19, 2015 10:22 AM (9/OH8)

85 Lessee, books the kiddos liked:

Harry Potter series

various Roald Dahl books

The "Redwall" series

Goosebumps series

A Wrinkle in Time

Narnia books

The Hobbit


That's just off the top of my head.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 19, 2015 10:24 AM (KUa85)

86 That children's classic list is okay, I suppose. I've been meaning to read le Guin, but I've never had any desire to read Little Women or Little House on the Prairie. I always leaned toward adventure books when I was a young'un (that hasn't changed)--books from Robert Louis Stevenson and Jules Verne and Jack London.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:24 AM (MYPM9)

87 Good morning OSP! Howz things?
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:18 AM (60Vyp)

Oh, it's a rainy morning in upstate SC. Good day to write. Kids are healthy, wifes about the same, maintaining a low to medium level of pissed off. About three chapters away from finishing the rough draft of the third book. How's things by you?

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:24 AM (KbNXw)

88 Fuck the Turks.
Kick their Muslim asses off of European soil, ship their Muslim asses to some third world Muslim shithole and give that land that is now Turkey to Greece.

Posted by: The Man from Athens at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (O3k74)

89 78 Posted by: Harry Reid, eye(s) cast down at April 19, 2015 10:18 AM (MYPM9)

True Harry...but on the other hand the GOP never tried to debauch a Cub Scout Troop so there's that...

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (/4AZU)

90 What did Ted Cruz
mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord
of the Flies"?


He meant he wanted to see Harry Reid's head on a stick, covered with flies.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (p+gjf)

91 Did anyone ever read 'Where the Red Fern Grows'? I read that in 4th or 5th grade and I cant imagine that book being in schools now.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (60Vyp)

92 I've noticed that modern books written for a "YA" audience are dumbed down to the point where it's hard for me to read them. Kids' books didn't used to be so watered down, did they?

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:26 AM (MYPM9)

93 Did anyone ever read 'Where the Red Fern Grows'? I read that in 4th or 5th grade and I cant imagine that book being in schools now.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (60Vyp)


My eleven year old just read it for school. Private Lutheran School.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:27 AM (KbNXw)

94 Did anyone ever read 'Where the Red Fern Grows'? I
read that in 4th or 5th grade and I cant imagine that book being in
schools now.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead

----

That was a good one. I'm pretty sure it's still in every school's library, but it probably doesn't get assigned as required reading much anymore.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:27 AM (MYPM9)

95 I've noticed that modern books written for a "YA" audience are dumbed down to the point where it's hard for me to read them. Kids' books didn't used to be so watered down, did they?
Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:26 AM (MYPM9)


Hell, they used to tech greek and laitin in H.S. Now remedial English classes are packed in Junior Colleges. So I think dumbed down may be an understatement.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:28 AM (KbNXw)

96 67 Is there any amateur radio emergency communications book that anyone would recommend?

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 10:07 AM (qYWZ5)

The world radio and TV Handbook.

But I see the price has greatly increased since the last time I bought one.

http://amzn.to/1zxtt43

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:29 AM (wlDny)

97 I'm penning a fiction series about a Western States politician who is a sneaky, conniving, child-molesting bastard who knows the law can't touch him (the way he touches young boys).

Posted by: Harry Reid at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (MYPM9)

98 Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:29 AM (wlDny)

Do you do any Ham radio stuff? I always thought about getting into it.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (KbNXw)

99 87>> Glad to hear it!! How long till you finish the first tome?

As for me, I'm just another unemployed, full time slacker college student these days. On top of that, the Grumpy Gandma is kinda pissy that I went and bought another scooter, and my Little Puddin Head Baby just got married over the Easter weekend. Other than that, a pretty non-eventful.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (60Vyp)

100 Heh. Who'd a thunk "The Lord of the Flies" was about pig fcuker Harry and his head on a stick. Enlightnening.

Posted by: olddog in mo at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (3eZI/)

101 >>What did Ted Cruz
mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord
of the Flies"?

The quote I read was a little broader. He also said it was going to be a Hobbesian state of nature. Sounds like he is saying it's going to be a brutal battle for power until somebody grabs the conch.

Or he just wants to kill the pig. One of the other.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 19, 2015 10:31 AM (g1DWB)

102 I'm penning a fiction series about a Western States politician who is a sneaky, conniving, child-molesting bastard who knows the law can't touch him (the way he touches young boys).
Posted by: Harry Reid at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (MYPM9)


Oh, an autobiography.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:31 AM (KbNXw)

103 >>What did Ted Cruz

mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord

of the Flies"?

----

Sucks to your ass-mar!

Posted by: First Tenor at April 19, 2015 10:32 AM (MYPM9)

104 I like the book store pic, but I think we are going to need a trigger warning because of the presence of a depiction of Huckleberry Finn. Just thinking about the content of the book troubles me.

This comment is posted via this proxy:
http://freeproxy.club/

Here is a site with a list of proxies and their stats (very handy):
http://www.publicproxyservers.com/

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at April 19, 2015 10:33 AM (zrLx5)

105 I'm listening to the 'Apocalypse Tryptich I: The End Is Nigh.' The first of three volumes of end of the world anthologies that can be designated as before, during, and after. One of the stories is on the Sad Puppies slate of nominee candidates. Another story illustrates exactly why Sad Puppies exists.

An old joke has the New York Times showing the headline:
WORLD TO END TOMORROW
Women and Minorities Hardest Hit

This story is the embodiment of that headline. The narrative establishes that our narrator is a gay woman who has long been prevented from marrying her partner of a decade because she lives in Texas. (The idea that they should consider living somewhere else never arises. Some people just don't understand why there are states.) A big rock is going to come down on South Dakota and wipe anybody living in North America. This lets the author through in a quick gag about Americans tearing down the border fence to flee south. Yes, the story steals from 'The Day After Tomorrow,' always a sign of quality. Anyway, amid all the doom and gloom, Texas rushes through a gay marriage initiative.

Since there isn't nearly enough time to evacuate the US and Canada, a lottery is set up for transport seats. (Am I the only one seeing the contradiction here?) Everybody gets one chance but if you win your immediate family gets to go as well. Thus, married people with children have better odds. Because of this, a ton of people rush to get married, and in turn all new marriages are suspended. Cue www.sadtrombone.com here.

The narrator's partner wins a slot but she doesn't, yet would have gotten to go if only the straights (who are about to die by the tens of millions) weren't so mean to gay people.

That's right, folks. The story makes out gay marriage to be a life or death situation. Never mind that such a situation would likely have any number of other requirements, such as age and fertility. None of that matters when we have some agitprop disguised as a thematic story to execute here.

Posted by: epobirs at April 19, 2015 10:34 AM (g2O83)

106 Hello test.

Testing the freeproxy.club proxy server.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:36 AM (zrLx5)

107 67 Doug, Check out the ARRL book section. My training goes back some years but they used to have such manuals. Learn formal traffic procedures. They are somewhat tedious but are designed to avoid misunderstandings. If there's a traffic net in your area, give it a try. Also, learn effective net protocols, both as net control and participant so things flow smoothly when time matters. The basics of net protocol are common sense but benefit from experience. And don't ignore the sections on radio gear and other gear for your personal use during an emergency.

I've pretty much dropped such activities, partly for health reasons and partly because my area and state have put too much emphasis on hierarchy and command structure. All very formal and written out agreements that won't hold up in a real disaster. If you don't have the state's formal 'certification', they don't want your help. A very stupid and short-sighted approach. Don't mean to be discouraging. I believe hams' emergency capability is important but it can get bogged down by control freaks and officialdom.

Posted by: JTB at April 19, 2015 10:36 AM (FvdPb)

108 The best books any of my school teachers ever made me read were Exodus, 1984 and the Federalist Papers.

But as a kid, I loved reading NatGeo and anything about sailing or undersea exploration. Today NatGeo seems like its been co-opted by the Sierra Club and Green Peace. Now I pretty much only read books about the age of exploration and sciency stuff.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (60Vyp)

109
When fapping April shoots watery spoink
Ends March's drought and makes pigs oink
Showers clean plump hobos of dirt and blight
Then Morons pantless drink Val-U-Rite
And track the hobo to his lair
Trap yummy vagrant with spear and snare
Roast him upon the spit with dressing
Drink up and feast with Ewok's blessing

Posted by: The Moronbury Tales at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (KUa85)

110 I had a client whose boyfriend was a Turk. When she introduced him I asked him where he was from based on his heavy accent. He proudly declared: "Turkey!"

Then I said: "Ahhh, Turkey! Kemel Attaturk was the 'Father of Modern Turkey', and Turkey was the home of the first 7 Christian Churches!"

So he was beaming, so proud, when I followed up with: "You know that thing with the Armenians was a little over the top, don't you think?"

His face boiled for a few seconds and he blurted out: "They were worse than the Jews!!!"

Long silence ensued . . .

Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (rXB/r)

111 98 Do you do any Ham radio stuff? I always thought about getting into it.



Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:30 AM (KbNXw)

I have a pair of Icom receivers that I can get 1 hz up to 1.2GH on. But my outside antenna blew down during a storm and I have got around to putting it back up.

My understanding is that the hobby is dying out. And with sunspot activity down reception is probably poor right now.

If you want to try it w/o spending a lot of money get a small portable first. But make sure it has provisions for connecting an outside antenna. Those little whip aerials don't pick up very well.

After you give it a spin you'll know if you want to upgrade to something more expensive.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:38 AM (wlDny)

112 Well, time to get a few thigns done so I can justify heading for the lake.
Yesterday's report @93 on the EMT.
Love each other fellow babies.

Posted by: teej at April 19, 2015 10:38 AM (9/OH8)

113 Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.


Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.

Posted by: Groucho Marx at April 19, 2015 10:38 AM (0HooB)

114 The narrator's partner wins a slot but she doesn't, yet would have gotten to go if only the straights (who are about to die by the tens of millions) weren't so mean to gay people.

Amen! Preach it brother! Can I get a witness? Hallelujah!

Gee, I just love religion. Don't you?

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:40 AM (p+gjf)

115 Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM

*Snort*

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 19, 2015 10:40 AM (60Vyp)

116 Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:38 AM (wlDny)

Do you favor any equipment brands? Is Icom a brand?

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:40 AM (KbNXw)

117 I love me some Roald Dahl, but I would've put The Witches on the list of best children's books, rather than Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Also, replace Little Women with Anne of Green Gables

Posted by: Jenny Is Genuinely Curious at April 19, 2015 10:41 AM (mB6ez)

118 The narrator's partner wins a slot

----

So...fifty percent of the story's gay population survives, and 99 percent of the story's straight population dies? And that's still not enough for her?

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:43 AM (MYPM9)

119 I have a pair of Icom receivers that I can get 1 hz up to 1.2GH on.

They call those "DC to daylight" receivers, by the way.

My understanding is that the hobby is dying out. And with sunspot activity down reception is probably poor right now.

Meh. It's up and down. A couple of weekends ago, I was working a CW contest and worked stations in Japan, Ukraine, Sweden, other european countries, and some in south america, too.

So it's not all bad.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:43 AM (p+gjf)

120 The Danites are the Mormon enforcers. They supposedly no longer exist. Supposedly.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at April 19, 2015 10:44 AM (yxw0r)

121 *Snort*


Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead

---

Can I have some?

Posted by: Tony Montana at April 19, 2015 10:44 AM (MYPM9)

122 Icom is a brand yes but they are pricey. Those receivers I have were about $1,000 each and that was years ago before Obama-bucks. You can get them used for between 300 and 400 dollars though.



Radio Shack used to make a fairly cheap portable that was good but they are going out of buisness now. Grundig makes some good portables as well but they are somewhat pricey.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:45 AM (wlDny)

123 So he was beaming, so proud, when I followed up with: "You know that thing with the Armenians was a little over the top, don't you think?"

And for Sharkman's next trick, he'll be slathering his hand with barbecue sauce and sticking it in a tank of piranhas.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:46 AM (p+gjf)

124 OSP. Icom and Yaseu are the two 800 lb. gorillas in the HAM arena. Browning (not the gun company) was some of the best equipment up to the early 1980s.

Shop for used equipment under those brands on eBay..... there's a lot of bang for the buck in there.



Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at April 19, 2015 10:46 AM (RzZOc)

125 The narrator's partner wins a slot but she doesn't, yet would have
gotten to go if only the straights (who are about to die by the tens of
millions) weren't so mean to gay people.

--------------

This was the best story I've ever read in my whole life, after the gay penguin book.

Posted by: Pajama Boy at April 19, 2015 10:46 AM (MYPM9)

126 What did Ted Cruz
mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord
of the Flies"?


I think it's a reference to the lawless barbarity that the boys slip into-

where might makes right and the power of the mob is directed against the outcast.


See....well pretty much everything going on now-

Obama's racist incitement, SJW bullying, Gay fascism, Holder's lawless DOJ etc etc etc

Posted by: naturalfake at April 19, 2015 10:46 AM (KUa85)

127 Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:45 AM (wlDny)

Do you favor any introduction or reference books.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:47 AM (KbNXw)

128 Icom
Ucom
We all com
For Christina Hendricks

Posted by: Truth in Advertising at April 19, 2015 10:48 AM (MYPM9)

129 127 Do you favor any introduction or reference books.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 10:47 AM (KbNXw)


That world radio and TV handbook I posted above is a good starter book and a handy reference for stuff like building antennas etc. I would check out your local library though. Free is always better. Especially since they have jacked up the price for that book to $30.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:49 AM (wlDny)

130 72 Didn't read most of those kids books so I can't judge em but c'mon, no...
Huck Finn
Tom Sawyer
Call of the Wild
White Fang
Old Yeller
And a relative unknown I really enjoyed, "Bristle Face" by Zachary Ball.
Too much of the white, male patriarchy stuff?

----

The list is still mostly white male authors, though?

Posted by: Jenny Is Genuinely Curious at April 19, 2015 10:50 AM (mB6ez)

131 I would check out your local library though.

----

Agreed,OSP, but that's a pretty specific subject; there's a pretty good chance your library won't have much. So press for an Interlibrary Loan if they don't have anything useful in-system.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:51 AM (MYPM9)

132 A little brief internet investigation reveals the following:

The bookstore pictured above is a relatively new facility.

The store is located mid-block, directly north of the Covey Center. Looking on Google Earth Street view- as of 9/2012 that address (450 W. Center St) was a place called "La Estrellita del Sur" (little star of the south), and the adjacent space (which is now the right hand part of the building pictured above) was a pawn shop. It looks like the bookstore front is a mural painted directly on the old brick storefront. Pretty cool.


Google should send their street view van out to Provo again. (Maybe they could take Hillary along to meet some real Utahns!)

Posted by: Mr. MuuMuu at April 19, 2015 10:53 AM (NeFrd)

133 Sock fail

Posted by: Muldoon, a solid man at April 19, 2015 10:53 AM (NeFrd)

134 (Maybe they could take Hillary along to meet some real Utahns!)

----

She'd find support in SLC, but her crowds would be pretty sparse elsewhere in the state. She should totally try it! It'd be fun to watch her pretend to like green jello with carrots.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:55 AM (MYPM9)

135 The list is still mostly white male authors, though?

And white women.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 10:55 AM (p+gjf)

136 She'd find support in SLC, but her crowds would be
pretty sparse elsewhere in the state. She should totally try it! It'd be
fun to watch her pretend to like green jello with carrots.
Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:55 AM (MYPM9)


With or without the pineapple tidbits?

Posted by: Kindletot at April 19, 2015 10:56 AM (t//F+)

137 "They were worse than the Jews!!!"



Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (rXB/r)

We beg to differ.....

Posted by: The Ayatollahs at April 19, 2015 10:57 AM (Zu3d9)

138 green jello with carrots

----

LOL is that like some new kind of jello shot? lol

Posted by: LIV at April 19, 2015 10:58 AM (MYPM9)

139 The Little Prince isn't a children's book. Most children find it excruciatingly dull and talky. Adults find it enchanting, but not kids.

Posted by: Trimegistus at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (znhCL)

140 With or without the pineapple tidbits?


Posted by: Kindletot

---

They're such polite people, I'm sure they'll offer a choice of either and both. And some funeral potatoes.

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (MYPM9)

141 Totally O/T

I was just out mowing my backyard. I had finished around the base of a pecan tree and was swinging the mower around to take up the next cut when a rather large red shouldered hawk came whooshing past my head. He didn't miss me by more than six inches. He came down next to the pecan, about five feet from the mower, and grabbed a big lizard that was trying to scurry back to cover. The hawk turned and faced me and flashed his wings in a sort of "fuck you, primate" gesture and took off with his prize. So, congratulations to the raptor, and now I need a beer.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (MkQKr)

142 Makes sense. If you're going to fill a transport to repopulate civilization after an extinction event non-procreative street performers will be a top priority.

Posted by: Muldoon, a solid man at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (NeFrd)

143 "fuck you, primate"

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (MkQKr)

Fuck me?

No...fuck you.

Posted by: 12 gauge at April 19, 2015 11:01 AM (Zu3d9)

144 Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 10:49 AM (wlDny)

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 10:51 AM (MYPM9)


Excellent, thanks men.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 11:01 AM (KbNXw)

145 Yeah, all white, mostly men. Not getting the criticism that Twain or London were left off because the critics dislike white males.

I do like that an effort was made to go across age groups, from preschool read-aloud to the first books a kid reads independently (Little House in the Big Woods was my first chapter book, I think) to young teens. Overall a good list.

Posted by: Jenny Is Genuinely Curious at April 19, 2015 11:01 AM (mB6ez)

146 141 LOL, we have an eagle that shows up here periodically. I am about a mile away from a swamp so he is probably cruising that swamp for stuff.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 11:01 AM (wlDny)

147 The best children's book:
http://tinyurl.com/oxc76uv

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 11:01 AM (MYPM9)

148 green jello with carrots

----

LOL is that like some new kind of jello shot? lol
Posted by: LIV at April 19, 2015 10:58 AM (MYPM9)

That's a geriatric Lutheran's assassins tool of the trade.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet at April 19, 2015 11:02 AM (KbNXw)

149 Not getting the criticism that Twain or London were left off because the critics dislike white males.

----

They were left off because they are barbaric Americans.

Posted by: BBC at April 19, 2015 11:03 AM (MYPM9)

150 That's a geriatric Lutheran's assassins tool of the trade.


Posted by: Oldsailors Poet

----

This one knows too much.

Posted by: Geriatric Lutheran Assassin at April 19, 2015 11:04 AM (MYPM9)

151

They were left off because they are barbaric Americans.

---

Like the author of the book they rated #1?

Posted by: Jenny Is Genuinely Curious at April 19, 2015 11:05 AM (mB6ez)

152 Like the author of the book they rated #1?


Posted by: Jenny Is Genuinely Curious

----

*sigh*
Young lady, a woman--even an American--cannot be a barbarian. You must listen to our radio programme more to understand the hierarchy of hatred. We included some Americans, but only those who were of the womanly sort.

Posted by: BBC at April 19, 2015 11:07 AM (MYPM9)

153 "What did Ted Cruz mean when he warned that the next 20 months were going to be "The Lord of the Flies"?"

I haven't listened to the whole speech, but my first guess was a collapse of the international order. He said it would be Hobbesian (which I'm sure just confused more journalists, who are woefully ignorant of everything Enlightenment, and so they fixated on the pop culture reference).

Posted by: Apostate at April 19, 2015 11:08 AM (4pWO0)

154 I honestly am continuously impressed with the intelligence and erudition of the commenters and Cobs around here. That's not flattery but facts.
Makes me wonder if liberals might be mistaken in their belief that conservatives are not as bright as they are.

Posted by: Northernlurker at April 19, 2015 11:08 AM (4+sJl)

155 That may be quite a departure for Brooks. IIRC, Bobos in Paradise was just gushing about how wonderful the coming world was going to be now that it was being run by credentialed, pragmatic intellectuals (like Brooks) and not stogy old white men with morals and work ethics and icky outdated stuff like that.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 19, 2015 11:09 AM (WvS3w)

156 "Makes me wonder if liberals might be mistaken..."

------


Hahaha!!!! Liberals? Mistaken? Heavens no! Why, they are perfect, and conservatives yucky.


Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 11:11 AM (MYPM9)

157

*sigh*
Young lady, a woman--even an American--cannot be a barbarian. You must listen to our radio programme more to understand the hierarchy of hatred. We included some Americans, but only those who were of the womanly sort.

---

To paraphrase one of my white male American peers:

The news of my gender reassignment has been greatly exaggerated.

Posted by: Elwyn Brooks White at April 19, 2015 11:11 AM (mB6ez)

158 Well, I've got to get ready for work, my e-friends.And I have been forbidden to view the Prophet Ace (blessed be his name) at work, so have a great day!

Posted by: Turd Ferguson at April 19, 2015 11:12 AM (MYPM9)

159 154 I honestly am continuously impressed with the intelligence and erudition of the commenters and Cobs around here.

Posted by: Northernlurker at April 19, 2015 11:08 AM (4+sJl)



There you go usin' them ten-dollar words again.

Posted by: rickl at April 19, 2015 11:13 AM (sdi6R)

160 To paraphrase one of my white male American peers:



The news of my gender reassignment has been greatly exaggerated.

Posted by: Elwyn Brooks White

----

We didn't mean to imply you were a woman, Mr. White, merely womanly. And we mean that in the most positive sense. Your story about a girl learning from a pig learning from a spider is powerfully feminine.

Posted by: BBC at April 19, 2015 11:14 AM (MYPM9)

161
The "Freddy the Pig" books should be on any list of great children's literature.

Posted by: Frankly at April 19, 2015 11:15 AM (bttXU)

162 Looking over what got posted last night when I was busy, I see the leftist feminist attempt to chastize and attack white male writers and I see this:

"Read less straight white men."

From a group of literary women? Seriously?

FEWER, not less. Straight white men is not a volume issue, its a quantity. Come on, we're supposed to take you seriously when you can't even get your grammar correct? I would let this slide but this is from a literary group called the Association of Writers & Writing Programs.

Its one thing for Joe Average to get this wrong, as much of a pet peeve it is for me. Its a tough one to remember and understand, for a lot of folks (like get/take). But an association of writers really should know better. This is like some big scientific pop culture figure getting basic scientific facts wrong.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:15 AM (39g3+)

163 "Read less straight white men."

----

Apologies for the typo, should have read "Read less, straight white men." We're trying to keep the straights uneducated, so it'll be easier to round them up into camps.

Posted by: Feminist Writers Guild at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (MYPM9)

164 I am on to "Dune Messiah"

Posted by: Perdogg at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (zbccc)

165 LOL, we have an eagle that shows up here periodically. I am about a mile away from a swamp so he is probably cruising that swamp for stuff.

The eagles around Casa Backwardio are cruising for Chihuahuas.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (0HooB)

166 I haven't listened to the whole speech, but my first guess was a collapse of the international order. He said it would be Hobbesian (which I'm sure just confused more journalists, who are woefully ignorant of everything Enlightenment, and so they fixated on the pop culture reference)

If, instead of 'Lord of the Flies', Cruz had used 'Mad Max' as his illustration, he could have followed it up with "...and that makes me the ayatollah of rock-n-rollah!"

Now THAT the media would have understood.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (p+gjf)

167 141 Totally O/T

I was just out mowing my backyard. I had finished around the base of a pecan tree and was swinging the mower around to take up the next cut when a rather large red shouldered hawk came whooshing past my head. He didn't miss me by more than six inches. He came down next to the pecan, about five feet from the mower, and grabbed a big lizard that was trying to scurry back to cover. The hawk turned and faced me and flashed his wings in a sort of "fuck you, primate" gesture and took off with his prize. So, congratulations to the raptor, and now I need a beer.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at April 19, 2015 10:59 AM (MkQKr)

Those raptors are ballsy. Had a bald eagle swoop within 15 feet of me to check out the trout on my stringer once. But not six inches. Dang.

Posted by: Bob's House of Flannel Shirts and Wallet Chains at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (yxw0r)

168 Heh. I should have broken into,song after that exchange:

"Istanbul!, Constantinople!, Istanbul!, Constantinople!

[Repeat for eternity]"

Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 11:17 AM (rXB/r)

169 That same Buzzfeed article with the obnoxious women holding up largely incoherent attacks on men, the top article when I looked at it: a woman explaining cultural appropriation.

Hey, non-whites, and women? Writing books is a white male thing. Stop trying to appropriate our culture.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:19 AM (39g3+)

170 The eagles around Casa Backwardio are cruising for Chihuahuas

I wish them good hunting.

Annoying little rat-dogs.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 11:20 AM (p+gjf)

171 We as a nation should get off of our high horse about what the Turks did. We have plenty to be ashamed about too. We had a civil war where hundreds of thousands died.

Posted by: King Barky the Liar at April 19, 2015 11:23 AM (WGm5T)

172 Someone mentioned pzmeyers here and I went and checked his site. He and his followers are still whining about Sad Puppies. LOL
Posted by: Bruce J. at April 19, 2015 09:26 AM (iQIUe)
******
Completely unwilling to acknowledge that there's a problem. Just accuse the other side of what you are doing, plus a lot of name calling. Freethoughtbloggers are a bunch of incorrigible sociopaths. I can't even imagine what it would take to have an actual dialog with one. More depressing than funny, for me.

Posted by: Sunni LeBeouf at April 19, 2015 11:23 AM (cIoI4)

173 Re: Turkey - since 950k Greeks were also killed, as well as a couple hundred thousand Assyrian Christians, I'd say, yeah, it was ethno-religious cleansing. Read "The Blight of Asia." Don't forget that as Smyrna burned the West just sat back and watched.

Posted by: Patrick at April 19, 2015 11:24 AM (U6YEj)

174 I quit Alastair Reynolds around "Century Rain" (2004). This was partially set in an alternate Europe, where the Nazis fail but France goes fascist anyway, on its own.

We all receive Very Important Lessons, like that fascism is bad. What clinched it for me that our author was SJW was when strong female protagonist whined, "but I just want to make the world a better place". No, honey; everyone who's ever said that has, deep down, wanted to line a Cambodian field with corpses.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 19, 2015 11:26 AM (AVEe1)

175 Given how easy it is to publish these days -- how much does it matter that the publishing industry is dominated by Progs?

The limiting factor is attention, right? I see how the big publishing houses can bring resources to that problem.

Still, I wonder. I had never read a Brad Thor novel before I found him on Twitter being such a bad-ass right-winger.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 19, 2015 11:26 AM (zwdxl)

176 There has been a mated pair of hawks living on the property for a few years now and I have always given them a wide berth, because I like the hawks better than I like the squirrels. Obviously, at this point, they have decided that the local humans are not a threat. I have to say, the bunny eye view of the talons as it comes blasting past is disconcerting.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at April 19, 2015 11:27 AM (MkQKr)

177 Sharkman - you should have just said that 500 years of occupation was enough and that it was time to give Constantinople back.

Posted by: Patrick at April 19, 2015 11:27 AM (U6YEj)

178 Philip Roth did a lot better with his alternate fascist America. His characters didn't pretend to be superior people. He also understood 1940 America a lot better than Reynolds understood 1940 France. As in, Roth footnoted everything.

Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at April 19, 2015 11:28 AM (AVEe1)

179 "The Blight of Asia." Don't forget that as Smyrna burned the West just sat back and watched.


Posted by: Patrick at April 19, 2015 11:24 AM (U6YEj
True

Posted by: Velvet Ambition at April 19, 2015 11:28 AM (R8hU8)

180 "Don't forget that as Smyrna burned the West just sat back and watched."

Just like with the Yazidis.

Posted by: Apostate at April 19, 2015 11:28 AM (4pWO0)

181 I must... I must... I must increase my bust.

Are you there God? It's me, Brucella. Can you just make it go away, please? I'm afraid of the pain.

Posted by: Bruce Jenner at April 19, 2015 11:29 AM (XrHO0)

182 Given how easy it is to publish these days -- how much does it matter that the publishing industry is dominated by Progs?

Exactly. The dirty little secret of publishing before this golden era of self publishing was that leftist women controlled it. They pushed who they liked, ignored who they didn't, and printed their personal preferences. Women were in charge from the bottom up. Most agents are women. Most people working in publishing houses are women. Most editors are women. Its just ridiculous, and the product was representing this, all the way through the Oprah Winfrey star making show to push books of the proper "literary content."

They lost it. Now its up to who wants to write and publish, and I'm sure its driving them berserk.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:31 AM (39g3+)

183 "They lost it. Now its up to who wants to write and publish, and I'm sure its driving them berserk."

Someone should found a publishing house for men and masculine interests and call it Cimmerian Books or something.

Posted by: Apostate at April 19, 2015 11:34 AM (4pWO0)

184 Has anyone else noticed that SJW authors (Scalzi) are writing stories where the protagonist is killed for little effect? Scalzi had about 3 Ok to good books. Now I think anyone who buys his recent books is getting ripped off.

Posted by: book Critic at April 19, 2015 11:34 AM (PGh+Q)

185 I've been reading books by a lot of straight, white men, like Linwood Barclay and Harlan Coben for the bad shit happening to everyman type of thing. I have also been reading David Baldacci's books for conspiracy by the CIA and other governmental heavyweights deal. Robert Crais for when I need my badass fix, because I love the straight, white Joe Pike. I also read books by women authors and, possibly, gay authors. I'm just going by the blurb and the picture on the cover most of the time. Few of the authors bear a resemblance to Janet Napolitano, either physically or ideologically.

Posted by: huerfano at April 19, 2015 11:37 AM (bynk/)

186 I fully expect a huge push by the social justice warrior types to crush Amazon for allowing non-approved books on Kindle and Createspace. They might start with smaller print-on-demand services first as a test case to see if they can get one to cave. If they can't get these companies to stop printing doubleplusungood badthinks, they can maybe get them to promote the "right" sort of books and bury the rest.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:38 AM (39g3+)

187 Someone should found a publishing house for men and masculine interests and call it Cimmerian Books or something.

What a h8r.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 11:38 AM (p+gjf)

188 Big thing Pub Houses bring is marketing resources. But their resources are tiny in the grand scheme of things.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 19, 2015 11:40 AM (zwdxl)

189 Someone should found a publishing house for men and masculine interests

Isn't Regnant basically that?

I wouldn't start a publishing house today any more than I would a Videotape manufacturer.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:40 AM (39g3+)

190 Patrick:

Yes, I should have.

Damnit! Missed a perfect chance.

Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 11:41 AM (rXB/r)

191 And now, some selected hits from Godfrey Elfwick, master satirist

@GodfreyElfwick Because I was born white but realized later in life that I was #WrongSkin and transitioned mentally to black.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:42 AM (39g3+)

192 @GodfreyElfwick Don't want to be labelled a rapist? Then respect women's boundaries and remember that consent can be revoked at any time. Even after sex.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:43 AM (39g3+)

193 I don't much care what David Brooks has to say, and I don't much care if what he has to say is worth saying.

Some people haven't earned my attention... or more accurately, have earned my non-attention. Plus, I'm going to assume any and all statements he makes regarding virtues like humility are insincere babblings of a lifelong narcissist.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 19, 2015 11:43 AM (Dj0WE)

194 In 2013, the Progs got Orson Scott Card banned from writing a Superman comic.

Yet from 2008-2012, Marvel was happy to publish an Ender's Game comic.

Shows how quickly the gay marriage issue went from just a normal issue that normal ppl could disagree about to a Burn The Heretic! issue.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 19, 2015 11:44 AM (zwdxl)

195 @GodfreyElfwick

I used to identify as #atheist as I don't believe in God but when I saw how racist the movement has become I converted to moderate Islam.

Not surprising that the pseudo-intellectual proponents of #FreeSpeech think the term means you should be allowed to say whatever you want.

I've heard rumours of a famine in Africa so I need to find them some of my low budget vegan recipes

Describing #YouTube videos as "viral" is #CulturalAppropriation of the #HIV positive community.
If you're not Poz don't say it.

#StarWars has become so mainstream that I don't care for it any more.
I much preferred it when it was just a radio series.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:46 AM (39g3+)

196 God, if you change me now, I will forgive you for misgendering me. Just admit you made a mistake, that's all I ask. And make me pretty.

Posted by: Bruce Jenner at April 19, 2015 11:46 AM (cIoI4)

197 @GodfreyElfwick Don't want to be labelled a rapist? Then respect women's
boundaries and remember that consent can be revoked at any time. Even
after sex.

----

I totally agree.




I just wish I could get to the after sex part, just once.

Posted by: Pajama Boy at April 19, 2015 11:46 AM (MYPM9)

198 Shows how quickly the gay marriage issue went from just a normal issue that normal ppl could disagree about to a Burn The Heretic! issue.

It is truly stunning to me; it went from "its up to you how you feel about it" to "you must agree or are evil" practically overnight. Even among otherwise fairly intelligent and objective people. Its a truly stunning example of groupthink in action, and gives you a good feel how someone like Hitler could get away with what he did.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:47 AM (39g3+)

199 How to Pick Locks or How to Build a Boat, as circumstances dictate.
Posted by: Emmett Milbarge at April 19, 2015 09:51 AM (nFdGS)

hahahaha; clever

Posted by: m at April 19, 2015 11:48 AM (WIUGG)

200 Yeah, David Brooks lifetime of House Conservative wussiness mean that he's on my lifetime ignore list. He's earned it.

The best way to fight back against any media personality or property who hates you is just deprive them of attention.

Life is short and you can only read and follow the ideas of a small % of ppl clamoring for your attention.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 19, 2015 11:49 AM (zwdxl)

201 Life is short and you can only read and follow the ideas of a small % of ppl clamoring for your attention.

That's why it always annoyed me that Drudge had Andrew Sullivan prominently in his links near the top every single day. This is someone who does not deserve attention from anyone but his random hookups at the local rest area. Stop throwing him traffic for free.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:51 AM (39g3+)

202 Life is short and you can only read and follow the ideas of a small % of ppl clamoring for your attention.

And the overwhelming majority of people who are propped up in front of you aren't very smart. All they have is A Agenda.

I enjoy the power of "Who?"

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this sh1t at April 19, 2015 11:52 AM (0HooB)

203 Makes me wonder if liberals might be mistaken in their belief that conservatives are not as bright as they are.

Posted by: Northernlurker at April 19, 2015 11:08 AM (4+sJl)

***********************

Yeah, right! LOL!!!1!

Posted by: Jonathan Gruber at April 19, 2015 11:55 AM (XrHO0)

204 Shows how quickly the gay marriage issue went from just a normal issue that normal ppl could disagree about to a Burn The Heretic! issue.

Yup, that has been truly astonishing. It happened so fast, I still have whiplash.

Posted by: OregonMuse at April 19, 2015 11:55 AM (p+gjf)

205 Just read Mark Hemingway in the Weekly Standard about the cultural appropriations mess. He has really done some nice pieces about gamergate and Sad Puppies. I guess I was just surprised about something showing up there because they are usually such squishes and above the usual social fray. Anyway, I recommend his pieces.

Posted by: mustbequantum at April 19, 2015 11:55 AM (MIKMs)

206 Genocide? What Genocide?


Now how about some recognition for the Holodomor, the systematic starving to death of somewhere between 6 and 10 million Ukrainians?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at April 19, 2015 11:57 AM (oKE6c)

207 If you feel overwhelmed, listen to some Triumph

https://youtu.be/2-lGhKrypb0

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:58 AM (39g3+)

208 Life is short and you can only read and follow the ideas of a small % of ppl clamoring for your attention.
Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 19, 2015 11:49 AM (zwdxl)


It often mystifies me how much time and energy the host of this here blog pays to these people. He'll write lengthy refutations of something the twits on MSNBC said, or some twit on twitter.


I don't know if he feels like he has to, or he knows it'll get him some blog hits (or whatever), or if he really does care about the statements being made out there on the left.


And maybe he does. As you say though, life is short. I'm not giving them that much of my time and/or mental energy.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 19, 2015 12:01 PM (Dj0WE)

209 Yeah, if it weren't for right wing bloggers, MSNBC would lose most of its audience. I swear, people like that survive only because they generate outrage. Who'd talk about the latest idiotic show by the latest Air America reject to get an MSNBC slot unless the right yelled back at the TV? I can't figure out why people even watch that trash.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 12:03 PM (39g3+)

210 67 Is there any amateur radio emergency communications book that anyone would recommend?

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 10:07 AM (qYWZ5)

As usual, looks like someone stole my thunder, but yes, check the ARRL web site in their book section. They have all manner of publications, including stuff on ARES, procedures, equipment setups, antennas, you name it.

Posted by: The Oort Cloud - SMOD is inbound at April 19, 2015 12:04 PM (yTMXB)

211 Its a truly stunning example of groupthink in action, and gives you a good feel how someone like Hitler could get away with what he did.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at April 19, 2015 11:47 AM (39g3+)

*********

Yes, I grew up in a world where I wondered, "how could people err this egregiously en masse?"
Now I'm like, "I guess Calvin's right about total depravity".

Posted by: Jonathan Gruber at April 19, 2015 12:08 PM (cIoI4)

212 I've been reading Epictetus, which got me back to my favorite, Marcus Aurelius, who was influenced by Epictetus.

"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

I'm by nature a jolly, shallow, pleasure-seeking sybarite, but also fatalistic, so I find the Stoics strangely comforting in these times.

"Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present."

Of course we may go from Commodus straight through to Elegabalus and the inevitable shitstorm.

"The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing."

Posted by: All Hail Eris at April 19, 2015 12:08 PM (KH1sk)

213 Re: the Holodomor, Robert Conquest has written a couple excellent books on the subject.

In his Foreword to Harvest of Sorrow, he states that for every letter of every word in the book, ten people were Starve-Murdered by the Soviets.

It is not a thin book.

Posted by: Sharkman at April 19, 2015 12:12 PM (rXB/r)

214 109
When fapping April shoots watery spoink
Ends March's drought and makes pigs oink
Showers clean plump hobos of dirt and blight
Then Morons pantless drink Val-U-Rite
And track the hobo to his lair
Trap yummy vagrant with spear and snare
Roast him upon the spit with dressing
Drink up and feast with Ewok's blessing

Posted by: The Moronbury Tales at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (KUa85)

*Golf clap*

Most excellent. I hereby award you a lifetime's supply of Kaboom and a sweater made out of Ewok hair.

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at April 19, 2015 12:13 PM (+XMAD)

215 "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

I've always tried to make that the guiding principle of my life.

Posted by: Brucella Jenner at April 19, 2015 12:16 PM (XrHO0)

216 Posted by: The Moronbury Tales at April 19, 2015 10:37 AM (KUa85)
---
This needs to be recited at the MoMee. Well met, naturalfake.

Posted by: All Hail Eris at April 19, 2015 12:21 PM (KH1sk)

217 Last week, I ordered "The Alto Wore Tweed" because of a Moron's recommendation (actually, I think it was OregonMuse) and I'm really enjoying it.

It's the only book I've ever read which made me laugh before I even started it, thanks to the "advance praise" quotes, which showed the author, Mark Schweizer, has an AOSHQ sense of humor.

"This is the most terrifying and beautiful novel I've ever read."
Edith Head (1903-1981), Clothing Designer channeled through Madame Cleo, Psychic Hotline ($3.95 per minute)

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at April 19, 2015 12:22 PM (+XMAD)

218 88 Fuck the Turks.
Kick their Muslim asses off of European soil, ship their Muslim asses to some third world Muslim shithole and give that land that is now Turkey to Greece.
Posted by: The Man from Athens at April 19, 2015 10:25 AM (O3k74)

Um, no.

Posted by: m at April 19, 2015 12:26 PM (WIUGG)

219 Posted by: Donna V. (brandishing ampersands) at April 19, 2015 12:22 PM (+XMAD)

i have lost my ampersand abilities.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 19, 2015 12:42 PM (0O7c5)

220 i have lost my ampersand abilities.....
Posted by: phoenixgirl at April 19, 2015 12:42 PM (0O7c5)

Oh, dear me. That's serious.

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at April 19, 2015 12:43 PM (+XMAD)

221 Here, phoenixgirl, have a few:

&&&&&&&&&

Posted by: Donna &&&&&& V. (brandishing ampersands) at April 19, 2015 12:45 PM (+XMAD)

222 Thanks and kudos are due to one of the Horde - Oregon Muse, to be exact (I think). I'm reading the Liturgical Mysteries by Mark Schweizer thanks to the recommendation from last week. Up to #6, and enjoying them mightily. Charming, funny as hell (you will laugh out loud, trust me), and worth the time, even if you aren't into church music, High Anglicanism or Raymond Chandler.

Posted by: Bookaday at April 19, 2015 12:47 PM (j3vws)

223 @107 - Thanks, JTB Good advice.

You're right about the bureaucracy. Requirements are allegedly for "insurance reasons" and local FIRE/EMS absolutely insist on this for volunteers.

ARES/RACES hams are required to train with and join "Community Emergency Response Teams" as well as complete four online FEMA/NIMS courses, which consist of about 12 hours of total org chart BS. CERT taught useful first aid and disaster skills. FEMA/NIMS, not very much.

I've done all the courses and am now considered "deployable." Unfortunately, not all hams are willing to jump through all the hoops.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 12:55 PM (qYWZ5)

224 Thanks for the book recommendations on the Armenian genocide! Right after college I lived in Watertown, MA (a few blocks from where Joker was hiding out), which boasts the largest population of Armenians outside of Armenia. They even had a billboard announcing that the Amernian genocide was the forst genocide of the 20th century. A dubious honor, but I can kinda see where they might feel like they get overshadowed by the horrors of the Holocaust. WIll be interesting to read more about it.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 19, 2015 01:05 PM (2TN4k)

225 @111 @98

>My understanding is that the hobby is dying out. And with sunspot activity down reception is probably poor right now.

Actually, the number of licensed hams has been steadily increasing, although the nature of the hobby is changing. Less building, more buying of gear.

>If you want to try it w/o spending a lot of money get a small portable first. But make sure it has provisions for connecting an outside antenna. Those little whip aerials don't pick up very well.

I started with a $40 2M/70cm Baofeng handy talky, 19" whip, and computer programming cable. I can hit a repeater from 20 miles away, operating from an indoor second-floor window. An outside antenna would be a good idea if you want to make the best of the radio. Initial investment for gear was about $85. License test $15, test prep book $25, Programming cable not essential. but highly advised.

Lots or preppers buy the same sort of radios. I got into ham radio for that reason, although I enjoy other aspects of the hobby as well.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 01:06 PM (qYWZ5)

226 Someone in the ONT mentioned recently watching "Lone Survivor" and if you've enjoyed the movie, I would recommend reading Marcus Luttrell's book. The book spends a lot of time covering exactly what SEAL candidates go through as well as the training after they've survived the selection process. It really puts the actions of the soldier in the battlefield into perspective.

Another good book by a soldier describing modern battle in the ME is "House to House." Very different perspective than Lone Survivor because it describes the down and dirty fighting within a city as opposed to the open mountainside.

Posted by: Lizzy at April 19, 2015 01:09 PM (2TN4k)

227 @127 Intro ham books

Don't laugh: "Ham Radio for Dummies" by Ward Silver. Many Dummies books suck. This one is first-rate. SIlver is a very highly regarded expert in the field. Excellent intro book.

Next book I'd recommend is the "Ham Radio License Manual" published by ARRL. Everything you need to know to pass the test for your Technician license (and more).

However, the ARRL book has lots of info beyond what is needed to pass the test. If you just want to pass the test, get "Technician Class 2014-18 FCC Element 2 Radio License Preparation" by Gordon West. Short and to-the-point.

Finally, google for ham clubs in your area. They often have classes.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 01:15 PM (qYWZ5)

228 Listened to American Assassin (Mitch Rapp #1) by Vince Flynn. Exciting thriller, introduces us to American assassin Mitch Rapp who joins the CIA to kill terrorists after his fiancé is murdered when her plane explodes above Scotland.

It focuses on his training in the CIA and some missions in the Middle East. Terrific stuff, hope the rest of the series is as good.

Read Typhoon by Joseph Conrad. Story of a steamer ship in the Pacific running into a hurricane, and the crew's struggles to survive. Conrad does a great job making you feel like you are there experiencing the destructive force of the storm. Pretty simple story so the novel is fairly short.

Posted by: waelse1 at April 19, 2015 01:18 PM (j+zcS)

229 @228 Rapp series

You will not be disappointed.

Posted by: doug at April 19, 2015 01:22 PM (qYWZ5)

230 As for himself, Brooks told NPR he is "paid to...appear smarter than I really am..."
----------------

You'l probably find
that it suits your book
to be a bit cleverer
than you look

Observe that the easiest
method by far
is to look a bit stupider
than you are.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 19, 2015 02:27 PM (F2IAQ)

231 Yeah, its too bad we lost Vince Flynn so early. When they said he had level 4 prostate cancer I knew it would not be long.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at April 19, 2015 02:29 PM (wlDny)

232
'The Alto Wore Tweed'

Ordered. ABE Books, $3.95, free shipping.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 19, 2015 02:34 PM (F2IAQ)

233 Horde: What's your doing-life-without-parole or marooned on a desert island forever book?
-------------------

Robinson Crusoe.

But seriously..., while not the end-all of books, and not what I would choose in that situation, it addresses many of life's complications.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 19, 2015 02:41 PM (F2IAQ)

234 Late again. Huge Matt Helm fan here. Love the intelligent deduction and accuracy Hamilton put into his stories.

Don't like the anti-anti-drug attitude that he put into the later novels, which is why I barely got into his penultimate book. Big disappointment. Never found the last book. And now they're not even in the secondhand stores.

Posted by: Weak Geek at April 19, 2015 02:54 PM (kz7Fo)

235 Re Holodomor:

My grandfather came from a small town called Volkovysk in what is now Belarus. Once I tried searching to see if anyone famous came from there and came up with Raphael Lemkin. Lemkin is credited with inventing the term "genocide" in reference to the Holocaust though there is some dispute about this.

Anyway according to the Wiki article on Lemkin before his death in 1959 he was trying to bring attention to Stalin's attempt to wipe out Ukrainians:

"In 1953, in a speech given in New York City, he described the "destruction of the Ukrainian nation" as the "classic example of Soviet genocide"

Posted by: FOAF at April 19, 2015 02:58 PM (eVemY)

236 That should be "pentultimate," no matter what this autocorrect says.

As an editor, I also enjoyed Hamilton's respect for the English language. What would he say about today's twits and their tweets?

Posted by: Weak Geek at April 19, 2015 03:21 PM (kz7Fo)

237 mustbequantum at April 19, 2015 11:55 AM (MIKMs)

I wish I could say the same, but reading the Hemingway piece on the Hugos, I find this:

managed to score a few Hugo nominations for some writers who so lack merit their appearance on the ballot seems to have no other explanation than electioneering

Er, WTF? Which writers would those be, exactly? Which works? What on earth? An out-of-touch and somewhat cowardly blat in the middle of a mostly-pretty-well-grounded story, apparently in the interest of the traditional journalistic "Well but on the other hand some of these people are bad too" temporization. Bah.

Posted by: jaed at April 19, 2015 06:44 PM (HYan3)

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