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Sunday Morning Book Thread 02-19-2017
Main Reading Room, George Peabody Library, Baltimore
Nothing To See Here, Move Along The Federalist asks the question, Did The New York Times Deliberately Snub ‘Gosnell’ Book From Its Bestseller List?
When Gosnell: The Untold Story of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer launched last week, it was No. 3 on Amazon’s bestseller list, and took the top slot on the retailer’s “Hot New Release” list. Currently, Gosnell is No. 15 on Amazon’s “Hot New Release” list, and No. 13 on NYT’s “Combined Print & E-Book Nonfiction” list, yet NYT won’t include it on its bestseller nonfiction list.Amazon sales are not the same thing as NY Times sales, which are measured differently. That's why the the best-seller lists are different. On the other hand, the NY Times explanation actually explains nothing:
The Times's best-seller lists are based on a detailed analysis of book sales from a wide range of retailers who provide us with specific and confidential context of their sales each week. These standards are applied consistently, across the board in order to provide Times readers our best assessment of what books are the most broadly popular at that time.Sounds kind of weasely. And what is "specific and confidential context" supposed to mean? But regardless, here is the book: Gosnell: The Untold Story of America's Most Prolific Serial Killer by Ann McElhinney and Philem McAleer
When the Grand Jury indicted abortion doctor Dr. Kermit Gosnell in 2011, it wrote: "This case is about a doctor who killed babies... What we mean is that he regularly and illegally delivered live, viable babies in the third trimester of pregnancy—and then murdered these newborns by severing their spinal cords with scissors... Over the years, many people came to know that something was going on here. But no one put a stop to it."So Gosnell couldn't have done it without help:
The complicit role activist media, social radicals, medical colleagues, and incompetent (politicized) government played in perpetuating his crimes is an indictment of the moral wasteland we’re becoming. This is not about equating Gosnell’s crime to the horrific actions of Mengele, except to illustrate contemporary society’s refusal to learn from the past. If we did care, these blood-curdling crimes against babies would have ended earlier. If we did care, a caring nation would collectively march in the streets demanding answers. Instead, there’s muted silence and politicized obfuscation.
Not to mention the national press infamously dismissing it as, well, you know, a "local crime" story:
@MZHemingway Hi Molly - I cover policy for the Washington Post, not local crime, hence why I wrote about all the policy issues you mention.
— Sarah Kliff (@sarahkliff) April 11, 2013
And here is the disturbing part:
In a sense, you can understand why Gosnell would feel unfairly picked on. Under the system created by Roe and Doe, the worst that can be said of his efforts is that he cut too many corners, was sloppy and fudged some paperwork... As Claremont McKenna College professor Jon A. Shields notes, under Roe and Doe, Gosnell's only "clear legal violation[s]" are "relatively minor ones." Under Pennsylvania law, for instance, an abortionist needs a second opinion from another doctor to perform a third trimester abortion. "Is that failure really a capital crime?" Shields archly asks. "Had Gosnell performed the same late term abortion across the river in Cherry Hill, New Jersey - or in 40 other states - he would not have committed even a procedural offense."This graf was from Jonah Goldberg's introduction to Blackout: The Gosnell Grand Jury Report the Media Does Not Want You to Read. Kindle edition is $4.99, but you can read it for free (sans Goldberg's intro) here. You can listen to a short (4 min.), but very worthwhile interview with the authors McAleer and McElhinney here. They're also filming a movie that has been financed entirely by crowd-funding.
The Peabody Library - Also Good For Weddings
Recommended Reading for Shemp Smith, F. Chuck Todd, Jerry Rivers, Other MSM Snowflakes I always had doubts that Trump would win. And to be honest, he wasn't my first choice, I wanted Ted Cruz. But we didn't get Cruz. Instead, we got Trump. OK, fine. I'll vote for him. I won't like it, but I will. Anything has to be better than the corrupt, shrieking she-gorgon of Chicago. Others had more confidence than I did. One of those was internet pundit Don Surber, and he's got not one, but two books on the subject. The first one Trump the Press: Don Surber's take on how the pundits blew the 2016 Republican race came out in July, shortly after PDT won the Republican nomination. I don't think anyone in the MSM probably read it. As a group, the MSM are astoundingly un-self-aware and un-self-critical. They spend so much time time patting each other on the back and handing out awards to themselves that they have no idea how they appear to those of us to whom they're trying to sell their product. The difference between who they think they are, and who they actually are, is comically large. Any other profession, when it becomes apparent that something is broken, the members of that profession get together and try to: 1. fix it and 2. take steps to keep it from getting broken again. I know the military does this a lot, especially when they lose a battle. They do extensive analyses of what failed, what went wrong, how it could be improved, and how to avoid getting beat next time. Now, you'd think that in the face of their massive failures to get the 2016 election right, the MSM would've done something like that. You'd think they would have entered a period of self-reflection, held conferences, consulted with independent experts, etc., in order to understand and correct their mistakes and improve their product. And actually, I did see what I thought was going to be the beginning of this process. In the first week or two after the election, there did appear a sprinkling of "well, we sure screwed the pooch there, didn't we?" articles wherein some in the media tried to confront the endemic problems in their profession (for example, here's one). But there it stopped. And they doubled down, and then tripled down, on stupid, and they've been cranking out the stupid ever since. It was as if the MSM all looked at each other and said "no, it really isn't our fault after all." They're like a bunch of drunks who sobered up just long enough to realize they've got a serious drinking problem, but realized how hard it would be to actually give up drinking, so they said to hell with it, and started drinking again, only even more heavily than before. So they're probably not going to want to read Mr. Surber's latest book, Trump the Establishment: The Elitists Never Learned in 2016
From Clinton’s questionable activities to the media’s inability to grasp the difference between Trump the celebrity and Trump the CEO, Surber shows how Trump challenged and beat the establishment on his own terms. Voters in thirty states chose to dump the status quo in Washington, and Make America Great Again.No, they're probably not going to read that one, either. The MSM reminds me of the main character in this new Kindle book, My Safe Space:
Trump won despite Clinton’s massive campaign war chest. He won despite overwhelmingly negative news coverage. He won despite losing every debate. He won despite a tumultuous personal and financial past, and still, the elitists don’t understand why.
Surber explains why. Just don’t expect him to have any sympathy for the elitists and media personalities left adrift and defeated in Trump’s passing.
And after all, why should he?
Unable to cope with the reality of President Grump, Special Snowflake wishes on a star to enter an alternate reality where everything is the way she wants it to be, with President Zanders in the White House and gluten-free pastries in every Starbucks. But when she wakes up on January 21 and reads on Facebook that the inauguration never happened, that Grump decided to cancel at the last minute, she can't believe her wish came true. That just doesn't happen...right? Special Snowflake begins to question everything and can't decide which is worse: a reality she can't accept or a dream that isn't real.Truly the dilemma for most of the post-election MSM. The $3.33 Kindle book will be available on March 21st, but can be pre-ordered now. The MSM needs a sober reassessment of how it reports the news. Without it, what happened at Trump's press conference on Thursday will become the norm.
Amazon Notes JTB asks:
I noticed a number of posts on various recent threads about people cancelling their Amazon accounts in protest over Bezos' anti-Trump declarations. We wondered if they do that, will they lose the e-books on their Kindles and other devices? I can't find a direct answer. I suspect (only suspect) that books stored on a dedicated e-reader like the Paperwhite can't be reclaimed by Amazon if the internet connection is turned off. But for devices like the Kindle Fire where it is used for more than books, can Amazon reach through the internet connection to take back e-books stored on that device? Will whatever software needed to read Kindle books still function? I have no idea.I couldn't find a definitive answer, either, so, in the best AoSHQ tradition, I'll make one up. If you want to disassociate from Amazon, then why are you keeping your Kindle? Since (most of) your Kindle books are wrapped in a layer of DRM, I would think that after a while, the Kindle device will want to check in with some Amazon DRM server to verify your Kindle library, only it won't be able to since you've cancelled your account. And then you'll be shut down. Is it possible in this day and age to own a Kindle that *never* talks to the internet and you can only download books to it via a USB cable? If so, perhaps then you'll be able to keep the books indefinitely. But I don't know for sure. If you want to push Amazon out of your life, my advice would be to finish reading all your Kindle books, then sell your device (after resetting it to factory specs as per the manual), and then never buy another e-book from them. I don't know if "cancelling" your account is really necessary, simply not using it should be good enough. That's what I would do if I no longer wanted to patronize Amazon. ___________ Anna Puma sent me an Amazon link re: publishing your book as a paperback: We're excited to offer the opportunity to publish paperbacks in addition to Kindle eBooks. We'll be adding even more print-related features in the future, like proof copies, author (wholesale) copies, and expanded distribution to bookstores and non-Amazon websites. CreateSpace still offers these features, and KDP will offer them as well.
Publishing a paperback can help you reach new readers. KDP prints your book on demand and subtracts your printing costs from your royalties, so you don't have to pay any costs upfront or carry any inventory. All the information to get you started with Kindle Direct Publishing's dead tree option is here.
Books By Morons Moron jwpaine has put together a collection of his short stories under his pen named Tom Elliot, some previously published in various venues, and has published it on Kindle. Papa Jack & Other Stories can be purchased and downloaded for 99 cents.
This collection of short stories from horror author Tom Elliott includes the title story, told by a young southern woman dealing with an inner demon. Other stories explore: an ailing old woman's relationship with her devoted pet; a hardened mercenary who finds he must now ask people if they "want fries with that"; and a man who travels in bowling balls. Some poetry included.Sounds like just what you'd want to be reading just before going to bed. ___________ Also available for 99 cents is a story written by another moron, Steve Durchin, Home To Texas: Recollections of a Texas Badman
The adventures of a Texas boy that rides off to the Civil War. Coming home he becomes a Ranger...until he steals a Comanche princess! From the plains to the brothels of New Orleans, Wallace Stevens tries to avoid the label of outlaw while he shoots and seduces his way though Texas and Mexico!Somebody (JTB?) last week expressed a desire to read more "ripping good yarns." Well, this sounds like it might be one.
___________ Don't forget the AoSHQ reading group on Goodreads. It's meant to support horde writers and to talk about the great books that come up on the book thread. It's called AoSHQ Moron Horde and the link to it is here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/175335-aoshq-moron-horde. ___________ So that's all for this week. As always, book thread tips, suggestions, bribes, rumors, threats, and insults may be sent to OregonMuse, Proprietor, AoSHQ Book Thread, at the book thread e-mail address: aoshqbookthread, followed by the 'at' sign, and then 'G' mail, and then dot cee oh emm. What have you all been reading this week? Hopefully something good, because, as you all know, life is too short to be reading lousy books.
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Tolle lege
Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2017 08:53 AM (HDU3V)
2
Rediscovered History of Frederick Ii by Thomas Carlyle in my tablet. Had been reading it quite awhile ago but forgot it was in there. So picking it up again, on book 13 the start of the 1st Silesian War
Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2017 08:56 AM (HDU3V)
Posted by: Sherman at February 19, 2017 08:57 AM (9q7Dl)
4
Ahhhhh..."Dr." Gosnell....poor picked on "Dr." Gosnell.
"the worst that can be said of his efforts is that he cut too many corners, was sloppy and fudged some paperwork..."
Josef Mengele would be proud of him.
"the worst that can be said of his efforts is that he cut too many corners, was sloppy and fudged some paperwork..."
Josef Mengele would be proud of him.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 19, 2017 08:59 AM (5VlCp)
5
Ah the book thread. How I have missed it.
Reworking old stuff mainly because for the past two weeks no internet.
Reworking old stuff mainly because for the past two weeks no internet.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:01 AM (mpXpK)
6
I read Shadows In Bronze, the second in the Didius Falco series by Lindsey Davis. Falco is an informer (investigator) for the Roman Emperor Vespasian in 71 A. D. In this work, Falco is tasked with wrapping up the loose ends of a failed plot against the Emperor. It's a good suspense novel peppered with humorous asides, and one learns about Rome and the sea coast south of Rome near Mt. Vesuvius. An enjoyable read.
Posted by: Zoltan at February 19, 2017 09:02 AM (ApkN7)
7
I am currently reading Stand to It and Give Them Hell by John Priest. It is an examination of the second day at Gettysburg. Priest links over 500 first-person accounts into a chronological account of the fights for the Peach Orchard, Wheatfield and Little Round Top. Excellent book with some neat nuggets of information such as Mead's General Order for the day authorizing officers to summarily execute shirkers. I have read quite a bit about the battle and have never seen that GO referenced before.
A minor criticism: the book has numerous detailed tactical-level maps but the text doesn't tell you which map to consult as the narrative progresses. Also, the book could have used a large-scale map or two to help put the tactical-level maps in context. This makes it difficult sometimes to figure out who is doing what where. I give the book 4.75/5.
I read The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth after it was recommended here. What a marvelous short story. I regard it as a "Christmas Miracle" story that is not maudlin; the setting is Christmas Eve 1957 and a mysterious Mosquito WWII-vintage light bomber guides a Vampire jet fighter running low on fuel to an old RAF airbase. I picked up the Hutchinson (British) edition that has several very nice pencil/charcoal illustrations by Chris Foss (I don't know if the US edition has the same illustrations). I give it 5/5.
A minor criticism: the book has numerous detailed tactical-level maps but the text doesn't tell you which map to consult as the narrative progresses. Also, the book could have used a large-scale map or two to help put the tactical-level maps in context. This makes it difficult sometimes to figure out who is doing what where. I give the book 4.75/5.
I read The Shepherd by Frederick Forsyth after it was recommended here. What a marvelous short story. I regard it as a "Christmas Miracle" story that is not maudlin; the setting is Christmas Eve 1957 and a mysterious Mosquito WWII-vintage light bomber guides a Vampire jet fighter running low on fuel to an old RAF airbase. I picked up the Hutchinson (British) edition that has several very nice pencil/charcoal illustrations by Chris Foss (I don't know if the US edition has the same illustrations). I give it 5/5.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 19, 2017 09:02 AM (5Yee7)
8
I haven't cancelled my Amazon account, just haven't bought anything.
Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2017 09:03 AM (HDU3V)
9
If you have amazon prime you can watch a documentary about Gosnell for free. It's called 3801 Lancaster.
I'd recommend it with the warning that it pulls no punches and does not flinch from showing the worst of what was found in his "clinic".
I'd recommend it with the warning that it pulls no punches and does not flinch from showing the worst of what was found in his "clinic".
Posted by: Nigel West Dickens at February 19, 2017 09:06 AM (FqgrG)
10
And to be honest, he wasn't my first choice, I wanted Ted Cruz. But we
didn't get Cruz. Instead, we got Trump. OK, fine. I'll vote for him. I
won't like it, but I will. Anything has to be better than the corrupt,
shrieking she-gorgon of Chicago.
My thoughts exactly, but since he has been in I have reversed my opinion 100%. I have loved everything he has done so far. He is up there with the sainted RR now.
didn't get Cruz. Instead, we got Trump. OK, fine. I'll vote for him. I
won't like it, but I will. Anything has to be better than the corrupt,
shrieking she-gorgon of Chicago.
My thoughts exactly, but since he has been in I have reversed my opinion 100%. I have loved everything he has done so far. He is up there with the sainted RR now.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
11
Good to see you back Vic.
Posted by: Nigel West Dickens at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (FqgrG)
12
I've used Calibre for my e-books, since it's happened in the past that ebooks were removed from devices (don't remember if it was Barnes & Noble or Amazon). They are stored in my Calibre library, and can be used on any device.
https://calibre-ebook.com/
https://calibre-ebook.com/
Posted by: Toni Garcia at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (IOntn)
13
vic, great to have you back! tell your wife thanks for the updates. porch rocker today?
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (KP5rU)
14
Vic, welcome back! You sure have been through the mill. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Posted by: Insomniac at February 19, 2017 09:10 AM (0mRoj)
15
Morning all! An interesting thing I noticed this week is that some bloggers (Althouse, for one) were putting pictures of their library shelves in a blog post. OM, you are wildly influential!
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:11 AM (MIKMs)
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:11 AM (mpXpK)
17
Read "Josey Wales: Two Westerns : Gone to Texas/The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales" by Forrest Carter and thoroughly enjoyed them both.
Interesting discussion of the Apache influence on Mexico in that era.
Still reading the Aubrey Maturin series and scored one more of the books I needed to complete the set at a local used book emporium. I have two more to find/obtain and I'll have a full, but mismatched, set.
Interesting discussion of the Apache influence on Mexico in that era.
Still reading the Aubrey Maturin series and scored one more of the books I needed to complete the set at a local used book emporium. I have two more to find/obtain and I'll have a full, but mismatched, set.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 09:11 AM (UDXti)
18
16: exactly.
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:11 AM (KP5rU)
19
"Yeah, that's my library up there." she lied shamelessly.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:12 AM (Om16U)
20
Vic - it's good to see you back and posting! Best wishes for smooth sailing from here on.
Posted by: Toni Garcia at February 19, 2017 09:12 AM (IOntn)
21
This week I got started on, 'Supreme Commander: MacArthur's Triumph in Japan' by Seymour Morris Jr.
This is not a general biography of McArthur, but deals entirely with the occupation and reformation of Japan.
The magnitude of the task faced by McArthur was staggering. He was confronted not only by the seemingly impossible of the pacification of the Japanese, but also by extremely vengeful allies as well as political forces in the U.S.
Whatever one thinks of McArthur's performance during the war, and later in Korea, his acheivemnt in Japan can only be regarded a masterpiece of diplomacy combined with an iron will. He managed to do it in a very short time. Some 'expert' estimates were placing the likely occupation period to be as much as 20 years. It was over in four years.
The book is well written and highly detailed, it has provided me with an insight of the occupation that I have utterly lacked, and in fact, never really thought about.
This is not a general biography of McArthur, but deals entirely with the occupation and reformation of Japan.
The magnitude of the task faced by McArthur was staggering. He was confronted not only by the seemingly impossible of the pacification of the Japanese, but also by extremely vengeful allies as well as political forces in the U.S.
Whatever one thinks of McArthur's performance during the war, and later in Korea, his acheivemnt in Japan can only be regarded a masterpiece of diplomacy combined with an iron will. He managed to do it in a very short time. Some 'expert' estimates were placing the likely occupation period to be as much as 20 years. It was over in four years.
The book is well written and highly detailed, it has provided me with an insight of the occupation that I have utterly lacked, and in fact, never really thought about.
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 19, 2017 09:14 AM (ZO497)
22
Vic!!! How nice to have you back!
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:14 AM (Om16U)
23
I would think that after a while, the Kindle device will want to check
in with some Amazon DRM server to verify your Kindle library, only it
won't be able to since you've cancelled your account.
What I have noticed when going back to do a "re-read" is that when you click on the book to open it it has to go back and re-download the book. That became a problem one time when I was down in GA taking care of my Unclse and I had no internet coverage.
in with some Amazon DRM server to verify your Kindle library, only it
won't be able to since you've cancelled your account.
What I have noticed when going back to do a "re-read" is that when you click on the book to open it it has to go back and re-download the book. That became a problem one time when I was down in GA taking care of my Unclse and I had no internet coverage.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:14 AM (mpXpK)
24
An additional (stunning, I think) image of The Peabody library. You don't have vertigo, do you? It redefines, 'Looking something up at the libray'.
http://tinyurl.com/j42w6h7
http://tinyurl.com/j42w6h7
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 19, 2017 09:17 AM (ZO497)
25
11
Good to see you back Vic.
Posted by: Nigel West Dickens at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (FqgrG)
Good to be back
Good to see you back Vic.
Posted by: Nigel West Dickens at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (FqgrG)
Good to be back
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:17 AM (mpXpK)
26
Good news about the paperback publishing option for Kindle Direct. I have mixed feeling about e-books, I understand the convenience and compactness, BUT, that format is very fragile and subject to Orwellian deletion that results in you e-book going "poof" and it's gone.
As a semi-luddite, I prefer the tactile experience of actually handling a real dead-tree book. While still subject to damage, a book can't disappear from your home library without someone taking the physical book.
As a semi-luddite, I prefer the tactile experience of actually handling a real dead-tree book. While still subject to damage, a book can't disappear from your home library without someone taking the physical book.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 19, 2017 09:17 AM (5Yee7)
27
13
vic, great to have you back! tell your wife thanks for the updates. porch rocker today?
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (KP5rU)
I wish. Great weather out there now, but sadly no rocking chair allowed for a while.
vic, great to have you back! tell your wife thanks for the updates. porch rocker today?
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (KP5rU)
I wish. Great weather out there now, but sadly no rocking chair allowed for a while.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:18 AM (mpXpK)
28
Good morning fellow Book Threadists and thanks to OM for another fine Sunday morning read.
I've remarked in the past that CS Lewis, Chesterton and others seem to be getting more popular (and profitable). I got an email from B and N advertising a new e-book only compendium of Lewis' fiction. "C.S. Lewis: Novels and Stories". It comes out next month and costs 100 dollars AS AN E-BOOK! HarperCollins already publishes most if not all of these titles. I have no interest in it because I already have all the works. But I wonder what the percentage of profit is for the publisher. Obviously, they believe it will sell.
I've remarked in the past that CS Lewis, Chesterton and others seem to be getting more popular (and profitable). I got an email from B and N advertising a new e-book only compendium of Lewis' fiction. "C.S. Lewis: Novels and Stories". It comes out next month and costs 100 dollars AS AN E-BOOK! HarperCollins already publishes most if not all of these titles. I have no interest in it because I already have all the works. But I wonder what the percentage of profit is for the publisher. Obviously, they believe it will sell.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:19 AM (V+03K)
29
*shoves virtual rocking chair into USB port for Vic*
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 19, 2017 09:20 AM (ZO497)
30
Welcome back, Vic We continue to pray for your full recovery.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:20 AM (V+03K)
31
A friend of mine was either married or held her reception in the Peabody library. Lovely space but the marriage didn't last.
Posted by: V the K at February 19, 2017 09:21 AM (Ovnvw)
32
The media's mission is to MAKE OPINION, not report it.
They double down because they failed the last time. They're not concerned with why the were wrong, but in why they failed to make the people do what they want.
It's the clearest evidence of the existence of media bias I can think of.
They double down because they failed the last time. They're not concerned with why the were wrong, but in why they failed to make the people do what they want.
It's the clearest evidence of the existence of media bias I can think of.
Posted by: Mr. Peebles at February 19, 2017 09:21 AM (oVJmc)
33
A wedding in a grand library like the Peabody? I foresee tipsy guests "hitting the stacks", IYKWIM.
Read Harlen Coben's latest Myron Bolitar mystery, "Home", and oh what a pleasure it was to be back with Myron, his deadly WASP buddy Win, and the peripheral oddballs in Myron's life. In this story, Win is tipped off that two boys who were abducted 10 years ago, one of whom is his nephew, have been found in London. His attempt to free the other boy from thugs goes messily awry and the boy escapes, so Win reestablishes contact with Myron to help him find them.
I've also been reading another John Bellairs YA mystery, "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring". In it is mentioned that infamous tome Malleus Maleficarum, the Hammer of the Witches, by Messirs Sprenger and Kramer. I was reminded that I have this very book in my library - because of course I do - so I have been reading up on the perfidy of the female species, whose lusts are insatiable.
Read Harlen Coben's latest Myron Bolitar mystery, "Home", and oh what a pleasure it was to be back with Myron, his deadly WASP buddy Win, and the peripheral oddballs in Myron's life. In this story, Win is tipped off that two boys who were abducted 10 years ago, one of whom is his nephew, have been found in London. His attempt to free the other boy from thugs goes messily awry and the boy escapes, so Win reestablishes contact with Myron to help him find them.
I've also been reading another John Bellairs YA mystery, "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring". In it is mentioned that infamous tome Malleus Maleficarum, the Hammer of the Witches, by Messirs Sprenger and Kramer. I was reminded that I have this very book in my library - because of course I do - so I have been reading up on the perfidy of the female species, whose lusts are insatiable.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
34
Re Clinton's massive campaign war chest.
Here in Texas, I don't think I have ever seen so many adds for president. It was Hillary 24/7. The one shown most were clips of the Donald, one of which was 'And you can tell them to go f@@k themselves! '
I could not help laughing every time, has to be one of my favorite sayings.
Here in Texas, I don't think I have ever seen so many adds for president. It was Hillary 24/7. The one shown most were clips of the Donald, one of which was 'And you can tell them to go f@@k themselves! '
I could not help laughing every time, has to be one of my favorite sayings.
Posted by: The Real Bruce at February 19, 2017 09:24 AM (Qr8dA)
35
T minus 7 mintes
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 09:26 AM (gp9bb)
36
By the way, if you click on the "pants" link you will see a visual representation of "caught between hell and high water pants".
There is no good option.
There is no good option.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:27 AM (EnKk6)
37
12 I've used Calibre for my e-books, since it's happened in the past that ebooks were removed from devices (don't remember if it was Barnes & Noble or Amazon). They are stored in my Calibre library, and can be used on any device.
https://calibre-ebook.com/
Posted by: Toni Garcia at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (IOntn)
There's also a Calibre utility available to automatically strip the DRM from anything in your library. Then you reload it on your Kindle as one of your documents. Amazon doesn't touch your documents (yet) during updates, and you've always got a copy on your computer in the Calibre library.
Of course, if Amazon or Barnes and Noble dumps the books you've already purchased, you can just torrent a non-DRM'd copy as well.
12 I've used Calibre for my e-books, since it's happened in the past that ebooks were removed from devices (don't remember if it was Barnes & Noble or Amazon). They are stored in my Calibre library, and can be used on any device.
https://calibre-ebook.com/
Posted by: Toni Garcia at February 19, 2017 09:08 AM (IOntn)
There's also a Calibre utility available to automatically strip the DRM from anything in your library. Then you reload it on your Kindle as one of your documents. Amazon doesn't touch your documents (yet) during updates, and you've always got a copy on your computer in the Calibre library.
Of course, if Amazon or Barnes and Noble dumps the books you've already purchased, you can just torrent a non-DRM'd copy as well.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 19, 2017 09:27 AM (cuZZW)
38
AS AN E-BOOK! HarperCollins already publishes most if not all of these titles. I have no interest in it because I already have all the works. But I wonder what the percentage of profit is for the publisher. Obviously, they believe it will sell.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:19 AM (V+03K)
Wow. $100 for decades old books in the electronic format? HarperCollins sure is looking to ass-rape somemarks ... um ... customers.
My go-to site for finding books is "abebooks.com." You might spend $100 if wanted to get some nice looking real books. If you just want cheap paperbacks, you can get Lewis's stuff for much less money.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:19 AM (V+03K)
Wow. $100 for decades old books in the electronic format? HarperCollins sure is looking to ass-rape some
My go-to site for finding books is "abebooks.com." You might spend $100 if wanted to get some nice looking real books. If you just want cheap paperbacks, you can get Lewis's stuff for much less money.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 19, 2017 09:28 AM (5Yee7)
39
29
*shoves virtual rocking chair into USB port for Vic*
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 19, 2017 09:20 AM (ZO497)
Clear blue sky with a forecast of 72F in FEB!
*shoves virtual rocking chair into USB port for Vic*
Posted by: Mike Hammer at February 19, 2017 09:20 AM (ZO497)
Clear blue sky with a forecast of 72F in FEB!
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:29 AM (mpXpK)
40
Welcome home Vic.
I also feel that the Flynn story is unfortunate. We don't know the extent of the "lie". I would like to see him brought back into the administration in some capacity. An enemy of JEF.....
I also feel that the Flynn story is unfortunate. We don't know the extent of the "lie". I would like to see him brought back into the administration in some capacity. An enemy of JEF.....
Posted by: Kentucky Kid at February 19, 2017 09:30 AM (md4mU)
41
Barack Obama is the 12th greatest president...
...of my lifetime.
P.S. I was born during the Eisenhower (POTUS #34) administration. DJT is #45. Do your own math.
...of my lifetime.
P.S. I was born during the Eisenhower (POTUS #34) administration. DJT is #45. Do your own math.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 09:30 AM (wPiJc)
42
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
Thanks for the Myron Bolitar tip but Amazon says it isn't available yet,
http://tinyurl.com/h84zq3b
of course you are Eris, so....
I find I only like Coben writing about Myron, the rest of his stuff is meh.
Thanks for the Myron Bolitar tip but Amazon says it isn't available yet,
http://tinyurl.com/h84zq3b
of course you are Eris, so....
I find I only like Coben writing about Myron, the rest of his stuff is meh.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 09:30 AM (UDXti)
43
In reference to my question about what happens to Kindle books if you cancel your Amazon account, it was intellectual curiosity only. But even with my vast technical knowledge (ultimate snark) I couldn't find an answer.
I'm not planning on cancelling the Amazon account but this question is one reason why I maintain certain books in hard copy.
I'm not planning on cancelling the Amazon account but this question is one reason why I maintain certain books in hard copy.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:31 AM (V+03K)
44
Barky is the 12th greatest Pres of the last 8 years
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 09:31 AM (gp9bb)
45
AS AN E-BOOK! HarperCollins already publishes most if not all of
these titles. I have no interest in it because I already have all the
works. But I wonder what the percentage of profit is for the publisher.
Obviously, they believe it will sell.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:19 AM (V+03K)
=====
There is a research library in Wheaton, IL specializing in CS Lewis and the Inklings. I know you are interested in them, so next time you are going through IL, it might be worth your time to check out the Marion Wade library.
AS AN E-BOOK! HarperCollins already publishes most if not all of
these titles. I have no interest in it because I already have all the
works. But I wonder what the percentage of profit is for the publisher.
Obviously, they believe it will sell.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:19 AM (V+03K)
=====
There is a research library in Wheaton, IL specializing in CS Lewis and the Inklings. I know you are interested in them, so next time you are going through IL, it might be worth your time to check out the Marion Wade library.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:32 AM (MIKMs)
46
Hrothie, I got this copy from the library, so no witchery involved. Yeah, I see it's still on pre-order at Amazon -- huh?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:34 AM (EnKk6)
47
The ebook service Draft2Digital.com (also offers a print service for clients wanting to add a print version. I have been using D2D for my most recent books, as their conversion isn't nearly as buggy as Smashwords, and their site is much easier to use. They convert a word file to all the various e-reader formats.
I'm in somewhat of a slump regarding my own stuff, though, demonstrated by the paucity of posts at my websites, and uneven progress on the next Luna City book. Must be the reaction from working at top speed over the last quarter - two books, a buttload of Christmas markets ... but gearing up for a couple of book events in the spring and early summer. A book festival in Wimberley, and a slot at a local Barnes & Noble for DEAR Texas - local effort to encourage reading: Stands for Drop Everything And Read.
I'm in somewhat of a slump regarding my own stuff, though, demonstrated by the paucity of posts at my websites, and uneven progress on the next Luna City book. Must be the reaction from working at top speed over the last quarter - two books, a buttload of Christmas markets ... but gearing up for a couple of book events in the spring and early summer. A book festival in Wimberley, and a slot at a local Barnes & Noble for DEAR Texas - local effort to encourage reading: Stands for Drop Everything And Read.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at February 19, 2017 09:35 AM (xnmPy)
48
My thoughts exactly, but since he has been in I have reversed my opinion 100%. I have loved everything he has done so far. He is up there with the sainted RR now.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
Right, and what I've learned so far in the Trump presidency is that what he does is more important than what he says. I don't pay much attention to what he says. But what he has done so far has been great.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
Right, and what I've learned so far in the Trump presidency is that what he does is more important than what he says. I don't pay much attention to what he says. But what he has done so far has been great.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 09:35 AM (cWxpc)
49
Welcome home, Vic!
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 09:37 AM (ANIFC)
50
No offense mean to our Baltimore morons, but I didn't think anything like that existed in Baltimore.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (ANIFC)
51
39; vic, damn near 60 in wisconsin today. in feb. man, the paybacks for this will suck.
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (KP5rU)
52
And that groom in the library picture needs to get his d**n hand out of his d**n pocket!
And he can get off my lawn while he's at it.
And he can get off my lawn while he's at it.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (wPiJc)
53
In keeping with my eclectic (read: bizarre and unpredictable) reading habits, this week was typical. Backwoodsman magazine, Raymond Chandler, Barron's French Grammar and Verbs books, The Three Musketeers in French, some Conan stories, and books on flintlocks and black powder guns.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:39 AM (V+03K)
54
I'll recommend "Dark Matter" an entertaining novel utilizing the schrodinger cat theory.
I need other ideas:
-I've done the "Off to be the Wizard" series
-I'm going through the "One Second After Series"
-"Ready Player One" was really, really good minus some global warming hysteria mixed in.
Always looking for recommendations.
I need other ideas:
-I've done the "Off to be the Wizard" series
-I'm going through the "One Second After Series"
-"Ready Player One" was really, really good minus some global warming hysteria mixed in.
Always looking for recommendations.
Posted by: JT in KC at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (FoSz+)
55
37
There's also a Calibre utility available to automatically strip the DRM from anything in your library. Then you reload it on your Kindle as one of your documents. Amazon doesn't touch your documents (yet) during updates, and you've always got a copy on your computer in the Calibre library.
Of course, if Amazon or Barnes and Noble dumps the books you've already purchased, you can just torrent a non-DRM'd copy as well.
Shhhh. I use it all the time.
There's also a Calibre utility available to automatically strip the DRM from anything in your library. Then you reload it on your Kindle as one of your documents. Amazon doesn't touch your documents (yet) during updates, and you've always got a copy on your computer in the Calibre library.
Of course, if Amazon or Barnes and Noble dumps the books you've already purchased, you can just torrent a non-DRM'd copy as well.
Shhhh. I use it all the time.
Posted by: Toni at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (IOntn)
56
OM, did you get the pic I sent?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (EnKk6)
57
vic, damn near 60 in wisconsin today. in feb. man, the paybacks for this will suck. Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (KP5rU)
=====
Yeah, my attitude as well. Current weatherpeople are calling for zero next weekend.
=====
Yeah, my attitude as well. Current weatherpeople are calling for zero next weekend.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (MIKMs)
58
And the bird is down on LZ-1!
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 09:41 AM (cWxpc)
59
Stage I touchdown!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:41 AM (EnKk6)
60
I've just started a book my Grandfather gave to me 40 years ago. He told me at the time to hold on to it and get into it when I was middle aged. That time has come. It's the diary of a circuit riding Pennsylvania Dutch preacher, William Helffrich, who was active in the mid to late 1800's. He served towns in Berks County PA - Allentown, Kutztown, Trexlertown, etc. It was published in Allentown but is in German as was common practice of that time in that place.
I'm having to fight through it line by line, relying on my long dormant college German but it is worth the trouble since it references locations I know of and, in many cases, have been to.
Yesterday's reading was a day in which the preacher had been called to a farm where a young girl had been kicked in the head by a horse.
The following day's entry was simply "Today was a funeral."
How any of those folks lived through the times of damn near medieval medical care is astounding.
I'm having to fight through it line by line, relying on my long dormant college German but it is worth the trouble since it references locations I know of and, in many cases, have been to.
Yesterday's reading was a day in which the preacher had been called to a farm where a young girl had been kicked in the head by a horse.
The following day's entry was simply "Today was a funeral."
How any of those folks lived through the times of damn near medieval medical care is astounding.
Posted by: Tonypete at February 19, 2017 09:42 AM (tr2D7)
61
OM, did you get the pic I sent?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (EnKk6)
Yes, I did get your e-mail, thank you.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (EnKk6)
Yes, I did get your e-mail, thank you.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 09:42 AM (cWxpc)
Posted by: Jean at February 19, 2017 09:42 AM (zZb/S)
63
That library at the top of the post is beautiful. Haven't been in Baltimore for years but, judging by the news reports, it's hard to believe something that nice could still exist in that city.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:43 AM (V+03K)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:44 AM (Om16U)
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2017 09:45 AM (PY9jH)
66
It really is amazing that I'm sitting at home in my robe, sipping coffee, and watching a launch to the ISS by a commercial company.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:45 AM (EnKk6)
67
52 And that groom in the library picture needs to get his d**n hand out of his d**n pocket!
And he can get off my lawn while he's at it.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (wPiJc)
Yeah! Put that hand on the bride's boob, where it belongs!
52 And that groom in the library picture needs to get his d**n hand out of his d**n pocket!
And he can get off my lawn while he's at it.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (wPiJc)
Yeah! Put that hand on the bride's boob, where it belongs!
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 19, 2017 09:46 AM (cuZZW)
68
65; prayers up, jane. been there.
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 09:47 AM (KP5rU)
69
I'm so sorry Jane.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:48 AM (EnKk6)
70
Sorry, Jane. Prayers sent.
Posted by: Captain Whitebread, King Of Karaoke at February 19, 2017 09:50 AM (rJUlF)
71
My thoughts exactly, but since he has been in I have reversed my opinion 100%. I have loved everything he has done so far. He is up there with the sainted RR now.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
Good to see you back, Vic. May your healing be rapid, and complete.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:07 AM (mpXpK)
Good to see you back, Vic. May your healing be rapid, and complete.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 19, 2017 09:50 AM (WDdjT)
72
Welcome back, Vic!
Posted by: Zettai Ryoiki at February 19, 2017 09:51 AM (kP16F)
73
60 ... TonyPete, Hope you enjoy working through that book from your grandfather. I did something similar years ago. I got a copy of records for my family for 300 years in Quebec from my oldest uncle. It came out in the 1930s. Translating some of those entries, especially in old and colloquial French, was 'interesting', but worthwhile.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 09:52 AM (V+03K)
74
Barky is the 12th greatest Pres of the last 8 years
Posted by: weirdflunky
Haha. You got me.
It's like Stockholm Syndrome -- you don't recover overnight. I expect those numbers will 'adjust' over time to something approaching reality.
Especially with him encouraging disruptive anti-American activities.
Posted by: weirdflunky
Haha. You got me.
It's like Stockholm Syndrome -- you don't recover overnight. I expect those numbers will 'adjust' over time to something approaching reality.
Especially with him encouraging disruptive anti-American activities.
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 09:52 AM (ZFUt7)
75
Bought searching for bobby Fischer yesterday for 1.99. Might tackle that today or sit outside doing a jigsaw puzzle. Glad you're home, Vic! Let us know if we can send you some books!
Posted by: NCKate at February 19, 2017 09:52 AM (KWjLw)
76
12 Toni Garcia
Thanks for the info about Calibre. I don't use Kindle, I prefer dead tree books, but there's a lot of very rare and expensive titles that I get free in ePub format from university sites. I'm going to try Calibre so I can get them in some kind of order. I had a bit of trouble with the demo video, the guy explaining it has a pretty strong Indian accent, but I'll figure it out I guess.
Thanks for the info about Calibre. I don't use Kindle, I prefer dead tree books, but there's a lot of very rare and expensive titles that I get free in ePub format from university sites. I'm going to try Calibre so I can get them in some kind of order. I had a bit of trouble with the demo video, the guy explaining it has a pretty strong Indian accent, but I'll figure it out I guess.
Posted by: JHW at February 19, 2017 09:53 AM (kn0BL)
77
Too lazy to do a proper Sunday post, but I put up a painting about reading that I think JTB and a few other romantical types will like.
Link in nic
Link in nic
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:53 AM (Om16U)
78
Prayers for you're Kitteh Jane. A loss of a pet is devastating.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 09:53 AM (mpXpK)
79
hugs Jane.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:54 AM (Om16U)
80
On the dreaded kindle, they have MEGAPACKS of stories for various authors.
These are mostly out-of-copyright stories by famous authors, which are gathered up and sold for $0.99-3.99.
I recently bought the Megapack for R A Lafferty, grandmaster of the oddball, shaggy dog SF story and have been reading the contents therein.
Honestly, most of them aren't particularly good but a few of them made it into his first book of stories, "Nine Hundred Grandmothers" and reworked/retooled into later stories.
A-a-a-anyway, the interesting thing here is-
if you wish to take a particular writer apart and see what makes him tick and how he does things,
early stories like these are the best.
Here the themes and methodology of his writing are in embryonic form and not so sophisticated yet that he can dazzle you with his story-telling.
Very educational and fun in a "how he do it" manner.
Try it with your favorite author.
These are mostly out-of-copyright stories by famous authors, which are gathered up and sold for $0.99-3.99.
I recently bought the Megapack for R A Lafferty, grandmaster of the oddball, shaggy dog SF story and have been reading the contents therein.
Honestly, most of them aren't particularly good but a few of them made it into his first book of stories, "Nine Hundred Grandmothers" and reworked/retooled into later stories.
A-a-a-anyway, the interesting thing here is-
if you wish to take a particular writer apart and see what makes him tick and how he does things,
early stories like these are the best.
Here the themes and methodology of his writing are in embryonic form and not so sophisticated yet that he can dazzle you with his story-telling.
Very educational and fun in a "how he do it" manner.
Try it with your favorite author.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (9q7Dl)
81
Vic, our thanks to your wife for keeping us updated. We enjoyed hearing from her and appreciate her maintaining the connection between you and the rest of the Horde.
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (xVuS6)
82
I'll pray for your cat, Jane. I thought my Noel was going last week, but he's back to his old self now.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (ANIFC)
83
How do you guys get your amazon kindle books onto Calibre - do you use a USB cable from the device to the computer?
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (Om16U)
84
Kind of a complaint here, but it has really been bothering me recently. I'll check out a non-fiction book, expecting footnotes and usually enjoying them for additional insights. A recent book had footnotes at the end (endnotes), in a bunch rather than a list, which made it extremely difficult to see if the author was relying on one source or comparing sources, or what the heck they were doing. I like my footnotes at the bottom of the page, so I can see while reading the text what interpretations are being used. My impression is that this is one of those fashionable things, but it really bothers me. Not that I have any pretensions to scholarship, but sometimes it is fun to look further.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (MIKMs)
85
81 Vic, our thanks to your wife for keeping us updated. We enjoyed hearing from her and appreciate her maintaining the connection between you and the rest of the Horde.
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (xVuS6)
What she said.
Please tel Mrs Vic we love her updates and hope she will keep hanging around.
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 09:55 AM (xVuS6)
What she said.
Please tel Mrs Vic we love her updates and hope she will keep hanging around.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (Om16U)
86
Hit up the used book store yesterday and scored all the Steinbeck novels I could get my hands on:
The Pearl
The Red Pony
Of Mice and Men
The Grapes of Wrath
East of Eden
Tortilla Flat
In Dubious battle
The Pearl
The Red Pony
Of Mice and Men
The Grapes of Wrath
East of Eden
Tortilla Flat
In Dubious battle
Posted by: ghbucky at February 19, 2017 09:59 AM (D2q91)
87
75 Bought searching for bobby Fischer yesterday for 1.99.
Posted by: NCKate at February 19, 2017 09:52 AM (KWjLw)
That's a pretty good book, and you don't need to know anything about chess to enjoy it.
Posted by: NCKate at February 19, 2017 09:52 AM (KWjLw)
That's a pretty good book, and you don't need to know anything about chess to enjoy it.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:00 AM (cWxpc)
88
Votermom, I want that steampunk coffee maker!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:00 AM (EnKk6)
89
That photograph on Drudge is pretty amazing. Best sneak a peek before it's gone, because the MSM is not going to show it...
Massive Air Force One in background, Trump on stage to right side, sea of supporters everywhere, red MAGA hats immeasurable.
Massive Air Force One in background, Trump on stage to right side, sea of supporters everywhere, red MAGA hats immeasurable.
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 10:01 AM (ZFUt7)
90
85 Please tel Mrs Vic we love her updates and hope she will keep hanging around.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (Om16U)
I have passed on your message. We are working on making her an "Ette" now.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (Om16U)
I have passed on your message. We are working on making her an "Ette" now.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:01 AM (mpXpK)
91
88 Votermom, I want that steampunk coffee maker!
--
Isn't it the awesomest?
I want mine to come with it's own Butler.
--
Isn't it the awesomest?
I want mine to come with it's own Butler.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (Om16U)
92
Thanks, everyone.
Welcome back, Vic. Prayers do work.
Husband went to church and I'm staying behind to watch the poor girl. We were just at the pet ER yesterday. Her blood sugar was normal, but she has been nauseous the past few days, and so I gave her a pill the vet prescribed last week.
She slept curled up next to me last night, and this morning went off to be alone. My husband and son want me to take her back to the ER to be put to sleep, but she's terrified of that place.
I'm hoping I can keep her comfortable until tomorrow, when I can take her to our vet who loves her.
This is killing me. She's almost 15, and was a loving presence in our lives when our boy was in Afghanistan.
Welcome back, Vic. Prayers do work.
Husband went to church and I'm staying behind to watch the poor girl. We were just at the pet ER yesterday. Her blood sugar was normal, but she has been nauseous the past few days, and so I gave her a pill the vet prescribed last week.
She slept curled up next to me last night, and this morning went off to be alone. My husband and son want me to take her back to the ER to be put to sleep, but she's terrified of that place.
I'm hoping I can keep her comfortable until tomorrow, when I can take her to our vet who loves her.
This is killing me. She's almost 15, and was a loving presence in our lives when our boy was in Afghanistan.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (PY9jH)
93
I've also been reading another John Bellairs YA mystery, "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring".
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
I think I read every one of those in 5th and 6th grade. The Gorey illustrations were just perfect for them. Haven't thought about those in years.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
I think I read every one of those in 5th and 6th grade. The Gorey illustrations were just perfect for them. Haven't thought about those in years.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (8nWyX)
94
In book news I just finished a book on the naval campaigns of the Crimean War, which were fought in the Baltic and North Pacific, as well as the Black Sea. Pretty good, especially for those interested in the "forgotten" theaters of major wars.
Now I just started Stephen King's "Just After Sunset" (Yeah, I know, but I like his short stories).
Now I just started Stephen King's "Just After Sunset" (Yeah, I know, but I like his short stories).
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:04 AM (ANIFC)
95
"Any other profession, when it becomes apparent that something is broken, the members of that profession get together and try to: 1. fix it and 2. take steps to keep it from getting broken again."
The trouble with this is the first word: "Any". It makes the statement false. While it's true that (as the next sentence goes on) the military does all the above, it's surely not true across the board. Education immediately springs to mind. Climate science, too.
I'd argue that the military is unusual here, in that, like sports, they are sometimes faced with undeniable failure. Japan just cannot claim they won at Midway; even Napoleon couldn't brag about Trafalgar. I think this makes them unique in government; even police departments will fall so completely into their masters' hands as to fib about how they're doing - and they, like the military, are playing for life and death stakes.
Look too at the BS that gets pushed around about medicine.
And BTW, I'm typing this in my bathrobe, as I overslept. So there!
The trouble with this is the first word: "Any". It makes the statement false. While it's true that (as the next sentence goes on) the military does all the above, it's surely not true across the board. Education immediately springs to mind. Climate science, too.
I'd argue that the military is unusual here, in that, like sports, they are sometimes faced with undeniable failure. Japan just cannot claim they won at Midway; even Napoleon couldn't brag about Trafalgar. I think this makes them unique in government; even police departments will fall so completely into their masters' hands as to fib about how they're doing - and they, like the military, are playing for life and death stakes.
Look too at the BS that gets pushed around about medicine.
And BTW, I'm typing this in my bathrobe, as I overslept. So there!
Posted by: George LeS at February 19, 2017 10:04 AM (+TcCF)
96
I've started to re-read the Liturgical Mystery series by Mark Schweizer. They are just so funny and lighthearted and provide a nice break from 'heavier' reading.
One side effect is an interest in Raymond Chandler stories. Both Schweizer's main character and probably himself revere Chandler, who I never read. So I splurged on a two volume hardcover set of his novels, short stories and nonfiction. It wasn't cheap but should be worth it.
I just read his first short story and it was great. He describes more of a scene and mood in two sentences than Charles Dickens can in five pages. There's humor, grit, and fun characters. And he keeps the reader on the edge of the chair the way the plot keeps twisting. Thoroughly enjoyable and this is just the first story.
I'm reading the stories as they were published. It should be interesting to watch Chandler develop his style.
One side effect is an interest in Raymond Chandler stories. Both Schweizer's main character and probably himself revere Chandler, who I never read. So I splurged on a two volume hardcover set of his novels, short stories and nonfiction. It wasn't cheap but should be worth it.
I just read his first short story and it was great. He describes more of a scene and mood in two sentences than Charles Dickens can in five pages. There's humor, grit, and fun characters. And he keeps the reader on the edge of the chair the way the plot keeps twisting. Thoroughly enjoyable and this is just the first story.
I'm reading the stories as they were published. It should be interesting to watch Chandler develop his style.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:05 AM (V+03K)
97
I also store all of my books on Calibre. I get them from Amazon (usually free) put them in Calibre, change them to epub then delete them from my Kindle app. I don't own a Kindle device so I don't care if they try to take anything I don't delete. i think if I buy the book from Amazon, I own it. I can do what I want with it, but my husband says it doesn't work that way.
Anyway, Amazon was the only place I could find Ivanka perfume. I bought it there, just to piss off Bezos.
Anyway, Amazon was the only place I could find Ivanka perfume. I bought it there, just to piss off Bezos.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:05 AM (HBU7W)
98
Yay Vic!
So glad you're back. Your posts have become an enjoyable habit, you truly were missed.
Heal well! We need you around here
So glad you're back. Your posts have become an enjoyable habit, you truly were missed.
Heal well! We need you around here
Posted by: Long-time lurker's mom on her phone at February 19, 2017 10:06 AM (NJu1h)
99
93 I've also been reading another John Bellairs YA mystery, "The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring".
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
I think I read every one of those in 5th and 6th grade. The Gorey illustrations were just perfect for them. Haven't thought about those in years.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (8nWyX)
I think I have most of his books, at least the ones for young adults. I'll have to revisit them.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 09:22 AM (EnKk6)
I think I read every one of those in 5th and 6th grade. The Gorey illustrations were just perfect for them. Haven't thought about those in years.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (8nWyX)
I think I have most of his books, at least the ones for young adults. I'll have to revisit them.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:06 AM (ANIFC)
100
If anyone is interested....Dune is on sale at Amazon.
$4, which is a bit too much for me because I already have two hard copies.
But if you haven't read it, it's a bargain for what might be the greatest science fiction novel of all time.
$4, which is a bit too much for me because I already have two hard copies.
But if you haven't read it, it's a bargain for what might be the greatest science fiction novel of all time.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 19, 2017 10:07 AM (rF0hx)
101
These are mostly out-of-copyright stories by famous authors, which are gathered up and sold for $0.99-3.99.
Viva la public domain!
Viva la public domain!
Posted by: Mr. Peebles at February 19, 2017 10:09 AM (oVJmc)
102
100 But if you haven't read it, it's a bargain for what might be the greatest science fiction novel of all time.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 19, 2017 10:07 AM (rF0hx)
I'll second that. One of the best SF epics of all time. But the first one only.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 19, 2017 10:07 AM (rF0hx)
I'll second that. One of the best SF epics of all time. But the first one only.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:09 AM (mpXpK)
103
Kind of a complaint here, but it has really been bothering me recently. I'll check out a non-fiction book, expecting footnotes and usually enjoying them for additional insights. A recent book had ... endnotes... which made it extremely difficult to see if the author was relying on one source or comparing sources, or what the heck they were doing.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (MIKMs)
I also prefer footnotes to endnotes and that is another thing that I like about my current non-fiction read, Stand to It and Give Them Hell. The author (John Priest) will used footnotes to discuss how he arrived at his chronology as he proceeds through the second day at Gettysburg.
With computerized publishing, there is no reason not to use footnotes. Back in the old days, footnotes took more effort since each affected page had to be formatted separately.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 09:57 AM (MIKMs)
I also prefer footnotes to endnotes and that is another thing that I like about my current non-fiction read, Stand to It and Give Them Hell. The author (John Priest) will used footnotes to discuss how he arrived at his chronology as he proceeds through the second day at Gettysburg.
With computerized publishing, there is no reason not to use footnotes. Back in the old days, footnotes took more effort since each affected page had to be formatted separately.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 19, 2017 10:09 AM (5Yee7)
104
I don't feel like reading much that is going to challenge my brain. I started reading "Nothing to Envy" about North Korea but I am in the mood for something light, at least until I get another kitteh or two, so I'm reading "We'll always have parrots" by Donna Andrews, in the Meg Langslow series. I think this was the first one of these I read, although I may have listened to it. I think I checked it out of the library just for the pun.
And I started "A brief history of everything" by Bill Bryson who Wikipedia says is an agnostic, but his explanation/description of the Big Bang is absolutely convincing of the existence of God. I don't know how much else of it I will read because it's bound to be a let-down but it's sitting there in the bathroom and, until I remember to put another book in there, that's my bathroom book.
And now I am going to go look at pictures of pretty kitties in local shelters.
And I started "A brief history of everything" by Bill Bryson who Wikipedia says is an agnostic, but his explanation/description of the Big Bang is absolutely convincing of the existence of God. I don't know how much else of it I will read because it's bound to be a let-down but it's sitting there in the bathroom and, until I remember to put another book in there, that's my bathroom book.
And now I am going to go look at pictures of pretty kitties in local shelters.
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 10:11 AM (+DRpa)
105
piss wallace should be in an institution for his own protection. wtf is it with fox? shep, pissy wallace, and all the other clown school flunkies.
Posted by: chavez the hugo at February 19, 2017 10:11 AM (KP5rU)
106
But if you haven't read it, it's a bargain for what might be the greatest science fiction novel of all time.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 19, 2017 10:07 AM (rF0hx)
I don't even know if I'd call Dune science fiction. There's so much other dynastic/feudal/mystical/religious stuff going on, it's almost just chance that it happens to take place on another planet in the distant future. Still an excellent read.
I've only read the first one, though. I've been advised by several people with first-hand knowledge that after the 2nd or 3rd they go downhill fast.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 19, 2017 10:07 AM (rF0hx)
I don't even know if I'd call Dune science fiction. There's so much other dynastic/feudal/mystical/religious stuff going on, it's almost just chance that it happens to take place on another planet in the distant future. Still an excellent read.
I've only read the first one, though. I've been advised by several people with first-hand knowledge that after the 2nd or 3rd they go downhill fast.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:12 AM (8nWyX)
107
[Raymond Chandler] describes more of a scene and mood in two sentences than Charles Dickens can in five pages. There's humor, grit, and fun characters. And he keeps the reader on the edge of the chair the way the plot keeps twisting. Thoroughly enjoyable and this is just the first story.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:05 AM (V+03K)
I, also find Dickens to be too plodding. However, don't forget, Dickens got paid by the word in his serials.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:05 AM (V+03K)
I, also find Dickens to be too plodding. However, don't forget, Dickens got paid by the word in his serials.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 19, 2017 10:13 AM (5Yee7)
108
Dear Lord,
You were the creator of all living things and so blessed creation and called it good. I lift up to you at this time, Spanky, Jane's beloved cat, with whom she has she shared part of her life. We who are cat owners know how precious they are, with their purrs and putterings, their humor and hilarity, their love and their leaping. Our cats cease to be our "pets" but, instead, become part of our family. So indeed Lord I ask that if it is indeed Spanky is entering a time of going over the rainbow bridge this cat would be comfortable in passing, that you would comfort Jane is her loss and her grief, surround her with lave and peace. We ask, too for the intercession of St Francis and St Kieran who loved animals and called them friends that God would comfort those who knew Spanky in this life and Spanky would find rest and friendship with others in the Kingdom beyond this life/ Amen
You were the creator of all living things and so blessed creation and called it good. I lift up to you at this time, Spanky, Jane's beloved cat, with whom she has she shared part of her life. We who are cat owners know how precious they are, with their purrs and putterings, their humor and hilarity, their love and their leaping. Our cats cease to be our "pets" but, instead, become part of our family. So indeed Lord I ask that if it is indeed Spanky is entering a time of going over the rainbow bridge this cat would be comfortable in passing, that you would comfort Jane is her loss and her grief, surround her with lave and peace. We ask, too for the intercession of St Francis and St Kieran who loved animals and called them friends that God would comfort those who knew Spanky in this life and Spanky would find rest and friendship with others in the Kingdom beyond this life/ Amen
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 10:13 AM (fDdVG)
109
83 votermom
-----------------
I have the Kindle app on my computer and I go into the folder that has Kindle books and transfer them to the Calibre library. You can use the USB cable if you keep your Kindle books on your Kindle device. It's very easy and smooth to transfer books.
-----------------
I have the Kindle app on my computer and I go into the folder that has Kindle books and transfer them to the Calibre library. You can use the USB cable if you keep your Kindle books on your Kindle device. It's very easy and smooth to transfer books.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:14 AM (HBU7W)
110
Amen
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:14 AM (gp9bb)
111
Speaking of presidents:
Of the first six presidents four lived beyond 80 years of age.
But then...
After John Q. Adams (who left office in 1829) no U.S. president lived beyond 80 years of age until Herbert Hoover, who left office in 1933.
And then...
Of the last nine presidents, three died after age 80 and two are alive in their 90s.
Of the remainder (including DJT), three are alive in their 70s and one is 55)
I'm not sure what this says about anything.
Of the first six presidents four lived beyond 80 years of age.
But then...
After John Q. Adams (who left office in 1829) no U.S. president lived beyond 80 years of age until Herbert Hoover, who left office in 1933.
And then...
Of the last nine presidents, three died after age 80 and two are alive in their 90s.
Of the remainder (including DJT), three are alive in their 70s and one is 55)
I'm not sure what this says about anything.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:15 AM (wPiJc)
112
Fenlon, that's a beautiful prayer. My fur babies are having birthdays this week and since they will be nine years old, time becomes precious.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:16 AM (HBU7W)
113
I've been given a copy of A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. If you have read it, what did you think?
Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at February 19, 2017 10:16 AM (HeopI)
114
I've only read the first one, though. I've been
advised by several people with first-hand knowledge that after the 2nd
or 3rd they go downhill fast. Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:12 AM (8nWyX)
=====
Quantum's theory: The first book will be good, skip the second, and read the third to find out if your impression of the first is worthwhile.
advised by several people with first-hand knowledge that after the 2nd
or 3rd they go downhill fast. Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:12 AM (8nWyX)
=====
Quantum's theory: The first book will be good, skip the second, and read the third to find out if your impression of the first is worthwhile.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:17 AM (MIKMs)
115
I'm not sure what this says about anything.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:15 AM (wPiJc)
That we've got 35 more years of Barky?
Way to drop a turd Doc.
Thanks.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:15 AM (wPiJc)
That we've got 35 more years of Barky?
Way to drop a turd Doc.
Thanks.
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:18 AM (gp9bb)
116
I think they finished their introspection and concluded, 'you know what? We let our guard down. Keep pressing, keep stuffing ballot boxes. We still control communications in this country"
Posted by: t-bird at February 19, 2017 10:18 AM (qwhaR)
117
What a gigantic turd John McCain is.Just an epic shit.
Posted by: steevy at February 19, 2017 10:19 AM (r/0kC)
118
I hated Dune. Husband loved it and thought I was crazy to throw it out. It's the only book I've ever thrown out. I would have burned it, but that's just a bridge too far, even for Dune.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:19 AM (HBU7W)
119
Book Dune vs Old Movie Dune?
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (gp9bb)
120
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:03 AM (8nWyX)
I had only read Bellairs' adult fantasy "The Face in the Frost" but his stories for children have the same mix of humor and dread. I love that his adepts live in shabby suburban gentility. Prospero resides in "a huge, ridiculous, doodad-covered, trash-filled two-story horror of a house" that has a front porch decorated with "carved bears, monkeys, toads, and fat women holding sheaves of grain". His library has such titles as Nameless Horrors and What To Do About Them and the dread Krankenhammer of Stefan Schimph the Mad Cobber of Mainz.
I had only read Bellairs' adult fantasy "The Face in the Frost" but his stories for children have the same mix of humor and dread. I love that his adepts live in shabby suburban gentility. Prospero resides in "a huge, ridiculous, doodad-covered, trash-filled two-story horror of a house" that has a front porch decorated with "carved bears, monkeys, toads, and fat women holding sheaves of grain". His library has such titles as Nameless Horrors and What To Do About Them and the dread Krankenhammer of Stefan Schimph the Mad Cobber of Mainz.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (EnKk6)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (fDdVG)
122
It's my goal to have the Keating Scandal dog McCain again.
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Trust Me: Charles Keating and the Missing Billions by Charles Bowden
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Trust Me: Charles Keating and the Missing Billions by Charles Bowden
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at February 19, 2017 10:22 AM (7eotl)
123
9, Nigel West Dickens, I watched that documentary on Gosnell not too long ago, and I had to look away a lot. I simply cannot look at baby feet when they are not attached to their rightful owners.
I remember watching a ridiculous horror movie when I was a kid and it had a warning that the screen would flash when a particularly horrifying scene was about to show so you could look away if you wanted to. The movie was cheesy and looking away was not necessary, but I surely would have appreciated such a warning in this Gosnell documentary.
I remember watching a ridiculous horror movie when I was a kid and it had a warning that the screen would flash when a particularly horrifying scene was about to show so you could look away if you wanted to. The movie was cheesy and looking away was not necessary, but I surely would have appreciated such a warning in this Gosnell documentary.
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 10:23 AM (+DRpa)
124
It's my goal to have the Keating Scandal dog McCain again.
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Ixnay on the Eatingkay.
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Ixnay on the Eatingkay.
Posted by: Zombie John Glenn at February 19, 2017 10:24 AM (oVJmc)
125
Hail Vic, triumphant! The Morons were getting a bit rowdy in your absence, so it is a relief to see your phosphor traces again.
Jane, should it come to the last full measure of devotion for your beloved kitteh, look up home visit vets. They are becoming a thing, especially for terminal services, and the animals are not forced to go to The Vet Place when they are already in pain, it's just a stranger in their own home which is easier on everyone. But, let's hope it isn't needed.
Re: Kindle books. Yes, you can copy the book files from your Kindle to your computer. Use the power charger, unplugging the outlet part so that end is USB, and connect to your computer. It will show up like an external drive. Open that and drill down in the folders until you get to "Books".
Note that they won't necessarily have the title in the file name, and some books do have DRM (usually not indie books, coughcough). Calibre will take those files and store the books in mobi format, and then you can read it on any device or app that handles mobi. Save those book files somewhere on your computer OTHER than the "My Kindle Books" or whatever the Amazon default folder is if you use the desktop reader. Now you can "side-load" the books by reversing the process whenever you like.
Jane, should it come to the last full measure of devotion for your beloved kitteh, look up home visit vets. They are becoming a thing, especially for terminal services, and the animals are not forced to go to The Vet Place when they are already in pain, it's just a stranger in their own home which is easier on everyone. But, let's hope it isn't needed.
Re: Kindle books. Yes, you can copy the book files from your Kindle to your computer. Use the power charger, unplugging the outlet part so that end is USB, and connect to your computer. It will show up like an external drive. Open that and drill down in the folders until you get to "Books".
Note that they won't necessarily have the title in the file name, and some books do have DRM (usually not indie books, coughcough). Calibre will take those files and store the books in mobi format, and then you can read it on any device or app that handles mobi. Save those book files somewhere on your computer OTHER than the "My Kindle Books" or whatever the Amazon default folder is if you use the desktop reader. Now you can "side-load" the books by reversing the process whenever you like.
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at February 19, 2017 10:25 AM (SuJIo)
Posted by: Hillary! Forever! at February 19, 2017 10:26 AM (qwhaR)
127
124 It's my goal to have the Keating Scandal dog McCain again.
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Ixnay on the Eatingkay.
Posted by: Zombie John Glenn at February 19, 2017 10:24 AM (oVJmc)
I'll extend McCains name to 'Only Republican Keating fraud co-Conspirator with four Democrats John McCain.
In that vein , I recommend the following book. John Mcain, Keating Five co-conspirator .
Ixnay on the Eatingkay.
Posted by: Zombie John Glenn at February 19, 2017 10:24 AM (oVJmc)
I'll extend McCains name to 'Only Republican Keating fraud co-Conspirator with four Democrats John McCain.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at February 19, 2017 10:27 AM (7eotl)
128
Light steady rain falling here in the East Valley, AZ. Probably the remnants of that storm that hit California. And I have to go out in it to unload a van from the trailer it's on.
But first, another cuppa coffee.
But first, another cuppa coffee.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 19, 2017 10:28 AM (WDdjT)
129
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at February 19, 2017 10:25 AM (SuJIo)
Well hell SC. Cut and paste is about the limit of my computer fu.
Screwed, I am.
Well hell SC. Cut and paste is about the limit of my computer fu.
Screwed, I am.
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:28 AM (gp9bb)
130
119
Book Dune vs Old Movie Dune?
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (gp9bb)
Book is better than either movie version. But since you can not find the first movie version it doesn't make much difference. I have it on a VHS and DVD. VHS the original, DVD the 2nd movie.
Book Dune vs Old Movie Dune?
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (gp9bb)
Book is better than either movie version. But since you can not find the first movie version it doesn't make much difference. I have it on a VHS and DVD. VHS the original, DVD the 2nd movie.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:28 AM (mpXpK)
131
I hated Dune. Husband loved it and thought I was crazy to throw it out. It's the only book I've ever thrown out. I would have burned it, but that's just a bridge too far, even for Dune.
Wow.
Although I did think they got progressively bad - I really, really liked the original.
Wow.
Although I did think they got progressively bad - I really, really liked the original.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:29 AM (fiGNd)
132
I had only read Bellairs' adult fantasy "The Face in the Frost" but his stories for children have the same mix of humor and dread.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (EnKk6)
I haven't read any since middle school, but thinking back, I'm kind of impressed that while the basic setup is the same in most of them (precocious kid, sometimes an orphan, with an eccentric elderly mentor who happens to be an expert in occult matters), he managed to come up with unique threats and nasties. Even following the same formula, the books managed to avoid being formulaic.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (EnKk6)
I haven't read any since middle school, but thinking back, I'm kind of impressed that while the basic setup is the same in most of them (precocious kid, sometimes an orphan, with an eccentric elderly mentor who happens to be an expert in occult matters), he managed to come up with unique threats and nasties. Even following the same formula, the books managed to avoid being formulaic.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:29 AM (8nWyX)
133
Vic ... you're probably tired of everybody asking how you're doing by now.
So hey - how you doin' ?
So hey - how you doin' ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (fiGNd)
134
Book Dune vs Old Movie Dune?
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (gp9bb)
I may be the only person in the universe who really likes David Lynch's movie version of "Dune".
He really captures the weird untechnological biologically ubersophisticated universe of Dune.
And the story-telling is compressed but in my opinion complete enough for a movie.
If you've read the book, it's easier to follow things. But, everything you need to know is there.
Yeah, the book is better but it's a twelve course feast.
The movie is a delicious and delightful wafer thin mint.
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:21 AM (gp9bb)
I may be the only person in the universe who really likes David Lynch's movie version of "Dune".
He really captures the weird untechnological biologically ubersophisticated universe of Dune.
And the story-telling is compressed but in my opinion complete enough for a movie.
If you've read the book, it's easier to follow things. But, everything you need to know is there.
Yeah, the book is better but it's a twelve course feast.
The movie is a delicious and delightful wafer thin mint.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
135
77 ... votermom, Thanks for another lovely painting on your site. I've spent wonderful hours reading by sunlight with sea breezes coming through an open window. It compares to reading in the backyard when the lilacs are blooming and their scent fills the air. Lovely.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (V+03K)
136
133
Vic ... you're probably tired of everybody asking how you're doing by now.
So hey - how you doin' ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (fiGNd)
I am "getting by" now. But still above dirt.
Vic ... you're probably tired of everybody asking how you're doing by now.
So hey - how you doin' ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (fiGNd)
I am "getting by" now. But still above dirt.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (mpXpK)
137
I read the original Dune, and maybe the first sequel. Long ago, now. Seemed interesting but kind of plodding. Needed some editing, I thought.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (WDdjT)
138
I may be the only person in the universe who really likes David Lynch's movie version of "Dune".
You just might be.
I liked the Sci-Fi mini-series version.
You just might be.
I liked the Sci-Fi mini-series version.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (fiGNd)
139
In keeping with the book theme, I am admittedly not a biblical scholar, so can somebody help me out? Is there an actual biblical reference to a 'rainbow bridge'? Or is that a post-modern construct?
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (wPiJc)
140
Congrats to Vic for still being on this side of the grass.
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 10:32 AM (gp9bb)
141
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
I've not read the book so maybe that's why I didn't think the movie sucked. Didn't like the production of the ending battle though. Thought they could have done that better.
I've not read the book so maybe that's why I didn't think the movie sucked. Didn't like the production of the ending battle though. Thought they could have done that better.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (7eotl)
142
Regarding NYTimes bestseller lists, I recall in the 90's some observation that Christian books were often excluded from the lists even when they outsold the books on the list by multiple times. If I recall, part of the explanation was NYT did not count books sold in Christian book stores. The excuse didn't hold much water since some of the excluded books outsold the others even when only counting mainstream sales.
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (xVuS6)
143
Is there an actual biblical reference to a 'rainbow bridge'?
May I refer you to my seminal work on Rainbow Stew ?
May I refer you to my seminal work on Rainbow Stew ?
Posted by: Merle Haggard at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (fiGNd)
144
139
In keeping with the book theme, I am admittedly not a biblical scholar,
so can somebody help me out? Is there an actual biblical reference to a
'rainbow bridge'? Or is that a post-modern construct?
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (wPiJc)
The "rainbow bridge" is Norse Mythology.
In keeping with the book theme, I am admittedly not a biblical scholar,
so can somebody help me out? Is there an actual biblical reference to a
'rainbow bridge'? Or is that a post-modern construct?
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (wPiJc)
The "rainbow bridge" is Norse Mythology.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (mpXpK)
145
The movie is a delicious and delightful wafer thin mint.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
---
...that's been dosed with LSD.
Yes, it's a visual feast. I read the book so I was able to spackle in the lacunae, but my cute but Cro-Mag date, whom I dragged to the movie, hated it.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
---
...that's been dosed with LSD.
Yes, it's a visual feast. I read the book so I was able to spackle in the lacunae, but my cute but Cro-Mag date, whom I dragged to the movie, hated it.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (EnKk6)
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:34 AM (9q7Dl)
147
"Rainbow Bridge" was a myth created by the Norse.
Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 19, 2017 10:35 AM (fiGNd)
148
Is there an actual biblical reference to a 'rainbow bridge'?
=====
I recall that a rainbow is the promise that the world will not end by flood again (Noah, etc).
=====
I recall that a rainbow is the promise that the world will not end by flood again (Noah, etc).
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:36 AM (MIKMs)
149
147 "Rainbow Bridge" was a myth created by the Norse.
Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 19, 2017 10:35 AM (fiGNd)
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE AMY SCHUMER ALWAYS REPEATS STUFF THOUGHT UP BY EVERYBODY ELSE !!!
Posted by: Amy Schumer at February 19, 2017 10:35 AM (fiGNd)
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE AMY SCHUMER ALWAYS REPEATS STUFF THOUGHT UP BY EVERYBODY ELSE !!!
Posted by: BEN ROETHLESBERGER at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (fiGNd)
150
I've gotta guess that the Vikings sent an awful lot of people and critters over the Rainbow Bridge.
"Unca Sven, where did all the villagers go?"
"Uh...Rainbow Bridge, kid." *shifty eyes*
"Unca Sven, where did all the villagers go?"
"Uh...Rainbow Bridge, kid." *shifty eyes*
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (EnKk6)
151
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets going to Heaven. "Wet Noses at the Pearly Gates" was one I considered buying for my mom when she lost her beloved dog.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (ANIFC)
152
I hated Dune. Husband loved it and thought I was crazy to throw it out. It's the only book I've ever thrown out. I would have burned it, but that's just a bridge too far, even for Dune.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:19 AM (HBU7W)
So I take it you didn't read any of the sequels, thenn.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:19 AM (HBU7W)
So I take it you didn't read any of the sequels, thenn.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (cWxpc)
153
Wait, I was told there would be no myth.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:38 AM (wPiJc)
154
As an author myself (both traditionally published and self-published on Amazon), I have never chosen the DRM option on Amazon when self-publishing. Therefore, I would encourage the person who wanted to break it off with Amazon considered supporting self-published authors.
Amazon is really the best place for an author to skip the publishing monsters in NYC, write what a/he wants, and try to make a name for her/himself. I'd ask that if anyone is considering buying less from Amazon to consider that.
It might be a beast...and an anti-Trump beast at that, but for many Trump fans, conservatives, etc. we are making money off the beast.
Amazon is really the best place for an author to skip the publishing monsters in NYC, write what a/he wants, and try to make a name for her/himself. I'd ask that if anyone is considering buying less from Amazon to consider that.
It might be a beast...and an anti-Trump beast at that, but for many Trump fans, conservatives, etc. we are making money off the beast.
Posted by: KJGillenwater at February 19, 2017 10:38 AM (HlvVu)
155
A "friend" lent me her copy of 'Bonk: The Curious Coupling Of Science And Sex' by Mary Roach. Found her writing style amusing and entertaining. I most appreciated her way of delving into the history of sex research and all the things Medical Science! knew about sex in past times that turned out to be not exactly true.
Same author also wrote 'Stiff: The Curious Lives Of Human Cadavers', 'Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife', and 'Packing For Mars: The Curious Science Of Life In The Void' among others.
Same author also wrote 'Stiff: The Curious Lives Of Human Cadavers', 'Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife', and 'Packing For Mars: The Curious Science Of Life In The Void' among others.
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 19, 2017 10:38 AM (JO9+V)
156
Is there an actual biblical reference to a 'rainbow bridge'?
=====
I recall that a rainbow is the promise that the world will not end by flood again (Noah, etc).
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:36 AM (MIKMs)
"I will set my bow in the clouds" is in the Bible, I thought the 'rainbow bridge' was from Norse mythology.
=====
I recall that a rainbow is the promise that the world will not end by flood again (Noah, etc).
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:36 AM (MIKMs)
"I will set my bow in the clouds" is in the Bible, I thought the 'rainbow bridge' was from Norse mythology.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:39 AM (cWxpc)
157
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets going to Heaven.
****
And there are some legal rulings out there that argue healthcare is a Constitutional right.
****
And there are some legal rulings out there that argue healthcare is a Constitutional right.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:40 AM (wPiJc)
158
"Rainbow Six" is a how-to book by Tom Clancy
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:40 AM (ANIFC)
159
Same author also wrote 'Stiff: The Curious Lives Of Human Cadavers', 'Spook: Science Tackles The Afterlife', and 'Packing For Mars: The Curious Science Of Life In The Void' among others.
I see Ms. Roach found a system that worked and stuck with it. AC/DC would approve.
I see Ms. Roach found a system that worked and stuck with it. AC/DC would approve.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:40 AM (fiGNd)
160
May I refer you to my seminal work on Rainbow Stew ?
Posted by: Merle Haggard at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (fiGNd)
Ah, Sweet Bubbleup for the win!
Posted by: Merle Haggard at February 19, 2017 10:33 AM (fiGNd)
Ah, Sweet Bubbleup for the win!
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 19, 2017 10:40 AM (JO9+V)
161
151
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets
going to Heaven. "Wet Noses at the Pearly Gates" was one I considered
buying for my mom when she lost her beloved dog.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (ANIFC)
I don't know about books but there was a truly outstanding Twilight Zone episode a ways back.
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets
going to Heaven. "Wet Noses at the Pearly Gates" was one I considered
buying for my mom when she lost her beloved dog.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (ANIFC)
I don't know about books but there was a truly outstanding Twilight Zone episode a ways back.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (mpXpK)
162
How about Celtic mythology -- see, end of the Rainbow and 'me lucky charms'.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (MIKMs)
163
Oregon, thanks for talking about the Gosnell book.
I still find the whole thing so repugnant that I don't think I coukd read about it yet, but maybe some time in the future
I still find the whole thing so repugnant that I don't think I coukd read about it yet, but maybe some time in the future
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (Om16U)
164
152 OM-
LOL! No, but i did have to sit through the movie. That was near divorce material, right there.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows a good book about the writing of the King James Version of the bible. I would like to know the historical context of the time and the reasons for rewriting the bible when it was so well known and loved. Being raised Catholic, we didn't do much bible study and I would like to begin. I thought I would start with some history.
LOL! No, but i did have to sit through the movie. That was near divorce material, right there.
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows a good book about the writing of the King James Version of the bible. I would like to know the historical context of the time and the reasons for rewriting the bible when it was so well known and loved. Being raised Catholic, we didn't do much bible study and I would like to begin. I thought I would start with some history.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (HBU7W)
165
So Abby sent "Dune" over the Rainbow Bridge (see what I did there?).
I remember throwing Dan Brown's excrevescent "Angels and Demons" against a wall, smashing the spine like a stale cannoli. It went against my love for the printed word, but feh! Feh!
What books have you Hordies destroyed in a fit of pique? Fess up!
I remember throwing Dan Brown's excrevescent "Angels and Demons" against a wall, smashing the spine like a stale cannoli. It went against my love for the printed word, but feh! Feh!
What books have you Hordies destroyed in a fit of pique? Fess up!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (EnKk6)
166
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets going to Heaven.
Ah, yes. The Book of Serling.
Ah, yes. The Book of Serling.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (9q7Dl)
167
Hah! Looked up the lyrics:
When a president goes through the white house doors
An' does what he says he'll do
We'll all be drinking that free bubble up
And eating that rainbow stew
When a president goes through the white house doors
An' does what he says he'll do
We'll all be drinking that free bubble up
And eating that rainbow stew
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 10:43 AM (xVuS6)
168
Dang, Vic.
You're spritely this morning after surgery and all.
That's twice you beat me to the punch.
You're spritely this morning after surgery and all.
That's twice you beat me to the punch.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:43 AM (9q7Dl)
169
I still find the whole thing so repugnant that I don't think I coukd read about it yet, but maybe some time in the future
Count me out. Stuff like that makes me physically angry. Then, without fail, some cock-sucker or another will attempt one of these intellectually defenses of the whole ordeal.
Last thing I read even close to that was the Jerry Sandusky indictment. I still get mad about that. Visibly mad.
Count me out. Stuff like that makes me physically angry. Then, without fail, some cock-sucker or another will attempt one of these intellectually defenses of the whole ordeal.
Last thing I read even close to that was the Jerry Sandusky indictment. I still get mad about that. Visibly mad.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (fiGNd)
170
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets going to Heaven.
This raises the question, if good dogs go to heaven, do bad dogs go to hell?
I actually mentioned this on the book thread a few months back, when I discovered that there are actually *quite a few* books written that tackle the subject of pets in the afterlife.
This raises the question, if good dogs go to heaven, do bad dogs go to hell?
I actually mentioned this on the book thread a few months back, when I discovered that there are actually *quite a few* books written that tackle the subject of pets in the afterlife.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (cWxpc)
171
I don't know about books but there was a truly outstanding Twilight Zone episode a ways back.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (mpXpK)
I just saw that one recently.
I don't know about books but there was a truly outstanding Twilight Zone episode a ways back.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (mpXpK)
I just saw that one recently.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (ANIFC)
172
I liked _Dune_, though I didn't love it as much as some of the slightly older SF fans who were enchanted by the notion of "getting high lets you fly in hyperspace!" and "getting high makes you, like, an awesome warrior!"
The David Lynch movie was . . . odd. At times he was trying to be _too_ faithful, which meant too much of the book's interior monologues and too many of the minor characters ("I am . . . the HOUSE KEEPER!"). And then to squeeze it into a reasonable running time, the important bits had to be kind of rushed.
The David Lynch movie was . . . odd. At times he was trying to be _too_ faithful, which meant too much of the book's interior monologues and too many of the minor characters ("I am . . . the HOUSE KEEPER!"). And then to squeeze it into a reasonable running time, the important bits had to be kind of rushed.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (eFnf8)
173
OM, I appreciate you mentioning the Gosnell books. It's good to know they are selling so well. But I will never read them. Between complete rage at his continued existence and the likelihood of becoming physically sick, I don't dare. I can't even imagine a corner of hell painful enough for him and his defenders.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:46 AM (V+03K)
174
Intellectual defenses.
Ever get caught between phrases like that ? I was stuck between "intellectually defend" and "Intellectual defenses".
Which is why I should really just stick to high-minded verbage like "Go to hell, asshole".
Ever get caught between phrases like that ? I was stuck between "intellectually defend" and "Intellectual defenses".
Which is why I should really just stick to high-minded verbage like "Go to hell, asshole".
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:46 AM (fiGNd)
175
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets
going to Heaven. "Wet Noses at the Pearly Gates" was one I considered
buying for my mom when she lost her beloved dog.
=====
My mom told me that animals did not have souls and could not enter heaven. My dad told me she was full of it and parroting dogma. If I wanted my pets in heaven, they would be there. (I am sure that conversations between my parents must have been fascinating.)
There are some books out there that argue a Christian case for pets
going to Heaven. "Wet Noses at the Pearly Gates" was one I considered
buying for my mom when she lost her beloved dog.
=====
My mom told me that animals did not have souls and could not enter heaven. My dad told me she was full of it and parroting dogma. If I wanted my pets in heaven, they would be there. (I am sure that conversations between my parents must have been fascinating.)
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (MIKMs)
176
Don't know if I've ever been mad at a book enough to trash it. I might have done that with Brown's _Angels and Demons_ but I was reading it over my seatmate's shoulder on a plane and the owner might have objected.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (eFnf8)
177
Hey, it's the Peabody library!
That's in a really beautiful part of Baltimore, too. One of the best-looking old city parks anywhere. You just don't want to walk three blocks west. Or stay after dark.
That's in a really beautiful part of Baltimore, too. One of the best-looking old city parks anywhere. You just don't want to walk three blocks west. Or stay after dark.
Posted by: Geronimo Stilton at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (i2uPg)
178
That Twilight Zone episode was called "The Hunt".
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (mpXpK)
179
If you're anywhere near Philadelphia, the Philly AIDS Thrift store near Fifth and Bainbridge is a booklover's must-visit. The front of the second floor is small, but as varied and well-curated as any used bookstore I know. Trade paper for a buck, hardbacks for $2.
Scattered around the various departments are specialty cases with kids' books, cookbooks, music books and magazines grouped by topic.
The dollar room in the back of the second floor has thousands of four-for-a-dollar books, many overstocked or lightly shabby copies of the same titles selling for eight times the price up front. Lots of young adult adventure series and new school SF fantasy.
Prices are slightly higher at their Pine Street outpost in the Gayborhood, and the selection tilts toward LGBTQLSMFT interests. But everything is tidier and better designed. (Not stereotyping, just observing.)
Scattered around the various departments are specialty cases with kids' books, cookbooks, music books and magazines grouped by topic.
The dollar room in the back of the second floor has thousands of four-for-a-dollar books, many overstocked or lightly shabby copies of the same titles selling for eight times the price up front. Lots of young adult adventure series and new school SF fantasy.
Prices are slightly higher at their Pine Street outpost in the Gayborhood, and the selection tilts toward LGBTQLSMFT interests. But everything is tidier and better designed. (Not stereotyping, just observing.)
Posted by: Little Mrs Spellcheck at February 19, 2017 10:48 AM (UfqKz)
180
LOL, I pulled up the Gom Jabbar scene from Dune and one of the YouTube comments was "Don't do it Paul! There's a dick in that box!"
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:49 AM (EnKk6)
181
I like to believe that animals go to their own afterlife.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:49 AM (Om16U)
182
I still find the whole thing so repugnant that I don't think I coukd read about it yet, but maybe some time in the future
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (Om16U)
I originally anticipated getting into a lot more specific detail about Gosnell's crimes, then I thought, no, it would be too upsetting for many on the book thread. Heck, it was too upsetting for *me* and I don't flinch easily.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:41 AM (Om16U)
I originally anticipated getting into a lot more specific detail about Gosnell's crimes, then I thought, no, it would be too upsetting for many on the book thread. Heck, it was too upsetting for *me* and I don't flinch easily.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:50 AM (cWxpc)
183
The Rainbow Bridge of Bifrost 'twixt eternal Asgard and Earth is a NORSE concept, mortal! Any who say thee nay have been fooled by Loki's trickery!
Posted by: The Mighty Thor at February 19, 2017 10:50 AM (eFnf8)
184
180 LOL, I pulled up the Gom Jabbar scene from Dune and one of the YouTube comments was "Don't do it Paul! There's a dick in that box!"
==
*gigglesnort*
==
*gigglesnort*
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:50 AM (Om16U)
185
I've been a bit surprised at the coverage of Jane Roe. I thought she had turned pro-life and exposed how her situation had been manipulated and the deceit of the Roe v. Wade case. She has spoken out publicly about this and done what she can to promote overturning RvW.
Am I mis-remembering?
Am I mis-remembering?
Posted by: Emmie at February 19, 2017 10:50 AM (xVuS6)
186
]i]What books have you Hordies destroyed in a fit of pique? Fess up!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (EnKk6)
All of my college textbooks that are not STEM subject matter. I may have kept one from a World Literature class because it discussed everything from Greek to Twain, but I haven't pulled it off the shelf since school.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (EnKk6)
All of my college textbooks that are not STEM subject matter. I may have kept one from a World Literature class because it discussed everything from Greek to Twain, but I haven't pulled it off the shelf since school.
Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (6z9sL)
187
I'm sorry about Spanky, Jane. I missed the pet thread yesterday and didn't have a chance to give an update on Kira.
Actually, that's a lie. I just didn't feel like writing about it. She has a malignant tumor and is scheduled for surgery on March 2, the earliest date available. Tomorrow is her 17th birthday.
Actually, that's a lie. I just didn't feel like writing about it. She has a malignant tumor and is scheduled for surgery on March 2, the earliest date available. Tomorrow is her 17th birthday.
Posted by: rickl at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (sdi6R)
188
180 LOL, I pulled up the Gom Jabbar scene from Dune and one of the YouTube comments was "Don't do it Paul! There's a dick in that box!"
Damn lucky box.
Damn lucky box.
Posted by: Sandra Fluke at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (fiGNd)
189
So I take it you didn't read any of the sequels, then.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (cWxpc)
I read through the 3rd book I think.
By that time, Paul Atraides had become a giant worm and I rolled my eyes so hard they fell out of my sockets and rolled into a game of marbles some neighborhood kids were playing, where I had to spend the afternoon winning them back or see through a couple of jaspers for the rest of my life.
Anywho, at that point I stopped reading the Dune series.
"Dune" was pretty much a perfect book with a perfect ending which required no sequels.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:37 AM (cWxpc)
I read through the 3rd book I think.
By that time, Paul Atraides had become a giant worm and I rolled my eyes so hard they fell out of my sockets and rolled into a game of marbles some neighborhood kids were playing, where I had to spend the afternoon winning them back or see through a couple of jaspers for the rest of my life.
Anywho, at that point I stopped reading the Dune series.
"Dune" was pretty much a perfect book with a perfect ending which required no sequels.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (9q7Dl)
190
Any other profession, when it becomes apparent that something is broken, the members of that profession get together and try to: 1. fix it and 2. take steps to keep it from getting broken again.
-
The legal profession? The NBA, NFL?
-
The legal profession? The NBA, NFL?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (Nwg0u)
191
I remember throwing Dan Brown's excrevescent "Angels and Demons" against a wall, smashing the spine like a stale cannoli. It went against my love for the printed word, but feh! Feh!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (EnKk6)
I didn't actually commit any physical violence against it (it wasn't my copy, to begin with), but The Da Vinci Code would have gotten the same treatment. Every damn thing had to be explained like an un-funny joke, because I, the reader, am too stupid to put things together myself.
I've read Neal Stephenson, and you, sir, are no Neal Stephenson.
OH and House of Leaves! It sounded right up my alley until I tried to read it. It's got three tiers: the original record from someone who discovers that his house has impossible geometries and a door that leads to an endless descending gallery, the margin notes from an amateur scholar about the record, and more margin notes from an insufferably unlikable idiot droning on about his asshole boss at the tattoo parlor and his fling with a stripper who calls herself Thumper. Guess who gets 80% of the text?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (EnKk6)
I didn't actually commit any physical violence against it (it wasn't my copy, to begin with), but The Da Vinci Code would have gotten the same treatment. Every damn thing had to be explained like an un-funny joke, because I, the reader, am too stupid to put things together myself.
I've read Neal Stephenson, and you, sir, are no Neal Stephenson.
OH and House of Leaves! It sounded right up my alley until I tried to read it. It's got three tiers: the original record from someone who discovers that his house has impossible geometries and a door that leads to an endless descending gallery, the margin notes from an amateur scholar about the record, and more margin notes from an insufferably unlikable idiot droning on about his asshole boss at the tattoo parlor and his fling with a stripper who calls herself Thumper. Guess who gets 80% of the text?
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (8nWyX)
192
176 Don't know if I've ever been mad at a book enough to trash it. I might have done that with Brown's _Angels and Demons_ but I was reading it over my seatmate's shoulder on a plane and the owner might have objected.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (eFnf
---
When they did a forced landing I would have been on that tarmac to defend your actions.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (eFnf
---
When they did a forced landing I would have been on that tarmac to defend your actions.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:52 AM (EnKk6)
193
If you are going to boycott Amazon, break to buy explicitly conservative books. If you spend zero dollars and expect more than zero cultural influence then you are the mirror opposite of the SJWs in gamergate who don't buy or play games.
Posted by: BourbonChicken at February 19, 2017 10:52 AM (VdICR)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:52 AM (Om16U)
195
*ponders*
Just think of what might have happened if the dwarfs in their guild had told Dorothy Gale to follow the Rainbow Bridge.
Just think of what might have happened if the dwarfs in their guild had told Dorothy Gale to follow the Rainbow Bridge.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 10:53 AM (uYy21)
196
Why do storm shelters never suggest a small hydraulic jack and a bunch of cribbing? One good sized tree or car on your nice sturdy door and you'll be safely stuck and waiting for rescue.
Posted by: Teena Brandon at February 19, 2017 10:53 AM (NnnZy)
197
178 That Twilight Zone episode was called "The Hunt".
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (mpXpK)
While there are other Twilight Zone episodes I like better, I never get tired of watching that one. I've probably seen it dozens of times.
It was written by Earl Hamner, Jr., who later went on to create "The Waltons".
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:47 AM (mpXpK)
While there are other Twilight Zone episodes I like better, I never get tired of watching that one. I've probably seen it dozens of times.
It was written by Earl Hamner, Jr., who later went on to create "The Waltons".
Posted by: rickl at February 19, 2017 10:54 AM (sdi6R)
198
Yay book thread! Welcome home, Vic!
If I were to get married in a library, I'd probably go with the Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor. The Hall of Meditation is a popular spot for such things.
JTB, that e-book sounds like a total ripoff! You could probably get the whole collection in hardcover, maybe even leather-bound, for less. I do second the rec of the Marion Wade Center at Wheaton, though, and if you're ever in Belfast, friends there tell me Queens College has a CSL reading room that you enter via wardrobe.
Rotten week this past week that *started* with a neurologist telling me I need to reduce my stress levels. Had to resort to LibriVox to get through Silas Marner yesterday. Planning to do the same with The Time Machine today (I've read it a dozen times, probably, but the last was over twenty years ago) in hopes of getting ahead for my BritNovels class.
If I were to get married in a library, I'd probably go with the Armstrong Browning Library at Baylor. The Hall of Meditation is a popular spot for such things.
JTB, that e-book sounds like a total ripoff! You could probably get the whole collection in hardcover, maybe even leather-bound, for less. I do second the rec of the Marion Wade Center at Wheaton, though, and if you're ever in Belfast, friends there tell me Queens College has a CSL reading room that you enter via wardrobe.
Rotten week this past week that *started* with a neurologist telling me I need to reduce my stress levels. Had to resort to LibriVox to get through Silas Marner yesterday. Planning to do the same with The Time Machine today (I've read it a dozen times, probably, but the last was over twenty years ago) in hopes of getting ahead for my BritNovels class.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at February 19, 2017 10:54 AM (Bbi5h)
199
Liberals ruin everything. Once they get in charge of a profession it becomes all about being liberal, and showing who's more liberal than everyone else, and promoting liberal causes, so that the actual purpose of the profession gets ignored. Eventually someone starts up a new profession to do the actual job.
We're seeing that happening in real time right now with journalism and academia. (And, arguably, government itself.)
We're seeing that happening in real time right now with journalism and academia. (And, arguably, government itself.)
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (eFnf8)
200
OH and House of Leaves! It sounded right up my alley until I tried to read it. It's got three tiers: the original record from someone who discovers that his house has impossible geometries and a door that leads to an endless descending gallery, the margin notes from an amateur scholar about the record, and more margin notes from an insufferably unlikable idiot droning on about his asshole boss at the tattoo parlor and his fling with a stripper who calls herself Thumper. Guess who gets 80% of the text?
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (8nWyX)
---
Oh I tried to read this one too! I mean I read W.S. Burroughs but this one had me scratching my head.
Incidentally, the author is the brother of Poe, whose album Hello is one of my all time favorites.
OH and House of Leaves! It sounded right up my alley until I tried to read it. It's got three tiers: the original record from someone who discovers that his house has impossible geometries and a door that leads to an endless descending gallery, the margin notes from an amateur scholar about the record, and more margin notes from an insufferably unlikable idiot droning on about his asshole boss at the tattoo parlor and his fling with a stripper who calls herself Thumper. Guess who gets 80% of the text?
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (8nWyX)
---
Oh I tried to read this one too! I mean I read W.S. Burroughs but this one had me scratching my head.
Incidentally, the author is the brother of Poe, whose album Hello is one of my all time favorites.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (EnKk6)
201
Voter Mom's blog has some nice reading art today.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (uYy21)
202
Ah Vic is home!! I usually de-lurk only for the Pet Thread (and sparingly even then) but this is such a special occasion I felt I must voice my joy.
Vic is Home! WHOO HOO!
Please rest and heal, which I'm sure will happen with Mrs. Vic by your side.
Unless I'm mistaken, we share somewhat of a similar illness so my prayers for you, along with being heartfelt, are also kinda up front and personal.
God Bless, stay safe, and remember the Horde has your back!
Vic is Home! WHOO HOO!
Please rest and heal, which I'm sure will happen with Mrs. Vic by your side.
Unless I'm mistaken, we share somewhat of a similar illness so my prayers for you, along with being heartfelt, are also kinda up front and personal.
God Bless, stay safe, and remember the Horde has your back!
Posted by: Ritabootoo at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (Fa2LO)
203
I read Dune and the first sequel when they first came out. I recall the second wasn't so good and never went further in the series. Now I've seen the Lynch movie so many times I can't remember specifics about the original book. I think there's still a copy around here somewhere so maybe I should re-read it.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (V+03K)
204
Last thing I read even close to that was the Jerry Sandusky indictment. I still get mad about that. Visibly mad.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (fiGNd)
I think there's a special place in hell for people like Gosnell and Sandusky who devoted their lives to preying on the weak and helpless.
Read the Old Testament, especially the minor prophets. God *really* hates that sort of thing.
By the way, when the left endlessly complains about "oppression", they're stealing that right out of the Bible. In fact, I believe that 'progressivism' is a just a specie of Christian heresy.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:44 AM (fiGNd)
I think there's a special place in hell for people like Gosnell and Sandusky who devoted their lives to preying on the weak and helpless.
Read the Old Testament, especially the minor prophets. God *really* hates that sort of thing.
By the way, when the left endlessly complains about "oppression", they're stealing that right out of the Bible. In fact, I believe that 'progressivism' is a just a specie of Christian heresy.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (cWxpc)
205
Speaking of Gosnell, the Roe of 'Roe v Wade' (Wade was a Texas official) died today - maybe yesterday. Minutiae; later in life she joined the pro-life movement. The Supreme Court decision was 7-2.
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (ZFUt7)
206
Anywho, at that point I stopped reading the Dune series.
Dude ... you stopped right before the best part !!!
The Ixians trap Worm-God Atreides in a giant Null-Bottle of Tequila. The Fremen drink it all at a giant ceremony that makes that Waters of Life thing look like a Sunday Ice Cream Social. The Duncan Idaho golem eats the worm and goes on a trip without ever leaving Sietch Tabr.
Dude ... you stopped right before the best part !!!
The Ixians trap Worm-God Atreides in a giant Null-Bottle of Tequila. The Fremen drink it all at a giant ceremony that makes that Waters of Life thing look like a Sunday Ice Cream Social. The Duncan Idaho golem eats the worm and goes on a trip without ever leaving Sietch Tabr.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (fiGNd)
207
202 God Bless, stay safe, and remember the Horde has your back!
Posted by: Ritabootoo at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (Fa2LO)
Thanks, and de-lurk and become a 100% Moron.
Posted by: Ritabootoo at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (Fa2LO)
Thanks, and de-lurk and become a 100% Moron.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 10:57 AM (mpXpK)
208
The adventures of a Texas boy that rides off to the Civil War. Coming home he becomes a Ranger...until he steals a Comanche princess!
So, Elizabeth Warren's great great grandfather?
So, Elizabeth Warren's great great grandfather?
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at February 19, 2017 10:57 AM (W8bn5)
209
Liberals ruin everything. Once they get in charge of a profession it becomes all about being liberal, and showing who's more liberal than everyone else, and promoting liberal causes, so that the actual purpose of the profession gets ignored. Eventually someone starts up a new profession to do the actual job.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (eFnf
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 10:55 AM (eFnf
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Posted by: ESPN at February 19, 2017 10:57 AM (cWxpc)
210
The only book I've literally thrown in the garbage was David Frum's The Right Man.
It was a conceited , me , me , me pile of shit.
It was a conceited , me , me , me pile of shit.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at February 19, 2017 10:58 AM (7eotl)
211
I thought I would start with some history.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (HBU7W)
Buy the Companion Bible
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 10:42 AM (HBU7W)
Buy the Companion Bible
Posted by: MAC-SOG at February 19, 2017 10:58 AM (QPdNE)
212
GREAT post, Oregon Muse! And welcome back, Vic. Prayers for healing.
Posted by: Ladylibertarian at February 19, 2017 10:59 AM (nQ10o)
213
Chris Matthews said Sandy Berger was "sloppy."
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 19, 2017 10:59 AM (IqV8l)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 10:59 AM (Om16U)
215
I didn't actually commit any physical violence against it (it wasn't my copy, to begin with), but The Da Vinci Code would have gotten the same treatment. Every damn thing had to be explained like an un-funny joke, because I, the reader, am too stupid to put things together myself.
I CONSIDER IT TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST LITERARY MASTERPIECES OF ALL TIME.
I CONSIDER IT TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST LITERARY MASTERPIECES OF ALL TIME.
Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (W8bn5)
216
This upcoming movie looks like the moron version of "House of Leaves"-
"Dave Made a Maze"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMOUYDG57VU
"Dave Made a Maze"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMOUYDG57VU
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (9q7Dl)
217
Just downloaded the free sample of "The Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies."
I'm afraid it will confirm my thoughts and give me the sadz.
The author makes the case that we are quickly descending into a monoculture in which only one side of thought is permitted.
Look at how stand-up comedy, professional sports, the academy, Hollywood, and of course all of the media save a small slice of talk radio, is already turned.
I'm afraid it will confirm my thoughts and give me the sadz.
The author makes the case that we are quickly descending into a monoculture in which only one side of thought is permitted.
Look at how stand-up comedy, professional sports, the academy, Hollywood, and of course all of the media save a small slice of talk radio, is already turned.
Posted by: Les Kinetic at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (U6f54)
218
God Emperor Dune was where I stopped caring about Frank Herbert's signature series. Just like Shadows of Victory is where I have stopped caring about David Weber's Honor Harrington series.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (uYy21)
219
The Ixians trap Worm-God Atreides in a giant Null-Bottle of Tequila. The Fremen drink it all at a giant ceremony that makes that Waters of Life thing look like a Sunday Ice Cream Social. The Duncan Idaho golem eats the worm and goes on a trip without ever leaving Sietch Tabr.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (fiGNd)
----
This needs to be animated Peter Max-style.
Dude.
Which book was this? I tapped out after the third installment.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (fiGNd)
----
This needs to be animated Peter Max-style.
Dude.
Which book was this? I tapped out after the third installment.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (EnKk6)
220
65, Jane D'Oh, I just went through this. I am so sorry as kittehs burrow into our hearts and take up so much room. They leave an enormous hole when they leave us. Prayers for comfort for you.
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (+DRpa)
221
"Dune" was pretty much a perfect book with a perfect ending which required no sequels.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (9q7Dl)
I think Dune is analogous to The Matrix. Every part of the story that needed to be told was told in the first book (or movie), and the sequels are pretty much useless.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:51 AM (9q7Dl)
I think Dune is analogous to The Matrix. Every part of the story that needed to be told was told in the first book (or movie), and the sequels are pretty much useless.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (cWxpc)
222
Loren L Coleman, "Blood of Wolves". This is a book spun off from the Age of Conan game last decade. It's a story set in the Hyborian Age; Conan without Conan.
In this one, King Conan of Aquilonia has pulled Aquilonian troops away from Cimmeria. Bad timing, because there's a harsh winter and an invasion of Vanir, even worse barbarians from the north.
A near-albino named Kern Wolf-Eye growing up in a Cimmerian village is tossed out of the village, when a new chieftain takes over - mouths to feed and all that. But then the Vanir attack and Kern - though outcast - saves a village convoy. Kern rallies some warriors, frees captives, gains allies, and goes after the Vanir.
Fight scenes are well done. Yay for stabbing and not slashing. I hear Coleman served in the armed forces, so he has had some training here. Also frostbite is a thing up here; people have to be cured from it. This much is, I think, better than George Martin.
There are some parts which Coleman should have known if he wants to do anything with the Hyborian world. One of the captives is from Shem, which is, you know, Semitic, but he is described as having "ebony" skin and an African name. (1) how do barbarian villagers even know what ebony looks like and (2) come on dude, learn the difference between Kush and Shem.
In this one, King Conan of Aquilonia has pulled Aquilonian troops away from Cimmeria. Bad timing, because there's a harsh winter and an invasion of Vanir, even worse barbarians from the north.
A near-albino named Kern Wolf-Eye growing up in a Cimmerian village is tossed out of the village, when a new chieftain takes over - mouths to feed and all that. But then the Vanir attack and Kern - though outcast - saves a village convoy. Kern rallies some warriors, frees captives, gains allies, and goes after the Vanir.
Fight scenes are well done. Yay for stabbing and not slashing. I hear Coleman served in the armed forces, so he has had some training here. Also frostbite is a thing up here; people have to be cured from it. This much is, I think, better than George Martin.
There are some parts which Coleman should have known if he wants to do anything with the Hyborian world. One of the captives is from Shem, which is, you know, Semitic, but he is described as having "ebony" skin and an African name. (1) how do barbarian villagers even know what ebony looks like and (2) come on dude, learn the difference between Kush and Shem.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (6FqZa)
223
Only place my cat's leaving an enormous hole is in the couch upholstery.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (eFnf8)
224
"Dune" was pretty much a perfect book with a perfect ending which required no sequels.
Posted by: naturalfake
Star Wars
"Dune" was pretty much a perfect book with a perfect ending which required no sequels.
Posted by: naturalfake
Star Wars
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 19, 2017 11:02 AM (IqV8l)
225
Posted by: Les Kinetic at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (U6f54)
Yes and even though we apparently still have the silent majority they are slowly chipping away at our morality.
Yes and even though we apparently still have the silent majority they are slowly chipping away at our morality.
Posted by: Sebastian Melmoth at February 19, 2017 11:02 AM (7eotl)
226
Anywho, at that point I stopped reading the Dune series.
Dude ... you stopped right before the best part !!!
The Ixians trap Worm-God Atreides in a giant Null-Bottle of Tequila. The Fremen drink it all at a giant ceremony that makes that Waters of Life thing look like a Sunday Ice Cream Social. The Duncan Idaho golem eats the worm and goes on a trip without ever leaving Sietch Tabr.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (find)
Well....dang.
Now, I have to read the whole thing again!
Dude ... you stopped right before the best part !!!
The Ixians trap Worm-God Atreides in a giant Null-Bottle of Tequila. The Fremen drink it all at a giant ceremony that makes that Waters of Life thing look like a Sunday Ice Cream Social. The Duncan Idaho golem eats the worm and goes on a trip without ever leaving Sietch Tabr.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 10:56 AM (find)
Well....dang.
Now, I have to read the whole thing again!
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 11:02 AM (9q7Dl)
227
Dune was good. Dune Messiah was "Oh, you thought that was a happy ending? Let me 'splain..." Children of Dune and everything after is a muddled mess.
Lynch's Dune is fine other than the weirding module fear of sci-fu crap.
Lynch's Dune is fine other than the weirding module fear of sci-fu crap.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at February 19, 2017 11:03 AM (x3uSY)
228
Under the system created by Roe and Doe, the worst that can be said of his efforts is that he cut too many corners, was sloppy and fudged some paperwork...
I thought some of the women had died because of his negligence. That goes beyond "fudging paperwork".
I thought some of the women had died because of his negligence. That goes beyond "fudging paperwork".
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at February 19, 2017 11:03 AM (W8bn5)
Posted by: goatexchange at February 19, 2017 11:04 AM (YFnq5)
230
Some interesting thoughts about Conan by a game geek:
http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/2017/02/conan-barbarian-review-analysis-and.html
http://harbingergames.blogspot.com/2017/02/conan-barbarian-review-analysis-and.html
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:04 AM (eFnf8)
231
Which book was this? I tapped out after the third installment.
I slogged all the way through Chapter House - just because I wanted to see how it all ended. It was so bad, I would skim through massive sections.
I slogged all the way through Chapter House - just because I wanted to see how it all ended. It was so bad, I would skim through massive sections.
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 11:04 AM (fiGNd)
232
I downloaded Calibre but for some reason I cannot figure out how to use it. Book things should not make me feel stupid. Except for actual books I haven't read yet: they can do that because I haven't read them.
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 11:04 AM (+DRpa)
233
Whiskey in the Jar!
Best rendition of this Irish drinking song I've ever heard or seen, and this guy's first language is Spanish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oW_RQQb1QE
I'd kill to be able to play guitar like this.
Look through his YouTube videos and watch him do Pearl Jam, just his voice and piano.
Best rendition of this Irish drinking song I've ever heard or seen, and this guy's first language is Spanish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oW_RQQb1QE
I'd kill to be able to play guitar like this.
Look through his YouTube videos and watch him do Pearl Jam, just his voice and piano.
Posted by: Les Kinetic at February 19, 2017 11:05 AM (U6f54)
234
Only place my cat's leaving an enormous hole is in the couch upholstery.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (eFnf
Perhaps you're lucky he didn't leave anything else on the couch.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (eFnf
Perhaps you're lucky he didn't leave anything else on the couch.
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 11:05 AM (cWxpc)
235
Is there an actual biblical reference to a 'rainbow bridge'? Or is that a post-modern construct?
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (wPiJc)
Modern, at least, though near as I can figure, the concept of a rainbow bridge to the heavenly realm (not necessarily just for pets) is derived from the Bifrost Bridge in Teutonic mythology. A Catholic friend of mine recently had a series of blog posts on the question of whether and in what sense we might expect to find our beloved pets either in Heaven or in the new heavens and new earth, drawing mainly on Aquinas. There's nothing in the plain text of Scripture that says either way.That said, Jane D'oh, I'm sure sorry to hear about Spanky. It's always too soon, no matter how old the pet is--I know it was horribly hard to lose our dog Sparky, and he was 17 and very tottery.
Posted by: Muldoon at February 19, 2017 10:31 AM (wPiJc)
Modern, at least, though near as I can figure, the concept of a rainbow bridge to the heavenly realm (not necessarily just for pets) is derived from the Bifrost Bridge in Teutonic mythology. A Catholic friend of mine recently had a series of blog posts on the question of whether and in what sense we might expect to find our beloved pets either in Heaven or in the new heavens and new earth, drawing mainly on Aquinas. There's nothing in the plain text of Scripture that says either way.That said, Jane D'oh, I'm sure sorry to hear about Spanky. It's always too soon, no matter how old the pet is--I know it was horribly hard to lose our dog Sparky, and he was 17 and very tottery.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at February 19, 2017 11:08 AM (Bbi5h)
236
"Dave Made a Maze"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMOUYDG57VU
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (9q7Dl)
Kind of looks like a lower budget "Stranger Things."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMOUYDG57VU
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 11:00 AM (9q7Dl)
Kind of looks like a lower budget "Stranger Things."
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 11:09 AM (cWxpc)
237
My sister gave me a Kindle Paperwhite as a gift. I hate the hard sell that amazon has built into the thing, and the user interface sucks like a sump pump. But it does let me read in bed, when I have a spell of insomnia, without disturbing my wife.
I use the Kindle mainly for public-domain books that I download from gutenberg.org. The Kindle will display any file that's in epub or pdf format. I've turned off the wifi and auto-update options, and instead plug it into my Linux laptop via the USB cable. Once the Kindle is plugged in, to add a public-domain book, I simply copy the pdf or epub file into directory /media/[mylogin]/Kindle/documents. The book automatically appears on my Kindle's menu of books. (I'm sure there's an analogous procedure for Windows; but I don't do Microsoft.)
I use the Kindle mainly for public-domain books that I download from gutenberg.org. The Kindle will display any file that's in epub or pdf format. I've turned off the wifi and auto-update options, and instead plug it into my Linux laptop via the USB cable. Once the Kindle is plugged in, to add a public-domain book, I simply copy the pdf or epub file into directory /media/[mylogin]/Kindle/documents. The book automatically appears on my Kindle's menu of books. (I'm sure there's an analogous procedure for Windows; but I don't do Microsoft.)
Posted by: Brown Line at February 19, 2017 11:09 AM (a5bF3)
238
The movie is a delicious and delightful wafer thin mint.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
Oh, well, all right, then.
The movie is a delicious and delightful wafer thin mint.
Posted by: naturalfake at February 19, 2017 10:30 AM (9q7Dl)
Oh, well, all right, then.
Posted by: Mr. Creosote at February 19, 2017 11:09 AM (oVJmc)
239
The big problem I had with Da Vinci Code was that I could read page 25 and then tell you word for word what was going to be on page 26.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at February 19, 2017 11:10 AM (x3uSY)
240
Posted by: JHW at February 19, 2017 09:53 AM (kn0BL)
Here's a link explaining DRM and Calibre-these are the instructions I used to get it up and running.
https://tinyurl.com/q49kx96
Here's a link explaining DRM and Calibre-these are the instructions I used to get it up and running.
https://tinyurl.com/q49kx96
Posted by: Toni at February 19, 2017 11:11 AM (IOntn)
241
Worked on a music project this morning and errands this afternoon (Her Majesty and I are having breakfast) but I'm reading The Hall of Uselessness by Simon Leys. Hope to report on it in a few weeks after intervening dog shows.
Posted by: Kodos the Executioner at February 19, 2017 11:11 AM (kyp8a)
242
Condolences, Jane. Been there - we lost our beloved family dog, Jack, on his Thanksgiving birthday, last. Yes, he was a featured moron pet dog. Our greatest consolation was that he hung in there long enough for our kids - who grew up with him and only knew life with him - to come back from college to say goodbye.
Treasure your beloved kitteh. Blessings to all.
Treasure your beloved kitteh. Blessings to all.
Posted by: goatexchange at February 19, 2017 11:11 AM (YFnq5)
243
I can't get over the crowds of BLM in those library pics.
Posted by: Corona at February 19, 2017 11:12 AM (MB5zC)
244
239 The big problem I had with Da Vinci Code was that I could read page 25 and then tell you word for word what was going to be on page 26.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at February 19, 2017 11:10 AM (x3uSY)
Dude ... you're, like, psychic.
Quick ... what am I thinking, right now ?
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at February 19, 2017 11:10 AM (x3uSY)
Dude ... you're, like, psychic.
Quick ... what am I thinking, right now ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 11:12 AM (fiGNd)
245
Here's another video for your musical and cultural enjoyment. Korean dad and his kids.
Dad must be a fan of Irish music because the girl is named Sinead and the boy is Sean.
Great cover of REM's "Losing My Religion." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIS8ePrj-M
Watch it a few times to see Sean's work on the cowbell and cymbals, and his backup vocals.
Sinead's uke work is pretty much the exact set of riffs and picking as was done by REM on the mandolin.
I love this song, and this is a great cover of it. Look how professional the barefoot kids are.
Dad must be a fan of Irish music because the girl is named Sinead and the boy is Sean.
Great cover of REM's "Losing My Religion." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIS8ePrj-M
Watch it a few times to see Sean's work on the cowbell and cymbals, and his backup vocals.
Sinead's uke work is pretty much the exact set of riffs and picking as was done by REM on the mandolin.
I love this song, and this is a great cover of it. Look how professional the barefoot kids are.
Posted by: Les Kinetic at February 19, 2017 11:13 AM (U6f54)
246
Slowly catching up with the conversation thus far... Rec for Abby: The King James Bible and the World It Made by my friend and mentor David Lyle Jeffrey.
Posted by: Elisabeth G. Wolfe at February 19, 2017 11:13 AM (Bbi5h)
247
Yay, Book Thread!
I'm still working on The Northern Crusades, but I've added a bunch of things to the stack of books to read next. Scott Adams' 'How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big', Kurlansky's 'Salt: A World History', and Judith Flanders' 'The Making of Home' are waiting patiently for me to have time to read.
The writing is going reasonably. If nothing goes pear-shaped, A Kingdom of Glass will be available as an ebook on March 1. *crosses fingers*
And the sequel to A Kingdom of Glass has 87,000 words. I'm hoping to have the first draft done in a few weeks.
I'm still working on The Northern Crusades, but I've added a bunch of things to the stack of books to read next. Scott Adams' 'How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big', Kurlansky's 'Salt: A World History', and Judith Flanders' 'The Making of Home' are waiting patiently for me to have time to read.
The writing is going reasonably. If nothing goes pear-shaped, A Kingdom of Glass will be available as an ebook on March 1. *crosses fingers*
And the sequel to A Kingdom of Glass has 87,000 words. I'm hoping to have the first draft done in a few weeks.
Posted by: right wing yankee at February 19, 2017 11:14 AM (26lkV)
248
But it does let me read in bed, when I have a spell of insomnia, without disturbing my wife.
Posted by: Brown Line at February 19, 2017 11:09 AM (a5bF3)
One of the overlooked benefits of e-paper readers is that even when they're backlit, they don't cause nearly as much eye strain as LCDs. They're less likely to worsen insomnia than a tablet, and they're actually tolerable if you're waiting out a migraine.
Posted by: Brown Line at February 19, 2017 11:09 AM (a5bF3)
One of the overlooked benefits of e-paper readers is that even when they're backlit, they don't cause nearly as much eye strain as LCDs. They're less likely to worsen insomnia than a tablet, and they're actually tolerable if you're waiting out a migraine.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 11:14 AM (8nWyX)
249
I avoided Da Vinci Code on account that, from what I heard, I was pretty sure it was going to be generic Elaine Pagels / Michael Baigent bullsh!t. I take my biblical scholarship a little too seriously to bother with this.
I hear the author Dan Brown is, at least, not a Leftist. "Inferno" attacks the population-control cult.
I hear the author Dan Brown is, at least, not a Leftist. "Inferno" attacks the population-control cult.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:14 AM (6FqZa)
250
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows a good book about the writing of the King James Version of the bible. I would like to know the historical context of the time and the reasons for rewriting the bible when it was so well known and loved. Being raised Catholic, we didn't do much bible study and I would like to begin. I thought I would start with some history.
-
Barbara Tuchman's The Bible and the Sword has a good discussion of this topic. The theme of the book the relationship between English culture and Biblical heroes, particularly in the Old Testament. The title refers to the British identifying with Ancient Israel, the Bible, and the geographical strategic importance of the Middle East to the British Empire, the sword.
-
Barbara Tuchman's The Bible and the Sword has a good discussion of this topic. The theme of the book the relationship between English culture and Biblical heroes, particularly in the Old Testament. The title refers to the British identifying with Ancient Israel, the Bible, and the geographical strategic importance of the Middle East to the British Empire, the sword.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:16 AM (Nwg0u)
251
Who put Sen. Lindsey Graham on truth serum?
He just said about the press in regards to Trump that they're 'Over the top, almost hysterical'.
What have they done with the real Lindsey Graham?
Who put Sen. Lindsey Graham on truth serum?
He just said about the press in regards to Trump that they're 'Over the top, almost hysterical'.
What have they done with the real Lindsey Graham?
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 11:18 AM (ZFUt7)
252
NASA press conference starting in a few minutes:
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public
https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public
Posted by: rickl at February 19, 2017 11:19 AM (sdi6R)
253
Sgt. Mom,
When and where is the Wimberley book fair?
When and where is the Wimberley book fair?
Posted by: lindafell little rally hitler's schadenbutton! at February 19, 2017 11:20 AM (JNDQi)
254
I read Da Vinci Code. I think it's a great example of a writer doing a couple of things well enough to be a hit.
First is the pacing. He was doing a mini cliffhanger literally on every chapter ending.
Second was tapping into the fascination so many pee (including me) have with secret histories and hidden patterns.
For writers, a great lesson in how you don't have to be perfect, you just have to give readees a reason to keep reading.
First is the pacing. He was doing a mini cliffhanger literally on every chapter ending.
Second was tapping into the fascination so many pee (including me) have with secret histories and hidden patterns.
For writers, a great lesson in how you don't have to be perfect, you just have to give readees a reason to keep reading.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:20 AM (Om16U)
255
Laugh at me all you like, but of the two Brown novels I have read, AD was better as far as thriller -- I could see the helicopter taking off from the Vatican. DVC was more pedestrian, interesting in a way, but forgettable. Both of them were read well after the 'bestseller' status and I read AD first.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 11:21 AM (MIKMs)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:21 AM (Om16U)
257
Abby: Look for God's Secretaries, about the men who re-translated old texts to create the King James version. Why James VI decided to do it, why he chose these particular men, how they worked, how they settled disagreements, etc. A great read.
Posted by: Wenda (sic) at February 19, 2017 11:21 AM (Kr0FZ)
258
Bought the Pap Jack ebook
Posted by: Sisqui at February 19, 2017 11:21 AM (Mr0eF)
259
Glad to see you back, Vic.
I have been reading the Catholic Apologetics series by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham and am on #2: How to Answer Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.
I have been reading the Catholic Apologetics series by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham and am on #2: How to Answer Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at February 19, 2017 11:22 AM (THS4q)
260
Using Amazon Prime, I put Matthew Iden's "The Winter Over" on my Kindle and read maybe half before quitting it.
Set in Antarctica at the Shackleton research base at the pole, it's a mystery with a murder in it, outside temps at 60 below, no daylight ever.
His book "A Reason to Live," book one of the Marty Singer series, is better, and I am reading that one now. A bad ex-cop is the villain, sort of, and it is set in D.C. and nearby Virginia.
I read a lot of the free and cheap stuff available for Kindle, and most all of it is crap I put down after a chapter or two. What gets me is these authors who do a book almost entirely in dialog. Those are the ones that get discarded after only a dozen pages.
Set in Antarctica at the Shackleton research base at the pole, it's a mystery with a murder in it, outside temps at 60 below, no daylight ever.
His book "A Reason to Live," book one of the Marty Singer series, is better, and I am reading that one now. A bad ex-cop is the villain, sort of, and it is set in D.C. and nearby Virginia.
I read a lot of the free and cheap stuff available for Kindle, and most all of it is crap I put down after a chapter or two. What gets me is these authors who do a book almost entirely in dialog. Those are the ones that get discarded after only a dozen pages.
Posted by: Les Kinetic at February 19, 2017 11:22 AM (U6f54)
261
I always wondered how they "printed" the air/earth and fire/water symbols. Is all that stuff laser-printed now ?
Posted by: ScoggDog at February 19, 2017 11:23 AM (fiGNd)
262
votermom @ 254-
You hit the nail on the head. Dan Brown drove me up the wall with his insistence that his fiction was actually factual, but damn if he didn't do a good job of sucking me into the book and not letting go until it was over.
You hit the nail on the head. Dan Brown drove me up the wall with his insistence that his fiction was actually factual, but damn if he didn't do a good job of sucking me into the book and not letting go until it was over.
Posted by: right wing yankee at February 19, 2017 11:23 AM (26lkV)
263
How do you know when you've officially become one of the horde?
When the first site you check on a Sunday is the AOSHQ book thread.
I just started Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet: Courageous. I'm in need of some old-fashioned space opera.
When the first site you check on a Sunday is the AOSHQ book thread.
I just started Jack Campbell's The Lost Fleet: Courageous. I'm in need of some old-fashioned space opera.
Posted by: William Alan Webb at February 19, 2017 11:24 AM (OhYcy)
264
Good luck on your projects there Right Wing Yankee.
Guess should babble on my stuff right? Have gotten some feedback for the James Patterson contest submission. So tinkering to get a better version all prettied up for another look over before deadline. Up to Lesson 14 on his Mater Class series and even after he stresses about creating an outline, he says that sometimes while actually writing a more fitting or better ending will pop-up. And for audience talks about aiming for the most-common denominator in order to get a best seller.
Got one chapter of my lark novel left to finish the rough draft on. So will probably hit about 70k words. Then go into revise mode. SF story is still at 85k words. The sequels to Golden Isis, well perhaps I should try to do outline of them without looking at what has already been written to see if I can make sense of my meanderings.
---- PS buy my book please? ----
http://astore.amazon.com/aoshq-20/detail/B014BTSEYO
Guess should babble on my stuff right? Have gotten some feedback for the James Patterson contest submission. So tinkering to get a better version all prettied up for another look over before deadline. Up to Lesson 14 on his Mater Class series and even after he stresses about creating an outline, he says that sometimes while actually writing a more fitting or better ending will pop-up. And for audience talks about aiming for the most-common denominator in order to get a best seller.
Got one chapter of my lark novel left to finish the rough draft on. So will probably hit about 70k words. Then go into revise mode. SF story is still at 85k words. The sequels to Golden Isis, well perhaps I should try to do outline of them without looking at what has already been written to see if I can make sense of my meanderings.
---- PS buy my book please? ----
http://astore.amazon.com/aoshq-20/detail/B014BTSEYO
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 11:26 AM (uYy21)
Posted by: Mr. Creosote at February 19, 2017 11:28 AM (oVJmc)
266
151, and Jane D'Oh: Our priests all say that animals do not have souls and so cannot go to heaven. But in the "four last things" class that is part of RCIA, we are told that at some point (because the whole thing is outside of time), the world will be made anew, and if it's the world, won't there be all of the animals? I have not asked the priests about this because I don't want to hear their answer, but it's my logic and that's what I hang my hat on. Of course my hat is not a biretta so ....
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 11:29 AM (+DRpa)
267
Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows a good book about the writing of the King James Version of the bible. I would like to know the historical context of the time and the reasons for rewriting the bible when it was so well known and loved. Being raised Catholic, we didn't do much bible study and I would like to begin. I thought I would start with some history.
Posted by: Abby
I can't recommend any books, but it's not accurate to say they rewrote the Bible. They translated it from a collection of Greek manuscripts (in the case of the NT), the same as had been done for any vernacular version of the Bible. There were several English translations that preceded it, by proto reformers like Wycliffe and Tyndale, but there was no one standard translation.
If you want to learn about the manuscript history of the NT, you can search around for podcasts by Daniel Wallace and James White. But be warned, if you are a Catholic that James White can be very critical of Catholic theology.
Posted by: Abby
I can't recommend any books, but it's not accurate to say they rewrote the Bible. They translated it from a collection of Greek manuscripts (in the case of the NT), the same as had been done for any vernacular version of the Bible. There were several English translations that preceded it, by proto reformers like Wycliffe and Tyndale, but there was no one standard translation.
If you want to learn about the manuscript history of the NT, you can search around for podcasts by Daniel Wallace and James White. But be warned, if you are a Catholic that James White can be very critical of Catholic theology.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at February 19, 2017 11:30 AM (W8bn5)
268
What have they done with the real Lindsey Graham?
Estrogen therapy?
Posted by: Mr. Creosote
He's transitioning to Maude.
What have they done with the real Lindsey Graham?
Estrogen therapy?
Posted by: Mr. Creosote
He's transitioning to Maude.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 19, 2017 11:31 AM (IqV8l)
269
249 I hear the author Dan Brown is, at least, not a Leftist. "Inferno" attacks the population-control cult.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:14 AM (6FqZa)
I think 90% of the Dan Brown "hate" comes from that one paragraph he puts in the front of the book that says it is based on actual fact. They are good books and good movies, but they are not based on any kind of fact.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:14 AM (6FqZa)
I think 90% of the Dan Brown "hate" comes from that one paragraph he puts in the front of the book that says it is based on actual fact. They are good books and good movies, but they are not based on any kind of fact.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 11:32 AM (mpXpK)
270
Thanks, OregonMuse, for posting the info about my Kindle book, and thanks to the Morons who have purchased it (hmmm, that almost sounds insulting, and yet, it isn't, somehow).
Posted by: jwpaine at February 19, 2017 11:33 AM (hoJm7)
271
The KJV's main problem as a translation is that, in the Old Testament, it was often translating a stone-dead language, namely Hebrew. Even the Jews had forgotten a lot of the terms used. There was some philology which helped where there were cognates with living Semitic languages, mainly Arabic and Aramaic, but this could only go so far.
Akkadian and (especially) Ugaritic enabled a revolution in Biblical translation efforts.
Akkadian and (especially) Ugaritic enabled a revolution in Biblical translation efforts.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:34 AM (6FqZa)
272
Lindafell @253 - The Wimberley book festival is June 10th, at the community center. If you're going to look for me - I'm the one in Edwardian garb with a flamboyant hat, etc.
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at February 19, 2017 11:34 AM (xnmPy)
273
Amazon, way back when, was issuing classics on the Kindle, and they had a dispute over 1984 with the Orwell estate, or whoever owned the copyright.
Because of that they pulled the edition from everyone's Kindle.
Sort of memoryholing it, as it were.
This is why I stuck with my Sony even past when it was obsolete.
Because of that they pulled the edition from everyone's Kindle.
Sort of memoryholing it, as it were.
This is why I stuck with my Sony even past when it was obsolete.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 19, 2017 11:35 AM (XMCn6)
274
To clarify, I'm not judging anyone who likes Dan Brown stuff. I'll eat a canned corned beef sandwich while watching Mean Girls even though there's brie and a baguette in the kitchen and Das Boot on the AppleTV. Not everything has to be froofy and fancy; sometimes goofy and fun is called for.
I just didn't like his stuff because it didn't allow any sense of figuring things out yourself. All the mystery was telegraphed pages ahead and then meticulously explained after. It literally felt like the book equivalent of someone telling a joke with awful timing, then explaining why it's funny.
I just didn't like his stuff because it didn't allow any sense of figuring things out yourself. All the mystery was telegraphed pages ahead and then meticulously explained after. It literally felt like the book equivalent of someone telling a joke with awful timing, then explaining why it's funny.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 11:36 AM (8nWyX)
275
I think Dan Brown's kind of a sleaze for insisting his work is "thoroughly researched" when he's just basically stealing from hard-working crazy people who make shit up. But that's not why I loathe his work.
It's practically unreadable! Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon gets full-name and occupation introduction in practically every paragraph, as if the reader might forget he's he main character of the effing book!
Plots are formula: Langdon goes someplace, solves a Scooby-Doo puzzle, unloads a cubic meter of bullshit exposition on his sidekick character. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Oh, then it turns out the big baddie was really the one who brought Langdon into the case in the first place!
It's practically unreadable! Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon gets full-name and occupation introduction in practically every paragraph, as if the reader might forget he's he main character of the effing book!
Plots are formula: Langdon goes someplace, solves a Scooby-Doo puzzle, unloads a cubic meter of bullshit exposition on his sidekick character. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Oh, then it turns out the big baddie was really the one who brought Langdon into the case in the first place!
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:37 AM (eFnf8)
276
Almost finished listening to "Nowhere Man" the sequel to "Orphan X" by Gregg Hurwitz. The man knows how to write a seat of your pants, white knuckle action scene sprinkled with lots of yummy tradecraft. oh, and lots of info on expensive vodkas. The things you learn from books!
Posted by: Tuna at February 19, 2017 11:37 AM (jm1YL)
277
I've been reading Tigers In the Mud by Otto Carius, the author's memoir of being a Tiger tank platoon commander in Russia. It is a good book. He refers repeatedly to a disturbing issue. He resents the reputation of German soldiers from WWII as soldiers of evil. He contends that he and others acted out of what they believed to be good and patriotic motives. He further states that this humiliation of the German soldier has caused Germany to become far to pacifistic too the extent that it endangers German survival.
There is much good information on day-to-day tank operations.
There is much good information on day-to-day tank operations.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:37 AM (Nwg0u)
278
The one book that I was ready to throw at the wall, but I remembered was a library book, was 'Time Traveler's Wife'. Bad science, bad fiction, and have no idea how that book was published.
I am very happy to live in 'willful suspension of disbelief' while I am reading something. That was not it and the slobber made me even more irritated.
I am very happy to live in 'willful suspension of disbelief' while I am reading something. That was not it and the slobber made me even more irritated.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 11:37 AM (MIKMs)
279
267 Steve and Cold Bear
-------------------
I am very critical of Catholic theology, at least the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church. And this was the same church I grew up in and was married in.
-------------------
I am very critical of Catholic theology, at least the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church. And this was the same church I grew up in and was married in.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 11:39 AM (HBU7W)
280
279 I am very critical of Catholic theology, at least
the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the
military and didn't have a home church. And this was the same church I
grew up in and was married in.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 11:39 AM (HBU7W)
I am flabbergasted.
the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the
military and didn't have a home church. And this was the same church I
grew up in and was married in.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 11:39 AM (HBU7W)
I am flabbergasted.
Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at February 19, 2017 11:40 AM (mpXpK)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:41 AM (Nwg0u)
282
I've been rereading The Queens and the Hive. By Edith Sitwell, so beautifully written and impeccably researched but with a poet's sense of time-line (i.e., non-existent). Quotes from French and Latin are not translated.
One thing I noticed for the first time was her frequent use of 'Artridaean'--perhaps because of the Dune discussion upthread. I googled it. It was the name used to refer to the pair of Agammemnon and Menelaus, both sons of Atreus. Could Herbert call a house Artreides by coincidence? I've only read Dune once or twice decades ago. What do you better informed morons think?
One thing I noticed for the first time was her frequent use of 'Artridaean'--perhaps because of the Dune discussion upthread. I googled it. It was the name used to refer to the pair of Agammemnon and Menelaus, both sons of Atreus. Could Herbert call a house Artreides by coincidence? I've only read Dune once or twice decades ago. What do you better informed morons think?
Posted by: Wenda (sic) at February 19, 2017 11:41 AM (Kr0FZ)
283
mustbequantum, I also hated Time Travellers Wife
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:42 AM (Om16U)
284
Is it wrong that I'm giggling because I have stirred the cauldron of Dan Brown hate?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at February 19, 2017 11:43 AM (EnKk6)
285
Oh, then it turns out the big baddie was really the one who brought Langdon into the case in the first place!
So tired of this wretched plot twist. The commissioners did it in Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel, and then it happened again in LA Confidential and Another 48 Hours.
I mean, I get where some crooked lieutenant puts the least-respected detective on the case s/he doesn't want solved. I'm sure it happens a lot... like in Cleveland lately where there's been a pedo coverup. "The Expanse" does this.
But "it was the commish all along!!" is too common. Like the ghost story where the lead character is the ghost. Ambrose Bierce did this in "An Inhabitant of Carcosa" and M Night Shmyamumble is a hack.
So tired of this wretched plot twist. The commissioners did it in Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel, and then it happened again in LA Confidential and Another 48 Hours.
I mean, I get where some crooked lieutenant puts the least-respected detective on the case s/he doesn't want solved. I'm sure it happens a lot... like in Cleveland lately where there's been a pedo coverup. "The Expanse" does this.
But "it was the commish all along!!" is too common. Like the ghost story where the lead character is the ghost. Ambrose Bierce did this in "An Inhabitant of Carcosa" and M Night Shmyamumble is a hack.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:43 AM (6FqZa)
286
Abby wtf that's crazy?!
hugs to you & your whole family
hugs to you & your whole family
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:43 AM (Om16U)
287
They let Gosnell's clinic go for 17 years without checking things out. How often do they check on tattoo parlors and nail salons? The only reason they investigated him was that he was also selling prescription pain killers. And it seems that sites have scrubbed the pictures of the murdered babies used in the trial. I had friends on Facebook that would say that no women died from abortions after Roe v Wade. Gosnell was one of the examples I used to disprove that.
I am reading Days of Rage about the 70s and it's very interesting. It seems that the Weatherman were intellectuals for the most part and not very good with their hands. One of the guys with some mechanical ability took over the bomb making so that no one else would get hurt making them. The author covers some of the lesser known groups like the FALN. It's a good read. I'll reread Radical Son by David Horowitz next.
I am reading Days of Rage about the 70s and it's very interesting. It seems that the Weatherman were intellectuals for the most part and not very good with their hands. One of the guys with some mechanical ability took over the bomb making so that no one else would get hurt making them. The author covers some of the lesser known groups like the FALN. It's a good read. I'll reread Radical Son by David Horowitz next.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 19, 2017 11:44 AM (Lqy/e)
288
254---you are spot on about The Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown is an awful writer, but yes, he did have a way with making you turn the page to find what happens next.
Some cute girl at work gave me the book and told me I "had to" read it. I never finished a book faster, and when i was done I was like, "W t f ?"
I gave it back to her the next day and told her it was "great."
Then I re-read Umberto Eco....
Some cute girl at work gave me the book and told me I "had to" read it. I never finished a book faster, and when i was done I was like, "W t f ?"
I gave it back to her the next day and told her it was "great."
Then I re-read Umberto Eco....
Posted by: JoeF. at February 19, 2017 11:45 AM (7uYFy)
289
Cut n paste of Lindsey Graham quote:
''But I would say this to the American press corps: When it comes to Trump, you're over the top,'' he continued. ''You're acting more like an opposition party. Every president has had problems with the press. You need to do your job but from a Republican point of view, I think the coverage against President Trump has been almost to the point of being hysterical.''
''But I would say this to the American press corps: When it comes to Trump, you're over the top,'' he continued. ''You're acting more like an opposition party. Every president has had problems with the press. You need to do your job but from a Republican point of view, I think the coverage against President Trump has been almost to the point of being hysterical.''
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 11:45 AM (ZFUt7)
290
We all knopws Trump is lieing about are Black Presdent!!!!! What are we going too do about this people ??? Brattleboro wants Presdent Obamama back as are leeder and role model.........
Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboror, VT at February 19, 2017 11:45 AM (WmgTn)
291
The only book I ever destroyed was a kids book my mom had acquired in her early childhood ed. work called "the rainbow fish" by Marcus Pfister.
Ostensibly a book about learning to share with friends I found it a horrifying commie tale that made the case that it was fine for the mob to be jealous and demand to have an individuals' things. If I were a parent or grandparent I might have kept it to go over how wrong it was if kids got exposed at screwl; but gathering up books to give away that one got torn up and chucked in the trash.
Ostensibly a book about learning to share with friends I found it a horrifying commie tale that made the case that it was fine for the mob to be jealous and demand to have an individuals' things. If I were a parent or grandparent I might have kept it to go over how wrong it was if kids got exposed at screwl; but gathering up books to give away that one got torn up and chucked in the trash.
Posted by: PaleRider at February 19, 2017 11:46 AM (Jen0I)
292
I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
I'm thinking your bishop was an ignoramus who literally hasn't read the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark.
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
I'm thinking your bishop was an ignoramus who literally hasn't read the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:47 AM (6FqZa)
293
Why do I get a feeling that Abby's 'home' parish is a nest of one of those Soviet Liberation Theology cells. Like the nun and activist group who cut through the perimeter to bang hammers against Maryland ANG A-10s one time.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 11:47 AM (uYy21)
294
The only book I ever destroyed was a kids book my mom had acquired in her early childhood ed. work called "the rainbow fish" by Marcus Pfister.
-
Take two Little Red Hens and call me in the morning.
-
Take two Little Red Hens and call me in the morning.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:48 AM (Nwg0u)
295
I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
The priest was, Forgive me Father, a douche.
the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
The priest was, Forgive me Father, a douche.
Posted by: JoeF. at February 19, 2017 11:49 AM (7uYFy)
296
Barky is the 12th greatest Pres of the last 8 years
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 09:31 AM (gp9bb)
I saw this recently:
A new poll has Obama as the 5th best president
1) Washington and Reagan (a tie)
2) 17 presidents tied for second
3) 24 presidents tied for third
4) Jimmy Carter
5) Barack Obama
Posted by: weirdflunky at February 19, 2017 09:31 AM (gp9bb)
I saw this recently:
A new poll has Obama as the 5th best president
1) Washington and Reagan (a tie)
2) 17 presidents tied for second
3) 24 presidents tied for third
4) Jimmy Carter
5) Barack Obama
Posted by: TheQuietMan at February 19, 2017 11:49 AM (auHtY)
297
Our priests all say that animals do not have souls
I'm not a priest, but I can categorically state that that is wrong.
I'm not a priest, but I can categorically state that that is wrong.
Posted by: rickl at February 19, 2017 11:50 AM (sdi6R)
298
I was furious and when we went to the bishop, he said it was up to the parish priest, he couldn't get involved. This is the same church that gives communion to the Kennedy's and Pelosi families, mafia families and the like. I finished with them long ago.
But thank you all for the suggestions. I am going to start my bible study and get all of your suggestions to begin my journey.
But thank you all for the suggestions. I am going to start my bible study and get all of your suggestions to begin my journey.
Posted by: Abby at February 19, 2017 11:51 AM (HBU7W)
299
I am very critical of Catholic theology, at least
the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
Sad. There's something even worse going on under Francis -- monetary expediency over all else. I know of a couple who recently asked about baptism and were told a 'donation' of $1,500 was required.
Related: Thanks to ObamaCare their out of pocket expenses were $14,000 for the birth process.
the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church.
Sad. There's something even worse going on under Francis -- monetary expediency over all else. I know of a couple who recently asked about baptism and were told a 'donation' of $1,500 was required.
Related: Thanks to ObamaCare their out of pocket expenses were $14,000 for the birth process.
Posted by: E Depluribus Juan at February 19, 2017 11:52 AM (ZFUt7)
300
This is my own personal heresy, but I think that any creature that can love has a soul.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:52 AM (Om16U)
Posted by: pontius pilate at February 19, 2017 11:53 AM (6FqZa)
302
If you're a WWII memoirs fan, I'd like to recommend this. Authored by a personal friend and is IMHO an enjoyable, informative read.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/h3jz3tu
http://preview.tinyurl.com/h3jz3tu
Posted by: Notorious BFD at February 19, 2017 11:53 AM (Tyii7)
Posted by: JEM at February 19, 2017 11:54 AM (TppKb)
304
On those pants, if I have to have them, I'll take Option B.
Posted by: Alana at February 19, 2017 11:54 AM (QJJ5u)
305
The schadenboners would become self aware and take over the planet.
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/257772/
https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/257772/
Posted by: steevy at February 19, 2017 11:55 AM (r/0kC)
306
I wonder who's going to "win" the history books of our time? In a hundred years -- or a thousand -- will students "know" that Bush went to war for oil and Obama was a lightworker who brought Hope and Trump was a crazy bigot? Or will they be able to learn the truth?
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 19, 2017 11:55 AM (eFnf8)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 19, 2017 11:55 AM (IqV8l)
308
"Actually, that's a lie. I just didn't feel like writing about it. She has a malignant tumor and is scheduled for surgery on March 2, the earliest date available. Tomorrow is her 17th birthday."
Poor baby. I hope the surgery goes well. Keep us updated.
Poor baby. I hope the surgery goes well. Keep us updated.
Posted by: Tuna at February 19, 2017 11:56 AM (jm1YL)
309
This past month I've been reading my way through Amy Cross's horror novels. All those I have read so far have been paranormal/psychological thrillers set in modern-day England or U.S. She handles plotting, dialogue and characterization quite well, and you will like (and fear for the safety) of all her heroines and heroes.
Posted by: jwpaine at February 19, 2017 11:56 AM (hoJm7)
310
Then I re-read Umberto Eco....
I'm sorry.
Posted by: JEM at February 19, 2017 11:54 AM (TppKb)
Lol. Don't be. One of his paragraphs is worth Dan Brown's entire output.
I'm sorry.
Posted by: JEM at February 19, 2017 11:54 AM (TppKb)
Lol. Don't be. One of his paragraphs is worth Dan Brown's entire output.
Posted by: JoeF. at February 19, 2017 11:56 AM (7uYFy)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:56 AM (Om16U)
312
If you're a WWII memoirs fan, I'd like to recommend this. Authored by a personal friend and is IMHO an enjoyable, informative read.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/h3jz3tu
-
Thanks.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/h3jz3tu
-
Thanks.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:57 AM (Nwg0u)
313
Nood.
Posted by: steevy at February 19, 2017 11:59 AM (r/0kC)
314
Books to throw at a wall. Dan Brown for sure, but one guy that gets me in a rage is Matthew Reilly, he's an Australian thriller writer that has quite a lot of titles here in the US in your average paperback rack. Kind of a band of Aussies that are super, super better than any military force ever known, finding all kinds of ancient semi-supernatural places in Antarctica, Egypt, etc. They save the world from dastardly combinations of US, British and French elite military units and usher in a new golden age free of all those monsters. Horrible, contrived unbelievable plots, like some 12 year olds fantasies.
Posted by: JHW at February 19, 2017 11:59 AM (kn0BL)
315
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks. Laugh at a joke, get another joke free! at February 19, 2017 11:57 AM
Certainly.
Certainly.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at February 19, 2017 12:00 PM (Tyii7)
316
The Gosnell book is excellent if disturbing. The list of crimes he committed is incredible, particularly given the evidence that there were visits both by the state and by a National Abortion organization that both documented that his clinic was filthy and irregular in its practices. Get this - they all did nothing. Apparently it is more important that abortion have no challenges than that women not be butchered by an incompetent.
It you run into some ignoramus who states that Gosnell would not have been prosecuted in another state for his later term abortions and thus this was a witch hunt, this book more than answers that.
He reused $1 disposible currettes on woman after woman. Women who had been referred by a gynecologist who documented no STDs at the time of referral complained to the state that these women returned to the gynecologist with new STDs after being worked on by Gosnell.
His incompetence clearly caused the death of at least 2 women. There were numerous other near-misses and multiple women ended up with septic shock and/or needing a hysterectomy.
When the clinic was finely shut down they found filthy contaminated equipment everywhere, blood on couches and blankets that were being reused, blood on the floor, flea-infested cats wandering in and out of the operating room, dead mice and a heavy layer of dust on everything. The equipment including basic equipment like blood pressure cuffs, saturation monitor and scale were all broken. The emergency door was barracaded and locked - which had lead directly to one death as EMS could not get in to get a woman who coded in the clinic.
Like all serial killers, he kept souvenirs, including the feet of the babies he had killed and photographs of the women's genitalia.
He routinely murdered babies in the 8th month after delivering them alive. Most of these abortions were done on Sundays with his wife as assistance to decrease the witnesses that knew what he was doing.
I am no fan of abortion - my point is not that he alone was doing evil. It is that the establishment knew much of what was going on and looked the other way because they felt it more important to not impugn or restrict abortion than to protect the innocent or enforce basic health regulations and laws.
This guy, his staff and wife are the epitome of evil.
It you run into some ignoramus who states that Gosnell would not have been prosecuted in another state for his later term abortions and thus this was a witch hunt, this book more than answers that.
He reused $1 disposible currettes on woman after woman. Women who had been referred by a gynecologist who documented no STDs at the time of referral complained to the state that these women returned to the gynecologist with new STDs after being worked on by Gosnell.
His incompetence clearly caused the death of at least 2 women. There were numerous other near-misses and multiple women ended up with septic shock and/or needing a hysterectomy.
When the clinic was finely shut down they found filthy contaminated equipment everywhere, blood on couches and blankets that were being reused, blood on the floor, flea-infested cats wandering in and out of the operating room, dead mice and a heavy layer of dust on everything. The equipment including basic equipment like blood pressure cuffs, saturation monitor and scale were all broken. The emergency door was barracaded and locked - which had lead directly to one death as EMS could not get in to get a woman who coded in the clinic.
Like all serial killers, he kept souvenirs, including the feet of the babies he had killed and photographs of the women's genitalia.
He routinely murdered babies in the 8th month after delivering them alive. Most of these abortions were done on Sundays with his wife as assistance to decrease the witnesses that knew what he was doing.
I am no fan of abortion - my point is not that he alone was doing evil. It is that the establishment knew much of what was going on and looked the other way because they felt it more important to not impugn or restrict abortion than to protect the innocent or enforce basic health regulations and laws.
This guy, his staff and wife are the epitome of evil.
Posted by: Jade Sea at February 19, 2017 12:01 PM (QzGX6)
317
I wonder who's going to "win" the history books of our time?
Diana West's experience writing about FDR, Blessed Be He, shows that the Left is still winning about the extent of the Cold War here.
The history of the first century of Islam is going well for Paul Casanova's disciples. Although you wouldn't know it from reading the popular press.
We'll probably never again see a good book about Reconstruction in the States, though. Keep downloading those "Dunning School" pdfs.
Diana West's experience writing about FDR, Blessed Be He, shows that the Left is still winning about the extent of the Cold War here.
The history of the first century of Islam is going well for Paul Casanova's disciples. Although you wouldn't know it from reading the popular press.
We'll probably never again see a good book about Reconstruction in the States, though. Keep downloading those "Dunning School" pdfs.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 12:01 PM (6FqZa)
318
One of the captives is from Shem, which is, you
know, Semitic, but he is described as having "ebony" skin and an African
name. (1) how do barbarian villagers even know what ebony looks like
and (2) come on dude, learn the difference between Kush and Shem.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (6FqZa)
Well, one of the finds at Philistine Gath were some temple incense burners that they claim to have shown traces of nutmeg, which would have come by trade from at least Sri Lanka. Trade always goes a long way.
I agree with you, if he has both Kush and Shem, there is no real reason to shoe-horn traits from one to the other, without cause.
I love how RE Howard pulled the Indo-european spread of languages against Velikovsky's and Madam whatsername's catastrophism and came up with a fantastic world.
know, Semitic, but he is described as having "ebony" skin and an African
name. (1) how do barbarian villagers even know what ebony looks like
and (2) come on dude, learn the difference between Kush and Shem.
Posted by: boulder terlit hobo at February 19, 2017 11:01 AM (6FqZa)
Well, one of the finds at Philistine Gath were some temple incense burners that they claim to have shown traces of nutmeg, which would have come by trade from at least Sri Lanka. Trade always goes a long way.
I agree with you, if he has both Kush and Shem, there is no real reason to shoe-horn traits from one to the other, without cause.
I love how RE Howard pulled the Indo-european spread of languages against Velikovsky's and Madam whatsername's catastrophism and came up with a fantastic world.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 19, 2017 12:02 PM (XMCn6)
319
And the state who had multiple complaints and ample evidence of the wrong doing was his accomplice.
Posted by: Jade Sea at February 19, 2017 12:03 PM (QzGX6)
320
I am very critical of Catholic theology, at least the kind practiced now. I haven't been inside a church in 30 years after the Church refused to baptize my daughter because we were in the military and didn't have a home church. And this was the same church I grew up in and was married in.
Posted by: Abby
-----
Ouch - once again one or two asses of the cloth undo much good.
Sorry to hear that Abby. I too left the Church for many, many years but returned after the death of my wife due to the intercession of my local priest.
I'm pretty much a traditional catholic, early 60's version, so finding a home church was difficult. Perhaps there is a parish nearby that suits you and your family and hasn't forgotten it's mission.
Posted by: Abby
-----
Ouch - once again one or two asses of the cloth undo much good.
Sorry to hear that Abby. I too left the Church for many, many years but returned after the death of my wife due to the intercession of my local priest.
I'm pretty much a traditional catholic, early 60's version, so finding a home church was difficult. Perhaps there is a parish nearby that suits you and your family and hasn't forgotten it's mission.
Posted by: Tonypete at February 19, 2017 12:03 PM (tr2D7)
321
This is my own personal heresy, but I think that any creature that can love has a soul.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:52 AM (Om16U)
Yeah, I kind of don't get the debate over it. "Here are some companions who will love you unconditionally and comfort you when you are at your lowest, by the way, they also have no path to eternal reward" seems like kind of a dick move, and I prefer to believe that God isn't a jerk.
One of my favorite of the Jewish commandments is that you have to ensure that all of your animals have been fed, watered, and tended to before you can sit down to eat.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 11:52 AM (Om16U)
Yeah, I kind of don't get the debate over it. "Here are some companions who will love you unconditionally and comfort you when you are at your lowest, by the way, they also have no path to eternal reward" seems like kind of a dick move, and I prefer to believe that God isn't a jerk.
One of my favorite of the Jewish commandments is that you have to ensure that all of your animals have been fed, watered, and tended to before you can sit down to eat.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 12:04 PM (8nWyX)
322
Get this - they all did nothing. Apparently it is more important that abortion have no challenges than that women not be butchered by an incompetent.
Fraulein it was all documented and filed. My conscience is clear!
Fraulein it was all documented and filed. My conscience is clear!
Posted by: helmut dungdorpf, east prussian clerk, 1945 at February 19, 2017 12:05 PM (6FqZa)
323
Damn, that's some library.
Posted by: Berserker- Dragonheads Division at February 19, 2017 12:06 PM (aMlLZ)
324
If well wishes and "welcome backs" were flowers, then the Vic household would look like a florist's shop.
Here's another bouquet.
And thanks, also, to your brother for providing the first status report, I believe.
If well wishes and "welcome backs" were flowers, then the Vic household would look like a florist's shop.
Here's another bouquet.
And thanks, also, to your brother for providing the first status report, I believe.
Posted by: Spun and Murky at February 19, 2017 12:06 PM (4DCSq)
325
Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:08 PM (uYy21)
326
Currently taking a break from the various collections I'm in the middle of, and instead working my way through the 'Appendix N' e-book. It would probably mean more to me if I had ever played Dungeons and Dragons, but it also works as a fun survey of various older fantasy books. Eventually it will probably serve as a list of 'classic' fantasy books to read through.
Posted by: Castle Guy at February 19, 2017 12:10 PM (wZ/Rx)
327
"A new poll has Obama as the 5th best president "
He deserves a permanent last place spot. There may be other bad presidents in years to come but there will always be room above Obama. I can not imagine anyone as destructive as that man. And he did on purpose. That's why he deserves the place in ratings hell.
He deserves a permanent last place spot. There may be other bad presidents in years to come but there will always be room above Obama. I can not imagine anyone as destructive as that man. And he did on purpose. That's why he deserves the place in ratings hell.
Posted by: Tuna at February 19, 2017 12:11 PM (jm1YL)
328
Lol. Don't be. One of his paragraphs is worth Dan Brown's entire output. Posted by: JoeF. at February 19, 2017 11:56 AM (7uYFy)
=====
For Eco, I think it was his incredibly talented translator. The earlier books are wonderful on many levels; the latter are incomprehensible.
I hope the translator has some books of his/her own -- maybe an undiscovered talent.
=====
For Eco, I think it was his incredibly talented translator. The earlier books are wonderful on many levels; the latter are incomprehensible.
I hope the translator has some books of his/her own -- maybe an undiscovered talent.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 19, 2017 12:12 PM (MIKMs)
329
Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:08 PM (uYy21)
Gesundheit!
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:08 PM (uYy21)
Gesundheit!
Posted by: OregonMuse, deplorable since 2004 at February 19, 2017 12:12 PM (cWxpc)
330
Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky?
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:08 PM (uYy21)
'dat's the bunny.
And I don't mean that literally.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:08 PM (uYy21)
'dat's the bunny.
And I don't mean that literally.
Posted by: Kindltot at February 19, 2017 12:14 PM (XMCn6)
331
There was a discussion of how much e-books are worth last or few weeks ago. My Russian Officers of the Revolutionary and Napoleoic wars was around 35 dollars
Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2017 12:16 PM (HDU3V)
332
189, naturalfake, I'm sort of relieved to learn I did not mis-remember that. I thought he had turned into a worm at some point but I was not about to re-read the sequels to confirm that. I can remember the outline of the first book but, other than the giant worm transformation, I can't remember anything of the sequels. I am pretty sure I never went past 3 and I am sure I regret spending money on them.
Posted by: Tonestaple at February 19, 2017 12:16 PM (+DRpa)
333
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2017 09:45 AM (PY9jH)
Jane just got back from church, prayers up for you, yours, and boon companion kitty.
~H
Jane just got back from church, prayers up for you, yours, and boon companion kitty.
~H
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 12:17 PM (UDXti)
334
No offense mean to our Baltimore morons, but I didn't think anything like that existed in Baltimore.
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (ANIFC)
I think the term of art is "I didn't think anything like that would exist for long in Baltimore."
Posted by: josephistan at February 19, 2017 09:38 AM (ANIFC)
I think the term of art is "I didn't think anything like that would exist for long in Baltimore."
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 12:19 PM (UDXti)
335
Oregon Muse, danke. 
Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky
Her ideas, about ancient lost races with secret knowledge of the ultimate nature of reality, the immortal soul perfecting itself through endless rebirths, and mastery of superhuman powers which could unlock the secrets of the universe, if they had been presented by traditional organized religions, would not have been credited. But people were perfectly willing to suspend disbelief of a huge Russian countess with magnetic eyes who smoked cigars and used bawdy language.
pg. 11-12. The Nazis and the Occult. Dusty Sklar. Dorset Press.
Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky
Her ideas, about ancient lost races with secret knowledge of the ultimate nature of reality, the immortal soul perfecting itself through endless rebirths, and mastery of superhuman powers which could unlock the secrets of the universe, if they had been presented by traditional organized religions, would not have been credited. But people were perfectly willing to suspend disbelief of a huge Russian countess with magnetic eyes who smoked cigars and used bawdy language.
pg. 11-12. The Nazis and the Occult. Dusty Sklar. Dorset Press.
Posted by: Anna Puma at February 19, 2017 12:21 PM (uYy21)
336
I am absolutely bloody tired of thinking about the freaking media, their catastrophic failure, and their hopefully speedy demise.
So I'm teaching "Till We Have Faces," which was C. S. Lewis's favorite among his books. It's brilliant. Alongside that, I'm studying Frazer's "Golden Bough," which I've never looked into, and Chesterton's "The Everlasting Man," which is so full of big braining that I feel smarter by the minute.
And I don't know how to make Pixy accept italics, so all the book titles above are in annoying, non MLA or Chicago quotations.
So I'm teaching "Till We Have Faces," which was C. S. Lewis's favorite among his books. It's brilliant. Alongside that, I'm studying Frazer's "Golden Bough," which I've never looked into, and Chesterton's "The Everlasting Man," which is so full of big braining that I feel smarter by the minute.
And I don't know how to make Pixy accept italics, so all the book titles above are in annoying, non MLA or Chicago quotations.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:33 PM (YPgXi)
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 12:33 PM (Om16U)
338
And I still have made no progress on Scott Adams's "How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big." I'm a sucker for self-help books, and because I seem incorrigible, I still live my life "tap, tap, tapping on the glass," in the words of my new favorite musical, "Dear Evan Hanson."
I'm getting too old for this crap.
I'm getting too old for this crap.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:35 PM (YPgXi)
339
It was the name used to refer to the pair of Agammemnon and Menelaus, both sons of Atreus. Could Herbert call a house Artreides by coincidence?
--
Iirc in the 3rd book, we see a reference to Agammemnon, I think, being one of the ancestors.
I think Herbert meant for them to be part of the doomed house of Atreus.
--
Iirc in the 3rd book, we see a reference to Agammemnon, I think, being one of the ancestors.
I think Herbert meant for them to be part of the doomed house of Atreus.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 12:36 PM (Om16U)
340
And I don't know how to make Pixy accept italics, so all the book titles above are in annoying, non MLA or Chicago quotations.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:33 PM (YPgXi)
[ i ] starts italics, to end them, use [ /i ]. Just elide the spaces. [ b ] for bold, [ s ] for strikethrough. You can practice in a dead thread, just don't go too far back because posting in ancient threads is a spambot auto-ban. Nobody knows exactly how far back is safe, but you're probably OK with one from this morning.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:33 PM (YPgXi)
[ i ] starts italics, to end them, use [ /i ]. Just elide the spaces. [ b ] for bold, [ s ] for strikethrough. You can practice in a dead thread, just don't go too far back because posting in ancient threads is a spambot auto-ban. Nobody knows exactly how far back is safe, but you're probably OK with one from this morning.
Posted by: hogmartin at February 19, 2017 12:39 PM (8nWyX)
341
Since nobody asked me, I'll explain why the Da Vinci Code was the second worst book I ever read.
He not only uses every literary cliche known to man, find a list of bad writing and it's in the Da Vinci Code, he re-uses them in the same book!
If that's what it takes to make $10 million a year writing, I guess I'm destined to remain non-rich.
He not only uses every literary cliche known to man, find a list of bad writing and it's in the Da Vinci Code, he re-uses them in the same book!
If that's what it takes to make $10 million a year writing, I guess I'm destined to remain non-rich.
Posted by: William Alan Webb at February 19, 2017 12:40 PM (OhYcy)
342
What books have you Hordies destroyed in a fit of pique? Fess up!
I didn't destroy them myself it but I tossed out works by Marion Zimmer Bradley after I found out she was probably guilty of child abuse and covered up the rape and abuse of kids by her husband.
I didn't destroy them myself it but I tossed out works by Marion Zimmer Bradley after I found out she was probably guilty of child abuse and covered up the rape and abuse of kids by her husband.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 12:42 PM (fDdVG)
343
Of yes, I threw out a book against a wall called "The Virgin and the Spring" or something like that which was absolute dreck-and as far as I recall- the Pagans are all good hearted lovers of nature and the Christians all greedy, violent SOBs
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 12:44 PM (fDdVG)
344
Abby-In case you're still around here's an article on the development of the St James Bible by a fellow who has written a lot of good books, He is-or was, if not retired a semi9nary professor, Ben Withering III
He has good book called something like "Reading and understanding the Bible but it's not about the development of the King James Bible:
http://tinyurl.com/je3eqoj
He has good book called something like "Reading and understanding the Bible but it's not about the development of the King James Bible:
http://tinyurl.com/je3eqoj
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 12:50 PM (fDdVG)
345
I throw any book in which the author uses some variation of the phrase, "And it was as if he was looking into my very soul."
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:52 PM (YPgXi)
346
You'd be surprised how many books I've thrown with that idea. And I refuse to read one word after.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:53 PM (YPgXi)
347
344-Sorry; Ben Witherington III
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 12:54 PM (fDdVG)
348
"And it was as if he was looking into my very soul."
LOL. I think it deserves to be thrown against a wall. I didn't read it but it sounds like something from "Fifty Shades of Grey"-not that I read that either.
LOL. I think it deserves to be thrown against a wall. I didn't read it but it sounds like something from "Fifty Shades of Grey"-not that I read that either.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 12:55 PM (fDdVG)
349
345 I throw any book in which the author uses some variation of the phrase, "And it was as if he was looking into my very soul."
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:52 PM (YPgXi)
The orthopedic surgeon peered at my foot x-rays.
It was as though he were looking into my very sole.
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:52 PM (YPgXi)
The orthopedic surgeon peered at my foot x-rays.
It was as though he were looking into my very sole.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 12:56 PM (Om16U)
350
For a peek inside the political reporting mindset of the MSM, I recommend two books about the 1972 Presidential Campaign:
The Boys on the Bus, by Tim Crouse, and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, by Hunter Thompson.
The traits of both journalists (and politicians) have not changed much if any in 44 years.
The Boys on the Bus, by Tim Crouse, and Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, by Hunter Thompson.
The traits of both journalists (and politicians) have not changed much if any in 44 years.
Posted by: Gref at February 19, 2017 12:57 PM (AMIL/)
351
Welcome back Vic!
OregonMuse, thanks for including my "Home to Texas" link
For any aspiring Horde author, you might like to know that link has sold more copies in one day (so far) than have sold since I published 5 weeks ago.
OregonMuse, thanks for including my "Home to Texas" link
For any aspiring Horde author, you might like to know that link has sold more copies in one day (so far) than have sold since I published 5 weeks ago.
Posted by: Grad School Fool at February 19, 2017 12:58 PM (swEzU)
352
Combining two threads, I burned a Bible rather than throw it out. It was a very bad translation, the Living Bible or one like it. There was no majesty or awe in it.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at February 19, 2017 12:58 PM (THS4q)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 19, 2017 12:58 PM (v1g1+)
354
Someone above asked about A Gentleman in Moscow.
Yes, read it. It is a beautiful story and well written. Lots of nuggets in that one.
Yes, read it. It is a beautiful story and well written. Lots of nuggets in that one.
Posted by: Quirky bookworm at February 19, 2017 01:01 PM (gppsv)
355
>Liberals ruin everything. Once they get in charge of a profession it
becomes all about being liberal, and showing who's more liberal than
everyone else, and promoting liberal causes, so that the actual purpose
of the profession gets ignored. Eventually someone starts up a new
profession to do the actual job.
Conquest's 2nd Law of politics:
Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.
Robert Conquest studied the terror and genocide of the Soviet Union
becomes all about being liberal, and showing who's more liberal than
everyone else, and promoting liberal causes, so that the actual purpose
of the profession gets ignored. Eventually someone starts up a new
profession to do the actual job.
Conquest's 2nd Law of politics:
Any organization not explicitly right-wing sooner or later becomes left-wing.
Robert Conquest studied the terror and genocide of the Soviet Union
Posted by: Grad School Fool at February 19, 2017 01:03 PM (swEzU)
356
Posted by: Tonypete at February 19, 2017 09:42 AM (tr2D7)
That' sounds very interesting. The circuit riders in the Methodist church had a hymn called "And Are we yet Alive?" and they used to sing that because when they when they would get together for their annual meetings they had such a hard life that many of them were not alive from year to year. I don't know what denomination your relative was but The United Brethren" a German sect had circuit riders too.
That' sounds very interesting. The circuit riders in the Methodist church had a hymn called "And Are we yet Alive?" and they used to sing that because when they when they would get together for their annual meetings they had such a hard life that many of them were not alive from year to year. I don't know what denomination your relative was but The United Brethren" a German sect had circuit riders too.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 01:17 PM (fDdVG)
357
For fight now, don't publish your paperbacks through Amazon yet. Keep them on Createspace, because the deal is awful through Amazon. In time, they will get their crap together and merge Createspace with Amazon Kindle (they own both companies and are dissolving Createspace) but until they do, avoid Amazon's print division.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 19, 2017 01:25 PM (39g3+)
358
Currently reading By Force of Arms by James L Nelson. Its a sea novel set during the US Revolutionary War, featuring a smuggler who is on his way to becoming a naval captain in the US Navy. Its interesting because the British Navy is so much better equipped, disciplined, and manned than the US so its a lot of david and goliath type encounters and sneaking around.
Great book so far, characterizations, history, settings, ideas etc all very well done. Nelson is himself actually a sailor who has sailed big ships with actual masts and he has a lot of inside information and knowledge shaping his writing. Recommended.
Great book so far, characterizations, history, settings, ideas etc all very well done. Nelson is himself actually a sailor who has sailed big ships with actual masts and he has a lot of inside information and knowledge shaping his writing. Recommended.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 19, 2017 01:28 PM (39g3+)
359
#355 That's actually O'Sullivan's Law, named after National review editor John O'Sullivan.
--Pedant
--Pedant
Posted by: OregonMuse at February 19, 2017 01:30 PM (UeECZ)
360
A simple internet search will reveal a method of removing the DRM from Amazon books. They can then be transferred to another ebook reader, such as Calibre. Personally, my big annoyance on ebooks is that they all say that you cannot transfer them to anybody else the same way you can give somebody a book. That is absolutely ridiculous, and if it is a law, then it needs to be repealed.
Posted by: Tim Pruett at February 19, 2017 01:35 PM (AdH7C)
361
267
Anyway, .....
If you want to learn about the manuscript history of the NT, you can
search around for podcasts by Daniel Wallace and James White. But be
warned, if you are a Catholic that James White can be very critical of
Catholic theology.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at February 19, 2017 11:30 AM (W8bn5)
Or what he thinks is Catholic theology.
Anyway, .....
If you want to learn about the manuscript history of the NT, you can
search around for podcasts by Daniel Wallace and James White. But be
warned, if you are a Catholic that James White can be very critical of
Catholic theology.
Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at February 19, 2017 11:30 AM (W8bn5)
Or what he thinks is Catholic theology.
Posted by: John is still unBanned at February 19, 2017 01:36 PM (cDJX3)
362
Personally, my big annoyance on ebooks is that they all say that you cannot transfer them to anybody else the same way you can give somebody a book. That is absolutely ridiculous, and if it is a law, then it needs to be repealed.
Well the reason is pretty obvious for that: a digital copy is easily duplicated, handed out, and retained indefinitely. So while you can loan your one copy of a book to someone, its still just one copy. If you send a copy of your ebook to someone else, now its two, one of which was never paid for.
Well the reason is pretty obvious for that: a digital copy is easily duplicated, handed out, and retained indefinitely. So while you can loan your one copy of a book to someone, its still just one copy. If you send a copy of your ebook to someone else, now its two, one of which was never paid for.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 19, 2017 01:37 PM (39g3+)
363
Found this at WZ, just started reading it. Informative. These jerks --bammy's minions-- are serious and will not be backing down. Here's a link to their protestors' training materials:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/htcuo8v
"Know thy enemy" (and his playbook). We need to infiltrate this sh*t.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/htcuo8v
"Know thy enemy" (and his playbook). We need to infiltrate this sh*t.
Posted by: JQ Flyover at February 19, 2017 01:40 PM (044Fx)
364
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 10:13 AM (fDdVG)
Fen you are one of the reasons I keep coming back to this blog. That was beautiful. You might think about reposting that on the pet thread as food for thought for those given the privilege of having animals in their lives.
~H
Fen you are one of the reasons I keep coming back to this blog. That was beautiful. You might think about reposting that on the pet thread as food for thought for those given the privilege of having animals in their lives.
~H
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 01:41 PM (UDXti)
365
This week I read "Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune." Huguette Clark was in the news a few years back when it was discovered that she had been living in a hospital room for a decade or more despite being physically well and having three 5th Avenue apartments, a mansion in Connecticut, and another mansion on the California coast. Always reclusive as an adult, she rarely left her apartment once her mother died. Despite this, she seems to have lived a happy life. The book was very readable and very interesting.
Posted by: biancaneve at February 19, 2017 01:44 PM (A/iod)
366
I read Da Vinci Code. I think it's a great example of a writer doing a couple of things well enough to be a hit.
Dan Brown is a pretty poor writer, but he is a good storyteller. Yes, he steals his plots, and yes, his plots are nonsense, but he delivers them effectively and interestingly.
Between the two, I think a good storyteller who isn't a good writer is better than a good writer who isn't a good storyteller.
The ones who are both, well. That's another class entirely.
Dan Brown is a pretty poor writer, but he is a good storyteller. Yes, he steals his plots, and yes, his plots are nonsense, but he delivers them effectively and interestingly.
Between the two, I think a good storyteller who isn't a good writer is better than a good writer who isn't a good storyteller.
The ones who are both, well. That's another class entirely.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 19, 2017 01:46 PM (39g3+)
367
Posted by: Smallish Bees at February 19, 2017 12:35 PM (YPgXi)
Endeavor to persevere with the Scott Adams book. There's a lot of interesting and amusing stuff in there, and he's self-deprecating enough that it's fairly easy up with which to put.
Endeavor to persevere with the Scott Adams book. There's a lot of interesting and amusing stuff in there, and he's self-deprecating enough that it's fairly easy up with which to put.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 01:48 PM (UDXti)
368
Normal
0
I visit the book thread every week. All but one of the following books were free reads from the
amazon prime lending library. Diamonds
are Forever (James Bond 4) and From Russia with Love (James Bond 5) both by Ian Fleming.
If you like the films you will like the books. However, I found the ending of
Bond 5 to be abrupt and disappointing.
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to
the Revolution by T. J. English. I was hoping for a book about the mob. But I
was subjected to periodic discussions about how evil american capitalists and
criminals ruined an island paradise until they were forced out by the wonderful
revolutionaries Fidel and Che. As if Cuba didn't have their share of home grown
criminals and corrupt police, military and politicians. So, no more books from
Mr. English.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.
This book about the 2008 financial crisis may give you a headache when reading
about the greed, corruption and incompetence on Wall Street. Only the people
approved for mortgages they could not afford and investors tricked into
investing in esoteric financial instruments lost money. Most of the power brokers did just fine.
Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of WWII by
Charles B. MacDonald. It's funny, but I started reading this book before it was
mentioned a while back on the book thread. Basically this book provided a strategic overview
of battles from Mr. MacDonald's viewpoint.
All recommended except for Mr. English.
Normal
0
I visit the book thread every week. All but one of the following books were free reads from the
amazon prime lending library. Diamonds
are Forever (James Bond 4) and From Russia with Love (James Bond 5) both by Ian Fleming.
If you like the films you will like the books. However, I found the ending of
Bond 5 to be abrupt and disappointing.
Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to
the Revolution by T. J. English. I was hoping for a book about the mob. But I
was subjected to periodic discussions about how evil american capitalists and
criminals ruined an island paradise until they were forced out by the wonderful
revolutionaries Fidel and Che. As if Cuba didn't have their share of home grown
criminals and corrupt police, military and politicians. So, no more books from
Mr. English.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.
This book about the 2008 financial crisis may give you a headache when reading
about the greed, corruption and incompetence on Wall Street. Only the people
approved for mortgages they could not afford and investors tricked into
investing in esoteric financial instruments lost money. Most of the power brokers did just fine.
Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of WWII by
Charles B. MacDonald. It's funny, but I started reading this book before it was
mentioned a while back on the book thread. Basically this book provided a strategic overview
of battles from Mr. MacDonald's viewpoint.
All recommended except for Mr. English.
Posted by: long time lurker at February 19, 2017 02:11 PM (a+BAV)
369
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis.
--
The movie they made out of it is pretty good.
--
The movie they made out of it is pretty good.
Posted by: @votermom @vm at February 19, 2017 02:23 PM (Om16U)
370
I believe our precious kitty, Spanky, is dying.
Would appreciate prayers, please. I'm devastated.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2017 09:45 AM (PY9jH)
Not much of a praying man, but good thoughts to Spanky and you Jane. It will be tough.
Would appreciate prayers, please. I'm devastated.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at February 19, 2017 09:45 AM (PY9jH)
Not much of a praying man, but good thoughts to Spanky and you Jane. It will be tough.
Posted by: NZ Frank withanM2 at February 19, 2017 02:35 PM (bgJ0E)
371
Way late today.
Re: Amazon - I am just ordering less from them and looking for more local sources. Costs me time, money, but I don't like supporting my enemies.
Now, if I can figure out how to get past Amazon for selling my books . . .
Re: Amazon - I am just ordering less from them and looking for more local sources. Costs me time, money, but I don't like supporting my enemies.
Now, if I can figure out how to get past Amazon for selling my books . . .
Posted by: Long Running Fool at February 19, 2017 03:28 PM (L0bUn)
372
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 19, 2017 01:41 PM (UDXti)
Thank you That's kind of you. I certainly did provoke a discussion about whether animals go to heaven. I think the saints who cared for them may have pleaded that they might and we have all been there when our dear beloved furry friends/family members have died and it certainly feels like they have souls, and we miss them fiercely.
Thank you That's kind of you. I certainly did provoke a discussion about whether animals go to heaven. I think the saints who cared for them may have pleaded that they might and we have all been there when our dear beloved furry friends/family members have died and it certainly feels like they have souls, and we miss them fiercely.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 19, 2017 04:08 PM (fDdVG)
373
Movie update on The Stars Came Back.
The arts and movie-making community is generally pretty leftist. Actors/actresses are among the most insane lefties there are. Michael Neal is getting some pushback on the movie project for The Stars Came Back, in terms of whisper campaigns (Rabid Puppy! Oh, my, NOOOoooo!), throttling, and shadow-banning on Twitter. If you use Facebook or Twitter, and would like to see a movie made from a Horde member/writer book, a very small thing you can do is show support by liking or following. Things are moving forward, but slowly and against quiet opposition.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Stars-Came-Back-806954206123129/
I hate doing the shameless shill thing, but there is power in numbers.
The arts and movie-making community is generally pretty leftist. Actors/actresses are among the most insane lefties there are. Michael Neal is getting some pushback on the movie project for The Stars Came Back, in terms of whisper campaigns (Rabid Puppy! Oh, my, NOOOoooo!), throttling, and shadow-banning on Twitter. If you use Facebook or Twitter, and would like to see a movie made from a Horde member/writer book, a very small thing you can do is show support by liking or following. Things are moving forward, but slowly and against quiet opposition.
https://www.facebook.com/The-Stars-Came-Back-806954206123129/
I hate doing the shameless shill thing, but there is power in numbers.
Posted by: Rolf at February 19, 2017 04:27 PM (p9qEc)
374
If you're in New York City on March 2, you can go to this public event, where the leftwing Journalistas will have a panel discussion laughably titled: "Outsmarting 'Fake News' and 'Alt Facts," which they hilariously think are all on the patriots' side of the field.
Here is the RSVP page. Feel free to join them; it's a public event! You can covertly take notes, openly challenge them, whatevs.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j8bfg8a
Here is the RSVP page. Feel free to join them; it's a public event! You can covertly take notes, openly challenge them, whatevs.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/j8bfg8a
Posted by: Beverly at February 19, 2017 05:24 PM (7y9x/)
375
-"Ready Player One" was really, really good minus some global warming hysteria mixed in.
Posted by: JT in KC at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (FoSz+)
Word is Spielberg is making the movie.
Posted by: JT in KC at February 19, 2017 09:40 AM (FoSz+)
Word is Spielberg is making the movie.
Posted by: SandyCheeks at February 19, 2017 06:12 PM (joFoi)
376
Just a note to Bezos haters: I can't speak for all third-party booksellers, but I'm a bona fide AoSHQ Moron who hawks dead-tree books at Amazon.com. You can shop guilt-free at the Big River if you skip the Kindle kopies and patronize the independent sellers.
Posted by: Outside Adjitator at February 19, 2017 06:36 PM (hbvkG)
377
Finished reading The Winter Fortress by Neal Bascomb. A great book that is good as any WW2 fiction/film. It's the true story of brave Norwegians who risked their lives to stop Hitler from gaining an edge in the race to the first atomic bomb. Well written and makes one appreciate the sacrifices made by those countries that Germany took over.
Posted by: RGallegos at February 19, 2017 07:12 PM (59GQk)
378
I have been reading the Catholic Apologetics series by Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham and am on #2: How to Answer Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons.
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at February 19, 2017 11:22 AM (THS4q)
Thankfully, I never had to read a book to answer Jehovahs. I say, "I'm Catholic," and they turn on their heels and walk away!
Posted by: roamingfirehydrant at February 19, 2017 11:22 AM (THS4q)
Thankfully, I never had to read a book to answer Jehovahs. I say, "I'm Catholic," and they turn on their heels and walk away!
Posted by: SandyCheeks at February 19, 2017 07:39 PM (joFoi)
379
I attended a black tie wedding, held in the main reading room of the Peabody library. 1994 or so. That was a pretty good day. Thanks Dave and Amanda.
Posted by: Shirley at February 20, 2017 07:02 PM (C7ypJ)
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