Sunday Morning Book Thread 01-24-2021

Good morning to all you 'rons, 'ettes, lurkers, and lurkettes, wine moms, frat bros, crétins sans pantalon (who are technically breaking the rules). Welcome once again to the stately, prestigious, internationally acclaimed and high-class Sunday Morning Book Thread, a weekly compendium of reviews, observations, snark, witty repartee, hilarious bon mots, and a continuing conversation on books, reading, spending way too much money on books, writing books, and publishing books by escaped oafs and oafettes who follow words with their fingers and whose lips move as they read. Unlike other AoSHQ comment threads, the Sunday Morning Book Thread is so hoity-toity, pants are required. Even if it's these pants, which are only suitable if you're going out on a date with Lady Gaga.

Pic Note:

From Elliot Bay's home page:

Located in the heart of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, The Elliott Bay Book Company, an independently owned bookstore founded by Walter Carr in 1973, is a full service bookstore, home to over 150,000 titles, set on cedar shelves in a multi-level, inviting unique atmosphere.

We offer one of the region's best selection of new books, as well as a large collection of bargain editions. Elliott Bay presents an unparalleled schedule of author readings and events throughout the year. The reading events as well as the café have remained a vital part of our business.

It Pays To Increase Your Word Power®

"Bavardage and Clishmaclaver" sounds like the name of a Scottish law firm.

Same Old, Same Old

Interesting article at The Federalist, which title explains it all, A Short History Of How Anthony Fauci Has Kept Failing Up Since 1984. Fauci has been wrong on pretty much everything. Covid is not his first rodeo.

In 2003, terrorism was a more immediate national danger than infectious diseases. Dr. Anthony Fauci’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) had just redirected $117 million from infectious diseases to fund a new anthrax vaccine effort in response to the anthrax attacks that happened a week after 9/11.

But:

In 2007, after spending billions...Fauci admitted that “at the end of the day, you’re not going to kill as many people [with an anthrax attack] as you would if you blasted off a couple of car bombs in Times Square.” His anthrax vaccine effort had failed, having been “sunk by lobbying.”

But that wasn't his first rodeo, either:

The anthrax vaccine failure followed on the heels of Fauci’s controversial leadership of the nation’s AIDS response in the 1980s and ‘90s. According to “Good Intentions,” a 1990 book by investigative author and innovation expert Bruce Nussbaum, Fauci started his career as “a lackluster scientist,” who “found his true vocation—empire building” when he took the reins at NIAID in 1984.

So the book by Nussbaum referred to here is Good Intentions: How Big Business And The Medical Establishment Are Corrupting The Fight Against AIDS, a 1990 book that has been OOP for some time now. The gist of it is that Fauci, an immunologist by training, believed that the best way to fight AIDS was by developing a vaccine. Which proved futile. Meanwhile, other research languished, including anti-retroviral drug therapies, which ultimately turned AIDS from a certain death sentence to a manageable disease.

So, again, Fauci backed the wrong horse. He should have been fired for incompetence years ago. But he is an highly-evolved swamp creature who has learned how to burrow deep and keep his head down. He has outlasted 6 presidents and with Biden, he is on his 7th. Trump squandered a good opportunity to kick him loose and bring in somebody competent. But, being a yuuge germaphobe, Trump no doubt believed everything Fauci told him.

Nussbaum's book can also be read at archive.org is you go through their check-out process.

Who Dis:

(Last week's 'who dis' was model/actress Jerry Hall, companion of first Bryan Ferry, then Mick Jagger, and then Rupert Murdoch.

Moron Recommendations

65 This week I read "14" by Peter Clines, which is tangentally related to his story "The Fold".

In "14", cubicle drone Nate manages to score, via word of mouth, a ridiculously affordable apartment in downtown L.A. He begins to discover several weird aspects to the turn of the century brownstone, and as he gets to know the other tenants, they share some of their own encounters with strange phenomena. They decide to team up and explore the Kavach Building. They find some hair-raising stuff as they uncover the history and function of their new home.

My elevator pitch is "It's Scooby Doo meets HP Lovecraft".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 17, 2021 09:24 AM (Dc2NZ)

14 does sound like fun, and for $4.99, you get a lot of fun for your buck. I know some suspension of disbelief is required for any novel, but even so, there's something about the phrase "turn of the century brownstone" that doesn't work when applied to Los Angeles. Compared to the East Coast, L.A. is a very young city, and in 1900, the population was barely over 100,000 (by contrast, New York City was > 3,000,000). My point is that I'm not sure Los Angeles had any brownstown apartment buildings back then, not like NYC. I suppose I could be wrong, though. Best read the book to find out what those meddling kids are up to.

___________

I always like recommendation of books for the YA audience:

138 I've got a great Young Reader book series to recommend! The Viking Trilogy by Henry Treece is 3 books: Viking's Dawn, the Road To Miklagard, and Viking's Sunset. They follow the life of Harald Sigurdson, who joins the crew of a Viking ship in the first book, and it continues with his subsequent adventures through different voyages to different places.

These books are excellent boy's adventures, with men doing manly things. There's no girl who stows away or disguises herself as a Viking, and proves to be the greatest warrior of them all. In fact, there are hardly any women in it at all. As a woman myself, that doesn't bother me a bit; the stories are fast-paced, the characters are all memorable, and the writing is smooth and clean. If there's a boy aged 10-12 in your family who would enjoy some good books, check out this series.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at January 17, 2021 09:54 AM (ITF9W)

The only downside to these books is that, first published back in the 1950s, they are long out of print, and used dead-tree copies are outrageously expensive. But the Kindle editions are only 99 cents, so there's that.

Viking's Dawn
Viking's Sunset

I could not find a Kindle edition of The Road To Miklagard, but Treece has two other 99-cent Kindle books available, The Last of the Vikings and The Golden Strangers, the latter of which takes place in Britain during the period when Stonehenge was built.

___________

363 Someone recommended the books by Leif Enger. I purchased them because he is a Minnesota writer and as a fellow Upper north Wisconsonite I know we have sympathy with each other especially in January. The books are a delight of sadness and hope. Just the best mid winter read in front of a fire when its snowing. I am reading So Brave, Young and Handsome and completed Peace like a River (wonderful)

Posted by: SimpleLiving at January 17, 2021 11:36 AM (ZtTp4)

I'll highlight So Brave, Young, and Handsome because it's cheap, only $2.99 for the Kindle version:

Minnesota, 1915. With success long behind him, writer, husband, and father Monte Becket has lost his sense of purpose . . . until he befriends outlaw Glendon Hale. Plagued by guilt over abandoning his wife two decades ago, Hale is heading back West in search of absolution. And he could use some company on the journey.

As the modern age marches swiftly forward, Becket agrees to travel into Hale’s past, leaving behind his own family for an adventure that will test the depth of his loyalties and morals, and the strength of his resolve. As they flee the relentless former Pinkerton Detective who’s been hunting Hale for years, Becket falls ever further into the life of an outlaw—perhaps to the point of no return.

Of course, as SimpleLiving mentioned, Peace Like a River is also good. Enger sounds like a novelist whose books are all good, so you can't go wrong with any of them.

___________

Books By Morons

Too bad we're not going to see any of this for at least the next four years:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 22, 2021, as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Today, I call on the Congress to join me in protecting and defending the dignity of every human life, including those not yet born. I call on the American people to continue to care for women in unexpected pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way, so every child can have a loving home. And finally, I ask every citizen of this great Nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both seen and unseen.

You can read the President's full proclamation here. Unfortunatelly, due to Covid concerns, the March For Life held every year in Washington DC will be a "virtual" march, but it's pretty much invisible to the MSM every year, so I guess they'll have an excuse for their usual lack of reporting.

Anyway, since this is pro-life week, I have a pro-life book, written by a doctor, recommended to me by a lurking 'ette, who knows the author and she tells me

...he has an amazing life history and has seen many adventures. He writes about abortion from the perspective of his life in the field of medicine. He has *so* many stories to tell from his life as a physician and the topic of being pro-life/anti-abortion really sprang out to him.

God�s Little People: A Physician�s Odyssey in the Land of the Unborn by Dr. John Hey is about

The moral uncertainty and apathy in our society to the plight of unborn children springs from the failure to identify them as real people.

As a Board Certified Family Practitioner, Dr. John Hey provides numerous captivating vignettes from his fifty year-long practice of medicine, experiences that brought him to understand that these Little People are precious to God, protected by God, and deserving of being treated with the dignity, care, and legal protections afforded to all those who have already been born. All our practices and obligations toward the unborn must be constrained by this fundamental understanding.

Along the way, Dr. Hey answers the �hard questions� about abortion and infanticide and gives a clear Gospel call to all who have been broken by sin in their treatment of the Little People.

The Kindle edition is $6.99.

___________

'Ette author Sgt. Mom has completed her WWII novel, My Dear Cousin: A Novel In Letters, and it is now available for pre-order on Amazon:

When Peggy Becker married Englishman Tommy Morehouse in San Antonio in the spring of 1938, her cousin and best friend Venetia “Vennie” Stoneman was her bridesmaid. After the wedding, Peg and Tommy traveled across the Pacific to Malaya, where Tommy managed his family’s rubber plantation. There they expected to raise a family and live a comfortable and rewarding life among the British expatriates in the tropics, while Vennie returned to Galveston to continue training as a nurse.

The Second World War changed everything: Tommy Morehouse became a prisoner of war, Peg barely escaped the fall of Singapore with her small son, and Vennie Stoneman was a nurse in the US Army Nurse Corps, tending to battlefield casualties in North Africa, Italy, and France.

In Australia, Peg waits out the war, wondering if her husband will survive brutal captivity by the Japanese, and Vennie risks her own life as an air evacuation nurse. Throughout all, the two women write to each other, of their lives, loves, of Vennie’s patients and comrades, and Peg’s children and the woes of running a wartime household among rationing and shortages of shoes for her children.

The cover is a photo of Celia's Great Aunt Nan, who was in the Army in WWII. The Kindle edition is $3.99, and if you pre-order it now, it will be automatically delivered to your device on January 23rd.

___________

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

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

Posted by: OregonMuse at 09:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Tolls lege

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 09:01 AM (Cxk7w)

2 Dutifully called and I need a new book

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 09:02 AM (Cxk7w)

3
g'mornin', book-ish 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at January 24, 2021 09:02 AM (DUIap)

4 Just about finished the re-reading the Elemental Masters series by Mercedes Lackey. Don't know what I will move on to next.

Posted by: Vic at January 24, 2021 09:02 AM (mpXpK)

5 "He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot."

Groucho Marx, whilst observing Zhou Bi-Den.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit at January 24, 2021 09:03 AM (HaL55)

6 Don't know Who Dis? but the Buecherwand is loverly.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 24, 2021 09:04 AM (PiwSw)

7 Is that Kitty Carlisle Hart?

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:04 AM (2JVJo)

8 What's up, my pantextual otherkin fam?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:04 AM (Dc2NZ)

9 Sock stuffed pants?

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (AwYPR)

10 It's a young Maggie Thatcher!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (Dc2NZ)

11 Sock stuffed pants?
Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (AwYPR)

Brief jerky.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (t+qrx)

12 Loretta Young!

Posted by: RobertM at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (IZxia)

13 Those pants are fine. It looks like fine fat Beefheart.

Posted by: Uncle Meat at January 24, 2021 09:06 AM (MvSRq)

14 I read The Path Of Daggers, the eighth book in the WOT series, by Robert Jordan. The story moves along slowly until the final few chapters. Setting up a clash between the two factions of the White Tower in the next book, Winter's Heart.

Posted by: Zoltan at January 24, 2021 09:07 AM (qb8uZ)

15 "...there's something about the phrase "turn of the century brownstone" that doesn't work when applied to Los Angeles."
---

Maybe I'm misremembering about "brownstone" (it happens!) but the building was built by east coasters in the middle of nowhere when LA was a nothing town, and the city gradually expanded around it.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:07 AM (Dc2NZ)

16 Nice pic, but I am never going to Seattle, if I can help it.

Anyway, I think I mentioned last week that I had to put Durant's Caesar and Christ back on the shelf. I just don't have the ability or energy to concentrate right now. Instead, I decided to finish Trevor-Roper's The Death of Hitler. Informative and clever, in that waspish style only upper-class Brits can really pull off. My only complaint is that, like any other book on the Third Reich, I never know who survived or who was hanged at Nuremburg, so am always having to go back to my Encyclopedia of the Third Reich (which, BTW, is pretty lousy) to see who lived and who died.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:08 AM (2JVJo)

17 Read the Evening and the Morning. Kings Bridge #4.

I think it was way too long. Too much misery. Too many contrived stories. Went way out to get good doses of homosexuality and lesbianism mixed into the stories.

I wonder if reading the books in order 4,1,2,3 would make for better read??

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 09:08 AM (5QBw6)

18 Enjoying the oxymoron museum.

Posted by: t-bird at January 24, 2021 09:08 AM (1vynn)

19 Reminds me of former Micawbers Books in downtown Princeton. It's now a fast food take out establishment.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (S1hrL)

20 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I've started on News of the World; I'm about three chapters in. So far, so good. Problem is, since I know the movie stars Tom Hanks, whom I despise for many reasons, I can't unsee him as the main character.

I'm going to have to work on conjuring up an image of my own, and sticking with it.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (OX9vb)

21 Hello fellow book lovers! I figured out the solution to not breaking my budget each week here: instead of immediately clicking the link to the Kindle version - I'm storing the title in the "Want to Read" section of my Goodreads account. Embarrassed it took so long to figure this out. But last year I was giving into every excuse to buy something new. This year I'm reading through all the unread books on my shelves. I just finished "He Leadeth Me" - recommended by a fellow Moron here - and now am reading "The Last Pagan Generation." And about three others I can't remember right now. Have a good week, all!

Posted by: CarolinaGirl at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (Kh9rg)

22 Apparently there's a group of volunteers who take ebooks from Gutenberg and reformat them so they're in better shape:
standardebooks DOT org

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at January 24, 2021 09:10 AM (l9m7l)

23 Greeting everyone - Thanks OM!

My book is now in digital Advance Review Copy (ARC) mode, being sent out for review and endorsement quotes. It's an industry thing, I have no idea. But my publisher puts great stock in it (more than the actual book, if you ask me). Release is now set for early April.

Clearly, that is Joan Collins.

Posted by: goatexchange at January 24, 2021 09:10 AM (HgBj4)

24 Who Dis?

"Stretch" McGee?

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (dWwl8)

25 The pantoufles match the chaise longue! How chic.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (S1hrL)

26 19 Reminds me of former Micawbers Books in downtown Princeton. It's now a fast food take out establishment.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (S1hrL)

Yep. That one is gone as it Cranbury Book Worm. I miss them both

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (ONvIw)

27 OM, thanks for the call out of Dr. Hey's book. It's on my list to be read.

My wife and I attended the March for Life last year. It was a glorious event. President Trump's remarks were inspiring and he was welcomed by a huge ovation. It's hard to ignore hundreds of thousands of peaceful marchers in DC and on the mall, but the media sluts were up to the challenge.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (Rvt88)

28 Mp4, William Shirer's book on the Third Reich is only one you need. It's a long read but fascinating.

Posted by: dantesed at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (88xKn)

29 Loretta Young!
Posted by: RobertM at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (IZxia)

Ah, Loretta Young. Had a child by Clark Gable (whom, late in life, she said raped her) and brought her up as an adopted daughter.

Her Catholicism irritated other Hollywood stars. Once, when she was at a party and stood up, Joan Crawford stopped another guest from taking the chair, saying, "Loretta Young just got up - the sign of the cross is still there!"

On The Loretta Young Show, she carried a "swear jar" to penalize any guest who used foul language. When she confronted Robert Mitchum after a "damn," he stuffed a ten-bollar bill in the jar and muttered, "Go fuck yourself, Loretta."

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:12 AM (2JVJo)

30 "14" by Peter Clines is definitely a fun read. I've read about three novels by him, all of which have a common thread between them, but also all tell quite original novels. HP Lovecraft meets Scooby Doo is not a bad description at all. Residents are confronted with a mystery about their building, collaborate to figure out the mystery, and find out it's part of a cosmic horror conspiracy. The fact it takes place in an L.A. brownstone residence is actually a CLUE! (as they say in Scooby Doo...)

Posted by: Lord Squirrel at January 24, 2021 09:12 AM (hQrcu)

31 I'm still working my way through Livy's Early History of Rome.

It's now 431 BC and the class warfare has abated with the innovation of Military Tribunes with Consular Powers, which provided an alternative to dual patrician Consuls. Still, the patrician/plebian thing is still simmering in the background and I guess still is.

Of course Republican Rome was structured such that political power also required military service, something that clearly inspired Heinlein. The patricians were fabulously rich, but also expected to be the first to enlist in Rome's constant border wars.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:13 AM (cfSRQ)

32 Anyone reading Notes from the Underground?

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:13 AM (S1hrL)

33 I'm going to have to work on conjuring up an image of my own, and sticking with it.
Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (OX9vb)

I imagined Sam Elliott.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:14 AM (Dc2NZ)

34 Mp4, William Shirer's book on the Third Reich is only one you need. It's a long read but fascinating.
Posted by: dantesed at January 24, 2021 09:11 AM (88xKn)

Oh, I've had that for years, as well as the abridged illustrated version. Also have his A Berlin Diary and After Berlin Diary which, IMO, isn't as good.

I do like Shirer, though.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:14 AM (2JVJo)

35 Reading "In Montmarte" by Sue Roe, about the art scene in Paris in early 20th century. She has another book "In Montparnasse" about the early days of Surrealism in Paris. Both are very well written and informative.

When I bought them (about a month ago), they were $5 each. That price has since more than doubled for some reason.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (l9m7l)

36 It seems like...oh, 90% of all horror stories take place in an old brownstone.

Howzabout one that takes place in an old, decrepit Orange Julius?

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (dWwl8)

37 GM Horde. Pretty pitchers.
Just read Ernest Bramah's The Secret of the League. And odd book, of the dystopia averted model. Published in 1907, it has a very slight resemblance to Atlas Shrugged, being a "consumers' strike" against a socialist government, UK, 1915-1919. (Note the date: there is no WWI, tho late there is mention of a war having taken place c 1911-12.)

With the truncated new comments, I won't go into to much, but it shows the era - much relies on coincidence, and the lefties are MUCH less ruthless than today. But they are clearly our oppressors' ancestors. Note: it is strongly ANTI-populist. Orwell's take is at the end of this:
https://tinyurl.com/y3marc3n

BTW, people can fly with artificial wings. Less of a factor than one might expect.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (7X3UV)

38 20 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I've started on News of the World; I'm about three chapters in. So far, so good. Problem is, since I know the movie stars Tom Hanks, whom I despise for many reasons, I can't unsee him as the main character.

I'm going to have to work on conjuring up an image of my own, and sticking with it.
Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM

If you have to imagine Tom Hanks, pretend that his career ended after his disastrous casting in "Bonfire of the Vanities".

Posted by: Moonbeam at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (qe5CM)

39 Have I previously suggested Rick Atkinson's latest, The British Are Coming and if not, I do now. Outstanding read as always from Atkinson.

Posted by: FIIGMO at January 24, 2021 09:16 AM (2S93K)

40 Another spotty sleep night so I decided to add a book or two to the library. Just ordered Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software by Steven Johnson and From Bannockburn to Flodden: Wallace, Bruce, and the Heroes of Medieval Scotland (Tales of a Scottish Grandfather by Sir Walter Scott. Decided to peek in at the HQ and lo and behold the book thread! Thanks OM

Posted by: Sock Monkey * day 22,647 at January 24, 2021 09:16 AM (CCVqv)

41 I'm over halfway through The Shipping News and, against every preconceived notion I had, it's really grown on me. Proulx may look like a man hating reincarnation of Maude, but she writes very convincingly about the hard life on Newfoundland and the people that occupy that weird outcropping of Canada who want no fucking part of the mainland. The main character's ancestors were major league lowlifes and pseudo pirates, existing on a far off island and existing mainly by descending on any shipwrecks on the intricate mosaic of treacherous rocks like hyenas and pretty much ignoring any would be survivors while ransacking anything valuable. Despite emerging from such flawed genetic stock, the locals like the protagonist as an escapee from his would be past.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 09:16 AM (y7DUB)

42 Finished Eddie's Boy by Thomas Perry this week, the latest Butcher's Boy novel. Perry is a blasted good author since this book pretty much has the same plot as the last two books and is still enjoyable to read- retired Mafia hit man gets discovered living in England and has to track down who discovered him. This book is set years after the last one and the protagonist is older and is flying blind on current Mafia info, which adds a bit of a twist to story.

Posted by: Charlotte at January 24, 2021 09:16 AM (vqBq8)

43 Instead, I decided to finish Trevor-Roper's The Death of Hitler.
Informative and clever, in that waspish style only upper-class Brits
can really pull off.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:08 AM (2JVJo)

---
You know, Hitler did a lot of terrible things, but credit where it's due: he also did literally kill Hitler.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:16 AM (cfSRQ)

44 I'm halfway through "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern, who wrote the beautiful novel "The Night Circus".

When he was young, Zachary Ezra Rawlins encountered a trompe l'oeil painting of a door on a brick wall in an alley in New Orleans. It was so realistic that he was tempted to try and open it, but he didn't. Years later he is a college student working on his thesis. He is hanging out one evening in the fiction section of the library when he finds a very old unmarked book with no author, date, or frontispiece. The book is a collection of stories about lost love, a secret society of scholars, and keys to hidden realms. But one of the tales describes, down to the details, a boy who could only be Zachary Ezra Rawlins seeing a trompe l'oeil painting of a door on a brick wall in an alley in New Orleans. After some sleuthing, it is found that the book dates from the 1880s.
His possession of this book gets him involved with a secret club, where he meets rival factions. He is taken through an invisible door to an underground cavern holding a vast library. But there are also cities and a vast subterranean ocean.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:17 AM (Dc2NZ)

45 I recently read Alexander McCall Smith's latest Isabel Dalhousie book. I had low expectations, because it is a book in his series I like least. But it ended up being a decent and charming read.

Posted by: Ladyl at January 24, 2021 09:17 AM (TdMsT)

46 (2) Normally I don't like impressionistic fables or airy-fairy watercolor writing, and I had this book for weeks without cracking it, but Morgenstern is so masterful that I got swept up in the story immediately.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:17 AM (Dc2NZ)

47
If you have to imagine Tom Hanks, pretend that his career ended after his disastrous casting in "Bonfire of the Vanities".

Posted by: Moonbeam at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (qe5CM)

---
"Bosom Buddies" was his best work.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:17 AM (cfSRQ)

48 Trevor-Roper's The Death of Hitler sounds like a play put on by the Batley Townswomen's Guild.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:19 AM (Dc2NZ)

49 35 Beckoning Chasm

Sue Roe's book "Private Lives of the Impressionists" was a surprisingly good read. Plenty of historical insight.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:19 AM (S1hrL)

50 Three other things in addition to my #37.
1. Bramah is now best remembered for the Max Carrados mysteries, about a blind detective.
2. There is a naval battle mentioned, described in a most implausible manner, in the 1912 war. The action, so far as it resembles anything, is based on how navies THOUGHT they would fight, c 1890, or a bit earlier.
3. An odd parallel with Rand, there is a point where in a meeting of the Socialist cabinet, they are asking "Who is Salt?" (George Salt is one of the two heroes.)

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:19 AM (7X3UV)

51 A great book about the 7th crusade is Memoirs of the Lord of Joinville. He was one of Louis IX's top aides and it is very descriptive of some of the daily activities of the main people involved. The book is available in a multitude of forms at your usual outlets or you can download it as a PDF at Archive.org.

Posted by: Don at January 24, 2021 09:19 AM (mwDnq)

52 Actually, a turn of the century brownstone in LA is not as far-fetched as you might think. For example, check out this 1905 pic of Hollywood (yes, not strictly LA, but close enough):

The white building at the bottom of the picture was the home of silent star Conway Tearle. It still exists today as the headquarters of the Society of American Cinematographers. I used it in my story Thirteen Moons.

https://tinyurl.com/y4f9ypom

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:20 AM (2JVJo)

53 21: I figured out the solution to not breaking my budget each week here: instead of immediately clicking the link to the Kindle version - I'm storing the title in the "Want to Read" section of my Goodreads account.

CarolinaGirl, I do the same. I have a massive list on amazon, a massive list on Goodreads, and a massive list on my local library site. Heh. It's good to scroll through them when I'm bored with all of my reading and need a jump start.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:20 AM (OX9vb)

54 i got in too late last week for this but let me second the (what i thought was a) recommendation Sabrina Chase's Sequoyah trilogy. Or maybe it's the Queen of Chaos trilogy. Anyway, it's good.

Also, D A Boulter's "Not With a Whimper" 4 books, which has a prequel in "The Courtesan" and a number of sequels with his Yrden Chronicles.

All of the above Space Opera-ish

Posted by: yara at January 24, 2021 09:21 AM (oPRky)

55 23 Greeting everyone - Thanks OM!

My book is now in digital Advance Review Copy (ARC) mode, being sent out for review and endorsement quotes. It's an industry thing, I have no idea. But my publisher puts great stock in it (more than the actual book, if you ask me). Release is now set for early April.

Clearly, that is Joan Collins.
Posted by: goatexchange at January 24, 2021 09:10 AM (HgBj4)
________

No, the painting is Joan Collins.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:21 AM (7X3UV)

56 Re: 41--Capt. Hate: And there's more to that book than meets the eye; a slow, deep reading works best. My copy is so marked up with underlines, notes in margins, highlights, and so forth that it's damned near unreadable now. Thanks for mentioning it this morning. . . .

Posted by: FIIGMO at January 24, 2021 09:22 AM (2S93K)

57 But one of the tales describes, down to the details, a boy who could only be Zachary Ezra Rawlins seeing a trompe l'oeil painting of a door on a brick wall in an alley in New Orleans. After some sleuthing, it is found that the book dates from the 1880s.

That sounds like something Jack Finney would write.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:22 AM (2JVJo)

58 A great book about the 7th crusade is Memoirs of the
Lord of Joinville. He was one of Louis IX's top aides and it is very
descriptive of some of the daily activities of the main people involved.
The book is available in a multitude of forms at your usual outlets or
you can download it as a PDF at Archive.org.

Posted by: Don at January 24, 2021 09:19 AM (mwDnq)

---
A great, conversational read. You can almost imagine the chevalier rambling on next to you as the fire burns low in his chateau.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:22 AM (cfSRQ)

59 Thanks, OM for the link! The book went live, as of yesterday, and for the moment - and what that would be worth - is now #1 on Amazon in the category of New Releases in Historical Australian and Oceanian Fiction!
(And if any Book Threadists read My Dear Cousin and liked it a lot, can you do a review? Pretty please, with sugar on it?)

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at January 24, 2021 09:23 AM (xnmPy)

60 Nice Book Store!

Those pants belong on the grill.....

The Who Dis is Dr. Jill hiding someone under her long skirt.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at January 24, 2021 09:23 AM (R/m4+)

61 I've started on a re-read of The Lord of the Rings. Some things have really struck me. There's a huge shift in tone over the course of the first volume. Fellowship of the Ring starts out very obviously a "sequel to the Hobbit" with Frodo and Pippin going hiking in the forest and meeting old Tom and narrowly escaping angry willow trees and barrow-wights. They get to Bree where a comedy-relief innkeeper nevertheless manages to guard them against the fucking Ringwraiths.

But by the end of the book they've had the Council of Elrond and everything feels a lot more serious and real.

Posted by: Trimegistus at January 24, 2021 09:24 AM (QZxDR)

62 Finished Snowden's autobiography permanent record. To me, made him unlikable. Also finished Fahrenheit 451. Now starting on a Bircher book about Eisenhower which should be a hoot

Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 09:25 AM (PGh3U)

63 In These Uncertain Times(tm), I've dusted off "Pushing to the Front, or Success Under Difficulties" by Orison Swett Marden (1894).

I opened it randomly to "Nerve -- Grit, Grip, Pluck".

"Let it split," said a professor, when told that his principles, if carried out, would split the world to pieces; "there are enough more planets."

I like the YOLO Mad Scientist feel of that quote.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:26 AM (Dc2NZ)

64 Actually, a turn of the century brownstone in LA is not as far-fetched as you might think. For example, check out this 1905 pic of Hollywood (yes, not strictly LA, but close enough):

https://tinyurl.com/y4f9ypom

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:20 AM (2JVJo)

When someone mentioned 'LA brownstones' last week, I looked 'em up. Not exactly NYC or other eastern city brownstones....but still.

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 09:26 AM (AwYPR)

65 Hope Dr. Jill doesn't take any interior decorating cues from the photo. That shag rug bench is hilariously hideous.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:26 AM (S1hrL)

66 Mornin', all,

Am almost finished a book by one Dan Baum from 2009 called Nine Lives. No, it is not about cats, and I haven't encountered a single feline in its pages. It's journalism in novel form, like In Cold Blood, following the lives of some nine New Orleanians from 1965 (the time of Hurricane Betsy) to 2005 and Katrina. Short vignettes mostly, but each is very well done. Some of the characters weave in and out of each others' lives.

Most important: It is the only honest book about The City That Forgot to Pick Up After Itself that I've read. Nearly all NO books, fiction or fact, celebrate the "different-ness" of the city's culture and people -- but never mention the shattered streets, the lousy education system, and the attitude of "Why be ambitious, let's take it easy" that makes this place so infuriating. Baum does that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at January 24, 2021 09:27 AM (rpbg1)

67 It seems like...oh, 90% of all horror stories take place in an old brownstone.

Howzabout one that takes place in an old, decrepit Orange Julius?
Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 09:15 AM (dWwl

I think that was John Dies at the End.

Posted by: hogmartin at January 24, 2021 09:27 AM (t+qrx)

68 I imagined Sam Elliott.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:14 AM (Dc2NZ)

Oh! That might work. More pleasant, anyway. But he is described as someone who shaves almost religiously, so I have to think of a clean-shaven kind of guy.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:29 AM (OX9vb)

69 OM, at some point this week, I intend to use the word clishmaclaver in a sentence. It may or not be followed by a Gaelic insult.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * day 22,647 at January 24, 2021 09:29 AM (CCVqv)

70 51 Don. Lord Joinville's memoirs.

Thanks! on my list.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:30 AM (S1hrL)

71 Early this week finished Rebecca. That pleased my wife, who loves it. Really, the book is less a mystery - though it was in a mystery anthology - than a display of how men and women just understand each other.

Eg, there's a good scene, not in the movie, where she askes Maxim "What are you thinking. You never tell me. You're obviously concerned about something important." Or words to that effect.

His reply: "I was thinking who was going to play for Surry against Middlesex." Mrs Eeyore has often said that is the model for many of our conversations. She even has a bit of gibberish to describe it. I'll answer that I was "wondering how many watertight lugs would fit on the forefossle deck."

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:33 AM (7X3UV)

72 *Hitler and Eva Braun*

Hitler (yells): WAKE UP, EVA BRAUN!!! YOU LAZY WHORE!!!
Eva Braun: (screeches) WHAT NOW,, HITLER, YOU CLOTH-EARED GIT?

Hitler: ME HEAD ITCHES TERRIBLY!
Eva Braun: Well...YOU'VE GOT A PENGUIN ON YOUR HEAD!!!

Hitler: (shakes fist) CHURCHILL, THAT BASTARD, ALWAYS WITH THE PENGUINS! I'LL SHOOT THAT HERRING EATING BASTARD. WHERE'S ME GUN? AH!
(grabs gun aims at penguin on head shoots)
(Misses. Hits head)

FIN

Posted by: "The Death of Hitler", A Batley Townswomen's Guild Production at January 24, 2021 09:35 AM (dWwl8)

73 Normally I don't like impressionistic fables or airy-fairy watercolor writing, and I had this book for weeks without cracking it, but Morgenstern is so masterful that I got swept up in the story immediately.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:17 AM (Dc2NZ)

I'm likewise reading it and Morgenstern has a unique ability to draw me into stories that other writers would make me hate. The members of my book group, who know my tastes pretty well, thought I would hate The Night Circus but she has a rare ability to write about completely implausible things and people and make them interesting.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 09:36 AM (y7DUB)

74 yes snowden just has a style of writing which in very tedious, he never did say who was the saudi banker, that his blackmail occasioned his change of heart,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at January 24, 2021 09:36 AM (hMlTh)

75 Also reading, piecemeal, Long Live Death, by our own A H Lloyd. Pretty good, but alas, I cannot find either Payne or Thomas just now.

Biggest criticism: I'd have like to have seen some maps of battles, rather than just strategic positions. I note its organization shows that Lloyd is a wargamer. We tend to think that way.

One thing that still baffles me is that I cannot discern, for either side, anything resembling a naval strategy (not counting the Axis interference.) I suppose it was lack of resources on the part of the Nationalists.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:36 AM (7X3UV)

76 44 I'm halfway through "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern, who wrote the beautiful novel "The Night Circus".

This one sounds good. I never read The Night Circus, because I am irrationally opposed to anything having to do with circuses. It's not like I'm afraid of circuses, or anything, I just dislike them. Don't know why.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:38 AM (OX9vb)

77 12 Loretta Young!

Posted by: RobertM at January 24, 2021 09:05 AM (IZxia)

You are correct, sir! And the first with the correct answer!

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:39 AM (yP9BI)

78 Also waiting on the 2021 Newbery medal winner to be announced. I'm sure that'll be a shit show

Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 09:40 AM (PGh3U)

79 Loretta Young.
So freaking beautiful.
My mama and I watched her tv show together.

Posted by: Flyover.... at January 24, 2021 09:40 AM (Rbu5d)

80 This one sounds good. I never read The Night Circus, because I am irrationally opposed to anything having to do with circuses. It's not like I'm afraid of circuses, or anything, I just dislike them. Don't know why.
Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:38 AM (OX9vb)
----

Coulrophobia.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:41 AM (Dc2NZ)

81 I've been giving Fauxci the benefit of the doubt that he paved our road to Hell with good intentions but a couple of days he was on Rachel Madcow rejoicing in bad mouthing Trump. What a scum! And now a history of wasting huge amounts of our money and destroying liberty. Die in a fire, asshole!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:42 AM (VVEnO)

82 Ava Gardner !

Posted by: runner at January 24, 2021 09:43 AM (zr5Kq)

83 Where can I subscribe to Manly History Monthly?

Posted by: alecthemad at January 24, 2021 09:43 AM (j2PNK)

84 Mark Levin roasted Fauci in his 1/23 podcast. Fauci has been a fraud for a long time. No one caught on.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (S1hrL)

85 OK, folks, think I'll sign off. It's cold and the wind is howling. Going to see if I can find a warm, cosy place to work on my writing.

Hope you all have a lovely day.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (2JVJo)

86 One way to solve bookish problem #184 is to tear out a page from the book you are reading (preferably the one you've read) and use it as your bookmark !

Posted by: runner at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (zr5Kq)

87 I've been giving Fauxci the benefit of the doubt that he paved our road to Hell with good intentions but a couple of days he was on Rachel Madcow rejoicing in bad mouthing Trump. What a scum! And now a history of wasting huge amounts of our money and destroying liberty. Die in a fire, asshole!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:42 AM (VVEnO)

Yup that SOB is 100% political. I hate cocks like him. Hated them in school also. i bet he was a back stabbing cock in Med School and College

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:46 AM (85Gof)

88 Sunday Morning Book Thread 01-24-2020

Does this mean the whole year is a do over, or just the reading assignments? :p

Posted by: Hans O'Lo at January 24, 2021 09:46 AM (u7pQw)

89 72 *Hitler and Eva Braun*

Hitler (yells): WAKE UP, EVA BRAUN!!! YOU LAZY WHORE!!!
Eva Braun: (screeches) WHAT NOW,, HITLER, YOU CLOTH-EARED GIT?
Hitler: ME HEAD ITCHES TERRIBLY!
Eva Braun: Well...YOU'VE GOT A PENGUIN ON YOUR HEAD!!!
Hitler: (shakes fist) CHURCHILL, THAT BASTARD, ALWAYS WITH THE PENGUINS! I'LL SHOOT THAT HERRING EATING BASTARD. WHERE'S ME GUN? AH!
(grabs gun aims at penguin on head shoots)
(Misses. Hits head)
FIN
Posted by: "The Death of Hitler", A Batley Townswomen's Guild Production at January 24, 2021 09:35 AM (dWwl

Done in black and white and then hand painting the frames would make this movie right up there with GWTW and Oz.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 09:46 AM (5QBw6)

90 78 Also waiting on the 2021 Newbery medal winner to be announced. I'm sure that'll be a shit show
Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 09:40 AM (PGh3U)
--

When I was a kid I knew Newberry Medal winners were spinach reading.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 09:46 AM (Dc2NZ)

91 I'm getting ready to read Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich. I want to know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to the end of the book, too.

Posted by: Kilo Alani at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (WNC6A)

92 Mark Levin roasted Fauci in his 1/23 podcast. Fauci has been a fraud for a long time. No one caught on.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (S1hrL)

Oh no we caught it...we might have known the depth of his treachery, but we knew

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (85Gof)

93 Biggest criticism: I'd have like to have seen some
maps of battles, rather than just strategic positions.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:36 AM (7X3UV)

---
Hooten's Spain in Arms goes into excruciating tactical detail if that is your thing. I was focusing on the big picture. As for naval operations, the Republic got most of the fleet, but did so thanks to mutinies that left the ships ungovernable. The Nationalists did have a naval strategy and I thought it was pretty clear: 1) Get the Legion over from Africa, 2) Clear the north coast and 3) win! As with everything else, Franco did more with less.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (cfSRQ)

94 84 Mark Levin roasted Fauci in his 1/23 podcast. Fauci has been a fraud for a long time. No one caught on.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (S1hrL)

Dr Didier Raoult caught on early and referred to Birx and Fauci as "television birds" who were politicians and hadn't dealt with medications or patients in decades. Raoult figured they'd sabotage the research into hydroxychloroquine by using it very late in the disease process, and he was correct.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (ONvIw)

95 I'm terrible to my books because I use a dog ear as my book mark.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:48 AM (2DOZq)

96 Another: Seapower in the 20th C, a set of essays edited by N A M Rodger (a favorite of mine.) Mixed, of course. The worst is by Corelli Barnett, no surprise to me. Written as though he's learnt nothing since his very bad Engage the Enemy More Closely.

Best is a tough call, but Baugh's preceding essay, which directly contradicts CB, is very good, as is Andrew Lambert's on Arctic convoys (which does the same.) Another interesting one is one on the Dutch navy during decolonization. I have yet to read them all, just most. This fall, Rodgers is supposed to finish his 3rd vol of his RN history. But it's been postponed two or three times already.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 09:48 AM (7X3UV)

97 95 I'm terrible to my books because I use a dog ear as my book mark.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:48 AM (2DOZq)

Poor pooch!

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 09:49 AM (ONvIw)

98 I'm getting ready to read Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich. I want to know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to the end of the book, too.
Posted by: Kilo Alani at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (WNC6A)

Is this the edition with the forward written by AOC and the squad?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:49 AM (85Gof)

99 For anyone who does choose to visit Seattle, Twice Sold Tales is a great little bookstore. I've bought a lot of great old science fiction there. The owner also turned me on to Hal Clement.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at January 24, 2021 09:50 AM (2lndx)

100 I'm terrible to my books because I use a dog ear as my book mark.

===

not so nice to the dogs either

Posted by: runner at January 24, 2021 09:50 AM (zr5Kq)

101 who was hanged at Nuremburg,

-
Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher was hanged at Nuremburg despite the fact that he was a private citizen who never held any government position. He was hanged because his magazine, Der Sturmer, continually printed nothing but hate propaganda. Now I look at Jim Acosta, Spud Stelter et al. and think that the Nuremburg judges had the right idea.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:50 AM (VVEnO)

102 One of my daughters gave me a fiction book for Christmas - Frederik Backman's Anxious People. He's the guy who wrote "A Man Called Ove". I wasn't really interested in it at first, but like Ove, it turned out to be a very good read. I won't try to describe the story other than as a bank robbery gone awry, but it's really about people and life. Not my usual fare, but what can I say, I keep getting interested in these creatures and how they deal with life. Highly recommended.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 09:51 AM (v16oJ)

103 there's more to that book than meets the eye; a slow, deep reading works best. My copy is so marked up with underlines, notes in margins, highlights, and so forth that it's damned near unreadable now. Thanks for mentioning it this morning. . . .
Posted by: FIIGMO at January 24, 2021 09:22 AM (2S93K)

Nabokov would describe you as an excellent reader.

She uses a lot of colloquialisms that I have to seek out (online dictionaries FTW). On our honeymoon we went to Nova Scotia, not the southern civilized part to the south around Halifax but the Cape Breton highlands where half of the place are French and the other Scot transplants. It's a hard bleak life there and everyone appends a rapid intake of breath at the end of a sentence like suffering from asthma or TB. But while we were there we kept thinking that Newfoundland was further to the north and even more extreme.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 09:51 AM (y7DUB)

104 Clishmaclavar sounds dirty.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:51 AM (2DOZq)

105 I missed the coffee thread yesterday, so I've got my coffee (this cold brew stuff isn't too bad) in hand today. I finished The Library Book which gets a pretty big meh from me. The history and the details about the fire are interesting, but when it gets right down to it, I can't care all that much about that particular library, and the author is pretty woke even though she tries really hard to cover it up.

I'm now reading The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison. A little lighter read without so much wokeness is what the doctor ordered. Maybe I'll buy some Patricia Briggs next, or catch up on the Penric and Desdemona novellas I haven't yet read.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 24, 2021 09:51 AM (qDSku)

106 I'm getting ready to read Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich. I want to
know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to the end of the book,
too.

Posted by: Kilo Alani at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (WNC6A)

---
The movie "Downfall" (source of a million parodies) is a good (if depressing) depiction of the end of the Reich. Based on real stories, and best watched with some jovial buddies making crude jokes because otherwise you won't sleep well after seeing it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 09:52 AM (cfSRQ)

107 I love the Oxymoron Museum. Mad I didn't think of that myself.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:53 AM (2DOZq)

108 Also waiting on the 2021 Newbery medal winner to be announced. I'm sure that'll be a shit show
Posted by: Nckate

The runner - up gets a dingleberry.

Posted by: JT at January 24, 2021 09:53 AM (arJlL)

109 Now starting on a Bircher book about Eisenhower which should be a hoot

Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 09:25 AM (PGh3U)

iirc, the Birchers thought that Eisenhower was self-consciously an agent of the USSR. That was what finally caused William F Buckley to lose all patience and banished them from polite conservative company.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:54 AM (yP9BI)

110 I'm getting ready to read Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich. I want to
know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to the end of the book,
too.
Ditto.

Posted by: Steiner at January 24, 2021 09:54 AM (v16oJ)

111 What is wrong with his mouth!

https://tinyurl.com/y2vtlt2z

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 09:55 AM (5QBw6)

112 Government to approve ban on air travel Sunday
'We're going to do something no other country has done.' Starting Tuesday, Israel to ban virtually all air travel.

When is someone going to sanction the fuckin chicoms for all this?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:55 AM (85Gof)

113 Have I previously suggested Rick Atkinson's latest, The British Are Coming and if not, I do now. Outstanding read as always from Atkinson.
Posted by: FIIGMO

George III and the other Brits generally were far less oppressive than our current crop of overlords.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:55 AM (VVEnO)

114 i bet he was a back stabbing cock in Med School and College

Betting his teachers guided him towards research as opposed to medicine because of that.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 24, 2021 09:56 AM (QE5O5)

115 Yeah, OM, got the Bircher book on WFB on order. Reading it after Eisenhower

Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (PGh3U)

116 It's a hard bleak life there and everyone appends a rapid intake of breath at the end of a sentence like suffering from asthma or TB. But while we were there we kept thinking that Newfoundland was further to the north and even more extreme.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 09:51 AM (y7DUB)

Even other Canadians think Newfoundland is strange. They reinforce this by telling each other "Newfie" jokes.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (yP9BI)

117 I haven't had much concentration for extended reading this week. Just a shitty week for a lot of reasons, and not all in DC. These "dog rescues" might mean very well, but getting them to contact you is difficult.

I've been reading a lot about smaller breeds and may go the breeder route. Just to avoid the bullshit.

I did finish up The Princess Casamassima by James, which I thought was well done and told the story of Hyacinth, and how his revolutionary fervor was spawned.
I also read Forster's The Machine Stops on Kindle. It was well worth the time, and seems to be where we're being shepherded on some level. It also reminded me a bit of Star Trek in some ways as the "machine" conjured up food and furnishings.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (ONvIw)

118 This week I wasted $18 on a book called Inner Tennis. Should have known since the forward written by Coach Pete Carroll.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (2DOZq)

119 G'morning, gray-box friends and acquaintances!

"Ladylike History Weekly" reminds me of one of my favorite reads for looking at our genteel past: Etiquette, by Emily Post. If you need to know how to address a letter to Resident *, this is the book.

It is in the Reference section of our small library.

Posted by: Flyover....* at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (Rbu5d)

120 Trevor-Roper's The Death of Hitler sounds like a play put on by the Batley Townswomen's Guild.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread)

And not nearly as funny as The Death of Stalin.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:58 AM (VVEnO)

121 I'm up to chapter 24 of Book Two in the web novel "A Practical Guide to Evil", which Mrs. Peel recommended last week.

It's not like anything I've read before, but (with the exception of some over-detailed-for-my-taste war scenes) I'm enjoying it very much, and would second her recommendation.

Posted by: empire 1 at January 24, 2021 09:58 AM (JJatH)

122 I've written before of books that grab you by the lapels and pull you in.

One such book is A Good Man with a Dog - A Game Warden's 25 Years in the Maine Woods by Roger Guay.

Posted by: JT at January 24, 2021 09:59 AM (arJlL)

123 Here's a "newfie" joke:

A Newfie is walking home kicking old bottles, when a genie pops out of one. "I can grant you three wishes," says the genie, "so choose wisely." The Newfie says "Give me a beer that'll never run out." A bottle appears in the Newfie's hand and he downs it, but when we pulls it away from his mouth it's still full. The happy Newfie continues walking home. The genie says "Hey, you still have two wishes left!" "Oh," says the Newfie, "gimme two more of these then!"

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:59 AM (yP9BI)

124 I've been reading a lot about smaller breeds and may go the breeder route. Just to avoid the bullshit.
We got our first mini golden doodle about 16 years ago, before they became trendy. The breeder is flourishing, and now she randomly announces wait lists for the wait list. I'm not kidding. Still, quality animals.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 09:59 AM (v16oJ)

125 @86

Did anybody else recoil in horror?
I think I feel the same way about people who make notes in the margins of books--I always feel as though every book will be read by someone else eventually, so I don't want to wreck it up.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:00 AM (AwPyG)

126 Here's a "newfie" joke:

A Newfie is walking home kicking old bottles, when a genie pops
out of one. "I can grant you three wishes," says the genie, "so choose
wisely." The Newfie says "Give me a beer that'll never run out." A
bottle appears in the Newfie's hand and he downs it, but when we pulls
it away from his mouth it's still full. The happy Newfie continues
walking home. The genie says "Hey, you still have two wishes left!"
"Oh," says the Newfie, "gimme two more of these then!"
That was originally a Joe Biden joke.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:01 AM (v16oJ)

127

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:01 AM (v16oJ)

128 Phew.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:01 AM (v16oJ)

129 RE. LEE, pun intended. I cant offer a lot of good biographies. There is the famous bio by Douglas Southall Freeman that many modern historians now criticize as a hagiography. But no one has shown it wasn't the best biography of the man. Freeman was the same guy who did a bio of Washington that was almost a day by day account. To be honest, I have not read either of them trough. My favorite bio of Washington was done by Flexner. In fact. I get a bit sick when people mention Ellis, when Flexner is still around.

The other great book on the CSA was Lee's Lieutenants. Maybe there is new info and new ideas but that one is a classic for a reason. I learned most of my Lee info by going to battlefields, lectures, discussions with others interested in history, military school field studies, and staff rides. I have read some other stuff like comparative discussions of Lee and Grant but no other full on biographies.

Mostly I study certain battles such as Gettysburg and work back from there.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:01 AM (dVcaa)

130 Dr Jill Cookiewoman:

Upon realizing that Custers and his men are dead or dying, Dr Jill whipped up a fresh batch of snickerdoodles, handfeeding many of the cavalrymen the Last Supper.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:01 AM (5QBw6)

131 When is someone going to sanction the fuckin chicoms for all this?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:55 AM (85Gof)

That was one of the things we lost when they installed the Usurper. He won't be sanctioning them, he'll be kissing their behinds.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (yP9BI)

132 Am re-reading the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. It's contemporary urban fantasy based the myths/legends of London, London rivers, and areas around. Has some social/PC snark, Brit snark, and sex scenes here and there. When cultural references are slipped in they fit instead of standing out. He was at one time a Dr Who writer, did Remembrance of the Daleks.

Posted by: Lirio100 at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (uFOGo)

133 124. Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

134 btw, I always call him R.E. Lee because that is how he referred to himself. Always that way in writing and i believe that is how he introduced himself.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:03 AM (dVcaa)

135 101 who was hanged at Nuremburg,

-
Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher was hanged at Nuremburg despite the fact that he was a private citizen who never held any government position. He was hanged because his magazine, Der Sturmer, continually printed nothing but hate propaganda. Now I look at Jim Acosta, Spud Stelter et al. and think that the Nuremburg judges had the right idea.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 09:50 AM (VVEnO)
________
Stelter would need a pretty strong rope.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:03 AM (7X3UV)

136 " Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich" I remember it as very good. Shirer was a journalist on the scene during Hitler's ascent.

Posted by: Zombie Moe Greene at January 24, 2021 10:03 AM (9TdxA)

137 When I eventually move to the country I intend on getting a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:04 AM (2DOZq)

138 I did read Grant's famous bio though.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:04 AM (dVcaa)

139 Away with your bavardage!

This week I read Pursued, a Christian fantasy which I enjoyed quite a bit by Paul Cordage. I think that's a pseudonym, though.

Its a sort of cross between The Hound of Heaven and Mockingjay, a young woman who ends up tangled in a battle between heaven and hell helping children and saving lives.

I'm stalled on a couple other books, I'll try to get through The Rabbi Saw Red, but its not gripping me at all.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:05 AM (KZzsI)

140 I've never been to Elliot Bay bookstore. Shorey Bookstore was the best one in Seattle, but I have no idea if its even open any more.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:06 AM (KZzsI)

141 I always feel as though every book will be read by someone else eventually, so I don't want to wreck it up.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:00 AM (AwPyG)

Yes. I avoid any book at the used bookstore that has markings. They distract me, and I like to choose my own things that are important.

When I want to mark things, I use those little post-it flags, which can then be removed when I'm done with the book.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 10:06 AM (OX9vb)

142 Favorite autobio is My Grandfather's Son by Clarence Thomas.

Favorite bio is American Caesar by William Manchester.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:06 AM (2DOZq)

143 133 124. Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

Pookie, the Ns have one of those multi-breed designer dogs, not a full blood hound bitch like we raise. Remove them from our calendars.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:06 AM (5QBw6)

144 Romney on with Chris Wallace, salivating over Impeachment Redux.

If Trump ever dies, they'll dig up his grave and hang him.

Posted by: Zombie Moe Greene at January 24, 2021 10:07 AM (9TdxA)

145 118 This week I wasted $18 on a book called Inner Tennis. Should have known since the forward written by Coach Pete Carroll.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (2DOZq)
_________

I'm not a tennis player, but I have to ask, is that like Pure Baseball by Keith Hernandez? That's a pretty intense read, for exactly how the game is played.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:07 AM (7X3UV)

146 I've just been trash reading lately. Don't seem to want anything more complicated.

I finished "Venus in the Blindspot", a best of anthology by horror manga artist Junji Ito.
It was good for what is was.

What I like about Ito is that he understands the use of the irrational in horror. ie. that the horror doesn't have to "make sense" but that you need to follow the rules you set up with tight logic. Lots of people get that wrong.

I'm kind of surprised that Hollywood has picked up on his big stories"Uzumaki" "Tomie" and "Gyo" for the streaming market. As well as some of his better shorts for an anthology.

"PTSD Radio" by Masaaki Nakayama, about strange events in a town is also quite good for a horror manga.

Check them out.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 10:08 AM (dWwl8)

147 Loyola University Chicago has announced plans to have every academic department perform a "Racial Justice Examen," in which those departments will evaluate and reflect how they are doing when it comes to racial justice.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (5QBw6)

148 I just started reading "Brave New World". I can't believe I never read it before. I also got "Animal Farm" and "1984" in hard copy for my kids to read since they are getting old enough for it. "Fahrenheit 451" is also on the way, another book I've never read.
I also started a Bible study last week on Romans 8 so I read Romans 1-7 for context. Now I need to do the questions over it...

Posted by: lin-duh at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (UUBmN)

149 I did read Grant's famous bio though.
I'm about 200 pages in to Chernow's Grant, so....20% done. So far, it's an excellent read, which I've come to expect from Chernow.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (v16oJ)

150 OT, but Sci Fi Made Real:

https://www.spacex.com/launches/

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (Dc2NZ)

151 I have read bios of many Confederates and those who fought for the USA. I am not sure why I haven't read the Lee bios. I think it was because while studying the war, he was always there. I can't explain it really but I doubt I would learn that much. But then again, that is the wrong attitude, there is always more to learn.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (dVcaa)

152 Ugh

"hasn't picked up on his big stories"

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (dWwl8)

153 Best baseball book I ever read was White Rat, about Whitey Herzog, former Cardinals manager. Although Yogi Berra's bio was good, too.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:10 AM (KZzsI)

154 did read Grant's famous bio though.
I'm
about 200 pages in to Chernow's Grant, so....20% done. So far, it's an
excellent read, which I've come to expect from Chernow.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (v16oJ)

that is on my list. I have heard good things about it. I should have said I read his famous autobiography.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:10 AM (dVcaa)

155 125 @86

Did anybody else recoil in horror?
I think I feel the same way about people who make notes in the margins of books--I always feel as though every book will be read by someone else eventually, so I don't want to wreck it up.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:00 AM (AwPyG)
______

Generally, I dislike that. But I do have an original of Fowler's Modern English Usage, annotated by a former owner, a highly educated man. Very interesting. Alas, it's old enough some of the notes are unclear.
C S Lewis tells of a book he picked up by a famous scholar. At first, the thought the notes made it a treasure. But for each poem, after the first few pages, the notes disappeared. A look into the scholarly mind.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:11 AM (7X3UV)

156 148 I just started reading "Brave New World". I can't believe I never read it before. I also got "Animal Farm" and "1984" in hard copy for my kids to read since they are getting old enough for it. "Fahrenheit 451" is also on the way, another book I've never read.
I also started a Bible study last week on Romans 8 so I read Romans 1-7 for context. Now I need to do the questions over it...
Posted by: lin-duh at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (UUBmN)

Since Christmas I have read, BNW, F451, Stranger, Coming up for air (book written right before 1984), and 1984.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:11 AM (5QBw6)

157 Mark Levin roasted Fauci in his 1/23 podcast. Fauci has been a fraud for a long time. No one caught on.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (S1hrL)

Oh no we caught it...we might have known the depth of his treachery, but we knew
Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (85Gof)

That guinea piece of shit is Exhibit A of everything wrong with the derp state. Homos should consider him worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao because he got everything wrong about AIDS and surely added significant numbers to the death count. But they treat him like that didn't happen.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:11 AM (y7DUB)

158 I'm looking forward to Steven Pressfield's new release schedule for March.

A Man at Arms. What I gather the protagonist / storyteller is a Roman during the time of Christ.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (2DOZq)

159 btw, I always call him R.E. Lee because that is how he referred to
himself. Always that way in writing and i believe that is how he
introduced himself.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:03 AM (dVcaa)

---
Lee never wrote to explain or defend himself, and he was a man of considerable self-control, unlike some of his larger than life contemporaries.

His death soon after the war cemented his legacy and he came to symbolize all that was great and good in the Confederacy, which was also useful in covering up so much that was depraved and evil.

The Confederacy has an unearned reputation for superior generalship, based in large part upon Lee. I've come to conclude that Lee was neither a tactical wizard nor a strategic genius, rather he was a good judge of men and had the political clout to choose his subordinates - something no other commander (North or South) could do. Just having people who will do what you say was an enormous benefit.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)

160 Stelter would need a pretty strong rope.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:03 AM (7X3UV)

He strikes me as being more fluffy than heavy.

But I've never tried to lift him, so I don't know.

Posted by: Emmie at January 24, 2021 10:13 AM (ofYez)

161 Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's
concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's
absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
I was adamantly opposed to a dog because of allergies, but my daughter was very persistent, and like a good pep daughter, did the research and uncovered this new "breed" that didn't shed because it was part poodle. That was true, and I had no problems with the dog, other than the resulting need to spend ungodly sums on bimonthly haircuts.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:13 AM (v16oJ)

162 Mitt says Biden needs to push back on Putin and Kim Jong Un. Notice who's missing.

Posted by: Ignoramus at January 24, 2021 10:13 AM (9TdxA)

163 BBL, time to cook.

Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 10:14 AM (OX9vb)

164 I'm here.

Um, I liked those pants.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:14 AM (sd8p8)

165 105 I missed the coffee thread yesterday, so I've got my coffee (this cold brew stuff isn't too bad) in hand today.
By CyberSmythe
---
I like cold brew because it's strong but less acidic so easier on the stomach.

I too am a purist on mixed breed "designer" dogs....

Catch y'all later, off to the fathers house and need to get ready...

Posted by: lin-duh at January 24, 2021 10:15 AM (UUBmN)

166 153 Best baseball book I ever read was White Rat, about Whitey Herzog, former Cardinals manager. Although Yogi Berra's bio was good, too.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:10 AM (KZzsI)
_______

Tough call. Pitching in a Pinch, by Christie Mathewson is great. So are My Turn at Bat by Ted Williams, and Nice Guys Finish Last, by Durocher. Generally, "bad guys" make for better bios, but Matty is a counterexample.

Another I put very high is The Unforgettable Season, by G H Fleming. 1908 in the newspaper accounts of that year.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:17 AM (7X3UV)

167 First autobiography ( is it ? co-written) I ever read was as a 10 year old was Jerry Kramer's Instant Replay. It came free with I believe shaving cream my dad bought.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:17 AM (2DOZq)

168 "Just having people who will do what you say was an enormous benefit."

Lee: So James [Longstreet], George [Pickett], this is what we're going to do ..."

Posted by: Ignoramus at January 24, 2021 10:18 AM (9TdxA)

169 I've been reading a lot about smaller breeds and may go the breeder route. Just to avoid the bullshit.

==

CN, try getting in touch with local breed groups to see who is planning on whelping puppies.
Pre covid, good hobbybbreeders would be happy to meet newbies, so you can see what their breed for andvthey can see if you are a good match for the breed.

A well- bred pup is worth the wait imo

Posted by: Herr Frau Doktor vmom Staunch Demofaszi (on gab as @vm) at January 24, 2021 10:18 AM (nUhF0)

170 147. Loyola Univ. Racial Justice Examen

---------

We already know the answer to that, don't we? Oh, and the school should change its name.

Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 10:18 AM (S1hrL)

171 so I have to think of a clean-shaven kind of guy.
Posted by: April, Freedom Now! at January 24, 2021 09:29 AM (OX9vb)

Gary Cooper
Janes Stewart
.
.
.

Posted by: Flyover....* at January 24, 2021 10:18 AM (Rbu5d)

172 Reminds me of former Micawbers Books in downtown Princeton. It's now a fast food take out establishment.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:09 AM (S1hrL)

So Elliot Bay book Company is in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle? Isn't that CHAZ country? I wonder of they are "woke", or suffered depredations by the feral yutes?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 10:19 AM (mzC78)

173 I had two purebred yellow labs. Four litters of puppies. They were wonderful dogs. Lived to be 15 and 16 and never a health problem with either. Haven't owned a dog since but when I do, will probably be a lab.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:20 AM (sd8p8)

174 Mark Levin roasted Fauci in his 1/23 podcast. Fauci has been a fraud for a long time. No one caught on.
Posted by: Ziba at January 24, 2021 09:45 AM (S1hrL)
Oh no we caught it...we might have known the depth of his treachery, but we knew
Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (85Gof)
That guinea piece of shit is Exhibit A of everything wrong with the derp state. Homos should consider him worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao because he got everything wrong about AIDS and surely added significant numbers to the death count. But they treat him like that didn't happen.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:11 AM (y7DUB)

By Late Spring, Trump should've fired Fauci because his story and approach were constantly changing, which meant he either had no idea what to do or had another agenda. I thought so at the time.

Trump would've never tolerated that sort of nonsense if it was involving financing or construction or business, things he knew about deeply.

But, he trusted the scientists to be right on the science. Instead, they were running a political scam for the Democrats and Chicoms. And here we are.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 10:20 AM (dWwl8)

175 159
The Confederacy has an unearned reputation for superior generalship, based in large part upon Lee. I've come to conclude that Lee was neither a tactical wizard nor a strategic genius, rather he was a good judge of men and had the political clout to choose his subordinates - something no other commander (North or South) could do. Just having people who will do what you say was an enormous benefit.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)
_______

A friend who knows a lot more about it than I argues that, defensively, Lee had a superb eye for setting up "killing zones" based on the terrain. He also says that, after Sadowa, Sheriden told Moltke "Lee would have destroyed your army in a few hours", based on that.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:20 AM (7X3UV)

176 Listening to the Stormlight Archive to get caught up and read book 4 (currently on book 3) and I'm rereading the Dragonlance Legends series from my childhood.

The Legends series were the highlight of that universe and they are still well written books for a youthful reader. Blazing through the 1st book and should have the other 2 finished in a week or 2.

Posted by: NJRob at January 24, 2021 10:20 AM (Ce7wD)

177 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)

He had to have something since the North offered him the command of the Union Army.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:21 AM (2DOZq)

178 That guinea piece of shit is Exhibit A of everything wrong with the derp state. Homos should consider him worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao because he got everything wrong about AIDS and surely added significant numbers to the death count. But they treat him like that didn't happen.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:11 AM (y7DUB)

After Fauci realized he had screwed the pooch on AIDS, he started sucking up to influential homosexual activist Larry Kramer, who had previously savaged him in print for helping to increase the AIDS death toll, and somehow won him over. I guess this sort of shameless schmoozing is Fauxi's one real talent. Probably schmoozed Trump, too.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 10:21 AM (yP9BI)

179 95 I'm terrible to my books because I use a dog ear as my book mark.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 09:48 AM (2DOZq)

[cries]

Posted by: Flyover....** at January 24, 2021 10:23 AM (Rbu5d)

180 Lee: So James [Longstreet], George [Pickett], this is what we're going to do ..."

Posted by: Ignoramus at January 24, 2021 10:18 AM (9TdxA)

---
In the immediate afterglow of Gettysburg (before Lee got away), Henry Halleck sent a glowing telegram to Meade congratulating him on being the first commander of the Army of the Potomac to successfully bring all his forces to bear in battle. Lee won because he almost always had more troops present at the point of decision than the Union. This was in large part because the armies of the time simply had terrible command and control.

Lee alone had subordinates of his choosing and who deeply admired him. We know that a stern word from him would crumple one of his commanders. They idolized him and in the absence of clear orders, would pro-actively do what they think Lee wanted done. No other commander had a staff that loyal. Yes, Grant had Sherman, and you had other examples of successful command teams, but there was always a weak link. Lee really didn't have any.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:24 AM (cfSRQ)

181 Just having people who will do what you say was an enormous benefit.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)

Yeah, don't I know it.

Posted by: Donald Trump at January 24, 2021 10:25 AM (yP9BI)

182 I found Pitching in a Pinch on Kindle for free so I'll take a look at that.

I have been having a problem with my Kindle where I'll get a book on Amazon and it takes hours, even days to finally download. Every so often Amazon sends me an email offering to upgrade my Kindle, and I wonder if its not being hampered on purpose to encourage the change. I do know that stuff on it is slower than it used to be.

I wouldn't think that kind of thing except Apple admitted that they deliberately slow down older models of the I Phone to pressure people to buy the new one.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:26 AM (KZzsI)

183 Fauci aspires to be placed by liberals on a taller pedestal than the one they raised for Margaret Sanger. He needs to up his body count considerably though - to Uncle Josef type levels.

Posted by: Roy at January 24, 2021 10:26 AM (Ti+Tv)

184 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)

I agree with you about superior generalship. The fact is the CSA has one, Lee. Sure many people are, or used to be all in on Jackson and Forrest. But those guys could never command an army, they were subordinates. Forrest in particular is not someone I think much of. He was a horrible subordinate and even with his exploits, he never won a major battle in the war.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (dVcaa)

185 I think you are giving Lee short shrift though I
understand what you are getting at. Lee did have his faults. He did as
you say send people he couldn't work with away. He did have power that
know one else had and sometimes his answer was to simply get rid of
someone and make them someone else's problem.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (dVcaa)

186 Best baseball book I ever read was White Rat, about Whitey Herzog, former Cardinals manager.

Herzog was screwed out of a pennant by a missed call on Jorge Orta at first base in the ninth inning of game six against KC. Everyone knew it at the time but the White Rat never made a big deal about it that I remember.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (y7DUB)

187 147 Loyola University Chicago has announced plans to have every academic department perform a "Racial Justice Examen," in which those departments will evaluate and reflect how they are doing when it comes to racial justice.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (5QBw6)

Related:

Classes at Loyola University's new Institute for Racial Justice to begin this fall.
The program will use an interdisciplinary approach to research and try to develop solutions for racial inequities that exist not only in the criminal justice system but also in education, public health and public housing.

https://preview.tinyurl.com/yxefjkkc

Posted by: m at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (o+Yqs)

188 Sorry but I can't find any excuses for Trump and the handling of the pandemic. Of course my criticism is the opposite of the Left. Before Fauci, there was the projection white paper written by the English fraud, Neil Ferguson. We should have never accepted that paper as the basis for handling the pandemic. His history of incompetence , misrepresentation and failure was well known.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (2DOZq)

189 But he was a great commander. No one else on either
side was beloved by his men like Lee was. He believed in them and they
believed in him. That alone won many battles. And he was a great
tactician. His retreat from PA after Gettysburg is still studied to
this day. The average person never gives a thought to how the severely
defeated CSA made its way back from Gettysburg to VA intact. But
military men from widespread countries have studied it, I promise you
that.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:28 AM (dVcaa)

190 Lee was likely
the best battlefield commander of the war. If you went into a
particular fight, you would want to have Lee as your leader. This is
taking nothing away from Grant. Grant commanded at a very different
level. While Lee commanded an Army, Grant commanded all USA armies.
Grant had more resources and he found a way to win. Arguing over how
was better is great over a nice scotch but it would be hard to be
definitive about it. I will agree that Grant was the best because he
found a way to win.
The
obvious argument over scotch and cigars is whether Lee would have won
if he had Grant's resources. Since that didn't happen, it is just a
parlor game.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:28 AM (dVcaa)

191 Had to run some errands this morning so very late to the thread. h well.

Good morning fellow Book Threadists. Hope everyone had a great week of reading. Mine was interesting and contemplative.

Posted by: JTB at January 24, 2021 10:28 AM (7EjX1)

192 Herzog was screwed out of a pennant by a missed call on Jorge Orta at first base in the ninth inning of game six against KC.

Jack Clark's injury late season hurt them bad, too. He was one of the best, along with Sparky Anderson, at least in my lifetime.

I miss real baseball. There aren't enough games on archive to watch. You would think that the Baseball Channel would just stream archives of their old games, they have to have mountains of them in storage. But no, that would only make sense and money, why do that?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:30 AM (KZzsI)

193 That guinea piece of shit is Exhibit A of everything wrong with the derp state. Homos should consider him worse than Hitler, Stalin and Mao because he got everything wrong about AIDS and surely added significant numbers to the death count. But they treat him like that didn't happen.

******

What do you mean? Consistently having 40K new HIV members of the gang annually since the 90s is a bad thing for a virus with a well known and extremely predictable method of transmission?

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:30 AM (yK9py)

194 181 Dead So Far From US COVID Vaccine

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (5QBw6)

195 G'morning bookies. Just now getting to the thread.

Nice bookstore pic up top. Anybody in the SF area remember A Clean Well Lighted Place For Books in Cupertino. A favorite Friday night thing for me, Mrs. B, and friends in the late '80s, early '90s was dinner at Hobbee's and then a trip to Clean Well Lighted. Those were different days.

Back to the top to read the content...

Posted by: Oddbob at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (qc+VF)

196 Classes at Loyola University's new Institute for Racial Justice to begin this fall.
The program will use an interdisciplinary approach to research and try to develop solutions for racial inequities that exist not only in the criminal justice system but also in education, public health and public housing.

*****

It's fathers.

Now give me my $20K annual tuition from each student.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (yK9py)

197 @188
It is kind of a head scratcher, because it seems clear that the good guys knew exactly what the bad guys were attempting with Covid, yet they let it go forward.

Same thing with the election, when you think about it.

Put me in the camp that thinks there's more to come, because otherwise it doesn't make much sense.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (AwPyG)

198 After Fauci realized he had screwed the pooch on AIDS, he started sucking up to influential homosexual activist Larry Kramer, who had previously savaged him in print for helping to increase the AIDS death toll, and somehow won him over.

Activists are very adept at selling out the people they claim to represent despite never being elected to do so. Nice gig...

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (y7DUB)

199 Finished my third Georgette Heyer, The Reluctant Widow. Still think the Toll House the best so far. It is amazing how perfect the language is for the time period. It must be like writing in a foreign language.
Also read Nora Roberts new book, The Awakening. Interesting characters, interesting juxtaposition between modern world and fantasy and there are dragons.
Starting Robin Hobbs The Assasin's Apprentice on recommendation of my son. Anyone read it?

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (sd8p8)

200 The Confederacy has an unearned reputation for superior generalship, based in large part upon Lee. I've come to conclude that Lee was neither a tactical wizard nor a strategic genius, rather he was a good judge of men and had the political clout to choose his subordinates - something no other commander (North or South) could do. Just having people who will do what you say was an enormous benefit.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:12 AM (cfSRQ)

Yes and no - I think that the "superior generalship" meme came from the fact that Confederate forces won a lot of battles that they should have lost as they were outnumbered and under resourced.

Eventually, though, God is on the side of the bigger battalions.

Posted by: blaster at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ZfRYq)

201 Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:26 AM (KZzsI)

is it a fire? if you don't have anything non-amazon saved only your kindle fire you could try this:
deregister your kindle, reboot, and re-register it

you'll lose all personalizations, all downloads, all bookmarks, all saved passwords, etc but you'll also get rid of a lot of junk

Posted by: Herr Frau Doktor vmom Staunch Demofaszi (on gab as @vm) at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (nUhF0)

202 Pookie, the Ns have one of those multi-breed designer dogs, not a full blood hound bitch like we raise. Remove them from our calendars.
Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:06 AM (5QBw6)

I know. Nuts, right?

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ONvIw)

203 181 Dead So Far From US COVID Vaccine
Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (5QBw6)

I don't trust any numbers reported from anyone anymore.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (2DOZq)

204 It is kind of a head scratcher, because it seems clear that the good guys knew exactly what the bad guys were attempting with Covid, yet they let it go forward.

*****

I've got bad news for you, friend. There aren't "good guys". There are two political parties, them in government and us not in government.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:33 AM (yK9py)

205 188 Sorry but I can't find any excuses for Trump and the handling of the pandemic. Of course my criticism is the opposite of the Left. Before Fauci, there was the projection white paper written by the English fraud, Neil Ferguson. We should have never accepted that paper as the basis for handling the pandemic. His history of incompetence , misrepresentation and failure was well known.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (2DOZq)

Social Distancing was designed by a 13 YO girl and her father for a science far to prove that you could limit the number of quote unquote TOUCHES in a school by distancing people to stop the spread of a communicable disease.

Sneezes and coughs can travel about 5 meters.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:33 AM (5QBw6)

206 I've been purposefully staying away from political discussions largely because I think it's clear that they are pointless. There is nothing Trump could have done to be re-elected. Nothing. You can second-guess all you want, imagine that somehow one thing would have put him beyond the margin of cheating, but that would have just called out even more blatant fraud.
Six GOP-controlled legislatures had the chance to do something. Six of them, and not a damn one did anything useful. They had hearings, wrote strongly-worded letters but in the end took no effective action. The fix was in from the start.

Since his election, I wondered if Trump would be the Great Restorer or the Forerunner. It's now clear that he was the latter, a last brilliant gleam of sunshine before the oncoming storm. I see no reason to dwell on it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (cfSRQ)

207 181 Dead So Far From US COVID Vaccine

******

Tell me what would happen if that were from bagged lettuce in a grocery store.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (yK9py)

208 Starting Robin Hobbs The Assasin's Apprentice on recommendation of my son. Anyone read it?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)

one of my fave series years ago - be warned the author really puts her heroes through the wringer
much despair
terrible things hapoen to good people, and good intentioned people do terrible things

Posted by: Herr Frau Doktor vmom Staunch Demofaszi (on gab as @vm) at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (nUhF0)

209 I'm enjoying "Hotel Bemelmans." Ludwig Bemelmans, the author of the "Madeline" books came to the US in 1918 and worked as a waiter at the Ritz (called the Hotel Splendide in the book). It's a funny and fascinating memoir of what it was like to work for a grand hotel back in the heyday of grand hotels. Some things have changed - the focus then was High Society, with celebrities and movie stars being considered lesser beings. The High Society types were the regulars and the staff put up with endless shit from them because their money paid for everything. Some things, I am sure, would be recognizable to any member of the horde who has worked for a fine dining establishment - the instant sizing up of customers by the maitre'ds (their job is harder today, when tech billionaires slop around in T-shirts, but I'm sure the staff have their ways of smelling out money) the difficult regulars, the constant food pilfering by the staff, the strange characters who work in "service" and the cynicism that develops from years of toadying to nasty rich people who are cursed and despised by those who depend on those tips.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (HabA/)

210 I don't trust any numbers reported from anyone anymore.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (2DOZq)

That was through CDC incident database.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (5QBw6)

211 What do you mean? Consistently having 40K new HIV members of the gang annually since the 90s is a bad thing for a virus with a well known and extremely predictable method of transmission?
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:30 AM (yK9py)

He was opposed to closing the bathhouses and promulgated the lie, repeated endlessly on state radio until they finally wised up, that it was increasingly a heterosexual disease.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:35 AM (y7DUB)

212 Since his election, I wondered if Trump would be the Great Restorer or the Forerunner. It's now clear that he was the latter, a last brilliant gleam of sunshine before the oncoming storm. I see no reason to dwell on it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (cfSRQ)

****

Same here. I have decided he was sent by God to remind us of what America was and what it was like to have a president who loved America and Americans, because it had been decades since we'd seen it.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (yK9py)

213 Since his election, I wondered if Trump would be the Great Restorer or the Forerunner. It's now clear that he was the latter, a last brilliant gleam of sunshine before the oncoming storm. I see no reason to dwell on it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (cfSRQ)

agreed

Posted by: Herr Frau Doktor vmom Staunch Demofaszi (on gab as @vm) at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (nUhF0)

214 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (cfSRQ)

I agree with you. That is also why I have generally stayed away from political threads.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (HabA/)

215 He was opposed to closing the bathhouses and promulgated the lie, repeated endlessly on state radio until they finally wised up, that it was increasingly a heterosexual disease.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:35 AM (y7DUB)

One the PREP drugs have NEVER been tested on women.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (5QBw6)

216 I was able to pick up a Mary Roberts Rinehart book based on recommendation here last week. The Man in Lower Ten is a free kindle book. I read the first chapter and its great, very interesting and I want to read the rest. It reads more like noire than Agatha Christie (who she's compared to).

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (KZzsI)

217 @204

It does seem that way, but on the other hand, there's been a lot of skullduggery exposed, and often in full color videos.

Someone's doing that--if you think Hunter forget his laptop at the repair shop, I wash my hands of you.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:37 AM (AwPyG)

218 the cynicism that develops from years of toadying to nasty rich people
who are cursed and despised by those who depend on those tips.
Wait, are you talking about waiters or politicians?

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 10:37 AM (v16oJ)

219 Even other Canadians think Newfoundland is strange. They reinforce this by telling each other "Newfie" jokes.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (yP9BI)

I spent a few weeks in the Port au Port area working on a well there. Beautiful place, liked the people, but there is definitely a subset of inbred sheep shaggers.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 10:37 AM (mzC78)

220 Lee alone had subordinates of his choosing and who deeply admired him. We know that a stern word from him would crumple one of his commanders. They idolized him and in the absence of clear orders, would pro-actively do what they think Lee wanted done. No other commander had a staff that loyal. Yes, Grant had Sherman, and you had other examples of successful command teams, but there was always a weak link. Lee really didn't have any.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:24 AM (cfSRQ)
________
Surely that is almost a constant feature of the great commanders. At least, all the ones we have evidence of. (I don't know what Genghis was in that respect.) If you lack that, I doubt any amount of tactical or strategic talent will overcome it.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:37 AM (7X3UV)

221 I haven't finished any books this week but did pick up a copy of the
"TRS-80 micro computer technical reference handbook" (sic).

It was apparently cool back in the late 70's to not capitalize words in the title of a book.

Posted by: f'd at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (MvSRq)

222 That was through CDC incident database.
Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (5QBw6)

Sorry not directed at you. I don't trust any numbers from any government resource or any advocate group. They very well could be accurate but no one is trustworthy.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (2DOZq)

223 I wouldn't think that kind of thing except Apple admitted that they deliberately slow down older models of the I Phone to pressure people to buy the new one.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:26 AM (KZzsI)

Try this:

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y2kxuj7m

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (PiwSw)

224 It's now clear that he was the latter, a last brilliant gleam of sunshine before the oncoming storm. I see no reason to dwell on it.

Yep, I let it wash past me, my outrage and frustration level is gone. Hypocrites? Of course they are. Evil? Yep, that's evil. Nothing I can do about it, so I'm focusing on home and work. The world will burn if I eat up my guts obsessing on it or not.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (KZzsI)

225 Posted by: blaster at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ZfRYq)
the best CSA generals were concentrated in the East. You had Lee, Longstreet, Jackson, and Stuart. The only real CSA victories were in the Eastern Theater. There were some kind of sort of wins in the so called West, but they were quickly wasted. The press was concentrated in the East, and we all know that the press only reports on the places in which they live. Very little has changed really.
The best USA leaders were in the West until the last year of the war.
You had Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, and even Halleck, all coming out of
the Western Theater. In the East, they had Mclellan, Pope, Hooker,
Burnside, etc.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (dVcaa)

226 He was opposed to closing the bathhouses and promulgated the lie, repeated endlessly on state radio until they finally wised up, that it was increasingly a heterosexual disease.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:35 AM (y7DUB)

******

My favorite part is that they don't even bother listing New White Heterosexual Male cases on the CDC website.

In a nation of 320M people it's probably something like seven (7) per year.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:39 AM (yK9py)

227 Yeah I did the synch thing (again) and told Amazon to deliver the file last time because it was taking so long. Still took a half hour after that. It used to be almost instant.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:39 AM (KZzsI)

228 hahahaha

Well now THAT'S interesting.

cdc.gov/hiv/basics/whatishiv.html

No longer works.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:39 AM (yK9py)

229 186 Best baseball book I ever read was White Rat, about Whitey Herzog, former Cardinals manager.

Herzog was screwed out of a pennant by a missed call on Jorge Orta at first base in the ninth inning of game six against KC. Everyone knew it at the time but the White Rat never made a big deal about it that I remember.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (y7DUB)
________

World Series, not pennant.

OTOH, it is true that the next day the Royals kicked their asses. In a seven game series, you do get flukes. The first I remember is 1960.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:40 AM (7X3UV)

230 His retreat from PA after Gettysburg is still studied to
this day. The average person never gives a thought to how the severely
defeated CSA made its way back from Gettysburg to VA intact. But
military men from widespread countries have studied it, I promise you
that.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:28 AM (dVcaa)

---
Lee's successes were decidedly mixed. His two offensives were disasters, and in both cases it was only Union incompetence that allowed his armies to escape at all. Had McClellan found his spine, Lee and his army would have been bagged in September 1862. Lee was a mixed blessing, high-grading the leadership pool for his army and leaving incompetents in every other theater. He is unquestionably a capable general, but much of his reputation was built on the need to create a pious, pure hero after the war. He was perfect for the role.

Interestingly, the only commander to utterly destroy an enemy field army was also a Virginian, but he gets very little attention because he fought for the Union.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (cfSRQ)

231 Email to ICE:

As of midnight tonight, stop all removals. This includes Mexican bus runs, charter flights and commercial removals (until further notice) all cases are to be considered [no significant likelihood of removal in foreseeable future]."

"Release them all, immediately. No sponsor available is not acceptable any longer,

Hey now do this with Taxes!

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (5QBw6)

232 Have Kenneth Roberts' good ol' Americana novels ever made it to the AOSHQ reading recommendation list?
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yxe5n6d7

Posted by: Biden's Dog at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (1o5GM)

233 Fun fact: the CDC has long been rumored to be running cash around the world for the bad guys' global money-laundering ring.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (AwPyG)

234 Sorry not directed at you. I don't trust any numbers from any government resource or any advocate group. They very well could be accurate but no one is trustworthy.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 10:38 AM (2DOZq)

I took no offense, just trying to relay the data source.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:42 AM (5QBw6)

235 Continuing reading "The Hidden Manna: A Theology of the Eucharist" by Rev. James T. O'Connor. Great read that drills down on Jesus' "hard saying" in John 6:53 that: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you", which of course is the basis for the Catholic belief that Jesus is really present in the communion wafer and wine at Mass. And, which is the primary difference between Catholicism and Protestantism.

Last night's discussion on the movie thread of the difference between the ferocity of the Pacific war against the Japanese and the European war against the Germans (at least in the West) has me back reading Paul Fussell's The Boy's Crusade: American Infantry in Europe, 1944-1945:

https://tinyurl.com/The-Boys-Crusade-Fussell

And his essay from 1981 defending the dropping of the A-bombs on Japan called Thank God for the Atom Bomb:

https://tinyurl.com/TG4T-Atom-Bomb

Posted by: Sharkman at January 24, 2021 10:42 AM (0bGEp)

236 233 Fun fact: the CDC has long been rumored to be running cash around the world for the bad guys' global money-laundering ring.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (AwPyG)

There is no doubt that FauxChi paid the research at the Wuhan Lab.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:43 AM (5QBw6)

237 Anybody in the SF area remember A Clean Well Lighted Place For Books in Cupertino.

Posted by: Oddbob at January 24, 2021 10:31 AM (qc+VF)

( *raises hand* )

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 10:43 AM (yP9BI)

238 The CSA did have more military trained officers when the war broke out. They both drew from West Point, that was a scratch. But the CSA had VMI, The Citadel, and even the present LSU, that was once a military school commanded by Sherman.

The CSA did have some advantage at the begging as they had more men trained at the college level with some martial training. But for sure in the end the USA came up with more competent field commanders who could run armies. The CSA had one in the end, Lee. Not taking away from the subordinates, they had some great ones not just under Lee but in the West as well.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:44 AM (dVcaa)

239 Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

How does he think the current "pure breeds" arose?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 10:44 AM (mzC78)

240 Clishmaclaver, ain't one of them damn commie rifles?

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at January 24, 2021 10:44 AM (SmkaQ)

241 200
Eventually, though, God is on the side of the bigger battalions.

Posted by: blaster at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ZfRYq)
_______

Alexander might dispute that. And Nelson (though they were not "battalions" in his case.)

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:44 AM (7X3UV)

242 Even other Canadians think Newfoundland is strange. They reinforce this by telling each other "Newfie" jokes.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at January 24, 2021 09:57 AM (yP9BI)

The longest running one is probably related to their half-hour time zone: "half an hour later in Newfoundland" on the CBC.

Posted by: Fox2! at January 24, 2021 10:45 AM (qyH+l)

243 Yeah Shorey closed down a while back and is now just an online site. Too bad, it was a magnificent place to get books. It was like a gigantic version of the little maze-like used book store, took up a whole downtown building of several floors back in the 90s. Then they moved to a slower area near Pike's Place and it was not the same. Now its just gone.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:45 AM (KZzsI)

244 There's always a death rate from vaccines, because it's a live virus and sometimes people can't tolerate even a smidgen of the disease. If you are given the Salk polio vaccine, there's a chance you will catch polio, and even die from it.

And you can't sue the pharma company, because the product is "unavoidably unsafe". The benefit outweighs the dangers.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (AwPyG)

245 World Series, not pennant.

Thanks, maybe I'll finally learn that. I liked both teams so it was no sweat off me, particularly how the Royals had been screwed by odd calls against the Yankees for the pennant previously. And George Brett's hemorrhoids against the Phillies.

The Cards won many more World Series afterward so in retrospect it can be overlooked.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (y7DUB)

246 28 If I could find it used or not a small fortune
Reading Rise and Fall of the Third Reich knowing the end will spoil the story
56 Fiigmo The horror, the horror

I would say the first Dr Fouci came to our knowledge it was obvious he was a Swamp Rat of the highest order.

Actually looked it up and RaFotTR isn't to much, maybe I will.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (Cxk7w)

247 In terms of bookmarks: in my younger days, I had a habit of using index cards as bookmarks.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:47 AM (7PCMN)

248 So when you hear about vaccine deaths, it's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, since in post-Covid no one seems to remember how we've always handled infectious diseases.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:47 AM (AwPyG)

249 Until the ass bandits in the Pentagon come out of hiding, there will be no accountability in the Biden Administration, as they engage in more war for profit.

>Let's kill some motherfuckers!

Posted by: Dr. Bone at January 24, 2021 10:47 AM (03n3v)

250 247 In terms of bookmarks: in my younger days, I had a habit of using index cards as bookmarks.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:47 AM (7PCMN)
-
IBM punchcards.

Posted by: Biden's Dog at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (1o5GM)

251 Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

*****

The extra 6-8 years of having the mixed breeds around can be nice.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (yK9py)

252 $12 on Kindle but those kind of books only want in real God given form.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (Cxk7w)

253 He is unquestionably a capable general, but much of his reputation was
built on the need to create a pious, pure hero after the war. He was
perfect for the role.
i have heard that argument many a time. I simply don't believe it. The reason I don't believe it is I read what they were saying at the time. Lee was not a "post war construction" as some historians claim. He was the South to the people living there at the time, the historical record proves that. Hell, i am now reading James Mchpherson's boring book on Jefferson Davis right now. No serious historian is more biased against the CSA than McPherson. But he regularly states that Lee was everything to the CSA during the war, not after the war.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (dVcaa)

254 Worst baseball post season call I can remember is when Kent Hrbeck yanked Ron Gant bodily off the base and Gant was called out. Seriously??? I wanted to beat that umpire with a baseball bat.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:49 AM (KZzsI)

255 Having read several books on AIDS, most of which I don't remember, when all this Covid business started, I had remembered Fauci as a mere bureaucrat. Which is not what he is.

He's deeply embedded by not just the American Deep State, but by the New World Order/Great Reset cabal. He has been an active participant in their planning for many years.

A story I've mentioned before, his agency funded a study way back when on early HIV drug treatment. On orphans. Many of the orphans died. And apparently there are enough drug trials on orphans that protocols are in place, to assure "informed consent" and all that. None of which was used on this study. Subsequent reviews have demonstrated quite clearly, the almost Nazi Germany level evil of this research.

That's our Fauci.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 10:49 AM (oQ94s)

256 Anything I have nearby is generally my bookmark.

I like Post-It notes for non-fiction books because I can revisit them easily.

I like special mementos from the kids for books I'm reading for pleasure.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:49 AM (yK9py)

257 I have read 2/3 of Charles Moore's bio of Margaret Thatcher, and the third volume, Herself Alone, is sitting on my computer desk, and I suspect it is inflicting a guilt trip on me as if I am forsaking it. (By the way, if you haven't read it yet, please do, but be warned, it will be a depressing read as it will remind you of a time when we had statesmen and stateswomen, perhaps, in office.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (7PCMN)

258 244 There's always a death rate from vaccines, because it's a live virus and sometimes people can't tolerate even a smidgen of the disease. If you are given the Salk polio vaccine, there's a chance you will catch polio, and even die from it.

And you can't sue the pharma company, because the product is "unavoidably unsafe". The benefit outweighs the dangers.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (AwPyG)

No it is not virus based. It is mRNA.

Posted by: rhennigantx at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (5QBw6)

259 Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:37 AM (7X3UV)

---
True, but Lee was unique in that he had freedom of action. Grant's reputation suffers (unjustly IMHO) because he didn't have the power to pick his subordinates. Even elevated to supreme command, he couldn't fire Burnsides until he committed *yet another* bloody failure. Lee had the power and it was crucial to his success. Sherman was also burdened with political generals and in his memoir he remarks how he had to be careful to balance them and basically give them only the most basic tasks because otherwise it would be a mess.

Lee was great at seizing the initiative and keeping it. He also created a well-articulated command structure, but there again he had the freedom of action to do so. Historians like to ponder what Lee could have done with the Union's resources, but he was also have had the Union's political web frustrating him at every turn. How would Lee have dealt with being forced to deal with useless tools like Ben Butler? That's the part everyone overlooks.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (cfSRQ)

260 Interestingly, the only commander to utterly destroy
an enemy field army was also a Virginian, but he gets very little
attention because he fought for the Union.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:41 AM (cfSRQ)

Thomas was very capable but he was no field army commander. He was famous as the Rock of Chicamaugua because he was the only one that did not run. Too bad Grant had a dark side and he only helped those in his inner circle. Thomas was out of the circle and he got little praise from his commander.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (dVcaa)

261 I use pretty much anything as a bookmark, although I have a pile of them by my bed. The ones I don't like are those magnetic ones that fold over a few pages. I miss them, lose them, forget they are there, I've sent some to the library. They're no good.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:51 AM (KZzsI)

262 Starting Robin Hobbs The Assassin's Apprentice on recommendation of my son. Anyone read it?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (sd8p

---

I almost said Yes!, but then I remembered it was Robin Hobb's Liveship Trilogy that I liked, and was confusing yours with Tanya Huff's Sing the Four Quarters books, which also featured an assassin.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 10:51 AM (Dc2NZ)

263 "I don't know what I'm signing"
_Joe Biden

https://tinyurl.com/yysvhqwt

Posted by: Braenyard, Patriot dog at January 24, 2021 10:51 AM (cp33G)

264 Did Fauci do a residency? Ever practice? Always been an admin. type?

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 10:52 AM (AwYPR)

265 And you can't sue the pharma company, because the product is "unavoidably unsafe". The benefit outweighs the dangers.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (AwPyG)
-
From what I understand, that's not the reason why. I read that there was an immunity law passed in the US for this purpose. In theory that means that there's limited incentive for a pharma company to do sufficiently rigorous trials and testing before releasing a vaccine.

Posted by: Biden's Dog at January 24, 2021 10:52 AM (1o5GM)

266 Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

The breeder I bought my Airedale, Teddy, from is always railing on the AKC for not maintaining standards of the breed. I'd never show him but she's told me he wouldn't win a prize because he's too small even though he's at the midpoint of a medium sized dog.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:53 AM (y7DUB)

267 I like that Oxymoron thing. Funny.

Posted by: Sharkman at January 24, 2021 10:53 AM (0bGEp)

268 91 I'm getting ready to read Rise And Fall Of The Third Reich. I want to know what to expect. I'll be looking forward to the end of the book, too.
Posted by: Kilo Alani at January 24, 2021 09:47 AM (WNC6A)

I won't spoil the ending for you.

It's an OK book. I think it works as a primary source, as Mr. Shirer had a front seat view of the events in Germany at the time, especially before the war, but I am surprised at what is missing in the book as well. For a far superior history of the Threeth Reich, I heartily recommend Richard J. Evans's trilogy on the subject: The Coming of the Third Reich, The Third Reich in Power, and The Third Reich at War.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:53 AM (7PCMN)

269 >>> 212 Since his election, I wondered if Trump would be the Great Restorer or the Forerunner. It's now clear that he was the latter, a last brilliant gleam of sunshine before the oncoming storm. I see no reason to dwell on it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:34 AM (cfSRQ)

****

Same here. I have decided he was sent by God to remind us of what America was and what it was like to have a president who loved America and Americans, because it had been decades since we'd seen it.
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:36 AM (yK9py)

The crowds chanting "We love you" made me think of a couple things.... something or other about idolization... yet also how fcking pathetic and worthless scumbags are our so-called leaders if one guy can get such adulation simply by actually doing stuff he said he would do?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 10:53 AM (TK8Ry)

270 Mitt says Biden needs to push back on Putin and Kim Jong Un. Notice who's missing.
Posted by: Ignoramus

Mitt is no EF Hutton

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at January 24, 2021 10:54 AM (SmkaQ)

271 Morning.

I have coffee.

With a bit of Kahlua.

Posted by: Robert at January 24, 2021 10:54 AM (1Yy3c)

272 @258
It inspires an immune-response, also.

And some people (a tiny percentage) will not handle it well.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:54 AM (AwPyG)

273 Romney: It Is Constitutional to Continue with Impeachment After Trump Left Office

Well cunts gotta cunt. And I think I hate this cunt most of all.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 10:54 AM (85Gof)

274 yet also how fcking pathetic and worthless scumbags are our so-called leaders if one guy can get such adulation simply by actually doing stuff he said he would do?

Yeah, objectively Trump wasn't a particularly great president compared to history; he just did what he was supposed to, protected America, and followed through. Its just in comparison to the last 30+ years of incompetence and evil that he stands out so starkly.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:55 AM (KZzsI)

275 I just hope the Elliott Bay Book Company has a damn good fire suppression system for the day the Red Guards come to burn the place down. (Is the owner a MONSTER or a DEMON, they will demand of him/her.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:55 AM (7PCMN)

276 Here's a story from "Hotel Bemelmans" that made me laugh:

The Ritz's menu was in French in the 20's and all the waiters had to know French in order to be hired there. There was a bitchy, very obese, very wealthy woman who was a regular there and was used to getting her ass kissed by the staff. She didn't read French and demanded to know what an escalope de veau was. The waiter, fresh off the boat from Paris, pointed to his leg to show the cut of meat used but had no idea what the English word for veal was. He finally said, "You have a son, Madame?" "No, she said." "Well, we assume you have a son, Madame." So what?" "You, Madame, are vache, your son is veau. Escalope de veau is a cutlet of son of cow." She laughed her terrible laugh, called for the maitre'd and said "Fire that son of a bitch."

Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 10:55 AM (HabA/)

277 But he regularly states that Lee was everything to the CSA during the war, not after the war.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (dVcaa)

---
Oh, it began during the war, no question. He was the Man of the Hour, the Savior of the South and he died soon after without going bankrupt, or having anything unseemly happen. Lots of generals have their reputations tarnished by the messiness of real life. Lee found a nice, respectable position, stayed away from controversy and therefore died with his martial glory undimmed.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:55 AM (cfSRQ)

278 I don't trust any numbers reported from anyone anymore.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me

Well, numbers are racist.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 10:55 AM (VVEnO)

279 There's always a death rate from vaccines, because it's a live virus and
sometimes people can't tolerate even a smidgen of the disease.

It IS a live virus? Well carp. I can't get live-virus vaccines, but my pharmacist said I could get this one no problem. I better get more information before I stick my arm out there.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (45fpk)

280 Thanks for the spotlight on Henry Treece's Viking Trilogy, OM! It's a mystery why the middle book 'The Road to Miklagard' is so hard to come by. Incidentally, do you know what Miklagard is? It's the Norse name for Constantinople! Not all the Vikings sailed west to Britain and Iceland; some attacked Constantinople in their quest for loot. They sailed down the Russian rivers to get there.

The first and second Viking book are available for free at https://www.fadedpage.com/; apparently they're in the public domain in Canada.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (RiM2f)

281 The comparison to tainted lettuce is absurd. The vaccine was developed to stop 100's of thousands of deaths. Granted people die from the flu, but that's why you take a flu shot. So, the trade off is how many will die if they don't take the vaccine?
I am not telling anybody they should or shouldn't. It depends on the risk you are willing to take. That you will not be one of the hundreds of thousands who contract it and die or suffer long term after effects. How many people die in a scuba diving incident? Skydiving, mountain climbing? Car accident?
Life is full of risks. Spin the wheel. Wonder if one's chance of dying from the vaccine is similar to winning the lottery?

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (sd8p8)

282 A friend who knows a lot more about it than I argues that, defensively, Lee had a superb eye for setting up "killing zones" based on the terrain.

This comment reminds me that a couple of weeks ago we (y'all, I didn't contribute) were talking about alternate history books and I was trying to remember one I read several years ago. I think it was Turtledove but I couldn't find a plot synopsis that matched what I remembered. The history pivots at a specific point in Lee's retreat where he crosses a river and sets up his forces in a wedge behind a sharp bend. The plan is to bait Grant into splitting his forces and going around both sides. In real history, Grant didn't take the bait; in the novel, he did. Can anyone identify the book for me from this description?

Posted by: Oddbob at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (qc+VF)

283 Sorry, first and THIRD Viking books.

Posted by: Dr. Mabuse at January 24, 2021 10:57 AM (RiM2f)

284 Dr. Fauci, like Dr. Jill, should never be given a platform to spew the totalitarian horseshit they have been steeped in their entire lives.
>Where's the cancel culture?

Posted by: Dr. Bone at January 24, 2021 10:57 AM (03n3v)

285 "Yeah, objectively Trump wasn't a particularly great president compared to history"

Well, Mr. Taylor, I did enjoy your posts here...

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:57 AM (7PCMN)

286 Miklosgard!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 10:57 AM (Dc2NZ)

287 There's always a death rate from vaccines, because it's a live virus and sometimes people can't tolerate even a smidgen of the disease. If you are given the Salk polio vaccine, there's a chance you will catch polio, and even die from it.

And you can't sue the pharma company, because the product is "unavoidably unsafe". The benefit outweighs the dangers.
Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:46 AM (AwPyG)

The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and contains no live virus. And it is the one with issues.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (mzC78)

288 It is NOT a live virus vaccine.
Grammie, remember the rule. It is okay to ask the Horde for advice, just don't take it.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (sd8p8)

289 The crowds chanting "We love you" made me think of a couple things.... something or other about idolization... yet also how fcking pathetic and worthless scumbags are our so-called leaders if one guy can get such adulation simply by actually doing stuff he said he would do?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 10:53 AM (TK8Ry)

********

I don't doubt that 5% or so were panty-throwing rock-star groupie types, but it's worth noting that most people probably weren't looking at him as an idol, but were appreciating that conservatives suddenly and unexpectedly had a leader after decades.

That bastard loves America and being an American. That's what resonated.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (yK9py)

290 @269
I think there are men who are natural leaders, and people recognize them as such on an elemental level.

Washington, and Lee (to stay on topic.)

If you don't have that quality, you can't fake it, no matter how hard the media tries to convince us

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (AwPyG)

291 So far the vaccine seems to be reasonably safe, but its hard to be sure since the reporting is so unreliable. If it killed 6 out of 10 people, would we hear about it?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (KZzsI)

292 Yes and no - I think that the "superior generalship" meme came from the fact that Confederate forces won a lot of battles that they should have lost as they were outnumbered and under resourced.

Eventually, though, God is on the side of the bigger battalions.
Posted by: blaster at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ZfRYq)

Tactically, Grant wasn't always a superior general either - but he had a pugnacious, never back off attitude that served him well. He knew he had more men than Lee, and the recruits to keep replacing them. So he could launch a high cost war of attrition, and he knew Lee could never match it, even if he could win individual battles.

his campaign to take Vicksburg was more inspired, however.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (V2Yro)

293 �"I don't know what I'm signing"
_Joe Biden
https://tinyurl.com/yysvhqwt
Posted by:�Braenyard

The Dead-Eyed Dickhead is also dead-brained. Can't see how this can possibly be abused /ragesnark

Posted by: Drink Like Vikings at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (SmkaQ)

294 Can anyone identify the book for me from this description?

Posted by: Oddbob at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (qc+VF)

---
Guns of the South.

Of course, if time-travelers really wanted to help the South win, they could have brought back antibiotics, since disease far outstripped battlefield losses.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (cfSRQ)

295 The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and contains no live virus.

So there's a difference between the two? One is live and one is not? MAybe that's what my pharmacist meant. I'll keep digging.

Posted by: grammie winger at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (45fpk)

296 Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 10:27 AM (y7DUB)

World Series, not pennant.

OTOH, it is true that the next day the Royals kicked their asses. In a seven game series, you do get flukes. The first I remember is 1960.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 10:40 AM (7X3UV)

Way back in the day, I had discovered Bill James' Baseball Abstract books, and the '86 book might have been one of the first I ever picked up. He did a rather long report on the '85 World Series, and noted the Cardinals hitting had been abysmal. The Royals outhit them every which way, not quite as much as the Yanks outhit the Pirates in '60, but it was substantial.

So his point being, the Royals victory, under more typical circumstances, would not have been as close, given the disparity in overall stats for the series (and not just due to the Game 7 debacle). I've always loved Bill James' writing, but that was a bitter pill for me to swallow.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (oQ94s)

297 Grammie, remember the rule. It is okay to ask the Horde for advice, just don't take it.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (sd8p

LOL true

Posted by: grammie winger at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (45fpk)

298
The Moderna vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, and contains no live virus. And it is the one with issues.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 10:58 AM (mzC7

******

Your body continuing in its genetic ability to produce platelets is over-rated.

Stop being so anti-science, h8rs.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (yK9py)

299 Eventually, though, God is on the side of the bigger battalions.

Posted by: blaster at January 24, 2021 10:32 AM (ZfRYq)

---
Not in Spain. The Republic had a preponderance of strength in every category and still lost.

If only someone wrote a book about it...

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (cfSRQ)

300 So his point being, the Royals victory, under more typical circumstances, would not have been as close, given the disparity in overall stats for the series (and not just due to the Game 7 debacle). I've always loved Bill James' writing, but that was a bitter pill for me to swallow.

Cards pitching and fielding was superior though, and with Jack Clark healthy they'd have cleaned up. Bill James isn't as bad as his acolytes but he still misses key elements of the game in his analyses at times

The Dodgers/A's matchup by his number crunching should have been a completely one-sided total demolition by the A's. But they lost, badly.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (KZzsI)

301 Of course, if time-travelers really wanted to help the South win, they could have brought back antibiotics, since disease far outstripped battlefield losses.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (cfSRQ)

******

Anyone who appreciates history and storytelling in their music should go and listen to Guy Clark's

Soldier's Joy, 1864

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (yK9py)

302 Both current vaccines are RNA. I had the Moderna shot a week ago. No side effects. Just a small red bump. Have also talked to others in all age groups and so far getting the same answer.
Stop scaring people. If you are discouraging people who should be concerned to figuring out their own vulnerability and whether they should do this, you are doing a disservice.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (sd8p8)

303 Levin did an interview with The Fauc back when the 'Rona first appeared, and Fauci was all gushing approval of Trump's handling of the issue then. But then the DemonRats got to him and he turned his coat. Typical DC insider.

Posted by: Sharkman at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (0bGEp)

304 "Yeah, objectively Trump wasn't a particularly great president compared to history;"

I differ, under the circumstances. He's already had a monumental effect, the outcome uncertain

Posted by: Ignoramus at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (9TdxA)

305 285 "Yeah, objectively Trump wasn't a particularly great president compared to history"

Well, Mr. Taylor, I did enjoy your posts here...
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 10:57 AM (7PCMN)

No, I agree with him. Particularly because for 3 years, Trump was completely neutralized by vicious and baseless investigations by Congress, and the perfidiousness of his staff. This is why all summer we ended up agreeing that Trump needed a second term to actually cement any of the things that he started, but if he didn't it would all be overturned quickly. The Deep State won, sadly.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (V2Yro)

306 How would Lee have dealt with being forced to deal with useless tools like Ben Butler? That's the part everyone overlooks.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (cfSRQ)
Joe Johnston, Polk, Beauregard, Kirby Smith, Pempberton, Forrest, Bragg and even Longstreet and Jackson? Guys like that that could not get along with anyone but themselves and could not command an army if their life depended on it? Longstreet and Jackson worked under Lee but they were incapable of Army command and everyone knew it.
Kidding aside, I get your point. But it works both ways.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (dVcaa)

307 Husband is irrationally opposed to mixed breeds. It's as if he's concerned about losing cred on the social register or something. He's absolutely strident on that subject, despite admiring local doodles.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)
The extra 6-8 years of having the mixed breeds around can be nice.
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (yK9py)

Eh, our Kerry Blue Terrier was 17 when she died. I don't know of any dogs that hang around 23-25 years.
I agree with the idea of buying pure brews for the reason that all breeds were "designed" that way for a reason, so if you have a reliable, honest breeder, who you buy from, you have clear idea of what you have in terms of temperament, personality, health, and longevity.

That being said my youngest recently got a rescue dog and he's intelligent, very sweet, and lots of fun.
But, man, did he have to look at a lot of dogs to get one right for him, whereas if he bought a pure bred, he'd've closed the deal much sooner.

Posted by: naturalfake at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (dWwl8)

308 Tactically, Grant wasn't always a superior general
either - but he had a pugnacious, never back off attitude that served
him well. He knew he had more men than Lee, and the recruits to keep
replacing them. So he could launch a high cost war of attrition, and he
knew Lee could never match it, even if he could win individual battles.

his campaign to take Vicksburg was more inspired, however.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (V2Yro)

---
Grant's Overland Campaign was deeply hampered by incompetent subordinates. The Big Black River campaign allowed him to use essentially the pick of his army. Any comparison of Lee and Grant must take that into account. It's not just that Lee would have had guys like Burnsides, it's that he would be unable to fire them. It would have driven him nuts.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (cfSRQ)

309 People should absolutely make their own mind up about the risk of the vaccine vs. the risk of the COVIDs.

Related, did everyone hear that California, Illinois, etc. are all opening back up now that Biden is president?

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (yK9py)

310 @287

You might not say these are "live viruses" but they do interact with your immune system, and may (very rarely) cause cataclysmic damage. (it is interesting how Bell's Palsy keeps popping up)

A certain percentage of people will die after being given "everyday" general anesthesia, too.

There's just huge media scrutiny, right now, and no one trusts anything any more.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (AwPyG)

311 Not in Spain. The Republic had a preponderance of strength in every category and still lost.

If only someone wrote a book about it...
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (cfSRQ)

I remember reading something about how the Republic under the Popular Front always chose the most violent and confrontational means of dealing with the public when it wanted something done (like with the secularization of the school system).

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (7PCMN)

312 This isn't book related but...there any good books on mixing drinks?

Cuz I need to do something with all of this.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/35416497@N00/?

Posted by: Robert swears he's not an alcoholic...yet at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (1Yy3c)

313 "Yeah, objectively Trump wasn't a particularly great president compared to history;"

Considering the opposition from the left and within his own "party" I think he was the greatest President of my lifetime (66).

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 11:05 AM (85Gof)

314 The Deep State won, sadly.
Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (V2Yro)

And GOP congress did little between 2017 and 2019 to legislate and cement the gains he made. It would have been better with legislative support instead of a desire for failure theater.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:05 AM (ONvIw)

315 Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 10:56 AM (sd8p

Very sensible comment. My sister, a health care worker, has gotten the first dose. No problems with it, but I don't know whose version of the vaccine she's getting.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 11:06 AM (HabA/)

316 That 50 some odd year old healthy Dr. in Florida platelet production diminished so much he was in ER three days after the shot.

He was dead in two weeks.

Posted by: Braenyard, Patriot dog at January 24, 2021 11:06 AM (cp33G)

317 Did Fauci do a residency? Ever practice? Always been an admin. type?
Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 10:52 AM (AwYPR)

Probably best to look at him like a mafia connected union boss.

Did the head of your union ever drive a truck or hook up electrical wires or whatever?

Yeah sure, probably. But that was a long time ago, and you DON'T want him on the job site anymore, because he wouldn't know a hammer from an eggbeater.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:06 AM (oQ94s)

318 Damn, a book store in Seattle that antifa didn't use as kindling?

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at January 24, 2021 11:06 AM (9Om/r)

319 Oh, and I've long since discovered that the best bookmarks are IBM punched cards. The second best are magazine fly cards.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (qDSku)

320 Related, did everyone hear that California, Illinois, etc. are all opening back up now that Biden is president?
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (yK9py)

Well, they voted the right way, acknowledged The Party Is Always Right, and therefore re-earned the confidence of the government.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (7PCMN)

321 Not much progress this week in "The Scarlatti Inheritance" due to reallocation of entertainment time. Even less is likely because I'll have a bunch of Hanna-Barbera DVDs coming from the library. It's part of my crawl through the past.

As a kid, I spent a lot of time reading and viewing. (Did anybody else watch the test pattern Saturday mornings to make sure you wouldn't miss one second of programming?) Mom was constantly trying to chase me outdoors.

Still, Scarlatti. He's the likely heir to millions yet has become a bootlegger. People in Washington are trying to figure out why. Unknown to them, he's also connected with the nascent Nazi Party.

It will be fun to see how Ludlum links these elements.

Posted by: Weak Geek at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (nWioW)

322 Well, Mr. Taylor, I did enjoy your posts here

Well maybe I didn't express myself well but what I was tyring to point out was that if you took President Trump and stuck him in any time in history before, say, 1970, he'd not have stood out. What made him so shocking and fresh was only in comparison to the litany of losers, freaks, and scum before him.

He wasn't a bad president, but what made him so wonderful was contrast, not anything special about him and his actions. Presidents are supposed to put America first, and they are supposed to follow through on campaign promises. That's supposed to be the default.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (KZzsI)

323 The best bookmarks ever were those Ann Barnhart used to mark certain sections of the Koran for reading.

Rashers of bacon.

Posted by: creeper at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (XxJt1)

324 Related, did everyone hear that California, Illinois, etc. are all opening back up now that Biden is president?
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (yK9py)

Michigan's going to start rolling back the shutdown now that a Dem is in office and it will be associated with the Donks. Fuckers.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (Dc2NZ)

325 Trump got several Arab counties to make peace with Israel. Had Obama done this it would have been the greatest foreign policy achievement ever. But it was Trump so nobody even knows about it.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (V5gh5)

326 It is okay to ask the Horde for advice, just don't take it.

Well, I believe we've been chastised?

Posted by: That guy who always asks... at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (W4eKo)

327 >>> 314 The Deep State won, sadly.
Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (V2Yro)

And GOPe congress did little between 2017 and 2019 to legislate and cement the gains he made. It would have been better with legislative support instead of a desire for failure theater.
Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:05 AM (ONvIw)

We pay good.

Posted by: CHYna at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (TK8Ry)

328
The extra 6-8 years of having the mixed breeds around can be nice.
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:48 AM (yK9py)

My Rusty was 15 and Polo was nearly 18, so I don't think hybrid vigor was an missing link. However breeding animals for a very specific quality (too big or too little, those crazy merles) is detrimental to health.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (ONvIw)

329 Guns of the South.

Of course, if
time-travelers really wanted to help the South win, they could have
brought back antibiotics, since disease far outstripped battlefield
losses.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:59 AM (cfSRQ)

I read that one. Let's just say I was not a fan. I did love the Killer Angels but it wasn't really alternative history. It was historical fiction in that the author put words in the historical figure's mouths. It was a a great novel that i will always appreciate. I was a teen when I read it, long before it became famous. Still the book was flawed in many ways. It portrayed Lee wrongly and made Chamberlain into the hero of Gettysburg. Not to get into a fight with Mainers, but it is not surprising that Shaara drew mostly from Longstreet's memoirs and Chamberlain's books.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (dVcaa)

330 Eh, our Kerry Blue Terrier was 17 when she died. I don't know of any dogs that hang around 23-25 years.

*****

It certainly happens. Our pure smart and neurotic border collie lived to be 14 or so, while our mixed dumb and loveable dog died from the bloat at 7. I think as a rule it holds true, though.

I think size is a factor, too. I bet there are small mixed breed dogs that hit 18-20, but large dogs are dying sooner than that regardless.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (yK9py)

331 Biden waved his magic presidential wand and Covid19 is gone.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (V5gh5)

332 315: What is a "health care worker"? Is that a shoe salesman at New Balance?

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (7PCMN)

333 Guns of the South.

Thanks. I know that HT's most popular Civil War alternate history but didn't remember the time travel fantasy element which, being a gun geek, you'd think I would.

Posted by: Oddbob at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (qc+VF)

334 I've begun my promised slow reread of the Bible.
Still in Genesis, which is aptly named.
Working through lots of begettings and such. I specify slow read because I want to absorb everything I can.

Question for the Horde.
When the lists of forbidden biiks are announced, you know it's coming, will it be adequate to use vacuum bags, probably not food quality, to store books in safe places for future generations?
I'm thinking Bibles, dictionaries, actual, pre SJW bullshit, science books, tech manuals, history.

Posted by: Winston, GOPe, not one dime, not one vote at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (z985I)

335 As a kid, I spent a lot of time reading and viewing. (Did anybody else watch the test pattern Saturday mornings to make sure you wouldn't miss one second of programming?) Mom was constantly trying to chase me outdoors.

Posted by: Weak Geek at January 24, 2021 11:07 AM (nWioW)
---

Test pattern then Farm Report, and then finally cartoons.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (Dc2NZ)

336 I remember reading something about how the Republic
under the Popular Front always chose the most violent and
confrontational means of dealing with the public when it wanted
something done (like with the secularization of the school system).

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (7PCMN)

---
Yes. Stanley G. Payne has an article up on Firstthings.com about the revolution in Spain. He gives a great summary of what happened.

I go into it very slightly in my book because it is very complex and I'm focusing on the military aspect, but it's essential to understanding how the war began. Normally, a winning political party consolidates its power by trying to broaden its electorate. In Spain they punished it. We're seeing the same thing today.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (cfSRQ)

337 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (u82oZ)

338 316
Did you hear that over 200,000 people have died from Covid? That a lot of the people who recovered ar suffering long term side effects including young people?
Sorry about that doctor.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (sd8p8)

339 331 Biden waved his magic presidential wand and Covid19 is gone.
Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (V5gh5)

The Party, The Party, THE PARTY IS ALWAYS RIGHT!!!

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (7PCMN)

340 I wonder what its like to be as arrogant and egotistical as Biden and realize, in your lucid moments, that you're nothing but a puppet?

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (KZzsI)

341 Considering the opposition from the left and within his own "party" I think he was the greatest President of my lifetime (66).

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 24, 2021 11:05 AM (85Gof)

Trump/Reagan...pretty close. If Trump had gotten another term...he might have the edge. 66, too.

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (AwYPR)

342 Bavardage disbanded the day after they opened for Cream at Whisky-A-Go-Go.

Posted by: socalcon at January 24, 2021 11:10 AM (Roy2Z)

343 Grant's Overland Campaign was deeply hampered by
incompetent subordinates. The Big Black River campaign allowed him to
use essentially the pick of his army. Any comparison of Lee and Grant
must take that into account. It's not just that Lee would have had guys
like Burnsides, it's that he would be unable to fire them. It would have
driven him nuts.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:04 AM (cfSRQ)

Lee predicted Grant's moves and countered them over and over. Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused tremendous casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him. it is kind of spooky when you really look into it.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (dVcaa)

344 296
Way back in the day, I had discovered Bill James' Baseball Abstract books, and the '86 book might have been one of the first I ever picked up. He did a rather long report on the '85 World Series, and noted the Cardinals hitting had been abysmal. The Royals outhit them every which way, not quite as much as the Yanks outhit the Pirates in '60, but it was substantial.

So his point being, the Royals victory, under more typical circumstances, would not have been as close, given the disparity in overall stats for the series (and not just due to the Game 7 debacle). I've always loved Bill James' writing, but that was a bitter pill for me to swallow.
Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (oQ94s)
_______
"Rather long" is putting it mildly. But yes, I recall that very well. Looked at it since the move.

There are a few authors I don't mention whom I am likely to read every week. James is one of them. (Lewis, GKC, Orwell, Norman Friedman, are others.) BTW, James is a skeptic about WAR.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (7X3UV)

345 Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (dVcaa)

I just finished listening to the audiobook of Killer Angels. Really enjoyed it.

Posted by: Robert swears he's not an alcoholic...yet at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (1Yy3c)

346 biiks= books
Sheesh.
Moar covefe

Posted by: Winston, GOPe, not one dime, not one vote at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (z985I)

347 Both current vaccines are RNA. I had the Moderna shot a week ago. No side effects. Just a small red bump. Have also talked to others in all age groups and so far getting the same answer.
Stop scaring people. If you are discouraging people who should be concerned to figuring out their own vulnerability and whether they should do this, you are doing a disservice.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (sd8p

I understand both vaccines require two shots, spaced 2-3 weeks apart?

There seems to be sort of a Catch-22 at work here. The 'Rona, like the flu, usually kills only the weak and vulnerable people who contract it. You can always find counter-examples, and the MSM loves to peddle tales of some healthy teenage athlete who got the 'Rona, and was dead inside of a week, but mostly it is the old and sick who are at the greatest risk. OTOH, it is mostly the old and sick who are at greatest risk of side effects from the vaccine.

And, since the vaccine promoters are saying that, even if vaccinated, you still have to wear a mask, and stay in "lockdown", there is exactly ZERO incentive for normal healthy people to take the damned vaccine.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (mzC78)

348 The Party, The Party, THE PARTY IS ALWAYS RIGHT!!!
--

Stalin brings us candy!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (Dc2NZ)

349 By June 22, 2021 the China Flu will be eradicated as a public menace and the world will hold it's breath.

Posted by: Joe Biden, Redskins Fan at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (R/m4+)

350 Normally, a winning political party consolidates its power by trying to broaden its electorate. In Spain they punished it. We're seeing the same thing today.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (cfSRQ)

I read your book in October and the portion where you described how the President refused to let CEDA for a government even though they in fact won a majority of the votes and seats was eerie. Especially when the same President cheerfully allowed the Popular Front to form a government, no problema, and was thanked by being fired for being too lenient on CEDA!

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (7PCMN)

351 Grempht.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (d/5/n)

352 326

I didn't make the rule. This is a long standing Horde rule.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (sd8p8)

353 Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused tremendous casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him. it is kind of spooky when you really look into it.

Possibly a good spy network, that's what benefited Rommel more than anything else. At least part of his mystique was terrific spying that gave him inside info and the ability to out maneuver and prepare for his enemies.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (KZzsI)

354 300
Cards pitching and fielding was superior though, and with Jack Clark healthy they'd have cleaned up. Bill James isn't as bad as his acolytes but he still misses key elements of the game in his analyses at times

The Dodgers/A's matchup by his number crunching should have been a completely one-sided total demolition by the A's. But they lost, badly.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (KZzsI)
_________
Fielding, yes, pitching, no. The Royals' ERA was FURTHER below the league ERA than was the Cards. That's something that gets overlooked too often, especially since the DH. But even before that, there have been several times the leagues' stats have been out of whack, e.g., the 1930s.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (7X3UV)

355 317 Did Fauci do a residency? Ever practice? Always been an admin. type?
Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 10:52 AM (AwYPR)

No fan of Fauci, but every MD has to do a residency, I believe.

And pathologists don't have practices. (In my experience, the doctors who go into specialties like pathology and radiology and focus on research are the science nerds who don't have much in the way of social skills. They would not make good internists or pediatricians because they have terrible bedside manners. That does not mean they suck as doctors.)

Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (HabA/)

356 If and when, with emphasis on when, PDT has a rally, it will be one for the ages, and of course the MSM will compare it to a German American Bund rally of the 30s.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (I58tH)

357 Anyway, I forgot to mention my foray into the twisted Anti-Fascist handbook. It seemed to have less to do with fascism and more to do with race, gender "identification", and a basic distaste for the majority religion. It does recommend violent action and "false flags" to accomplish their "goals" as well as deplatforming and denying employment, etc to 75 million future hitlers. It's a foul leftist manipulation, but we knew that.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (ONvIw)

358 It portrayed Lee wrongly and made Chamberlain into
the hero of Gettysburg. Not to get into a fight with Mainers, but it is
not surprising that Shaara drew mostly from Longstreet's memoirs and
Chamberlain's books.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (dVcaa)

---
It is wonderfully evocative and the description is brilliant. A great read that makes the characters feel fully real. The bits about drinking by the camp fire and telling stories, the commanders missing their wives, thinking about lost children - not something you normally see. Shaara admitted it was his own take, but he does a great job of personalizing what's usually just a dry description of movements and combats.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (cfSRQ)

359 Bill James isn't as bad as his acolytes but he still misses key elements of the game in his analyses at times

The Dodgers/A's matchup by his number crunching should have been a completely one-sided total demolition by the A's. But they lost, badly.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (KZzsI)

The guy has written dozens and dozens of books, he doesn't miss "key elements." What he does say is that most of the bullshit people spout, those who talk about things like "clutch hitting," have no basis in the numbers. None.

So in the end it's like everything else in this world. No, the numbers DON'T explain everything, they just explain more than shit people make up.

Anyone who claims we have ALL the data we need to know about virtually anything, is a fool.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (oQ94s)

360 The Army of the Potomac was a dysfunctional mess. It never really gelled. It was the equivalent of the South's Army of Tennessee.

Posted by: Norm at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (rhFYx)

361 And, since the vaccine promoters are saying that, even if vaccinated, you still have to wear a mask, and stay in "lockdown", there is exactly ZERO incentive for normal healthy people to take the damned vaccine.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 24, 2021 11:12 AM (mzC7

*******

This.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (yK9py)

362 By buying into the vaccine you are buying into the fuses that Wuhan flu was dangerous all along.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (V5gh5)

363 The Dodgers/A's matchup by his number crunching should have been a completely one-sided total demolition by the A's. But they lost, badly.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (KZzsI)

That's why they play the games. I remember in the 60s when the Orioles got Frank Robinson he turned a good team into a machine. Games were usually over by the third inning. When they played the Dodgers in the World Series the experts predicted LA would romp. Even as a kid I thought "those assholes don't know dick" and the sweep was on.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Ashli Babbitt at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (y7DUB)

364 The Royals' ERA was FURTHER below the league ERA than was the Cards.

Yeah but that was in the era when the AL was heavy on hitting and crap on pitching, with a few outstanding exceptions. Being the best pitching staff in the AL was not as good as being the best in the NL.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (KZzsI)

365
Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused tremendous
casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him. it is kind
of spooky when you really look into it.

Possibly a good spy network, that's what benefited Rommel more than
anything else. At least part of his mystique was terrific spying that
gave him inside info and the ability to out maneuver and prepare for his
enemies.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (KZzsI)

that hurt Lee at Gettysburg too. The USA had way better spy networks. Not just spies but legit military intell. The Bureau of Military Information did a job on Lee in PA.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (dVcaa)

366 Grempht to you too, Captain Obvious. I concur.

Posted by: creeper at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (XxJt1)

367 I didn't make the rule. This is a long standing Horde rule.

I know. No offense intended. I'm a cranky bastid this morning.

Posted by: That guy who always asks... at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (W4eKo)

368 I go into it very slightly in my book because it is very complex and I'm focusing on the military aspect, but it's essential to understanding how the war began. Normally, a winning political party consolidates its power by trying to broaden its electorate. In Spain they punished it. We're seeing the same thing today.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (cfSRQ)

Ideologues - it's the mark of a radical faction gaining power. I think we can see the same thing in France under Robespierre, and Russia post-1917.

Here we thought religious wars had gone away after the 17th century, but they've just changed their names.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (V2Yro)

369 When they played the Dodgers in the World Series the experts predicted LA would romp. Even as a kid I thought "those assholes don't know dick" and the sweep was on.

That happens a lot, though, where a lesser-known, or small-market team is basically unknown by the analysts and talking heads. SO they always favor the big market team and sometimes don't even know the names of the players on the small market team.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:16 AM (KZzsI)

370 Good morning Hordemates!

Posted by: Diogenes at January 24, 2021 11:16 AM (axyOa)

371 OT before the gub thread, but since it's "today only":
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y5nto8pz
$ comparison here:
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y4efkkp2

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (TK8Ry)

372 "Trump was completely neutralized by vicious and baseless investigations by Congress, and the perfidiousness of his staff."

Bannon was the kind of staff he needed. We see now why he was pushed out.

Posted by: f'd at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (MvSRq)

373 303 Levin did an interview with The Fauc back when the 'Rona first appeared, and Fauci was all gushing approval of Trump's handling of the issue then. But then the DemonRats got to him and he turned his coat. Typical DC insider.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 24, 2021 11:02 AM (0bGEp)
________

That touches on a point I've been considering all along. I doubt that Fauci is much of an ideologue. Rather, it seems to be all about him - whatever gets him praised the most, and most fulsomely. A geek attention whore, really.

In general, I think we overrate (a little) both money and ideology in our enemies, and underrate prestige and status. Those are very powerful inducements. A few years ago, Ace wrote several good posts on this.

Not that the other two don't matter, but as Aristotle reminded us, men do not become tyrants in order to keep wrong. Ego is a big deal.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (7X3UV)

374 Lee predicted Grant's moves and countered them over
and over. Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused
tremendous casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him.
it is kind of spooky when you really look into it.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (dVcaa)

---
Not true. Grant faked out Lee several times, but in every instance staff incompetence gave Lee time to cover the gap. Petersburg was the culminating example.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (cfSRQ)

375 Been reading a supply of Sydney Harris cartoon compilations. He was a prominent artist in American Scientist and other science publications.
These include:
All Ends Up : Cartoons from American Scientist
Einstein Simplified: Cartoons on Science
From Personal Ads to Cloning Labs: More Science Cartoons from Sidney Harris
Freudian Slips: Cartoons on Psychology
Great fun! He encapsulates so much in a simple drawing.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (u82oZ)

376 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:09 AM (cfSRQ)

which book is this?

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:18 AM (dVcaa)

377 322: No, I understood exactly what you said. And I in fact agree. I was just pointing out that for many people, that is anathema.

My mother is probably going to have a 8x10 portrait of Mr. Trump on every wall in every room soon. (I only slightly exaggerate.) Over Christmas, she would not shut up about politics and she proclaimed Mr. Trump was the best President ever. I said "Reagan: go to Eastern Europe and check out the statues they have put up of Reagan and the fact that streets are named after him there in places. There's a reason." You would think that I just dropped her three dogs in a wood chipper. (Now, I admit I wasn't a fan of Mr. Trump in the beginning but there was a reason I voted for him in the last election. But I also believe in perspective.)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:18 AM (7PCMN)

378 I remember when the Mariners, who were by far the best team in baseball that year, played the Yankees. The announcers stumbled over the names of the M's, gave them no credit at all.

It was a frustrating series, because the Yankees had the worst fielding in baseball that year, but when it came to the post season suddenly they played 100% pure class A baseball with no errors. It was like the Yanks knew it didn't really matter until the post season and stepped up their game, or something. The Mariners should have steamrolled them, but NY had experience in the post season and it showed.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:18 AM (KZzsI)

379 Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:00 AM (oQ94s)

"Rather long" is putting it mildly. But yes, I recall that very well. Looked at it since the move.

There are a few authors I don't mention whom I am likely to read every week. James is one of them. (Lewis, GKC, Orwell, Norman Friedman, are others.) BTW, James is a skeptic about WAR.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (7X3UV)

I haven't looked at his website recently, because I don't care about the baseball stuff anymore, but he's a very entertaining and often insightful writer, on any subject.

His crime book, the title of which I can't remember now, is very good, and the other one called "The Man From the Train," about a series of axe murders in the late 19th/early 20th century, is also excellent.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (oQ94s)

380 256 Anything I have nearby is generally my bookmark.

I like Post-It notes for non-fiction books because I can revisit them easily.

I like special mementos from the kids for books I'm reading for pleasure.
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 10:49 AM

Old ski lift tickets are a favorite of mine.

Posted by: Moonbeam at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (qe5CM)

381 Not true. Grant faked out Lee several times, but in
every instance staff incompetence gave Lee time to cover the gap.
Petersburg was the culminating example.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (cfSRQ)

fine, but the result is the same. you can only go left so many times. And tell me about the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (dVcaa)

382 I heard a doctor say that even with the vaccine you still need to wear masks. Because even if you have the vaccine you can still get it and spread it, even if the vaccine makes your symptoms not as severe. And he said we may need to get a booster vaccine every few years.

In other words this shit is never going to go away. And lots of people will make fortunes from it.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (V5gh5)

383 369 When they played the Dodgers in the World Series the experts predicted LA would romp. Even as a kid I thought "those assholes don't know dick" and the sweep was on.

That happens a lot, though, where a lesser-known, or small-market team is basically unknown by the analysts and talking heads. SO they always favor the big market team and sometimes don't even know the names of the players on the small market team.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:16 AM (KZzsI)

Same in basketball. The talking heads in the NBA world and ESPN are all jock sniffers for the LA Fakers no matter what.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (7PCMN)

384 Killer Angels has a great story arc. Gettysburg wasn't planned for by either side. Two big armies happened to meet at a crossroad. Then it quickly became a fight for the high ground, moral and otherwise.

Posted by: Ignoramus at January 24, 2021 11:20 AM (9TdxA)

385 Again I want to ask any Horde writer to please give their website so I can get a complete list to go to should we otherwise lose contact.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:20 AM (KZzsI)

386 The best thing about Trump, which is even more true today, is that he exposed those, who have zero idea what it is to be a member of Western Civilization, Christianity nor a Christian, and are vehemently Anti-White.
At every turn these POS attack members of all 3 groups by digging up their past to attack them. They continuously ignore the fact they have repented and sought forgiveness through the Grace and Glory of Jesus Christ and are walking the narrow path. They have zero clue that Europen people and Christians can go through personal hell and terrible things happen to them as well. Then they pretend to be good Christians in their silence as the Genocidal Corporatists-Maoist Axis brags about their plans.
They disgust me and are crypto allies of this Axis. They have zero place in our county not to mention being thought leaders and mouth pieces for any conservative-Patriot-America First movement.

Posted by: Trump exposed the enemy at January 24, 2021 11:20 AM (Frqps)

387 Somehow, over a twenty five year career in bookselling, I managed to avoid hearing about Elliott Bay Books. After perusing their site, I think I didn't miss much. Physically, it is impressive. I would have killed to have worked in such spectacular surroundings. But, after a closer look, I don't think so. It is apparently as progressive as you would expect from a Seattle bookstore. So, shrug. What do you expect? What really disappointed me was the books shown in their various sections. At least half the books I scanned were reprints of books published years back. So, obviously, Elliott Bay is targeting people who don't read. More obviously, they are targeting people who don't read and have way too much money.

Posted by: Captain Josepha Sabin -- Bitterly clinging to the deplorable life at January 24, 2021 11:20 AM (cLSW1)

388 Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (KZzsI)

Spying is what allowed the Confederates to win the Battle of Bull Run. Rebel Rose. DC parties and honeypots aren't a new thing.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (2DOZq)

389 306 How would Lee have dealt with being forced to deal with useless tools like Ben Butler? That's the part everyone overlooks.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (cfSRQ)

Joe Johnston, Polk, Beauregard, Kirby Smith, Pempberton, Forrest, Bragg and even Longstreet and Jackson? Guys like that that could not get along with anyone but themselves and could not command an army if their life depended on it? Longstreet and Jackson worked under Lee but they were incapable of Army command and everyone knew it.
Kidding aside, I get your point. But it works both ways.
Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:03 AM (dVcaa)
_______

Not my area, but I do not get your insistence that they "could not command an army". Surely that is indeterminate in some cases. Jackson has the Valley to his credit, the 7 Days on the other side. Does that make it clear? The same for Longstreet. Before he was on his own, was it clear Sherman would be good?

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (7X3UV)

390 which book is this?

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:18 AM (dVcaa)

---
Long Life Death: The Keys to Victory in the Spanish Civil War. Link my my nic or you can go direct to Amazon.

*Winks and slips $10 note into Quint's hand*

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (cfSRQ)

391 Paperback Rise and Fall +/- $30

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (Cxk7w)

392 >>> 382 I heard a doctor say that even with the vaccine you still need to wear masks. Because even if you have the vaccine you can still get it and spread it, even if the vaccine makes your symptoms not as severe. And he said we may need to get a booster vaccine every few years.

In other words this shit is never going to go away. And lots of people will make fortunes from it.
Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (V5gh5)

So, like upgrading Winders every few years? Totes not motivated by profit, and who knows what else.

Asshoes.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (TK8Ry)

393 Dammit! Long LIVE Death.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (cfSRQ)

394 I was watching Band Of Brothers marathon on History yesterday. Guess what? Every other commercial was about the flu and what meds you needed. Sweet Jesus.

Posted by: Jak Sucio at January 24, 2021 11:22 AM (jvt6t)

395 I wish I could afford to buy hardbound copies of every book I love but I don't have the scratch so I get them on kindle as cheap as I can -- or free. Its what I can afford.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:22 AM (KZzsI)

396 A risk assessment regarding a vaccine that has bypassed the typical 5+ year trial period is difficult to make. All I can go by is the a) (garbage) data available which indicates that the CFR is

Get the vaccine. Or, don't. Whatever.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at January 24, 2021 11:23 AM (DTX3h)

397 And pathologists don't have practices. (In my experience, the doctors who go into specialties like pathology and radiology and focus on research are the science nerds who don't have much in the way of social skills. They would not make good internists or pediatricians because they have terrible bedside manners. That does not mean they suck as doctors.)
Posted by: Donna&&&&&V at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (HabA/)

I know a guy who is a specialist, and considered an expert in his field. Does talks all around the world, but if he had to actually face a human being, a patient, I think he would freak out and curl up in a fetal position.

And I talked with him once about all this Covid nonsense, but since it's outside his area of expertise, he really knew not much more than the average person you meet in a grocery store checkout line.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:23 AM (oQ94s)

398 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (cfSRQ)

thanks. I promise this wasn't a set up lol.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:23 AM (dVcaa)

399 Not true. Grant faked out Lee several times, but in every instance staff incompetence gave Lee time to cover the gap. Petersburg was the culminating example.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (cfSRQ)

and the Battle of the Crater is the most notorious vignette of that campaign. Grant's army had a chance to end the war almost a year before Appomatox, but it became a fiasco because the two unit level commanders stayed in their tents, drunk, throughout the attack.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:23 AM (V2Yro)

400 And he said we may need to get a booster vaccine every few years. ----

You mean like the flu vaccine?

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:23 AM (2DOZq)

401 Elliot Bay used to have an older location. It was a bit rickety, but the SMELL was amazing, and there were all these little corners and crannies.

They are pretty woke now too. Capitol hill used to be the grungy indie spot for culture. Now its techbros, homeless addicts, and antifa. Draw that venn diagram.

Posted by: Funsize at January 24, 2021 11:24 AM (EiPf6)

402 @383

Someone pointed out that the college football "championship" playoff is really an ESPN invitational tournament and this year proved that.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 11:24 AM (AwPyG)

403 Wow, I actually found a new way to make Minx shit the bed. Let's try this again:

A risk assessment regarding a vaccine that has bypassed the typical 5+ year trial period is difficult to make. All I can go by is the a) (garbage) data available which indicates that the CFR is [less than] 1% for my age range and b) high likelihood that I've already endured Chinese Lung AIDS a year ago. Between that and the fact that--vaccine or no--those with power over me have determined that I'll be masked up and locked down into eternity leaves me with little motivation to get stuck at this stage. I have no doubt that I'll eventually be compelled to get it in order to remain employed, but I'll jump off that bridge when I get there.

Get the vaccine. Or, don't. Whatever.

Posted by: antisocial justice beatnik at January 24, 2021 11:24 AM (DTX3h)

404 The Overland Campaign:

Viewing the AoP in isolation does not provide a view of what was happening elsewhere. The AoP was intended only to tie up the ANV so that other armies would make progress elsewhere. Tge failure of Hunter in the Valley and, most particularly, Butler south of Oetersburg left Grant no choice but to bash his way south on his own. As has been noted above, the AoP was not the instrument that the Western armies Grant was accustomed to.

I'd also like to note that if Butler had done his job (winning with 10-1 odds), he probably would have been President come 1869.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:24 AM (d/5/n)

405 I went through a period where I would go to the library and grab obscure books on CW1. In one, some wag and also a Confederate General stated the CSA Army died from West Point. Most battlefield success in the CSA was from members who, if educated at the Point, forgot about it or semi guerrillas (and true ones) who adapted. Bobby Lee, the Ace of Spades, possibly remembered too much and forgot about logistics.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (I58tH)

406 I don't trust any numbers reported from anyone anymore.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me

THREE !

Posted by: JT at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (arJlL)

407 Elliot Bay used to have an older location. It was a bit rickety, but the SMELL was amazing, and there were all these little corners and crannies.

Yeah as beautiful as this new store looks, its the winding mazes and stacks of books all over that makes a used book store charming. If it looks too organized and clean, I distrust a book store. It looks like its run by people who love money, not books.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (KZzsI)

408 Sharon the claim is over 400,000 dead.
So it will stick out in the statistics compared to 2019 in total deaths, in theory anyway.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (Cxk7w)

409 329

I read that one. Let's just say I was not a fan. I did love the Killer Angels but it wasn't really alternative history. It was historical fiction in that the author put words in the historical figure's mouths. It was a a great novel that i will always appreciate. I was a teen when I read it, long before it became famous. Still the book was flawed in many ways. It portrayed Lee wrongly and made Chamberlain into the hero of Gettysburg. Not to get into a fight with Mainers, but it is not surprising that Shaara drew mostly from Longstreet's memoirs and Chamberlain's books.
Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:08 AM (dVcaa)
________
That is sound enough, but really it applies to straight history as well. They all cherry pick. Just some are better at balancing than others. But I've learnt not to trust even my heroes, unreservedly.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (7X3UV)

410 >>>
.....
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:24 AM (d/5/n)

Wait, what kind of pronouns are these???

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (TK8Ry)

411 I hear leftists say we do not know the long term effects of the Wuhan Flu. So even if you are young and healthy and dont die from it, in 10 years your lungs may be fucked up, for example.

But then they turn around and pinky swear that a vaccine developed in a couple of months in secret with virtually no testing is 100% safe and if you dispute that you hate science.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (V5gh5)

412 Imagine what trump could've accomplished if the gope was full of winners instead of bitchy backstabbing losers

Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (PGh3U)

413 fine, but the result is the same. you can only go left so many times. And tell me about the Wilderness and Cold Harbor.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:19 AM (dVcaa)

---
We're not arguing outcomes because those are known; we are arguing *causes* of those outcomes. Grant got the drop on Lee several times in 1864 but his inept staff - which Grant could not change - let him down.

Lee didn't have that handicap. If he didn't like an officer, he sent him away. Grant clearly knew how to recognize talent (or the lack thereof) but he was hamstrung.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (cfSRQ)

414 don't trust any numbers reported from anyone anymore.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me

THREE !
Posted by: JT at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (arJlL)

Strike? That ball was way outside.

See you can't trust anybody in power.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (2DOZq)

415 So I should go get shot full of an unproven substance that may or may not prevent the common flu?

This is not a difficult choice.

Posted by: creeper at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (XxJt1)

416 This is my last comment about this because I am tired of the topic.
Your decision to take or not take the vaccine should not be political but health related.If you think the government is lying about how dangerous the virus is or that you are going to have to mask up anyways or ignore the statistics because they're tainted, fine. That is your personal decision based on politics. Spin the wheel.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (sd8p8)

417 "but it became a fiasco because the two unit level commanders stayed in their tents, drunk, throughout the attack."

C'mon now guys...we've all been there. "Let he who is without drunkenness on duty cast the first empty bottle of MD 20/20"

Posted by: Grimmy at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (aquHi)

418 316 That 50 some odd year old healthy Dr. in Florida platelet production diminished so much he was in ER three days after the shot.

He was dead in two weeks.
Posted by: Braenyard, Patriot dog at January 24, 2021 11:06 AM (cp33G)

There are plenty of reasons why someone has a severe drop in platelet levels that are not wuflu related (ehrlichiosis, APL), but it sounds like all of these were ruled out in his case.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (ONvIw)

419 Joe Johnston, Polk, Beauregard, Kirby Smith, Pempberton, Forrest, Bragg and even Longstreet and Jackson? Guys like that that could not get along with anyone but themselves and could not command an army if their life depended on it?

-
Albert Sidney Johnston was smart enough to get.himself killed in his first big battle and end the war with his reputation as a great general intact.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (VVEnO)

420 If it were up to me I'd wire umpires with a shock probe that blasted them every time they refused to call a high strike. This need to drive the game into offense was the second step in its downfall (the first being the DH).

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (KZzsI)

421 Anyone remember the Tattered Cover in Denver? Seeing the bookstore in the picture above had me thinking about them.

I wanted to see if they were still around and I see news that they were under hard times and had to sell recently. The company who bought it was woke so they put some black guy as the face of the investment partners and claimed to be the biggest black owned book business. One guy out of about 19 white guys. So of course that backfired on them and they were found to not be sufficiently woke.

You will never be woke enough as your master's power is derived from your inadequacy.

Posted by: banana Dream at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (vaNGX)

422 Grr, my kindle fire 7 rebooted itself, and now just displays the orange fire logo.
That was an hour ago. Still doing it.

Posted by: navybrat, introspective at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (w7KSn)

423 400
For the last time it is NOT the flu you dumb deplorable . Just because it looks and acts and smells and tastes like the flu this is special and requires a rest of the world. Got it?

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (V5gh5)

424 I love the oxymoron library. I think I've been there.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 24, 2021 11:29 AM (axyOa)

425 Elliott Bay Books got started in Pioneer Square in Seattle.
It grew quite well and needed more space. Also, the rents were skyrocketing and the hobos multiplying.
The move to Capitol Hill gave them more space but they are as hip and commie as the rest of the area.
Except that it's in Portland, Powells Books is a much better choice. I'm only doing dead tree books because I trust Amazon/Bezos as far as I can throw them

Posted by: Winston, GOPe, not one dime, not one vote at January 24, 2021 11:29 AM (z985I)

426 >>>423 400
For the last time it is NOT the flu you dumb deplorable . Just because it looks and acts and smells and tastes like the flu this is special and requires a rest of the world. Got it?
Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (V5gh5)

Right! It's NOVEL!!!

Posted by: Dr. Fauci, SUPER Genius, Expert, etc at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (TK8Ry)

427 Not my area, but I do not get your insistence that
they "could not command an army". Surely that is indeterminate in some
cases. Jackson has the Valley to his credit, the 7 Days on the other
side. Does that make it clear? The same for Longstreet. Before he was on
his own, was it clear Sherman would be good?

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (7X3UV)

Its complicated. I don't mean to demean them as they were very capable commanders. They were the best of the best the CSA had, there is no doubt there. And there are many who think Jackson was the greatest general the CSA ever had. There are others that think the same of Forrest and even Longstreet. The Killer Angels did wonders for Longstreet's reputation. Before that book his name was mud in the South. And that was wrong btw, he was an excellent corps commander.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (dVcaa)

428 But many serious historians think Jackson and Longstreet would have been
poor army commanders. Yes Jackson did have The Valley Campaign. It is
still studied to this day and many still can't believe what he achieved.
But he was under Lee and all his best work was under Lee. Yest he was
detached, but he was not an Army commander. Jackson had real issues
with dealing with others. If he wasn't commanding generals, he was court
martialing them.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (dVcaa)

429 After the opening stages of The War of Northern Aggression, I'm surprised anyone elected to go on the offensive using Napoleonic tactics. Then again, WW I just laughed and said "hold my beer".

Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (u2I6p)

430 353 Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused tremendous casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him. it is kind of spooky when you really look into it.

Possibly a good spy network, that's what benefited Rommel more than anything else. At least part of his mystique was terrific spying that gave him inside info and the ability to out maneuver and prepare for his enemies.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:13 AM (KZzsI)
_________
Sometimes that's true of Rommel. But then there's Crusader, where it didn't work. Actually he ignored what Italian Naval intelligence told him. And in the opening, that worked for him. He did the one thing the Brits didn't expect - nothing. So they split up their armor corps, and sent parts off in every direction. It's one of the few land battles that really grabs me.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (7X3UV)

431 There have been several sudden death cases after taking the vaccine that I know of, probably many more I have not read about. Its not impossible that this stuff works well and is generally safe, but has a horrible reaction in some people.

And in the end, I wonder if that number won't be at least as high as the very small death rate of the Wuhan Flu to begin with.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (KZzsI)

432 @416

Except that (if we can trust these numbers also, of course) you have a better chance of dying from the vaccine than from the flu bug.

Everyone should do their own risk/benefit analysis. But my original point is that ANY form of medicine has risks, and produces people who wouldn't have died, otherwise.
It's the price we pay.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 11:31 AM (AwPyG)

433 412 Imagine what trump could've accomplished if the gope was full of winners instead of bitchy backstabbing losers
Posted by: Nckate at January 24, 2021 11:26 AM (PGh3U)

Not that I disagree. (Just look at Mr. Romney, that bastard.) But I think there is something else out there for people to consider:

One thing that i think hamstrung Mr. Trump was the fact that he didn't have an army of like minded people to staff the 5000 or so appointed positions at the outset. Sure, he had some people in mind, but not enough. That's an advantage other presidents have had: as soon as they got in, they had people the party wanted in, people they owed favors to, people that they genuinely believed were good and would follow their wishes, etc. Mr. Trump didn't have that quite as much,

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:32 AM (7PCMN)

434 So, like upgrading Winders every few years? Totes not motivated by profit, and who knows what else.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM (TK8Ry)

People think you're crazy when you say things like "Bill Gates wants to reduce human population on this planet, by as much as 90%."

It sounds like Krazy Kook stuff, but there are papers all over the place, and video/audio of talks these people have given, where they come right out and say it.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:32 AM (oQ94s)

435 356 If and when, with emphasis on when, PDT has a rally, it will be one for the ages, and of course the MSM will compare it to a German American Bund rally of the 30s.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:14 AM (I58tH)
_________
Yes, despite the blatantly Nuremburg-y look of Biden's Usurpation.

I denounce myself for the above. I am, of course, ecstatic to be grasped in the loving embrace of our Maximum Leader, the kindest, warmest, most wonderful human being I have encountered in my entire life. At least until Kamala assumes that role.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:33 AM (7X3UV)

436 Then again, WW I just laughed and said "hold my beer".

It was more or less understandable still in the late 19th century, although the weapons were far more accurate and deadly. It was inconceivably foolish in the early 20th. Without the slightest excuse. The only reason I can think of is that old commanders wanted to relive their glory days or something.

But safely way, way behind the lines. Sometimes in other nations entirely.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:33 AM (KZzsI)

437 But by the end of the book they've had the Council of Elrond and everything feels a lot more serious and real.
Posted by: Trimegistus

When you involve a 5000 year old elf, a divine servant, a messianic regent, and representatives from all the major powers it tends to stifle the fart jokes.

Posted by: Jean at January 24, 2021 11:33 AM (Xih1H)

438 429 After the opening stages of The War of Northern Aggression, I'm surprised anyone elected to go on the offensive using Napoleonic tactics. Then again, WW I just laughed and said "hold my beer".
Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (u2I6p)

To quote one of my favorite history professors: "Repeat after me, class: The South Lost The Civil War." Followed up with "And it IS the Civil War, NOT the War of Northern Aggression, not the War of Southern Independence..."

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (7PCMN)

439 I am not trying to take away from his skills and abilities. But I have studied it and don't see him commanding a large army in a way that could possibly compare to Lee. There is the Peter Principle at work there. Look at Hood, the best example of the Peter Principle you could ever find. He was the best brigade commander of the war. He was a decent corps commander, and a poor army commander.

Jackson died so his myth will always go on. He was an incredible leader at the level he attained. But he could have never been Lee because he could not have dealt with the various egos, and men of different abilities. He shined under Lee, just like Sherman shined under Grant.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (dVcaa)

440 My dad had a "Lee's Lieutenants." I wish I kept it.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (2BZBZ)

441 I was watching Band Of Brothers marathon on History yesterday. Guess what? Every other commercial was about the flu and what meds you needed. Sweet Jesus.

-
I'm beginning to see athletes endorsing specific brands of gaiters and whatnot as they once endorsed Wheaties.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (VVEnO)

442 422 another reason books I will pick up again and maybe again I want in hand and can't be swiped away by electronics.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (Cxk7w)

443 Red Chinese Death-
I finally know someone who has died of it (supposedly).
95 yr old aunt in Georgia. Nursing home.
Poor health generally- bedridden last two years.
Ideal pneumonia candidate, anyway.

Posted by: MarkY at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (7fxD9)

444 We will never see any side effects or deaths from the vaccines in the MSM. The party line is the vaccine is 100% safe. Anyone who says otherwise will be debunked and cancelled.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:35 AM (V5gh5)

445 Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (u2I6p)
------
The high commaders of the ACW were trained on Jomini, as Clauswitz was still unheard-of outside Prussia. Having read Jomini, I can opine that he is remarkable in that he experienced tge campaigns of Napoleon at first hand and drew all the wrong conclusions.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:35 AM (d/5/n)

446 My dad had a "Lee's Lieutenants." I wish I kept it.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (2BZBZ)

I have the one my grandmother gave to my dad as a wedding gift. That was 60 years ago.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:35 AM (dVcaa)

447 Look at Hood, the best example of the Peter Principle you could ever find. He was the best brigade commander of the war. He was a decent corps commander, and a poor army commander.

-
Aggressive to a fault and I do mean to a fault.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:36 AM (VVEnO)

448 431 There have been several sudden death cases after taking the vaccine that I know of, probably many more I have not read about. Its not impossible that this stuff works well and is generally safe, but has a horrible reaction in some people.

And in the end, I wonder if that number won't be at least as high as the very small death rate of the Wuhan Flu to begin with.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:30 AM (KZzsI)

It's been darkly amusing to watch everyone Official falling all over themselves trying to deny that the vaccine killed Hank Aaron. Even though he did a PSA about taking it just 2 weeks before his sudden death.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:36 AM (V2Yro)

449 435 We need the oompah band over here. Beer steins.

Dr. Jill, directing.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:36 AM (I58tH)

450 I was watching Band Of Brothers marathon on History yesterday. Guess what? Every other commercial was about the flu and what meds you needed.

For someone like me who watches TV like once every couple weeks and NEVER network... the overwhelming flood of propaganda and constant hammering of Wuhan Flu is shocking. Its the kind of thing you'd only expect from a totalitarian absolutist state. But its being done by private businesses, who for whatever reason all decided at the same time to go all in on the panic.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:36 AM (KZzsI)

451 We will never see any side effects or deaths from the vaccines in the MSM. The party line is the vaccine is 100% safe. Anyone who says otherwise will be debunked and cancelled.
Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:35 AM (V5gh5)

Just as you don't hear about GBS with flu vax. I personally know 2 people who experienced that fiasco of a side effect.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:37 AM (ONvIw)

452 There is a moral component too. The vaccine was developed using tissue from an aborted foetus. I cannot, in good conscience, receive it.

"Whether I live or die, I live or die in Christ."

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:37 AM (2BZBZ)

453 Very late, didn't read comments - I assume that Seattle bookstore is kaput? "In the heart of" the area that was CHAZ, no?

Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:37 AM (OTzUX)

454 Continually going over the top with the knowledge of the devastating effect of machine guns is unexplainable to me.

One thing I did recently learn that I did not know is that ditch witches existed in WW I .

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:38 AM (2DOZq)

455 450

Agreed. I dont have cable and only watch streaming shows. The odd time I stumble on some live TV somewhere like a waiting room of a dr office, I am shocked at how it is nothing but WuhalnFlu related content.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:38 AM (V5gh5)

456 The vaccine was developed using tissue from an aborted foetus. I cannot, in good conscience, receive it.

The best information I've seen says no it was not, since first off, Trump signed an executive order ending that in the US, and second, since its not very effective in testing or product.

But I might be wrong.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (KZzsI)

457 364 The Royals' ERA was FURTHER below the league ERA than was the Cards.

Yeah but that was in the era when the AL was heavy on hitting and crap on pitching, with a few outstanding exceptions. Being the best pitching staff in the AL was not as good as being the best in the NL.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:15 AM (KZzsI)
_________

How in the world do you get that? If it's harder to get a low ERA in the AL, that entails that the numbers are misleading. The most obvious fact is that AL pitchers didn't get a free out, by pitching to one another.
It's the same as a park effect. Anyone who thinks that batting stats in old Fenway or Wrigley meant the same as those in Dodger or Yankee stadium is nuts.
ALL stats are balanced, every plus for one side is a minus for another. But they are subject to illusions. THAT is what James talks about, incessantly. And one illusion is that, from 1973 on, the NL had better pitching than the AL. No, the pitchers were working under more favorable conditions. That's all.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (7X3UV)

458
To quote one of my favorite history professors:
"Repeat after me, class: The South Lost The Civil War." Followed up
with "And it IS the Civil War, NOT the War of Northern Aggression, not
the War of Southern Independence..."

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:34 AM (7PCMN)

hmm. since he was your favorite I wont say much more about that. But I hope he taught you more than that they simply lost. And it very much was the war for Southern Independence, just like it was the USA war to save the union. It was not a classic civil war in any way. One side declared independence, and that was their only war aim. That is irrefutable.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (dVcaa)

459 That's an advantage other presidents have had: as soon as they got in, they had people the party wanted in, people they owed favors to, people that they genuinely believed were good and would follow their wishes, etc. Mr. Trump didn't have that quite as much,

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:32 AM (7PCMN)

See: State, Deep.....Y'know, they fucked over Carter, too.

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (AwYPR)

460 447 Look at Hood, the best example of the Peter Principle you could ever find. He was the best brigade commander of the war. He was a decent corps commander, and a poor army commander.
-
Aggressive to a fault and I do mean to a fault.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:36 AM (VVEnO)

Ol' Wooden Head, his men called him. Although in his last disastrous campaign, which left his army completely destroyed after Nashville, I can't really blame him but rather his superiors for leaving him in that position. He had lost a leg, but still rode on horseback every day in extreme pain, and consequently took laudanum (liquid opium) constantly. Anyone at any rank in that condition should have been sent home for medical incapacity, but even though he was completely out of his head (all his subordinates agreed) he was left in command. The disasters that followed were inevitable.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (V2Yro)

461 Watching Black Adder's WWI series I cannot help but wonder if that wasn't extremely accurate. His commander was a genial, jovial monster who was not just insane but truly malicious.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (KZzsI)

462 The only reason I can think of is that old commanders wanted to relive their glory days or something.

Read a pretty good military paper - its in the public domain - about the evolution of the US Infantry Division. Pershing got us to a square TOC (4 regiments) precisely to be able to sustain more casualties on the attack. Literally increasing the amount of cannon fodder. That's a cheery thought.

Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (u2I6p)

463 Is Trump planning a rally? How does he intend to pull that off against the Deep State?

Posted by: creeper at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (XxJt1)

464 For me it is easy.

If the left wants me do take the vaccine I will not take it. Call me a science diner if you want, fucks given are zero.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (V5gh5)

465 Fauci was, is and will be a bootlicker. That is no news.

Posted by: runner at January 24, 2021 11:40 AM (zr5Kq)

466 Grant faked out Lee several times,

-
That pull-my-finger gag was always a big laugh getter.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:41 AM (VVEnO)

467 THAT is what James talks about, incessantly. And one illusion is that, from 1973 on, the NL had better pitching than the AL.

Yeah their numbers totally were lies, and their success in pitching against AL teams was a complete fiction.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:41 AM (KZzsI)

468 374 Lee predicted Grant's moves and countered them over
and over. Sure Lee was running out of men. But his army caused tremendous casualties and over and over he kept Grant from flanking him.
it is kind of spooky when you really look into it.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:11 AM (dVcaa)
---
Not true. Grant faked out Lee several times, but in every instance staff incompetence gave Lee time to cover the gap. Petersburg was the culminating example.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:17 AM (cfSRQ)
-------
"Staff incompetence" is just one form of friction. And it's a commander's job to deal with it. IMO, both generals were excellent. But that's just me.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:41 AM (7X3UV)

469 But I might be wrong.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (KZzsI)

I read they used immortalized cell lines (fetal cells that have been reproduced for many years)

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:42 AM (ONvIw)

470 If it were up to me I'd wire umpires with a shock probe that blasted them every time they refused to call a high strike. This need to drive the game into offense was the second step in its downfall (the first being the DH).
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (KZzsI)

If you watch old games, you notice the "check swing" was not called a strikes UNLESS the batter practically whipped the bat through the strike zone.

These days, if he flinches, they call it a strike. I think that was one of the tradeoffs. Not sure how or why they decided to change this, but it's so blatantly obvious. And it irritates the hell out of me when they spend all this time and effort to figure out if a guy swung or not.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:42 AM (oQ94s)

471 Look at Hood, the best example of the Peter Principle you could ever find. He was the best brigade commander of the war. He was a decent corps commander, and a poor army commander.

-------
Hood had also lost major chunks of his body by the time he got to Army command and was in pretty constant pain over it (though not, we find, doped to the gills). Would he have been any better without that affecting his judgment? Not known.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:42 AM (d/5/n)

472 I bet that bookstore has quite an impressive Barack Obama section, aka "Autohagiography"

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 24, 2021 11:42 AM (PiwSw)

473 Catch Thirty-Thr33

Reagan let in the curse of the Bushes. GHW undid much of his good work and almost certainly captained the Deep State in its modern ugliness.

But Trump refused to fire people who needed a good firing and listened to his son in law too much (although Kushner did a good thing in the Middle East).

Tough to tell. Suffice to say the Republic has ended. I used to laugh at the Star Wars prequels because of the wonkerry but thats basically how our republic died.

Posted by: The Fascist Left at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (KqiMr)

474 And yet, the Vatican came out an said that it was OK for Catholics to receive the vaccine because "lesser of two evils."

If the tissue wasn't used, they wouldn't need to say that.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (2BZBZ)

475 And it very much was the war for Southern Independence, just like it was the USA war to save the union. It was not a classic civil war in any way. One side declared independence, and that was their only war aim. That is irrefutable.
Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (dVcaa)

I honestly think it was called a "Civil War" because everyone educated in the 19th century studied Latin and did translations of Roman histories, and the Romans called all of their conflicts "civil wars". (bellum civile)

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (V2Yro)

476 Staff incompetence" is just one form of friction.
And it's a commander's job to deal with it. IMO, both generals were
excellent. But that's just me.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:41 AM (7X3UV)

agreed. And neither one admitted how great the other was after the war. It is what it is.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (dVcaa)

477 There is a moral component too. The vaccine was developed using tissue from an aborted foetus. I cannot, in good conscience, receive it.

"Whether I live or die, I live or die in Christ."
Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:37 AM (2BZBZ)

That's not entirely accurate. They used fetal cell lines grown in the lab to test the vaccine. No tissue involved. These lines come from aborted fetus from the 80's. As previously stated they can grow fetal cells from these existing lines. Still just degrees of separation where one must make a personal decision.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (2DOZq)

478 the overwhelming flood of propaganda and constant hammering of Wuhan Flu is shocking

And therein lies my extreme skepticism with regards to almost all Wu-related "information". This hasn't felt right since it began and it has taken on a distinctly Orwellian vibe.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (W4eKo)

479 Took a shot at ordering Rise and Fall but always that sticking point of passwords. Got changed in the long battle ordering a book set months ago and didn't save the 25 character one they sent me.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (Cxk7w)

480 Well into "Tower of Skulls" by Richard Frank, a history of the Asia-Pacific war from 1937 to May 1942.

What? 1937? "Asia-Pacific" war? That is Frank's stated purpose, to broaden the focus from the usual - US-Japanese military conflict in the Pacific, with a small sidelight of China-Burma-India, at best, to an approach that builds from the developments that resulted in the big war we know pretty well.

As with everything by Frank, very well done, thorough, thoughtful. Extensive notes where he sifts through conflicting takes on particular issues, showing he has attempted to get everything right.

Been a while since I've read his other big ones, Guadalcanal, and Downfall (last year of the US-Japan war and the issues surrounding use of the bomb), but I find his writing in this one occasionally over-done. Distracts from his points. His unvarnished prose is fine, he should have stayed with that.

First book of a trilogy on that Asia-Pacific part of WWII.

Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:45 AM (OTzUX)

481 >>> 478 the overwhelming flood of propaganda and constant hammering of Wuhan Flu is shocking

And therein lies my extreme skepticism with regards to almost all Wu-related "information". This hasn't felt right since it began and it has taken on a distinctly Orwellian vibe.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (W4eKo)

We're all in this together!!

Posted by: A Scold of Karens at January 24, 2021 11:45 AM (TK8Ry)

482 And therein lies my extreme skepticism with regards to almost all Wu-related "information". This hasn't felt right since it began and it has taken on a distinctly Orwellian vibe.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (W4eKo)

Yep, it's been stunning to watch this evolve

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:45 AM (ONvIw)

483 378 I remember when the Mariners, who were by far the best team in baseball that year, played the Yankees. The announcers stumbled over the names of the M's, gave them no credit at all.

It was a frustrating series, because the Yankees had the worst fielding in baseball that year, but when it came to the post season suddenly they played 100% pure class A baseball with no errors. It was like the Yanks knew it didn't really matter until the post season and stepped up their game, or something. The Mariners should have steamrolled them, but NY had experience in the post season and it showed.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:18 AM (KZzsI)
________

Actually, it was like 1985 and 1960, almost. The Yanks kept pulling things out of their asses. They were outplayed, though, series-wide. And I speak as a born Yankee fan.
But again, saying "the worst fielding" isn't quite right. Once again, it's a case of using the common-wisdom stats. Like saying the "best hitting team" is the one with the highest batting average, rather than that which scores the most runs. Even Joe McCarthy's monster teams of the late 30s didn't usually lead in average.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:45 AM (7X3UV)

484 @464

I cant disagree, and that's the tragedy of all this. A lot of trust lost, in the institutions that are supposed to protect and serve us.

Ii think the medical profession and law enforcement has taken a hard hit, and that's not a good thing

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 11:46 AM (AwPyG)

485 479 Took a shot at ordering Rise and Fall but always that sticking point of passwords. Got changed in the long battle ordering a book set months ago and didn't save the 25 character one they sent me.
Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:44 AM (Cxk7w)

*in Allen Ludden's voice* The password is "antidisestablishmentarianism"

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 24, 2021 11:46 AM (PiwSw)

486 Good morning, reedin' and ritin' Horde,

Check out "Left to Tell."

It's a firsthand look at the Rwanda genocide written by a survivor.

*** And it reveals the playbook used against the Tutsis...which is largely the same playbook being used here in America against patriots, Trumpers, etc.***

I met the author at the papal Mass in NYC -- she's a lovely, brave woman.

"Left to Tell" by Immaculee Ilibagiza

Posted by: callsign claymore at January 24, 2021 11:46 AM (Lccps)

487 The American Revolution was also a civil war if you think about it.

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:46 AM (V5gh5)

488 There is a radio commercial if heard once heard a thousand times

" we will never know how many lives you save by wearing a mask"

Or how many you destroyed locking down the country

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 11:46 AM (Cxk7w)

489 As for the vaccine: It's for a malady that's no worse than the seasonal flu or a cold. It's also for the ignorant souls that believe in the hyped lethality horseshit.

But it's 95+% a scam to get a dumbed-downed population to submit to power hungry people and institutions and to blatantly steal an election.

So, go ahead and succumb to your fear. I guess it's your choice. Or is it really?

Posted by: Justsayin' at January 24, 2021 11:48 AM (Fs5vw)

490 In defense of a double standard regarding cancel culture.

Katherine Cross
@Quinnae_Moon
Replying to @Quinnae_Moon
Some right wingers, again speaking in bad faith, will say something to the effect of "live by the sword, die by the sword." Arguing that liberals and lefties are just getting a taste of their own medicine. But the issue is that one side is sincere and the other simply is not.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:48 AM (VVEnO)

491 I honestly think it was called a "Civil War" because everyone educated in the 19th century studied Latin and did translations of Roman histories, and the Romans called all of their conflicts "civil wars". (bellum civile)
Posted by: Tom Servo at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (V2Yro)

I trust very little of the written history of The War of Northern Aggression other than first hand accounts. I suspect it is the greatest case of revisionist history in our former Republic.

It is not lost on me that Americans instinctively support the independence efforts of any region - except the South's in the 1860s. And yes - before the moans of "lets not refight it AGAIN !!!" - we really should. Because it is a quite instructive case of just how various people view the nature of a Republic.

Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:48 AM (u2I6p)

492 THAT is what James talks about, incessantly. And one illusion is that, from 1973 on, the NL had better pitching than the AL. No, the pitchers were working under more favorable conditions. That's all.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (7X3UV)

I always got a kick out of it when he said executives were idiots, especially with teams like the Red Sox and Cubs, who were constantly thinking they didn't have enough pitching, and that their hitting was just fine.

The analysis would show the opposite, that they were giving up on good pitchers, and leaving in their lineups, dinosaurs who cost them game after game, even though their stats looked like they were winners.

The poor Rockies have been doing this since they came into existence. Thinking guys like Dante Bichette and Vinnie Castilla are superstars, and Tood Helton is the second coming of Lou Gehrig.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:48 AM (oQ94s)

493 Albert Sidney Johnston was smart enough to
get.himself killed in his first big battle and end the war with his
reputation as a great general intact.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:28 AM (VVEnO)

Texans still love him. Jefferson Davis, the president of the CSA though more highly of AS Johnston than anyone else. But his Civil War record was not that great. The battle he died in was pretty poor, and the way he died wasn't the best way to go either.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:49 AM (dVcaa)

494 It would have been easier to split at the Mason Dixon back then than it would be now that's fer dang sure.

Posted by: f'd at January 24, 2021 11:49 AM (MvSRq)

495 And once I've gotten through Frank's book, I've already got Ian Toll's final piece of his Pacific War trilogy - Twilight of the Gods - sitting there on the nightstand waiting. Both library books, both with waiting lists (both new), so there'll be no dallying as I wade through Toll's 700+ pages.

Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (OTzUX)

496 Tinfoil hat on

Not enough people were taking the flu shot and pharma profits were affected. So pharma came up with a new and improved flu marketing campaign to scare people into getting their vaccines.

Tinfoil hat off

Posted by: Joe XiDen at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (V5gh5)

497 471 There's a book,Campaigning With Grant, authored by a Captain on staff. Don't make me look it up. Anyway, at the end of the war the author is a fly on the wall, telling all of Lincolns plans for all who assisted the CSA. He had, after all, the largest and best equipped Army.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (I58tH)

498 Some right wingers, again speaking in bad faith, will say something to the effect of "live by the sword, die by the sword." Arguing that liberals and lefties are just getting a taste of their own medicine. But the issue is that one side is sincere and the other simply is not.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:48 AM (VVEnO)

The left is sincere in wanting the destruction of opposition, the right is not as we prefer freedom of speech.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (ONvIw)

499 Anyway, before my kindle became non functional, I was reading the biography of John Adams by David McCullough.
I was in the chapters where every word and phrase of the Declaration were being debated when it died.

Posted by: navybrat, introspective at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (w7KSn)

500 196-Regarding Loyola University going full retard: My niece was the sensible daughter of sensible parents. She went to a girls' Catholic School in Brooklyn: good values, head on straight, loved Daddy.
Sadly, she was a talented artist. 'Sadly" because the best college for her was Parson's School of Design/The New School. After enrollment, when PSD had their money, on the first day during students & parent's orientation- Admin announced, out loud "We're an Obama School."

The kid has a job in book design, hates Daddy for his toxic white maleness, posts BLM shit on her Facebook all the time, and has infected her mother, as well.My poor brother has no peace at home now, they jump on him if he raises any point or objection, or even wants to watch something besides CNN.
If my brother passes before me, the kid gets nothing but a note that I"m giving her share to the NRA, The Thomas More Society and Hillsdale.

Posted by: Dr. Vivi-Not my SCOTUS, Not my FBI at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (USW1s)

501 Gregory Sierra from Barney Miller etc. died. It didn't say whether with the Wuhan.

Posted by: andycanuck at January 24, 2021 11:51 AM (ab0zp)

502 Christopher Taylor: Glad to hear you're liking the Man in Lower Ten. I put that on my indle as well, but it's at the bottom of a very large stack so who knows when I'll get around to reading it.

Mr. Gray #7 Thanks for the Guy Clark Soldiers Joy 1864. I'm familiar with Guy Clark but not in depth and I'd never heard that song before. Loved it.

Posted by: Who knew at January 24, 2021 11:51 AM (SfO/T)

503 To sum up this thread

The Rebels lost to the Yankees in 10 innings mainly because their best pitcher got the Covid and may or may not have if he got the vaccine. This according to a recent biography.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:52 AM (2DOZq)

504 @503

Exactly.

Posted by: artemis at January 24, 2021 11:52 AM (AwPyG)

505 Look at Hood, the best example of the Peter
Principle you could ever find. He was the best brigade commander of the
war. He was a decent corps commander, and a poor army commander.

-------

Hood had also lost major chunks of his body by the time he got to
Army command and was in pretty constant pain over it (though not, we
find, doped to the gills). Would he have been any better without that
affecting his judgment? Not known.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:42 AM (d/5/n)

i should have said decent division commander.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (dVcaa)

506 And yet, the Vatican came out an said that it was OK for Catholics to receive the vaccine because "lesser of two evils."

If the tissue wasn't used, they wouldn't need to say that.
Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (2BZBZ)

The Vatican is like the Republican Party. The so-called leaders don't really believe 90% of the stuff their paying customers believe, but they have to pretend they do, so as to keep themselves swimming in cash. And power. And young boys.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (oQ94s)

507 I find it ironic that one of Team Biden's first actions were to send a bunch of LGBTs and non whites in the military to invade Syria and back ISIS to kill more non whites siding with a group that throws LGBTs off of rooftops. Plus, the new theater guarantees kids being sent overseas to fight.
Also, destroying the pipeline and fracking, which will have a ripple effect on the entire economy, price of oil and goods, and jobs. The women who voted for Team Biden just voted to destroy the jobs of their own husbands and family. Also, enjoy the 2 dollar a gallon increase at least in gas prices and your increased monthly power bill.
Then allowing the prisons to be emptied of 14k hard core illegal criminals (MS13 and other international gang and cartel members) means more opioids, drugs, death, and misery in the streets.
Then the landlords will be fucked because people can't pay rent so they will default on their properties and foreigners and corporations will buy them up.
Finally, men can play girls sports.
Blue collar Unions members and women who voted for Biden-Harris are going to get what they deserve good and hard. They already are and it hasn't even been a week.

Posted by: Trump exposed the enemy at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (Frqps)

508 Off to mass! Bye everyone!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (cfSRQ)

509 The Rebels lost to the Yankees in 10 innings mainly
because their best pitcher got the Covid and may or may not have if he
got the vaccine. This according to a recent biography.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:52 AM (2DOZq)

i have to go back to read the baseball stuff.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (dVcaa)

510 If my brother passes before me, the kid gets nothing but a note that I"m giving her share to the NRA, The Thomas More Society and Hillsdale.
Posted by: Dr. Vivi-Not my SCOTUS, Not my FBI at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (USW1s)

Sounds like she needs to be shown how wrong her profs are. Needs to be taught the term Bullshit!
If she's bright, she'll figure it out.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (axyOa)

511 The victors write the history books AND the dictionaries.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (63Dwl)

512 The victors write the history books AND the dictionaries.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (63Dwl)

As I've said before, except for the Spanish Civil War.

Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:55 AM (2DOZq)

513 If someone was watching CNN in my house I'd put a brick thru the TV.

Posted by: f'd at January 24, 2021 11:55 AM (MvSRq)

514 BTW upthread, thanks for the tip about the latest Butcher's Boy novel, I love Thomas Perry. I'm going to order it today at my local (Christian) bookstore because F)$%%* Amazon.

Posted by: Dr. Vivi-Not my POTUS, FLOTUS, SCOTUS, FBI... at January 24, 2021 11:55 AM (USW1s)

515 hates Daddy for his toxic white maleness, posts BLM shit on her Facebook all the time, and has infected her mother, as well

My family is experiencing a similar dynamic. I do my best to prop up my brother-in-law who is experiencing this particular brand of woke hell but he's really struggling and it pisses me off beyond words.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at January 24, 2021 11:55 AM (W4eKo)

516
And his essay from 1981 defending the dropping of the A-bombs on Japan called Thank God for the Atom Bomb:

https://tinyurl.com/TG4T-Atom-Bomb
Posted by: Sharkman at January 24, 2021 10:42 AM (0bGEp)

How did Mr. Fussel know about Chernobyl in August 1981? (Check the last paragraph; maybe someone else made the comment?)

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (7PCMN)

517 Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (63Dwl)

Any mention of vote fraud gets you a night in the box!

Posted by: Romeo13 at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (oHd/0)

518 Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (I58tH)
-----
Horace Porter, Grant's ADC and close friend after the war. Porter's daughter had a touching story that Grant knew all the names of her dolls and would inquire after their health when he came to visit. All the more touching when you look at the timeframe - it was during the period when he was financially ruined and dying of cancer, yet he still had the character to be sweet to a little girl.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (d/5/n)

519
Gregory Sierra from Barney Miller etc. died. It didn't say whether with the Wuhan.

Posted by: andycanuck at January 24, 2021 11:51 AM

another grim milestone for the biden administration

Posted by: AltonJackson at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (DUIap)

520 Band of Brothers mentioned up thread.
Just finished "Easy Company Soldier" by Don Malakey.
A really goof read. He talks of his life and times in Easy. Talks about what the series gets right. And wrong. I enjoyed it.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (axyOa)

521 >>> 506 And yet, the Vatican came out an said that it was OK for Catholics to receive the vaccine because "lesser of two evils."

If the tissue wasn't used, they wouldn't need to say that.
Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:43 AM (2BZBZ)

The Vatican is like the Republican Party. The so-called leaders don't really believe 90% of the stuff their paying customers believe, but they have to pretend they do, so as to keep themselves swimming in cash. And power. And young boys.
Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (oQ94s)

I would not be sad if FakePope Frankie were suddenly, mysteriously, to burst into flames.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (TK8Ry)

522 The Rebels lost to the Yankees in 10 innings mainly because their best pitcher got the Covid and may or may not have if he got the vaccine. This according to a recent biography.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:52 AM (2DOZq)

Heh. Well done sir !!!

Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (u2I6p)

523 How did Mr. Fussel know about Chernobyl in August 1981? (Check the last paragraph; maybe someone else made the comment?)
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:56 AM (7PCMN)

Didn't Nostradamus predict Chernobyl?

Or was that an X-Files episode?

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (oQ94s)

524 I was watching Band Of Brothers marathon on History yesterday. Guess
what? Every other commercial was about the flu and what meds you needed.

For someone like me who watches TV like once every couple weeks and
NEVER network... the overwhelming flood of propaganda and constant
hammering of Wuhan Flu is shocking. Its the kind of thing you'd only
expect from a totalitarian absolutist state. But its being done by
private businesses, who for whatever reason all decided at the same time
to go all in on the panic.
I watched BoB, and what really angered me were the ads showing the various presidents being sworn in, ending, of course with Biden, and extolling the virtues of our republic. It's a transparent attempt to "normalize" Thievin' Joe. GFY, History Channel.

Posted by: pep at January 24, 2021 11:58 AM (v16oJ)

525 Asshole Don smell my finger Lemon is sitting across from me He is a slight very girly and awful person. I just asked my husband to smell my finger

Posted by: Pres elect LA Sue at January 24, 2021 11:58 AM (h7V7+)

526 Sup, y'all? How's things in book world?

Posted by: Weasel at January 24, 2021 11:58 AM (MVjcR)

527 And while it's completely redundant, since there never was any serious argument (or even a serious conceptual framework) about "not" using the bomb, Operation Olympic had a request for 9 bombs to be used, 3 per each landing area. So, again while there never was a serious debate about using the bomb, moral or practical, it was never a choice between bomb and invasion. Invasion was going to mean many atomic bombs used.

Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (OTzUX)

528 499 Anyway, before my kindle became non functional, I was reading the biography of John Adams by David McCullough.
I was in the chapters where every word and phrase of the Declaration were being debated when it died.
Posted by: navybrat, introspective at January 24, 2021 11:50 AM (w7KSn)

Good book. I read it 20 years ago (!).

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (7PCMN)

529 Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (oQ94s)

I would not be sad if FakePope Frankie were suddenly, mysteriously, to burst into flames.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (TK8Ry)

Apparently he's quite successfully been purging leadership of the conservatives.

Just like the Republican Party!

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (oQ94s)

530 I don't think a lot of the non-gubmint union workers voted for Slo Joe. I think over half of his votes were manufactured.

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (2BZBZ)

531 I would not be sad if FakePope Frankie were suddenly, mysteriously, to burst into flames.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket

We have a trifecta, fake pope, fake president, and fake plague.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (VVEnO)

532 Didn't Nostradamus predict Chernobyl?

Or was that an X-Files episode?
Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (oQ94s)

Probably C-Files.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (7PCMN)

533 Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:57 AM (TK8Ry)

Apparently he's quite successfully been purging leadership of the conservatives.

Just like the Republican Party!
Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (oQ94s)

And the military.

Posted by: BurtTC at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (oQ94s)

534 526 Sup, y'all? How's things in book world?
Posted by: Weasel at January 24, 2021 11:58 AM (MVjcR)
---

Skirmishes in the never-ending Civil War/War of Northern Aggression.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (Dc2NZ)

535 Gregory Sierra from Barney Miller etc. died.
-----
Oh, no. Funny; I was thinking about him yesterday for no particular reason.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (d/5/n)

536 Probably C-Files.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (7PCMN)

File 13

Posted by: BignJames at January 24, 2021 12:00 PM (AwYPR)

537 CBD NOOD

well you know what I mean

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 12:02 PM (Cxk7w)

538 518 Thank you Captain, I couldn't remember the book.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin at January 24, 2021 12:02 PM (I58tH)

539 Posted by: Trump exposed the enemy at January 24, 2021 11:53 AM (Frqps)

And we are running obvious Ops in Russia under Team Biden-Harris and we sold Finland billions in arms.
Again, enjoy the new theater of war coming up and your kids and grandkids coming home scarred or dead on the outside and-or inside.
But at least Orange Man is gone and the 24 hour non stop propaganda machine is discussing him so you are safe from that.
People. Tireirons. Canals. You get it.

Posted by: Trump exposed the enemy at January 24, 2021 12:02 PM (Frqps)

540
unified nood

Posted by: AltonJackson at January 24, 2021 12:02 PM (DUIap)

541 Invasion was going to mean many atomic bombs used.
Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (OTzUX)

Can't say as I blame them. Imagine fighting door to door across that whole damn island.

Posted by: Pierre at January 24, 2021 12:03 PM (u2I6p)

542 467 THAT is what James talks about, incessantly. And one illusion is that, from 1973 on, the NL had better pitching than the AL.

Yeah their numbers totally were lies, and their success in pitching against AL teams was a complete fiction.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at January 24, 2021 11:41 AM (KZzsI)
________

Since they usually lost the WS in that era, that doesn't mean much. And the most dominant NL team of the decade, the Reds, DID NOT have exceptional pitching stats. In fact, I am having trouble grasping what you believe.
The fact is it was EASIER to get a low ERA in Dodger Stadium than most other parks. That means it was less meaningful than in another. I do not see how you can ignore the fact that NL pitchers, after 1972, had a free out which AL pitchers did not.
The ONLY way stats make sense is relative to the league, and the park. Do you believe that hitters of 1930 were that much better than ever since? That the late-90s numbers compare to the 60s?

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 12:03 PM (7X3UV)

543 For someone like me who watches TV like once every couple weeks and
NEVER network... the overwhelming flood of propaganda and constant
hammering of Wuhan Flu is shocking.

***

Watch for a day and pay attention to the commercials.

White people, and white married couples, are only 10% of the population now.

Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 12:04 PM (yK9py)

544 I think McCullough's biography was the one from which the HBO series on John Adams was inspired.
Another historical bit that I have read from varying sources is that overnight accommodations when traveling on horseback were scarce. It was common for 2 men to share one bunk. Very funny passages where Adams is traveling with Ben Franklin and they share a bunk. Adams said Franklin wouldn't shut up so many was the night when Adams would drift off to sleep to the sound of Franklin's voice.

Posted by: navybrat, introspective at January 24, 2021 12:05 PM (w7KSn)

545 510- Naah, she's got clue shields up. Plus, the little bitch weaponized her father's love, a little trick she learned from Mommy. Both little lefty tyrants. Yeah, I hate 'em both.

My brother comes over when it gets too much. we had a blast Friday and Saturday - ordered pizza, watched movies, clowned around, went to a guitar store (he's a musician). And despite months of him having a broken/nearly useless cellphone - which his wife knows all about - I got him to a Sprint store in my neighborhood and they fixed in in five minutes. He was so happy and so was I.

Posted by: Dr. Vivi-Not my POTUS, FLOTUS, SCOTUS, FBI... at January 24, 2021 12:05 PM (USW1s)

546 Update, I got my kindle fire back in service.

Posted by: navybrat, introspective at January 24, 2021 12:06 PM (w7KSn)

547 Off to continue reading my book.

Thanks for another fine Book Thread, OM!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 12:07 PM (Dc2NZ)

548 Watch for a day and pay attention to the commercials.

White people, and white married couples, are only 10% of the population now.
Posted by: Mr. Gray #7 at January 24, 2021 12:04 PM (yK9py)

And very, very few boys, especially white boys. It's all dads working their cars with their daughters, or playing baseball with their daughters, or watching their daughters graduate college, or welcoming their daughters home from a deployment.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Being Moar Dumber at January 24, 2021 12:07 PM (x8Wzq)

549 392- So, like upgrading Winders every few years? Totes not motivated by profit, and who knows what else.

Asshoes.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at January 24, 2021 11:21 AM

I saw a very interesting episode of Sharyl Attkisson's "Full Measure" a couple of weeks ago. It was a follow-up interview of Eric Lundgren, who was sent to prison for a year for selling Microsoft restore CDs. His crime was trying to prevent more e-waste by allowing computer owners to extend the life of their computers by restoring them to the factory settings.

Posted by: Moonbeam at January 24, 2021 12:07 PM (qe5CM)

550 Does this work for me? Pixi telling me either I'm too long or I'm spam. ignore this message.
Just finished The Blue Moon Circus by Raleigh. Quite enjoyable

Posted by: StillJohn at January 24, 2021 12:10 PM (Uy6UH)

551 (Now, I admit I wasn't a fan of Mr. Trump in the beginning but there was a reason I voted for him in the last election. But I also believe in perspective.)
=====

The Visograd Group opposing Euro Union control of all countries. President Trump made it clear that his US policy was with the Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, etc against Brussels.

Very much comparable to 'tear down this wall'.

Posted by: mustbequantum at January 24, 2021 12:11 PM (MIKMs)

552 anyone have a link to the Pixi filter ?

Posted by: StillJohn at January 24, 2021 12:12 PM (Uy6UH)

553 512 The victors write the history books AND the dictionaries.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 24, 2021 11:54 AM (63Dwl)

As I've said before, except for the Spanish Civil War.
Posted by: Mr. Meeseeks, Look at me at January 24, 2021 11:55 AM (2DOZq)
________

Actually, no, not when you look at the record. There's a long strain of dispute over wars, going back to antiquity. It's the standard pattern. The "victors write history" really doesn't hold up. The Commies tried, but even then, Gulag Archipeligo came out.
One of my deepest running instincts has long been to question those sorts of cliches. And they are usually just that.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 12:13 PM (7X3UV)

554 148 I just started reading "Brave New World". I can't believe I never read it before. I also got "Animal Farm" and "1984" in hard copy for my kids to read since they are getting old enough for it. "Fahrenheit 451" is also on the way, another book I've never read.
I also started a Bible study last week on Romans 8 so I read Romans 1-7 for context. Now I need to do the questions over it...
Posted by: lin-duh at January 24, 2021 10:09 AM (UUBmN)

Don't forget "Brave New World Revisited", from 1958. Mr. Huxley is looking back on "Brave New World" and is freaked out about how much of his book had come to pass by that point. (If only he had lived to, say, 1973 or so!)

I read "Brave New World" in my senior year of HS. "1984", the same, except I read it on my own to write the critical analysis I needed to guarantee my participation in the secular bar mitzvah at the end of senior year. "Animal Farm" was great fun. That was assigned by my pompous, arrogant sophomore English teacher who, when he began his lecture on it in class, "Today we will find out who in the class knows their history and who doesn't." Yeah, I showed that asshole.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 12:14 PM (7PCMN)

555
Invasion was going to mean many atomic bombs used.
Posted by: rhomboid

Can't say as I blame them. Imagine fighting door to door across that whole damn island.
Posted by: Pierre

Not to mention the retribution factor. The Rape of Nanking, Bataan Death March, Unit 731, The Rape of Manila etc, etc. Imperial Japan did shit to their enemies, especially the 20 million Chinese they slaughtered, that would make a Nazi concentration camp guard puke in disgust.

They're lucky that they only got nuked twice.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 24, 2021 12:18 PM (EGyGV)

556 My Scottish law firm is named Justerini & Brooks.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., stc. at January 24, 2021 12:23 PM (1vynn)

557 They're lucky that they only got nuked twice.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 24, 2021 12:18 PM (EGyGV)

Also missing is that I guarantee you the ONLY thing that pisses off other Asian nations (China, Korea, etc.) is that they couldn't drop the bomb themselves.

What we call V-J Day is called in many parts of Asia "Liberation Day" for a reason.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 12:23 PM (7PCMN)

558 527 And while it's completely redundant, since there never was any serious argument (or even a serious conceptual framework) about "not" using the bomb, Operation Olympic had a request for 9 bombs to be used, 3 per each landing area. So, again while there never was a serious debate about using the bomb, moral or practical, it was never a choice between bomb and invasion. Invasion was going to mean many atomic bombs used.
Posted by: rhomboid at January 24, 2021 11:59 AM (OTzUX)

IIRC Olympic and Coronet called for nerve gas on the beaches.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 12:26 PM (7PCMN)

559 515-Notorious BFD; I hear ya. And I can't say anything about it to either of them because they'll take it out on my brother. I did it once and it escalated into a screaming fight that ended with me leaving their house yelling at her to enjoy twelve o'clock Mass. Naturally she's the head of the Marian society - and treats her husband like shit. Fucking hypocrite.

Posted by: Dr. Vivi-Not my POTUS, FLOTUS, SCOTUS, FBI... at January 24, 2021 12:29 PM (USW1s)

560 Rhomboid, reading about Operation Olympic, the sheer size of the assembled forces is staggering, and I have to think it would bankrupt the Allies.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 24, 2021 12:29 PM (Dc2NZ)

561 Elliott Bay Books is only half a block from Cal Anderson Park, the center of CHAZ/CHOP and the constant BLM/Antifa sh*tshows in Seattle.

Posted by: James at January 24, 2021 12:51 PM (uh2kP)

562 navybrat good buts it's scary when it happens.

Posted by: Skip at January 24, 2021 12:52 PM (Cxk7w)

563 hmm. since he was your favorite I wont say much more about that. But I hope he taught you more than that they simply lost. And it very much was the war for Southern Independence, just like it was the USA war to save the union. It was not a classic civil war in any way. One side declared independence, and that was their only war aim. That is irrefutable.
Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 11:39 AM (dVcaa)

ONE of my favorites. And the reason he said that was that he was from a northern state and he was in the South.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 02:05 PM (7PCMN)

564 Eeyore,

That's also called The Social War, I have read more than half of that but stalled out. I need to finish, I was hoping it might be useful in our current times. Did you find any wisdom there?

A social war, one fought with social means rather than physical is of interest, as is a consumer boycott. I would like to organize an ability to do that now. In strategic, targeted fashion

Posted by: .87c at January 24, 2021 02:18 PM (TDP3i)

565 ONE of my favorites. And the reason he said that was that he was from a northern state and he was in the South.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at January 24, 2021 02:05 PM (7PCMN)

understood.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 02:21 PM (dVcaa)

566 "Thomas was very capable but he was no field army commander. He was famous as the Rock of Chicamaugua because he was the only one that did not run. Too bad Grant had a dark side and he only helped those in his inner circle. Thomas was out of the circle and he got little praise from his commander."
Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 10:50 AM (dVcaa)

So who commanded the Union armies at the battles of Mill Springs (Logans Cross Roads) and Nashville?

Posted by: Lawdawg at January 24, 2021 02:31 PM (6K2vl)

567 564 Eeyore,

That's also called The Social War, I have read more than half of that but stalled out. I need to finish, I was hoping it might be useful in our current times. Did you find any wisdom there?

A social war, one fought with social means rather than physical is of interest, as is a consumer boycott. I would like to organize an ability to do that now. In strategic, targeted fashion
Posted by: .87c at January 24, 2021 02:18 PM (TDP3i)
________

The only thing of use would seem to be the boycott feature. That has already been discussed much on our side. But is anything, even Big Tech, as central now as coal was then?

I suppose also it's useful to recognize where the enemy's blind spots are. But I'm no so clear on that. (I believe The Social War was the original title.) I liked it, but then, I have always had a predilection for Brits of that era.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 02:40 PM (7X3UV)

568 Just finished re-reading one day in the life of Ivan denisovich by Alexander solzhenitsyn. Never thought I'd be reading it for self-help hints. Better hang on to that piece of Hacksaw blade ...

Posted by: MammaB at January 24, 2021 02:59 PM (jczZK)

569 If Mannix taught me anything, it's that every third building in LA is a turn of the century brownstone.

Posted by: ogmrobvious at January 24, 2021 03:01 PM (wTJFz)

570 So who commanded the Union armies at the battles of Mill Springs (Logans Cross Roads) and Nashville?

Posted by: Lawdawg at January 24, 2021 02:31 PM (6K2vl)

I think I botched that response. I focus mostly on the Eastern Theater but I knew that or should have. I was trying to say he was not favored by Grant which is true. He never got his due. But you are right, he did command and army, my mistake there.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 03:02 PM (dVcaa)

571 Eeyore,

I see. I'll finish it anyway. The other idea/concept that was of interest was the idea that there could be a struggle that's really a war, politics by other means, but yet those means could be nonetheless non-martial/physical.

Posted by: .87c at January 24, 2021 03:04 PM (z2wb6)

572 568 Just finished re-reading one day in the life of Ivan denisovich by Alexander solzhenitsyn. Never thought I'd be reading it for self-help hints. Better hang on to that piece of Hacksaw blade ...
Posted by: MammaB at January 24, 2021 02:59 PM (jczZK)

Solzhenitsyn is great. Another interesting, but less fictional source of advice o surviving a totalitarian state is The Forest Passage by Ernst Junger. It's about psychological and emotional survival in such times.

Posted by: CN at January 24, 2021 03:08 PM (ONvIw)

573 I do recall when Thomas died, USA officers went to see his sisters to tell them of his death. His sisters said, our brother died in 1861.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 03:18 PM (dVcaa)

574 That is sound enough, but really it applies to
straight history as well. They all cherry pick. Just some are better at
balancing than others. But I've learnt not to trust even my heroes,
unreservedly.

Posted by: Eeyore at January 24, 2021 11:25 AM (7X3UV)

i respect Chamberlain and Longstreet. Chamberlain lived for decades after the war and never missed a chance to tell people of his deeds. His own commander on Little Round Top, Strong Vincent, died there with many others such as Paddy O'rourke. Vincent and O'rourke died so they didn't give the chance to tell their tale. Gouvernor Warren was the first to see that Little Round Top was in trouble, and he has the statue that preserves that history. He lost a lot of credibility latter in the war and that ruined his name I guess. But if you look at the statues the vets put up, they would have said Warren, Vincent, and O'rourke.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 05:11 PM (dVcaa)

575 Shaara helped Longstreet's reputation. There is a statue to Longstreet at Gettysburg now because of Shaara's book and the movie "Gettysburg" It is funny really. There is no statue to Lee or Longstreet. No statute for Pickett, Pettigrew, Trimble, Early, Ewell or AP Hill. But there is one to Longstreet. That is because of the power of Shaara's book. Just like there is a path to the 20th Maine Monument. All because of Shaara.

Some may say there is a statue of Lee, but there isn't. That is the VA monument, it is not a monument to LEE although he is portrayed there.

Posted by: Quint at January 24, 2021 05:14 PM (dVcaa)

576 "I think I botched that response. I focus mostly on the Eastern Theater but I knew that or should have. I was trying to say he was not favored by Grant which is true. He never got his due. But you are right, he did command and army, my mistake there."

Well said.

I suspect a large army commanded by Gen'l Thomas might not have been as nimble in maneuver as those led by some others, but we cannot know for sure as he never got that chance. We do know, however, that he thrice had opportunities to excel (Chickamauga, Mill Springs, and Nashville) and he once saved a Union army from destruction and twice destroyed Confederate armies. What other general has done the same in only three opportunities?

Grant's apparent disdain may have been based on Thomas's nickname of Old Slow Trot or some conflict in personalties, and Thomas was likely under suspicion as a son of Virginia-that and his initial refusal of command of the Army of the Cumberland after Chickamauga- so he was not trusted by Union command.

A missed opportunity for Grant and Union command, but Nashville was an outstanding consolation prize.

Posted by: Lawdawg at January 24, 2021 05:41 PM (6K2vl)

577 elliot bay book company is a very nice looking book store. But, it is beyond woke. Super liberal. Once, many years ago, when I was working for the United Way, I visited their old location (in the now dead Pioneer Square) to inquire if they would run an employee United Way campaign. I was shown the door, and it was not polite. These liberals have no time for charity - they are changing hearts and minds!

Posted by: Michael at January 24, 2021 06:01 PM (ajHMF)

578 Very late and only partially book related. In the late '50s/early '60s, there were three Miss Marple movies made. The first two were based on Agatha Christie books but the third, Murder Ahoy, was made up by the screenwriters. A scene concerns Miss Marple identifying a poison with a child's chemistry set. Anybody who has ever heard the word "science" could see how laughably inaccurate it was (climate scientists excepted). For example, she believes it might be a poison that was inhaled causing the victim's death so she sniffed it!

Christie often used poison to dispatch her victims and, indeed, she was much praised for her accurate depiction of the use of poison in her first Hercule Poirot novel, The Mysterious Affair At Styles. No wonder she was accrate. During WWI, she was a chemist/pharmacist in military hospitals.

It must have killed her to see that laughable chemistry scene in that movie.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Tyrannosaur Wrangler at January 24, 2021 08:43 PM (VVEnO)

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