Sunday Morning Book Thread 09-26-2021

Flourish and Blotts Bookseller, North Side, Diagon Alley, London (Potterverse)

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 goes to show you that it's blindingly obvious that some guys are in uniform even when they're out of uniform.

Pic Note:

Never having read the Harry Potter books, nor seen any of the movies, I thought this was some sort of themed library, but no, it's actually a bookstore:

"They bought Harry’s school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all."

— Description of Flourish and Blotts from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

It Pays To Increase Your Word Power®

(Click to enlarge)

Does *Your* TBR Stack Look Like This?

Shut Up

We've been seeing a lot of censorship and attempts at censorship lately, so a popular history of censorship might be in order. Such as Eric Berkowitz's Dangerous Ideas: A Brief History of Censorship in the West, from the Ancients to Fake News, which demonstrates both the ubiquity of censorship and its futility:

Through compelling narrative, historian Eric Berkowitz reveals how drastically censorship has shaped our modern society. More than just a history of censorship, Dangerous Ideas illuminates the power of restricting speech; how it has defined states, ideas, and culture; and (despite how each of us would like to believe otherwise) how it is something we all participate in.

This engaging cultural history of censorship and thought suppression throughout the ages takes readers from the first Chinese emperor’s wholesale elimination of books, to Henry VIII’s decree of death for anyone who “imagined” his demise, and on to the attack on Charlie Hebdo and the volatile politics surrounding censorship of social media.

The good news is that, when all is said and done, the censors, the cancellers, the shut-uppers and shout-downers, are never viewed favorably. No one ever said "hey good job shutting down that newspaper and starting a riot in the assembly hall during that guy's speech and bombing that radio station, everybody thanks you for what you did."

Here's a review that appeared in the The Telegraph (UK) that will tell you more.

And here's an account of some actual censorship that might be interesting, The Paper Chase: The Printer, the Spymaster, and the Hunt for the Rebel Pamphleteers by Joseph Hone, concerning the publication of an anonymously written pamphlet entitled The Memorial of the Church of England that threatened to topple the government:

Parliament was soon in turmoil and government minister Robert Harley launched a hunt for all those involved. When Edwards (the printer) was nowhere to be found, his wife was imprisoned and the pamphlet was burnt in his place. The printer was not the only villain, though, and Harley had to find the unknown writers who wished to bring the government down.

Full of original research, The Paper Chase tears through the backstreets of London and its corridors of power as Edwards's allegiances waver and Harley's grasp on parliament threatens to slip. Amateur detectives and government spies race to unmask the secrets of the age in this complex break-neck political adventure. Joseph Hone shows us a nation in crisis through the fascinating story of a single incendiary document.

The only edition I could find on Amazon was a hardcover edition, for about 25 bucks.

Who Dis:

Last week's who dis was Amber Heard's erstwhile MMA training partner and part-time punching bag, actor Johnny Depp.

Moron Recommendations

290 I bought another book by Betty MacDonald, called The Plague and I. Mrs MacDonald, who is known best for her book The Egg and I, and the Mrs Pigglewiggle children's books, wrote The Plague and I about her nine months in a TB sanitarium in the late 30's in Seattle.

She is very optimistic, very observant, and to be honest, very exasperated and amused with the world around her. I am in the middle of it but I already know it is a 'three-read' book.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 12, 2021 09:52 AM (ssx3L)

This is actually the second of the 4-part 'Betty MacDonald Memoirs Series'. The books are still in print.

"Getting tuberculosis in the middle of your life is like starting downtown to do a lot of urgent errands and being hit by a bus. When you regain consciousness you remember nothing about the urgent errands. You can't even remember where you were going."

Thus begins Betty MacDonald's memoir of her year in a sanatorium just outside Seattle battling the "White Plague." MacDonald uses her offbeat humor to make the most of her time in the TB sanatorium―making all of us laugh in the process.

Whenever i get overly nostalgic for 'the good old days', or 'the way things used to be', I have to remind myself I would very much miss a couple of things: 1. (modern) dentistry and 2. antibiotics.

Here are the four books in the series:

The Egg and I
The Plague and I
Anybody Can Do Anything
Onions in the Stew

Kindle editions are available, too.

MacDonald succumbed to uterine cancer in 1958, at age 50.

___________

183 I read "The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz: A True Story of Family and Survival" by Jeremy Dronfield last year. Fascinating true story that's exactly what the title states. Reading about how friends and neighbors can turn on people in an instant was chilling.

Posted by: windbag at September 12, 2021 09:11 AM (ljFcq)

In 1939, Gustav Kleinmann, a Jewish upholster from Vienna, and his sixteen-year-old son Fritz are arrested by the Gestapo and sent to Germany. Imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp, they miraculously survive the Nazis’ murderous brutality.

Then Gustav learns he is being sent to Auschwitz—and certain death.

For Fritz, letting his father go is unthinkable. Desperate to remain together, Fritz makes an incredible choice: he insists he must go too. To the Nazis, one death camp is the same as another, and so the boy is allowed to follow.

And they endured 6 years of unimaginable suffering.

Having your friends and neighbors turn on you is - well, we're seeing it now. Many of the J6 political prisoners were arrested after the feds were tipped by, you guessed it, friends and neighbors. I just wonder what the backstory is with these, if the snitches just saw an opportunity to settle some petty grudges or slights.

We live in ugly times.

The Boy Who Followed His Father into Auschwitz is available for $11.49 on Kindle.

___________

91 In Ken Burn's Civil War series, comments from one confederate private Sam R. Watkins were richly featured. Well, lo and behold, he did write a book 20 years after his service and I finished it just now: "Co. Aytch, the classic memoir of a private in the Confederate Army"

What a colorful and fascinating read, poetic and colorful, occasionally humorous...The book is entirely written from the point of view of a private in the infantry, responding to a bugle call, or "the long roll" on the drums and having really no idea what is in store for them. And of course, many battles weren't discussed at all, since Sam wasn't there. But pvt. Sam was in quite a few. The portrayal of hardships suffered on both sides is richly conveyed, like when a winter storm hit, and Watkins, standing guard while his men slept, came upon several union pickets, standing upright with their rifles, frozen solid.

Highly recommended.

Posted by: casual observer 1019 at September 19, 2021 08:30 AM (aAP3z)

There are a number of "Co. Aytch" books on Amazon, with slightly different titles, so I don't know if they're differemt books, or simply different titles for the same book, for example, Company Aytch or a Side Show of the Big Show: A Memoir of the Civil War by Watkins:

COMPANY AYTCH has reigned as one of the most memorable and honest depictions of the American Civil War since its original publication in 1882. Sam R. Watkins’s firsthand account of life as a Confederate soldier eloquently captured the realities of war, the humor and pathos of soldiering, and the tragic, historic events in which he participated. Although there have been other versions of Company Aytch published, this is the first with new material and revisions by Sam Watkins himself. Featuring over forty images, including his own pencil-marked edits, this volume combines the ageless text with Sam’s intended revisions—at once an incredible memoir of one man’s experience during war and the story that forever shaped American history.

The Kindle version of this particular edition is $7.99, but some of the editions are cheaper. This one might be preferable, though, because of the extra added material.

___________

Good To Know:

Books By Morons

Lurkette author 'Not From Around Here' wrote to tell me that she "committed another book", which reminds me of Robert Heinlein's saying that "there's nothing wrong or unhealthy about writing, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards." Anyway NFAH's novel is entitled Blood, Oil and Love, and it is the second book of her 'Combined Operations' series:

Lizzes Olsen is a newly minted petrogeologist researching the untapped potential of places on her planet even terraforming overlooked. Unfortunately, the site she's found is deep in enemy-occupied territory. The same enemy is funding the radical eco-terrorism that turned her university toxic, and training terrorists to kill the Empire's geophysicists and geologists. Between bombings at home and being hunted abroad, Lizzes' career, and her life, are in danger.

On the other hand, she has the unlikeliest of allies: a fairy god-Gunny Sergeant, and a very determined Imperial Recon soldier named Twitch who's out to make her his very own happily ever after. If it takes a hecatomb of her enemies to get her down the aisle, they're going to make it happen...

Perhaps the 'Combined Operations' she's referring to is the blending of the military science fiction and romance genres, but that's just a guess. And I had to look up 'hecatomb', which is a sacrifice of 100 head of cattle to the Greek gods. The guy obviously means business.

The Kindle edition of Blood, Oil and Love is $4.99.

___________

Moron author Max Cossack e-mailed to notify me that he has a new novel out this week,

...number 6 in the “Wilder Bunch” series, which began with Khaybar, Minnesota and includes Simple Grifts, among others.

It’s “Social Credit: A Comic Novel of Globalist Proportions,” in which Big Tech overlord the Gogol Checkov company moves to impose its China-Style Social Credit surveillance system on the tiny midwestern town of Ojibwa City. Locals Hack Wilder, Gus Dropo and others must defend against this historic threat to their privacy and freedom, fighting not only the local wokerati, but American Big Tech and ultimately the Chinese Communists themselves.

Naturally, it’s available on Amazon in eBook and paperback form, at Social Credit: A Comic Novel Of Globalist Proportions - Kindle edition by Cossack, Max. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Better yet, Ace readers can get a 20% DISCOUNT by purchasing the paperback directly from the author at Social Credit: A Comic Novel of Globalist Proportions, by Max Cossack – VWAM Books.

To receive the discount on this book or any other book at Max and Ammo Grrrll’s store, just enter ACEDISCOUNT (one word, all CAPS) at checkout.

Max likes to claim that today's headlines are ripped from the pages of his novels, and he's probably right.

___________

I also heard from another new, mostly lurking moron author this week, Don Hollway, whose historical novel has just been published, The Last Viking: The True Story of King Harald Hardrada:

Harald Sigurdsson burst into history as a teenaged youth in a Viking battle from which he escaped with little more than his life and a thirst for vengeance. But from these humble origins, he became one of Norway's most legendary kings. The Last Viking is a fast-moving narrative account of the life of King Harald Hardrada, as he journeyed across the medieval world, from the frozen wastelands of the North to the glittering towers of Byzantium and the passions of the Holy Land, until his warrior death on the battlefield in England.

Released about 3 weeks ago, it is getting good reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, including the London Times and the Washington Post.

It's available in hardcover, ebook and audiobook. More reviews, reader comments, free sample chapters and links to buy at the Last Viking website. It's worth checking out because the banner ads are links to military history articles he's written and published that many of you morons might find to be of interest.

___________

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 Going back for a reread of last of Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series. Don't know what I will go to after that.

Posted by: Vic at September 26, 2021 08:02 AM (mpXpK)

2 What a wonderful book shop

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:02 AM (45fpk)

3 Morning, Horde...How goes it? I finished Asimov's Empire series (pre-Foundation). They are not bad, but each book in the series does rely a bit too heavily on a "deus ex machina" resolution. Now moving on to Tanith Lee's Delirium's Mistress, part of the Tales of the Flat Earth.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:03 AM (K5n5d)

4 Tolle Lege. Books Yay!

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 08:03 AM (PiwSw)

5 Morning

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:03 AM (ONvIw)

6 Good morning everyone. Re-reading Dante's Divine Comedy led by the Baylor Honors College 100 Days of Dante.

Great stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlIJfHAse3g

Posted by: Tonypete at September 26, 2021 08:04 AM (mD/uy)

7 No idea who the blonde actress is, I assume she's an actress

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:05 AM (ONvIw)

8 I like that word, Ninnyhammer.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:05 AM (45fpk)

9 I had to look up what "grandiloquent " means.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:05 AM (EZebt)

10 RE: Word of the day...I first encountered "ninnyhammer" whilst reading Lord of the Rings. At one point Samwise chastises himself, saying, "You're naught but a ninnyhammer." Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact context...I just remember that line.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:06 AM (K5n5d)

11 Who dis, Alfred Hitchcock.

Posted by: davidt at September 26, 2021 08:06 AM (VFYBy)

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

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 08:07 AM (7EjX1)

13 11 Who dis, Alfred Hitchcock.
Posted by: davidt at September 26, 2021 08:06 AM (VFYBy)

The paunch is right, but he has too much hair.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 08:07 AM (PiwSw)

14 Present.

Posted by: Biden's Dog at September 26, 2021 08:08 AM (xsJpE)

15 Greetings! I'm still working my way through Dom Lorenzo Scupoli's The Spiritual Combat. This guy is seriously hard-core. While his early life remains a mystery, he peppers so many soldierly metaphors throughout his work that he had to have been a military guy.

I have now added the phrase "spiritual hilt-punch" to my vocabulary.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:09 AM (llXky)

16 I'm still reading Mary Shelley, but have moved on to some of her letters. The one recounting Shelley's last voyage and death was pretty moving. It was also fun to read correspondence with other notables, like Byron, and see these icons in their time, instead of reinterpreted for "the ages".

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:10 AM (ONvIw)

17 Hey, I am having a bit of trouble logging onto my online bank and I was wondering if someone can try to see if they have luck from a different computer.

It is Citibank
Username billybob123
Password P@ssword!

Posted by: Ninnyhammer at September 26, 2021 08:10 AM (mdgQ7)

18 What kind of ninnyhammer underestimated the ability of Joe to fuck things up?

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 08:10 AM (yrol0)

19 "You're naught but a ninnyhammer." Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact context...I just remember that line.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:06 AM (K5n5d)
---
I believe he forgot the rope.

I used to re-read it all the time but when I was young I found the Shire kind of dull and couldn't wait to get into the battle scenes. Now I really enjoy the hobbit dialects.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:11 AM (llXky)

20 No reading this week.

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 08:11 AM (yrol0)

21 I have to confess I am often grandiloquent.

I had a subordinate once who would stop and stare at me and say, "You wanna try that again without all the ten-dollar words?"

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:12 AM (EZebt)

22 Tolle Lege
There is a cat missing in that book store
Finished Robert Spencer Did Mo Exist?, it's a evil in Islam to look yet Jewish and Christian history has extensively been looked into. Robert's position is roughly 60 -100 years after Mo died a few imams gathered up stories all over and made up the Qur'an often stealing Jewish and Christian stories and putting them on Mo.
Also in Islam some %40 of its content is antisemitism and antiChristian, the prayers daily prescribed have antisemitism and antiChristian messages.
Started a small book Manual for Engineer Troops By Capt J.C Duane 1862. It had drawings I need for a project on my military miniatures. Actually most of my reading has something to do with that.
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=553747

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:13 AM (2JoB8)

23 Who dis? Who cares? Where are their masks? In this uncertain time of COVID we should not be showing people not practicing good social consciousness! And he is smoking! My grandfather died of lung cancer! Triggered!!!!!

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:14 AM (mdgQ7)

24 Speaking about Asimovs Foundation; do the makers of Apples Foundation actually read the books? Even with the gender change of Gaal the first episode was ok. But the second one was completely different from the book and confusing.

Tell the story as written!

Posted by: Dread0 at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (ZP4Ww)

25 hiya

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (arJlL)

26 I don't think those pants guys own weedwhackers. (If you catch my drift)

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:16 AM (arJlL)

27 Still working through "100 Days of Dante", which I would recommend to anyone, being as how the Divine Comedy is one of the West's foundational works.

BONUS! It's just plain interesting and fun.

The lectures really help and I've decided to listen to them first before I read the canto of the day as I generally have to reread to get all the context if I don't.

EXTRA BONUS!!! You don't need to buy the new translation as the 100 Days website carries a perfectly useable public domain translation.

Give it a whirl.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:17 AM (5NkmN)

28 I think I'd like to read Betty MacDonald's books. My grandfather had TB and was in a sanitarium. He died when I was 5 ( not from TB) Grandma never really talked about that time, had to be difficult with 4 small kids, and mom no longer rrmembers

Posted by: My Life is Insanity at September 26, 2021 08:17 AM (Z/jzm)

29 Tell the story as written!
Posted by: Dread0 at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (ZP4Ww)
---
That's what I don't get about today's modern filmmakers who want to adapt a story. What's so hard about trying to remain faithful to the author's vision? Why is it so important to cram your own messages/ideology into the story? There are some GREAT books out there that would make terrific television/movies, but I doubt we'll ever see a good adaptation...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:18 AM (K5n5d)

30 Does *Your* TBR Stack Look Like This?

ALMOST !

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:18 AM (arJlL)

31 Finished Robert Spencer Did Mo Exist?, it's a evil in Islam to look yet Jewish and Christian history has extensively been looked into.

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:13 AM (2JoB

---
Those who remember me hate-reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire will perhaps recall that Gibbon came to a similar conclusion. For a great warrior-conqueror, Mohammed left no contemporary evidence. None of his enemies mentioned him, which is highly unusual. We don't know much about the Huns, but we do know their leaders.

I've got a book somewhere on the early history of Islam that argues that it's a Christian heresy that got out of hand.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (llXky)

32 I read some of the koran. It does follow many of the biblical teachings, but uses them as examples of when God showed himself to the Jews and asked for their faith, or when Jews refused to follow God unless God proved himself to them yet again, despite many prior examples of God showing his power and status of the Jews as his chosen people. It was the rationale of God becoming fed up and "closing his heart to the jews forever", laying down new rules, and providing instructions on converting the non believers.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (mdgQ7)

33 Dangerous Ideas Amazon Review
Good book with the exception of Trump hating political discourse
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
I enjoyed the book which appeared to be researched well until the last chapter when the author showed his own biases and self determined conclusion of present day censorship which is suspect on his agenda.

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 08:20 AM (yrol0)

34 Tell the story as written!

Posted by: Dread0 at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (ZP4Ww)
---
Screw you!

Posted by: Peter Jackson at September 26, 2021 08:20 AM (llXky)

35 Ninnyhammer appears frequently in the Georgette Heyer Regency era books. Very useful word.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at September 26, 2021 08:20 AM (fTtFy)

36 7 No idea who the blonde actress is, I assume she's an actress

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:05 AM (ONvIw)

Yes. French.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 08:23 AM (CLYer)

37 Those who remember me hate-reading ...
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (llXky)
===

That's what I do with John Irving's books. Didnt know there was a name for it.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:23 AM (EZebt)

38 This week I switched over from reading John MacArthur's commentary on Revelation, over to John Walvoord's commentary. MacArthur uses so many cross references and so many footnotes that it was hard for me to schlog my way through it. Walvoord flows better.

Walvoord was chancellor at Dallas Theological Seminary for many years, and spent about 50 years in the study of eschatology. I've only finished up the 37 page introduction, where he lays out the evidence for John's authorship, the reason for it being included in the canon, and the various methods of approaching the Revelation. Being evangelical, he comes at it from a literal, futuristic, pre-millenial position. One day I hope to complete Chapter 1.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:25 AM (45fpk)

39 Good morning all - finally, after two weeks, feeling a little better. The Daughter and I both caught the latest variant of Covid, with extra lashings of pneumonia. Trips to the emergency room at BAMC, which was strangely quiet both times.
But finally feeling better...

Posted by: Sgt. Mom at September 26, 2021 08:25 AM (xnmPy)

40 Finished Far From the Madding Crowd and of the three books by Hardy I've read I think I liked this the best although Tess and Jude the Obscure were enjoyable to read as well. As is wont in his other books, bad things happen to good people, usually through no fault of their own, and coping and digging out from under the wreckage is the focal point of a lot of the book. I know someone, both online and IRL, who would be very well cast as Gabriel Oak; he may not know dick about raising sheep but he's very adept at dealing with nature and has endured his share of setbacks in life yet perseveres.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 08:26 AM (y7DUB)

41 Having your friends and neighbors turn on you is - well, we're seeing it now. Many of the J6 political prisoners were arrested after the feds were tipped by, you guessed it, friends and neighbors. I just wonder what the backstory is with these, if the snitches just saw an opportunity to settle some petty grudges or slights.

I can testify on this. My very own sister is a piece of shit hard core leftist. Has been her entire life. One of her neighbors posted a picture on some social media platform of herself inside of the Capitol on J6. My sister called the FBI on the person. No petty grudge that I know of, just hard core leftist groupthink.

My sister also believes that some Kapitol Kop was struck with a fire extinguisher on J6 and killed. She can not be reasoned out of that lie. I am done with her. Never again will I talk with her. She told me to 'get f*cked' or something in the same vein.

She was for a period of time somewhat sane, but not anymore. I don't want a person like that in my life, nor does my brother, who kicked her out of his home not so long ago.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 08:27 AM (dQvv7)

42 I've got a book somewhere on the early history of Islam that argues that it's a Christian heresy that got out of hand.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (llXky)

I think that's correct.

Also, it has been put forward that Mo was some renegade Arian bishop. Sounds plausible, but not sure what evidence there is.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 08:27 AM (CLYer)

43 It was the rationale of God becoming fed up and "closing his heart to the jews forever", laying down new rules, and providing instructions on converting the non believers.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (mdgQ7)
---
One of the articles in that book contends that much of the Koran's teachings came from Christian lectionaries in Syriac, and difficulties in the translation are the cause of some of the "mystery words" in Arabic versions.

I'd look up the title, but there's a nice warm cat on my legs, perfect for a chilly morning.

Posted by: Peter Jackson at September 26, 2021 08:27 AM (llXky)

44 I read some of the koran. It does follow many of the biblical teachings, but uses them as examples of when God showed himself to the Jews and asked for their faith, or when Jews refused to follow God unless God proved himself to them yet again, despite many prior examples of God showing his power and status of the Jews as his chosen people. It was the rationale of God becoming fed up and "closing his heart to the jews forever", laying down new rules, and providing instructions on converting the non believers.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (mdgQ7)

A) I doubt that

B) halve of the Western World, Likely sixty percent of Europe doesn't care about Christianity. yet they hate Jews more than we do by a long shot.

i say if an American hates Jews, he legit needs to rethink his path in life and likely find new friends.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:28 AM (tU3dj)

45 What Dante translations do you participants prefer?

Posted by: Wenda at September 26, 2021 08:29 AM (4grFk)

46 Nice Book Store!

Those pants...can only be worn to a sausage festival.

The Who Dis is really enjoying the Fat Dude's cigar who is standing behind her.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at September 26, 2021 08:29 AM (R/m4+)

47 Another common argument Robert Spencer has is the Qur'an is very disjointed, lines inserted that have nothing to do with anything, words there that have no meaning in Arabic

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:29 AM (2JoB8)

48 41 good for you

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (ONvIw)

49 I have always taken Islam as I take Mormonism. Christianity corrupted by a false prophet.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (mdgQ7)

50 I read American Tabloid by James Ellroy. This is the first volume of the Underworld USA trilogy. The timeframe of this book is from November, 1958, through November, 1963. There is a great cast of characters including Jack and Bobby Kennedy. Howard Hughes, J. Edgar Hoover, Jimmy Hoffa, Cuban freedom fighters, almost every major mob boss, and a dozen or so FBI and CIA agents.

While reading the book, I kept wondering how much of this novel is actually true. I suspect the answer is quite a bit. I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series, The Cold Six Thousand, and Blood's A River. Warning: profane language throughout.

Posted by: Zoltan at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (Jw8M0)

51 Mornin', all,

The young lady Who Dis looks sort of familiar, like Anne Francis, but I don't think that's her.

I'm re-reading Heinlein's classic novelette from 1938 or so, "If This Goes On --" There are a lot of parallels between the tyranny he drew so many decades ago, and what we're enduring today: the hoodwinking of the populace, the rewriting and distortion of history, the fact that the press in foreign countries is freer and more accurate than that in the U.S., etc.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (c6xtn)

52 Hiya Captain Hate !

How ya doin' ?

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (arJlL)

53 Tell the story as written!
Posted by: Dread0 at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (ZP4Ww)
That's what I don't get about today's modern filmmakers who want to adapt a story. What's so hard about trying to remain faithful to the author's vision? Why is it so important to cram your own messages/ideology into the story? There are some GREAT books out there that would make terrific television/movies, but I doubt we'll ever see a good adaptation...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:18 AM (K5n5d)

Eh, movie making is a money making venture, so any movie or even series is unlikely to be anything more than the Cliff Notes version. Some parts and nuances will just get left out.

Unless it's a very short novel. Like, say, a James M Cain novel like "Double Indemnity' or "The Postman Always Rings Twice". Those, yeah, sure, you can pack everything into a movie.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (5NkmN)

54 The young lady Who Dis looks sort of familiar, like Anne Francis, but I don't think that's her.

I think she may be.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:31 AM (45fpk)

55 Life Magazine? That suggests that the lady in question is or was famous enough to make that national publication. It's not Marilyn Monroe, by any chance?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 08:31 AM (c6xtn)

56 That's what I do with John Irving's books. Didnt know there was a name for it.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:23 AM (EZebt)
---
Yeah. I don't normally get into it, but I wanted to finish Gibbon, which started well.

When doing research on the Spanish Civil War it became quite a thing because so many authors are Communist apologists. Anthony Beevor is one of the worst, and unlike some of the older ones, doesn't have the excuse of not having enough new data.

Pro-tip: If you read someone say Guernica was a terror-bombing, they're full of crap.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:31 AM (llXky)

57 Booken morgen horden!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 08:32 AM (oEn12)

58 Glad to hear you're better Sgt. Mom. Good to see you.

Oh, and Hi All, Bookists.

FInished my Conan saga (finally), and now thoroughly enjoying The Good Shepherd. I like Forester better than O'Brien. There, I said it.

Posted by: goatexchange at September 26, 2021 08:33 AM (APPN8)

59 Unless it's a very short novel. Like, say, a James M Cain novel like "Double Indemnity' or "The Postman Always Rings Twice". Those, yeah, sure, you can pack everything into a movie.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021

***
Or, that rare scenario, the author of the novel writes the screenplay and jettisons stuff in his original in favor of more dramatic material -- as if he were doing a visual version of a second draft of his own work. See Benchley, Peter, Jaws and the subsequent movie. The film is one of those rare birds that is better than the novel, because it's simpler. Three men go out in a boat to catch a fish as big as the boat. No soap opera stuff or intrigues just the adventure itself.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 08:34 AM (c6xtn)

60 What Dante translations do you participants prefer?
Posted by: Wenda at September 26, 2021 08:29 AM (4grFk)

They like the new Anthony Esolen one. So, that's what I'm using.

It supposed to be true to the text and readable. So, far I like it.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:34 AM (5NkmN)

61 Another common argument Robert Spencer has is the Qur'an is very disjointed, lines inserted that have nothing to do with anything, words there that have no meaning in Arabic

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:29 AM (2JoB

---
Yeah, the nonsense words are actually Syriac or Aramaic and the Arabs couldn't figure them out.

It's interesting that the usual line about how the New Testament is riddled with errors and contradictions from all the different copies doesn't apply to Islam.

That's because the Caliphs burned all the non-conforming editions long ago.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:35 AM (llXky)

62 I have to confess I am often grandiloquent.

I had a subordinate once who would stop and stare at me and say, "You wanna try that again without all the ten-dollar words?"
Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:12 AM (EZebt)

Mother Hate wasn't what you'd call academically credentialed but she placed a high premium on being well spoken; even my idiot brother.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 08:35 AM (y7DUB)

63 The good news is that, when all is said and done, the censors, the cancellers, the shut-uppers and shout-downers, are never viewed favorably.

On the contrary, in a poll released this week, "Sixty-six percent of college students think shouting down a speaker they disagree with is acceptable to shut down their talk, and another 23 percent believe violence can be used to cancel a speech".

Posted by: cool breeze at September 26, 2021 08:35 AM (UGKMd)

64 Booken morgen horden!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion

Hiya stabby !

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:36 AM (arJlL)

65 I have always taken Islam as I take Mormonism. Christianity corrupted by a false prophet.
Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (mdgQ7)
===
Say what now?

Posted by: Children of Israel at September 26, 2021 08:36 AM (EZebt)

66 A) I doubt that

Doubt what? It literally says the Jews continual need to have their faith restored through miracles is the reason God is done with them. Jesus was meant to be the final miracle, but they turned on him, thus, God closed his heart. Christians are given a second chance, only because they accept Jesus as a prophet, but they must convert to the new rules or be cast out.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:36 AM (mdgQ7)

67 36. I'm pretty good with faces and names, but I don't think I've ever seen her.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:37 AM (ONvIw)

68 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I wanted to do that Dante course, but I'm, what, three weeks behind already? Still caregiving for my mama, just haven't had time to find a copy of it and get started. Maybe next time.

Posted by: April-dash my lace wigs! at September 26, 2021 08:37 AM (OX9vb)

69 (EZebt)

Now there's a hash for you.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:37 AM (45fpk)

70 Eh, movie making is a money making venture, so any movie or even series is unlikely to be anything more than the Cliff Notes version. Some parts and nuances will just get left out.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (5NkmN)
---
It *was* a money making venture, but Hollywood today hates its audience and doesn't want their money. How else to explain the way they take sure-fire hits and turn them into woke garbage?

They even taught the fan base and brag about bathing in their tears when the new film comes out.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:38 AM (llXky)

71 "Having your friends and neighbors turn on you is - well, we're seeing it now."

They're Pod People from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 08:38 AM (ZHVt1)

72 Fun fact:

The Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) is largely the same as the Koran, and the Torah. The three major religions in the world all spring from the same scripture, which makes sense, since they all consider Abraham their founder.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:38 AM (AwPyG)

73 Eh, movie making is a money making venture, so any movie or even series is unlikely to be anything more than the Cliff Notes version. Some parts and nuances will just get left out.
----
I'm OK with making necessary changes to film, such as cutting out certain parts (e.g. Tom Bombadil). I'm less OK with twisting characters' motivations and goals to fit a political agenda that is NOT in the source material.

I was somewhat keen on watching The Shannara Chronicles (adapted from The Elfstones of Shannara), just to see what they did with it. I turned it off after 5 minutes because of what they did to the main female character of the novel.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:39 AM (K5n5d)

74 There's a bunch of ninnyhammers in the federal government. Just saying.

Posted by: dantesed at September 26, 2021 08:39 AM (88xKn)

75 "addlepated" is a good one, too.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:40 AM (AwPyG)

76 Doubt what? It literally says the Jews continual need to have their faith restored through miracles is the reason God is done with them. Jesus was meant to be the final miracle, but they turned on him, thus, God closed his heart. Christians are given a second chance, only because they accept Jesus as a prophet, but they must convert to the new rules or be cast out.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:36 AM (mdgQ7)

I doubt the Koran talking about Jews. I also wonder about Christians to worried about Jews.i bet most have other issues to worry about.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:41 AM (tU3dj)

77 Good Sunday morning, horde!

I wanted to do that Dante course, but I'm, what, three weeks behind already? Still caregiving for my mama, just haven't had time to find a copy of it and get started. Maybe next time.
Posted by: April-dash my lace wigs! at September 26, 2021 08:37 AM (OX9vb)

There's no "getting behind" since the lecture parts are available on youtube and elsewhere after the "reading date". You can start anytime that's convenient for you and not be behind. Should you wish.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:41 AM (5NkmN)

78 Who dis looks like Gloria Grahame, no?

Posted by: dantesed at September 26, 2021 08:41 AM (88xKn)

79 "addlepated" is a good one, too.
Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:40 AM (AwPyG)
----
I'm relatively certain that also shows up in Lord of the Rings at one point. Tolkien likes to use fancy words to describe idiots.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at September 26, 2021 08:42 AM (K5n5d)

80 I've been enjoying the 100 Days of Dante lectures and reading. It's up to Canto 8 of the Inferno. The reading is great but has led to some unexpected matters.

First: the questions. Did Dante have a sense of humor or take himself very seriously? Was The Divine Comedy meant for the ages or as a contemporary hit piece on Dante's enemies? Was Stoic philosophy popular in 13th century Italy? If so, was it a threat to the often corrupt hierarchy of the Church? (Not the faith.)

Second: the cascade effect. Having Virgil as the guide made me think of The Aeneid, which I haven't read in decades. That led to interest in epics in general such as their intended purpose, means of transmission, and historical accuracy. Does the oral tradition of northern Europe follow a path similar to Homer's?

Books I have added to my already groaning shelves of TBR volumes. The Peter Green translations of Homer along side the Fagles and Lattimore versions. The Argonautica. Tolkien's Beowulf. The Mabinogion (epic poetry of Wales) and others that were of interest to Tolkien and the other Inklings. "Why Homer Matters" by Adam Nicolson. Cicero's "On a Life Well Spent".

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 08:42 AM (7EjX1)

81
Give me a thousand dollars and I'll be grand-eloquent.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 08:42 AM (dQvv7)

82 Thank, OregonMuse!

When I got my first pilot certificate up in Alaska, the wonderful and wily ol' gent who examined me gave me a long, thoughtful stare, followed by a delightfully quirky smile as he handed over the carbon paper copy. "You are now free to commit aviation."

...still feels like I'm getting away with something. Writing & releasing a book feels much the same way. (And it still has to pass the gauntlet of beta readers who've been there, done that, and have the scars to show, even if there's no formal checkride)

Posted by: Not From Around Here at September 26, 2021 08:42 AM (wrzAm)

83 On the contrary, in a poll released this week, "Sixty-six percent of college students think shouting down a speaker they disagree with is acceptable to shut down their talk, and another 23 percent believe violence can be used to cancel a speech".
Posted by: cool breeze at September 26, 2021 08:35 AM (UGKMd)

See the video on the black gal shouting down two white kids studying. The mere presence of a white dude creates the kind of hate people used to have seeing a Black person in a Whites only setting.

PS Multicultural centers or Cultural Centers are off limits for White People. Does that give you an idea of where our country is going?

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 08:42 AM (yrol0)

84 I can recommend Blood, Oil, and Love and the others in the series as fun and entertaining books. I know the author since we hang out in the same writing circles (means I get to read tidbits of the books before you mere mortals!). Her husband, Peter Grant, is also a writer who does science fiction and WESTERNS!

I also plead guilty to instigating the author to contact the Book Thread

I was sure the Horde would be interested.

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (CUULq)

85 There's no "getting behind" since the lecture parts are available on youtube and elsewhere after the "reading date". You can start anytime that's convenient for you and not be behind. Should you wish.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:41 AM (5NkmN)
---
Wait, you mean that if you don't listen to a podcast on the day it came out, you can still access it???

*forehead slap*

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (llXky)

86 well no because they saw their messiah as a liberator, of course there was no text in the Old Testament that suggested that,

from a review of Foundation, apparently climate change, is the great crisis across the Empire, no joke,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (hMlTh)

87 I get a kick out of the fact that we are living in hellish times and Dante is suddenly popular again.

A lot of the people suffering in his circles were political, in his time, and either considered heroes or villains.

You can think of a few candidates for a re-write, nowadays.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:44 AM (AwPyG)

88 Digging through the book shelves, I found a copy of Donald Hamilton's "Murder Twice Told". It's hard to find some of his pre-Matt Helm books and this one is in good condition for its age. A nice surprise.

Now if Hamilton's estate would just release that final Helm book he completed just before he passed away.

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 08:45 AM (7EjX1)

89 I don't remember Sam saying "Ninnyhammer" in LOTR, though I must have read it. My conscious encounter with the word is from 'MST3K:

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 08:45 AM (PhwY1)

90 when challenging a hegemon, like Rome, well they learned a hard lesson with Masada and Bar Kochba, 60 years later,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (hMlTh)

91 Who dis looks like Gloria Grahame, no?
Posted by: dantesed at September 26, 2021

***
She does at that. The angle at which her face is photographed makes it hard for me to be sure.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (c6xtn)

92 I used to read like crazy. Read and read and read. And then I stopped.

Decades passed.

And now I am reading again. Not as much as before. In part I started again because I am in an online book club. We are working through the Dune series, just finished book 4.

Posted by: blaster at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (mbFEM)

93 Pro-tip: If you read someone say Guernica was a terror-bombing, they're full of crap.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:31 AM (llXky)

It was disappointing to see that Churchill fell for that propaganda as well.

On that note, *finally* got done with all five books of Churchill's WWII series. Now reading Life in Hawaii, an autobiography by missionary and vulcanoligist Titus Coan.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (1lKRm)

94 The lectures really help and I've decided to listen to them first before I read the canto of the day as I generally have to reread to get all the context if I don't.

That, to me, is one of the high points of this very enjoyable Dante project. I remember far too many lit classes in HS and college, when some idiot would drone on endlessly about symbolism in a book nobody cared about. This is different, although admittedly, I'm a bit different than my HS self as well. I've read Dante before, but the lectures really help with context and interpretation. Even if you're behind, it's all there on the website, and because it's in easy, bite-size pieces, you don't get overwhelmed. I can't recommend this highly enough. Give it a try.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (ZsR3z)

95 I doubt the Koran talking about Jews. I also wonder about Christians to worried about Jews.i bet most have other issues to worry about.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:41 AM (tU3dj)
---
The Koran seems to hate Jews in particular. It also goes back and forth on when killing is okay.

As for picking on Jews, I think you'll find that scapegoats are always welcome when the ruling class needs someone to blame for their own failures.

See also "the unvaccinated," who are literally killing us all and deserve no mercy.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (llXky)

96 Now there's a hash for you.
Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:37 AM (45fpk)
===

*doffs dunce cap*

Posted by: San Franpsycho at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (EZebt)

97 That stack of TBR books is very nice but seems a little too stable for reality.

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (7EjX1)

98 The pic looks like the bookstore in Patriot Games.

Posted by: Jak Sucio at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (ORYzU)

99 Sorry, cut off the comment in mid phrase! In MST3K: The Movie, Dr. Forrester uses the word. "Get back into the theatre, you ninnyhammers! And remember, I know where you are, and I saw what you did! I'm the god! I'm the god! HAHAHAHAH!!"

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (PhwY1)

100 Hey, Mohammed, God says you can't marry that 6 year old. You already have a wife.

What? Bullshit. The Angel Gabriel came to me in a dream last night and said it is fine now. New rules. And I am sick of eating pork all the time, so God says we can't do it. Unclean.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (mdgQ7)

101 from a review of Foundation, apparently climate change, is the great crisis across the Empire, no joke,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (hMlTh)

so the Jews are all about that? I wonder it that is the case or some people are so flipped out they can't see anything else. RE.climate change, I recall London in the very, very early 2000s and they would blame any rain on climate change. The leafs would fall on the underground rails and they would close them.They would say on the news that it was climate change.That was twenty years ago.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:47 AM (tU3dj)

102 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM (hMlTh)

103 I finished Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix. The first 3 quarters of the book were amusing, then the last bits get messy both literally and story wise.

The paperback is very cleverly laid out like an Ikea catalog.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (oEn12)

104 Hiya Captain Hate !

How ya doin' ?
Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 08:30 AM (arJlL)

Kind of vexed. The book group started Buddenbrooks by Thomas Mann which I wasn't happy about after thoroughly hating The Magic Mountain. One of the group members, whose tastes usually dovetail with mine, told me he found it surprisingly enjoyable, making me think I was in a shitty mood when reading it previously or had a bad translation. Or something else negative. Anyway I'm willing to give it an honest chance before throwing it in the From Here to Eternity shitheap.

It was Mann's first book so it starts off kind of awkwardly clunky but that may just be his emotionally stilted kraut style taking off.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (y7DUB)

105 I am going to the local megalomart to get some beer, wine, and pizza. I am going to make a point to wear my USA Flag/Israel Flag pin. I know I purchased that one for a reason. Today I want to wear it and as always, unmasked.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (tU3dj)

106 Hi JT!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (oEn12)

107 Admittedly the version of the Koran I read was an english translation in the bedside stand of a hotel in Kuwait. Like a Gideon Koran.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (mdgQ7)

108 Morning Horde. I read all of the Potter books and enjoyed all but the last. It was kind of boring. Unlike other humans it's not my bible. The first HP movie came out 20 years ago and just this last week I watched all of the movie commercial free and free to me on Dish Network, they are running an anniversary showing of all of them. All but the first movie from the Deathly Hallows book. Too damn boring. The movies are good because Rowling sometimes has an overflowing writing style. Also, seeing them at home you cut out the ridiculously loud volume of a movie theater and can understand the words.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at September 26, 2021 08:50 AM (2NHgQ)

109 It was disappointing to see that Churchill fell for that propaganda as well.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (1lKRm)
---
Ah, Churchill and his contemporaries are a bit different. As I note in my book, Guernica was a very convenient lie for everyone involved. Well, everyone but Franco, but no one spreading it cared about him.

The Left used it to build support for the Republic. Hitler was happy to have people fear his still-forming Luftwaffe. Hawks like Churchill used it to prove the need for massive rearmament, particularly in the air.

My problem is that decades later, historians should be able to figure out the truth, which isn't that difficult. Beevor knows it, but repeats the lie anyway and then acts as if maybe it's kinda true. Total turd.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:50 AM (llXky)

110 the question is why did it spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,

License to kill, steal and destroy.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:50 AM (45fpk)

111 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM (hMlTh)

is that a serious question? It spread by the sword.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:50 AM (tU3dj)

112 Wait, you mean that if you don't listen to a podcast on the day it came out, you can still access it???

*forehead slap*
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (llXky)

Yep. It's the modern world, baby!

You can also now get Jack Tacos anytime you want at Jack-in-the-Box!

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:51 AM (5NkmN)

113 naturalfake, thanks. I just ordered Esolen's translations. Step one!

Posted by: Wenda at September 26, 2021 08:51 AM (4grFk)

114 is that a serious question? It spread by the sword.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 08:50 AM (tU3dj)

Yup. Convert or die.
Converts might not be sincere, but their kids will be.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 08:52 AM (oEn12)

115 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM (hMlTh)

Use of force, terror, taxation and rape. But mostly rape.

Not that dissimilar from what our federales do on a daily basis.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at September 26, 2021 08:52 AM (R/m4+)

116 But finally feeling better...
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at September 26, 2021 08:25 AM (xnmPy)

Good to hear. Keep getting better!

Posted by: Not From Around Here at September 26, 2021 08:52 AM (wrzAm)

117 Have never read any Georgette Heyer books.
Any recommendations where to start? Only plan on reading one, but I'm curious to know this author.
Interested in the historical details, not the romance so much.

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 08:52 AM (S1hrL)

118 @86

Isaiah saw the Messiah as "despised by men"

and "a bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice."

Which is probably why the Book of Isaiah is favored by Christians, when it comes to Messianic prophecies.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:52 AM (AwPyG)

119 On that note, *finally* got done with all five books of Churchill's WWII series. Now reading Life in Hawaii, an autobiography by missionary and vulcanoligist Titus Coan.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (1lKRm)
---
I've got some bad news for you: The Second World War has *six* volumes.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:53 AM (llXky)

120 For those of you who enjoy military historical fiction, I commend to you the works of Andrew Wareham, a VERY prolific author (not sure how many titles he has on Kindle, a lot of them Kindle Unlimited).His books range in time period from the English Civil War through WWII, and all are very well written. Right now I'm reading his series "Duty and Destiny", set during the French Revolution and early Napoleonic era. Not only some great naval episodes, but also a lot of insight about living in rural England during the period of land enclosure and social upheaval. I would compare him favorably with Patrick O'Brian in his description of warfare between wooden ships and iron men.

Definitely worth a look, if you are so inclined.

Posted by: That Deplorable SOB Van Owen at September 26, 2021 08:54 AM (CmPBR)

121 Captain Hate,

It is OK to hate Thomas Mann!

But I don't understand why you do...

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 08:54 AM (S1hrL)

122 from a review of Foundation, apparently climate change, is the great crisis across the Empire, no joke,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (hMlTh)

Oh, FFS.

Welp, now I can save $4.99/month. Cuz I am not getting Apple+ to see silly crap about climate change.

Esp when this is supposed to be a high technology culture.

Yeesh.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:54 AM (5NkmN)

123 I've got some bad news for you: The Second World War has *six* volumes.

What??? What happens to Hitler?

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (ZsR3z)

124 Another thing pointed out was its quite amazing how God makes the rule as Mo needs, or Robert thinks the Qur'an makes the rule as Mo supposedly did.

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (2JoB8)

125 blood, oil and love .... got it

Posted by: yara at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (N7mou)

126 there was a sci fi murder mystery, with Rutger Hauer, that leaned on the notion of the Thames overflowing,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (hMlTh)

127 @117

Personally, I like The Grand Sophy and The Toll-Gate, but they are all good. (Always a romance, though; be warned.)

An Infamous Army is about the Battle of Waterloo, but also, a romance.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (AwPyG)

128 "License to kill, steal and destroy."

Same as today. But you left out rape. If you "submit" to Islam you can indulge in the worst excesses against non-believers. Very attractive to sexually frustrated young men. Especially those with 80 IQs.

We'll see this in action with many of our new Afghani neighbors.

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (ZHVt1)

129 Ziba. My top Heyer books are The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades, Devil's Cub, An Infamous Army and my all time favorite is A Civil Contract.
Shades through Army are a series of a kind.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (2NHgQ)

130 Okay, got the book: The Hidden Origins of Islam, edited by Ohlig and Puin. It's a series of essays of varying difficulty.

Some are easy to follow, others impenetrable unless you speak five languages.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (llXky)

131 "The Second World War has *six* volumes."

I read the very good abridged version

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 08:57 AM (ZHVt1)

132 Started reading Ben Bova's Power Challenges on a whim (saw in lib) and apparently it's the last book he wrote, part of a series.

Just a few chapters in, so get this, main character is science adviser to a GOP POTUS and his main problem is Dems trying to scuttle the admin's "We're going back to the Moon" program.

I didn't know Bova was red-pilled (hangs head in shame)

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 08:58 AM (oEn12)

133 Thank you, Neverenough.
I will start with your favorite, A Civil Contract.

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 08:58 AM (S1hrL)

134 Climate Change threatens a Galactic Empire?

Galactic Empire, as in, spread over many different planets?

Ninnyhammers gone wild.

Posted by: davidt at September 26, 2021 08:58 AM (VFYBy)

135 As for picking on Jews, I think you'll find that scapegoats are always welcome when the ruling class needs someone to blame for their own failures.

See also "the unvaccinated," who are literally killing us all and deserve no mercy.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (llXky)

Yep. And I think we spend too much time on Jews. We Jews are just as "tribal" as any other group and are not paragons. When I started college in 1975, I was happy to hear that one of the things the Hillel Rabbi said was that we had to get over the idea that we're "perfect victims" and that if we were so perfect we didn't need to have all these rules and 613 commandments.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:59 AM (ONvIw)

136 Climate Change threatens a Galactic Empire?

Galactic Empire, as in, spread over many different planets?

Intragalactic SUVs.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 08:59 AM (ZsR3z)

137 First, a correction: The comics series El Cazador, lamentedly cut short by publisher bankruptcy, was drawn by Steve Epting, not Jackson "Butch" Guice, who did a different CrossGen series, Ruse.

Both men are terrific artists, and I wonder what they're doing now.

***********

So with all the recommendations here for E.E. "Doc" Smith's Skylark series, I ordered the first book, "The Skylark of Space," from the library, and it arrived last week. I'm only three chapters in, but I think I'm going to be glad I got it. The first paragraph paints a memorable scene.

This means that "Helluva Town" gets pushed aside, but that's OK. I own that book, which means I can read it at my leisure. With a library book, the clock is ticking.

I'm glad for the MOBIUS interlibrary lending system, but I wish it wouldn't wrap a big green "do not remove" banner across book covers. Sometimes I can slide those off, but not this time; it's taped on tight. I had to go online to see the cover art. First World problems.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 08:59 AM (rYZAP)

138 Nice "pants" burn, OM!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 08:59 AM (Dc2NZ)

139 45 ... "What Dante translations do you participants prefer?"

I've been using the Mandelbaum translation but I enjoy the Dorothy Sayers version and much prefer her intro material.

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 09:00 AM (7EjX1)

140 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM (hMlTh)

Because we had widespread drought and cooling in the 600's, leading to a number of springs used as water sources within cities drying up, much less the crop failures and cattle deaths. The Eastern & Western Turk empires collapsed in famine and drought, and the barbarian tribes that took over the western half justified it generations after the fact as having been a glorious jihad for their new religion. Contemporary evidence for their ex post facto history is.... lacking.

Posted by: Not From Around Here at September 26, 2021 09:00 AM (wrzAm)

141 126 there was a sci fi murder mystery, with Rutger Hauer, that leaned on the notion of the Thames overflowing,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (hMlTh)

Split Second. Because of Global Warming, the Thames is overflowing. The year? 2008.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 09:00 AM (PiwSw)

142 Good morning all.
Finally caught up with all of you.
Started the third book in the Brandon Sanderson Stormlight Archive titled Oathbringer. 200 pages in and still loving it. In the preface he mentions a novella that takes place between book two and three called Edgedancer so I was able to get that from the library and put it in my queue which seems to get longer every day.
Finally got my copy of the Screwtape Letters also which looks fascinating just haven't had time to dive in.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at September 26, 2021 09:00 AM (Y+l9t)

143 Ziba. Start with The Grand Sophy. A Civil Contract is a bit more realistic when it comes to her romances. Sophy is one of her typical romances.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at September 26, 2021 09:01 AM (2NHgQ)

144 It was disappointing to see that Churchill fell for that propaganda as well.

On that note, *finally* got done with all five books of Churchill's WWII series. Now reading Life in Hawaii, an autobiography by missionary and vulcanoligist Titus Coan.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 08:46 AM (1lKRm)

Propaganda is useful, so useful that you don't have to "fall for it" if you can make sure others do (see the stupid idea that the border patrol was whipping Haitians).

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:02 AM (ONvIw)

145 The fate of the Republic is in the hands of Kristen Sinema, as I've been saying. And she's been MIA, and Media hardly cover this.

The local AZ D party is putting pressure on her, and wants to kick her out.

Her smart play is to flip to being a R. She'll own the AZ senate seat for longer than McCain

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 09:02 AM (ZHVt1)

146 Admittedly the version of the Koran I read was an english translation in the bedside stand of a hotel in Kuwait. Like a Gideon Koran.

Posted by: Cat Ass Trophy at September 26, 2021 08:49 AM (mdgQ7)
---
During a two-week TDY at Maxwell, I was surprised to find a copy of the Book of Mormon in the bedside drawer. I spent some time reading through it, and while I don't mean to be rude, it's pretty bad.

It tries to sound like the King James Bible, but the author doesn't really understand archaic English. Subject-verb disagreements, incorrect word placement (what moderns think it means vs what it actually means). Coming as it did in the age of the printing press, you can't blame this on scribes making errors.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:02 AM (llXky)

147 the question is why did it spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,

License to kill, steal and destroy.

Don't underrate the license to have four wives, divorce them at will, and treat them like slaves

Posted by: Mo at September 26, 2021 09:02 AM (UGKMd)

148 138 Nice "pants" burn, OM!
Posted by: All Hail Eris

Yep
I loled

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 09:03 AM (oEn12)

149 @141

The Thames overflowing was a very popular threat during the heyday of the global warming scare. It was in the finale of that MI5 series, too--along with a lot of preaching about how dumb people are for not seeing this very real world-ending threat.

I think half the reason they pivoted to the virus was because they needed a threat that could actually kill people, and did. global warming wasn't cutting it.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:03 AM (AwPyG)

150 Ninnyhammer...would just be easier to say biden.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 26, 2021 09:04 AM (VwHCD)

151 Captain Hate,

It is OK to hate Thomas Mann!

But I don't understand why you do...
Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 08:54 AM (S1hrL)

I thought The Magic Mountain was more like the Tedium Plateau. Whatever he did that worked for other readers just fell flat with me. I liked Death in Venice and the other shorter works in that volume better but he still wasn't someone who makes me look forward to any other works like, say, Thomas Hardy or Henry James does.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:04 AM (y7DUB)

152 "Because we had widespread drought and cooling in the 600's, "

Because of all the SUVs?

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 09:04 AM (ZHVt1)

153 Yep. And I think we spend too much time on Jews. We Jews are just as "tribal" as any other group and are not paragons. When I started college in 1975, I was happy to hear that one of the things the Hillel Rabbi said was that we had to get over the idea that we're "perfect victims" and that if we were so perfect we didn't need to have all these rules and 613 commandments.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 08:59 AM (ONvIw)

in Israel they have proven to not be perfect victims. They have shown themselves to be very dangerous people. How many Arab countries can take out Israel? I would ask how many do you have and you need to get many more. I respect Israel's enemies for having no shame. The embarrassment should be enough. But we know in these days many can never be embarrassed enough.

Posted by: Quint at September 26, 2021 09:05 AM (tU3dj)

154 Marriott was Mormon, and so Marriott hotels always had a book of Mormon along with the Bible.

Don't know if they still do

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:05 AM (AwPyG)

155 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:53 AM (llXky)

Six! I finished all *six* books of the series (I checked). It took me eleven years from the time I started it with a dead tree library book. I know I missed bits throughout because people *would* talk to me when I was trying to listen to the book, but at least I know more than I did.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 09:06 AM (1lKRm)

156 Strong recommendation from me on Lyndon LaRouche and The New American Fascism by Dennis King.

It was a blast. That LaRouche dude was far crazier but also more insightful than I had heard.

Gotta say, I think he was part of something bigger involving an earlier run of the current year madness.

He was probably a part of the faction behind Hoover and Nixon. His early Marxism is laughable on its face considering his father was a hard-rightist who testified and worked with HUAC and battled the globohomo Quakers his whole life (he was a Quaker himself)

Anyway, Lyndon was a brilliant and sadistic madman who identified a market failure to supply cults to super high IQ post-grad whites and filled the void.

Posted by: Thesokorus at September 26, 2021 09:06 AM (1ais2)

157 e. e. cummings meets beavis and butthead . . .

april sucks.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:06 AM (d9FiS)

158 Because we had widespread drought and cooling in the 600's, leading to a number of springs used as water sources within cities drying up, much less the crop failures and cattle deaths.

Posted by: Not From Around Here at September 26, 2021 09:00 AM (wrzAm)
---
The Byzantines and Persians had fought themselves to a bloody stalemate. This allowed the rebellious Arabs to ally with non-Trinitarian Christians in Egypt and Syria and expel the Byzantine garrisons. With these power bases, the raiders then turned east, hammering the tottering Sassanids.

With the (unexpected) emergence of an empire, the rulers needed some sort of divine mandate to cement their power, so they created one, a mythical founder chosen by God.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:08 AM (llXky)

159 84 ... "Her husband, Peter Grant, is also a writer who does science fiction and WESTERNS!"

Dammit, Sabrina, you had to mention a western writer? And one who gets great reviews. Now I have to find more shelf space or make sure there is enough room left on the Kindle.

Thanks for telling us.

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 09:10 AM (7EjX1)

160 24 Speaking about Asimovs Foundation; do the makers of Apples Foundation actually read the books? Even with the gender change of Gaal the first episode was ok. But the second one was completely different from the book and confusing.

Tell the story as written!
Posted by: Dread0 at September 26, 2021 08:15 AM (ZP4Ww)
---

Haven't seen it yet, but some YouTube commenters on "Quinn's Ideas" said some of it appears to be drawn from the prequels. Most of them agree it's a series "inspired by" rather than "based on" the novels.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 09:11 AM (Dc2NZ)

161 Six! I finished all *six* books of the series (I checked). It took me eleven years from the time I started it with a dead tree library book. I know I missed bits throughout because people *would* talk to me when I was trying to listen to the book, but at least I know more than I did.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 09:06 AM (1lKRm)
---
Now read the prequels - The World Crisis and The Aftermath.

(Okay, they were written in order, but you get my point.)

IMPORTANT NOTE: the abridged version of The World Crisis was created by Churchill himself, and he considered it to be better than the original.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:11 AM (llXky)

162 Greetings:

For me, Islam is the globalization of Arab tribal culture under a thin veneer of religion.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:12 AM (uuklp)

163 Shakespeare liked April.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:12 AM (AwPyG)

164 Greetings:

If cowboys read instead of drank, that book store would be a great place for a shootout.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:13 AM (uuklp)

165 Has anyone here read Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar? I found it in a box of books in the attic from the late 70s or early 80s when I bought it as a highly thought of experimental text and was thoroughly confused by it. After finding it I suggested it to the book group (I was heartened that it's still in print in our increasingly Farenheit 451 setting) and was looking for some Horde of the Book insight as to whether it's worth the effort.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:13 AM (y7DUB)

166 "I thought The Magic Mountain was more like the Tedium Plateau. Whatever he did that worked for other readers just fell flat with me. I liked Death in Venice and the other shorter works in that volume better but he still wasn't someone who makes me look forward to any other works like, say, Thomas Hardy or Henry James does.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:04 AM (y7DUB)"

Having spent more time than I should have pondering TMM, I can say that it is at core an esoteric work to which almost no one has the knowledge to decode (including me). It is actually about esoteric organizations and the initiations they conduct and how they influence the world.

Mann was as connected as possible to the Elite.

Posted by: Thesokorus at September 26, 2021 09:13 AM (1ais2)

167 Dammit, Sabrina, you had to mention a western writer? And one who gets great reviews. Now I have to find more shelf space or make sure there is enough room left on the Kindle.

Thanks for telling us.
Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 09:10 AM (7EjX1)

I'm having nothing but issues with my kindle's storage, hence paper books

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:13 AM (ONvIw)

168 "IMPORTANT NOTE: the abridged version of The World Crisis was created by Churchill himself, and he considered it to be better than the original."

That's the version I read. Quite good and manageable length. Winston's Greatest Hits

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 09:14 AM (ZHVt1)

169 I recently read a novella by Will "The Critical Drinker" Jordan. It was part of his Ryan Drake series, and was about a new supporting cast member meeting Ryan for the first time, told from the perspective of said supporting cast member. The story was good-ish. But, well....Ryan Drake and his team are CIA operatives, and reading that right after the fall of Afghanistan....Well, it took some extra suspension-of-disbelief to accept the idea of competent CIA agents actively working for the betterment of the USA.

Posted by: Castle Guy at September 26, 2021 09:14 AM (Lhaco)

170 The book club here at my new condo had Eternal by Lisa Scottoline as last month's choice. I was not sure about joining a book club in blue MD but figured I'd check it out and maybe sit in on the first meeting to see if I could for the first time in my life follow rules when discussing books. I got the book from the library. It is about 3 young people, two boys and a girl growing up in fascist Italy. One of the boys is Jewish and lives in a Jewish area, the remains of a ghetto founded in the 1600's. That little bit of history was the last interesting thing about the book. It just started to feel like a YA book in a very sad setting. I put it aside and when they decided to zoom the meetup figured it was not for me.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at September 26, 2021 09:14 AM (Y+l9t)

171 You have to remember that Hollywood and the publishing industry are chock-full of people who think they know best.

That type of person is naturally drawn to that type of industry

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:15 AM (AwPyG)

172 from a review of Foundation, apparently climate change, is the great crisis across the Empire, no joke,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (hMlTh)

Wait, multiple planets across multiple star systems throughout the galaxy are all being ravaged by "climate change"?

Seriously?

I was going to watch it, but now I'm not. That's got to be pretty close to peak stupid.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:15 AM (qFuUh)

173 Is it Simone Simon?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 09:17 AM (Dc2NZ)

174 Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:15 AM (qFuUh)

Well I found the who dis after some research, and I can honestly say I never heard of her. Is there some film of hers I should look for?

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:17 AM (ONvIw)

175 Addendum to my above poast at 166

TMM is the German Catcher in the Rye

Posted by: Thesokorus at September 26, 2021 09:17 AM (1ais2)

176 I love that picture of Flourish and Blotts up top. I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed those books along with my kids. If you have read them, you'll know what I mean when I say I feel like we are living in the middle of Book 7.

Has anyone seen Josephistan lately? I feel like I haven't seen his nic for a long, long time.

Posted by: bluebell at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (wyw4S)

177 102 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM (hMlTh)

That's easy: military conquest.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (qFuUh)

178 NeverTrumpers are ninnyhammers for endorsing corrupt, senile uber-ninnyhammer Joe Biden.
Ninnyhammer doesn't seem quite right because it omits the evil component.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, the Phillips screwdriver of the gods at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (cSyAR)

179 "The Second World War has *six* volumes."

I read the very good abridged version

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 08:57 AM (ZHVt1)

"We Won"

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 26, 2021 09:19 AM (VwHCD)

180 That's easy: military conquest.
Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (qFuUh)

Yep, convert or die by the sword.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:19 AM (ONvIw)

181 The best book clubs are the ones where everyone's looking for an excuse to get together and drink wine.

actually reading that month's book is optional.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:19 AM (AwPyG)

182 Hi JT!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (arJlL)

183 thanks to the avid readers/thinkers, for all the book ideas, and condensed summaries. I often pick out one or two to add to my TBR pile, based on your reviews/thoughts.

Lillehammer is (I presume) a socialist haven in Norway, protected by US and NATO, with a white demographic. Our propagandists use these places as examples of how socialism is awesome. But gun violence in high gun ownership Plano, TX is as low (lower?) as in Norway ... demographics matter.

So I'm thinkin' Ninnyhammer should be a town in Norway, for a novel on the Orwellian nature of our current dystopias. ... Lilyhammer the show, iirc, kinda points out the fallacies in their socialist "utopia" structures, with a mob guy twisting some arms.

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (Cus5s)

184 You have to remember that Hollywood and the publishing industry are chock-full of people who think they know best.

That type of person is naturally drawn to that type of industry
Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:15 AM (AwPyG)

Dorks like Richard Powers and Charles Stross are totalitarian suckups at heart. Too bad that they let it slip the more popular they get. Same with Spielberg.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (y7DUB)

185 @179

Peak Pyhrric Victory

Posted by: Thesokorus at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (1ais2)

186 Many of the J6 political prisoners were arrested after the feds were tipped by, you guessed it, friends and neighbors.

-
My sister from Seattle (actually from Olympia but there's no alliteration with Olympia) is in town and told me that J6 was worse that BLM and Antifa because it was an attack on democracy rather than demonstrations (with benefit of bricks, fire bombs, and bludgeons) within democracy.

She also told me about a novel written by a member of one of our first families here in Happy Valley, Monument Road by Charlie Quimby. Apparently it makes multiple references to geographic features around here that makes it fun to read. I was aware of the Quimbies growing up but didn't really know them. They were royalty and I was, and remain, poor white trash. I'll read it and see what I think.

(No insult to the Quimbies is intended. I was aware of some of their problems and scandals but, so far as I know, they had no more than their share.)

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (d9FiS)

187 Artemis, if I could find one of those I would be thrilled.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at September 26, 2021 09:21 AM (Y+l9t)

188 Ninnyhammer doesn't seem quite right because it omits the evil component.
Posted by: N.L. Urker, the Phillips screwdriver of the gods at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (cSyAR)

Precisely. We need to drop the "they're dumb" nonsense. They're pushing through their agenda and we're acting like it's "incompetence".

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:21 AM (ONvIw)

189 Greetings:

RE: Lillehammer, Norway

Homogeneity helps lots.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:21 AM (uuklp)

190 I liked Death in Venice...

Thomas Hardy...

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:04 AM (y7DUB)

I liked it too, but not enough to reread. It seemed like it was written as an exercise in calmness and resignation.

And I think you have mentioned your love of Hardy before. I haven't read anything by him in [mumble-mumble] years...what do you recommend first?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at September 26, 2021 09:23 AM (Q9lwr)

191 Anyway, I am thinking of reading Byron's letters aftr I finish with the Mary Shelley bio. Her parents were quite interesting and unconventional. Talk about blended families.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:23 AM (ONvIw)

192 Wait, multiple planets across multiple star systems throughout the galaxy are all being ravaged by "climate change"?

-
I guess the GOP didn't die in the 21st century.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:24 AM (d9FiS)

193 I read all the Harry Potter books when they came out, but only really enjoyed the first 4. Actually, I think that's where the series really ended. Book 5 was JKR having a nervous breakdown as she realized she didn't really have anything more to say. And Books 6 and 7 were her pulling herself together to plough through her destiny: to beat C.S. Lewis at writing a 7-volume series, and to beat Tolkien in word count.

She was so bankrupt of ideas, the conclusion to Book 7 was just the climax of Book 4 all over again - wand duel, surrounded by evil wizards and friendly ghosts of the past.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:24 AM (RZclC)

194 It tries to sound like the King James Bible, but the author doesn't really understand archaic English. Subject-verb disagreements, incorrect word placement (what moderns think it means vs what it actually means). Coming as it did in the age of the printing press, you can't blame this on scribes making errors.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:02 AM (llXky)

That was exactly my impression of it, too, when I read it (parts of it, actually) years ago.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:25 AM (qFuUh)

195 "Lilyhammer the show, iirc, kinda points out the fallacies in their socialist "utopia" structures, with a mob guy twisting some arms."

and does that mob guy reveal just why Islam was able to grab so much territory? And do we have enough Christian fervor left to mount some crusades against the DeepState and commie invasions?

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 09:25 AM (Cus5s)

196 Notice how those library photos never show any actual people reading any actual books? Just sayin'

Posted by: Dr Wang at September 26, 2021 09:26 AM (/HxZI)

197 Artemis,

Thank you also. Guess I'll have to read more than one.

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

198 189 Greetings:

RE: Lillehammer, Norway

Homogeneity helps lots.
Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:21 AM (uuklp)

Also, North Sea oil revenue.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (PiwSw)

199 Folk song --

April, Come She Will (Simon and Garfunkel, Sounds of Silence)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYD-DIggB2k

Posted by: mustbequantum at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (MIKMs)

200 Greetings:

And reading of publishers, how come cartographers (mapmakers) rarely get a printed credit in books while the author's picture-taker almost always seem ???

Also, one rarely comes across "colophons" about the books design or mention of the actual designer.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (uuklp)

201 Is it Simone Simon?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021

***
I can see that. Or maybe Simone Signoret.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (c6xtn)

202 Just Wondering has anybody read the SPELLMONGER series? One of the few New Fantasy series that isn't PC

I see Taylor Anderson has started a new Series after Destroyermen, Purgatory"s Shore. And I really need to finish Destroyermen. Looks like his new book is another Time Travel book.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at September 26, 2021 09:29 AM (dKiJG)

203 Greetings:

RE: Who Dis

My ideal, attractive with that necessary hint of slut.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:29 AM (uuklp)

204 Harry Potter was and is a huge cultural phenomenon, I think. I think a big part of it is the "superman" aspect--an ordinary-seeming person is in fact, powerful. It's very appealing to a lot of ordinary-seeming people

I went to a book event a couple of months ago, and there were two grown women wearing their "school" outfits from the series.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:29 AM (AwPyG)

205 I used to be in a book club and often the only person who read the book was the one who chose it.

The wine was always good, though.

Hard to find book clubs in suburbia, sigh.

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 09:30 AM (S1hrL)

206 196 Notice how those library photos never show any actual people reading any actual books? Just sayin'
Posted by: Dr Wang at September 26, 2021 09:26 AM (/HxZI)

Probably concerned about privacy issues.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:31 AM (ONvIw)

207 And I think you have mentioned your love of Hardy before. I haven't read anything by him in [mumble-mumble] years...what do you recommend first?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at September 26, 2021 09:23 AM (Q9lwr)

Although it's the story of a well intentioned person being ground down by life, Tess of the D'Urbervilles has some incredibly drawn scenes, including one in the middle of nowhere showing how steam power impacted agrarian life that has stayed with me for a long time.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:31 AM (y7DUB)

208 Harry Potter was and is a huge cultural phenomenon, I think.

Perhaps comparable to the worldwide craze over the death of Little Nell in Dickens' 'The Old Curiosity Shop'. It reflected something deep in the public at the time. Today, the book's still there, but it would be impossible to reproduce the same emotion. I expect the same thing will happen to the HP books. They'll always be around, and people will still read them, but they'll fade into the big sea of ordinary literature.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:31 AM (RZclC)

209 September I'll remember
A love once new has now grown old

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:32 AM (AwPyG)

210 Also, North Sea oil revenue.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (PiwSw)

Speaking of socialist "paradises" and oil wealth. When Biden shut down the federal land oil leases New Mexico lost 60% of their state income for the coming year (at least, maybe forever). They can no longer fulfill the contract the, openly, socialist governor pushed through that gave all teachers a huge raise.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 09:32 AM (1lKRm)

211 I read several of the Harry Potter books and enjoyed some of them for the humor and creative names of the spells. The YA/teen angst left me cold. But I was pleased to see that for a lot of youngsters they were a springboard to other, and better, books: Treasure Island, LOTR and the Hobbit, and the Narnia series to name a few.

Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (7EjX1)

212 She was so bankrupt of ideas, the conclusion to Book 7 was just the climax of Book 4 all over again - wand duel, surrounded by evil wizards and friendly ghosts of the past.
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:24 AM (RZclC)

I am proud to say that I have read none of her books and have seen none of the movies.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (ONvIw)

213 193 I read all the Harry Potter books when they came out, but only really enjoyed the first 4. Actually, I think that's where the series really ended. Book 5 was JKR having a nervous breakdown as she realized she didn't really have anything more to say. And Books 6 and 7 were her pulling herself together to plough through her destiny: to beat C.S. Lewis at writing a 7-volume series, and to beat Tolkien in word count.

Yeah the last 2 books suffered for having an editor, wandering around doing nothing.

If she was smart she could have continued the series by having Harry Hunt down the Followers.

Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (dKiJG)

214 My sister from Seattle (actually from Olympia but there's no alliteration with Olympia) is in town and told me that J6 was worse that BLM and Antifa because it was an attack on democracy rather than demonstrations (with benefit of bricks, fire bombs, and bludgeons) within democracy.
(No insult to the Quimbies is intended. I was aware of some of their problems and scandals but, so far as I know, they had no more than their share.)

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (d9FiS)

In other words, "It's OK when WE do it!"

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (qFuUh)

215
Does *Your* TBR Stack Look Like This?

_____________

No. The one in the picture is much smaller.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (/U27+)

216 [iBook 5 was JKR having a nervous breakdown as she realized she didn't really have anything more to say.

I fail to see the problem.

Posted by: Later Tom Clancy at September 26, 2021 09:33 AM (ZsR3z)

217 I am reading Pascal's "Pensees."

A not so random quote:

"Although people may have no interest in what they are saying, we must not absolutely conclude from this that they are not lying; for there are some people who lie for the mere sake of lying."

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at September 26, 2021 09:34 AM (xopIz)

218 Re: book clubs

do a search on meet-up; I think a lot of book groups are listed, and a lot of times you can tell how hard-core they are (see: earlier comment, "people who think they know best".)

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (AwPyG)

219 201 Is it Simone Simon?
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021

***
I can see that. Or maybe Simone Signoret.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 09:27 AM (c6xtn)

No. All will be revealed next week, as is customary.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (qFuUh)

220 Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:31 AM (y7DUB)

The first Hardy I ever read was Tess, but I liked him better as an author when I read Far From the Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Casterbridge

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (ONvIw)

221 Greetings:

And the lying lips, having again lied, lied on.

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (uuklp)

222 I used to be in a book club and often the only person who read the book was the one who chose it.

The wine was always good, though.

Hard to find book clubs in suburbia, sigh.

I'm not a book club type, (except for the new Dante), but this is actually a really good time for them. Apparently there are lots of online book clubs, where the main focus is, you know, a book, rather than the wine.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (ZsR3z)

223 And Books 6 and 7 were her pulling herself together to plough through her destiny: to beat C.S. Lewis at writing a 7-volume series, and to beat Tolkien in word count.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:24 AM (RZclC)

I don't think anybody can beat Tolkien in word count. The first time I read lord of the rings I got about 1/4 of the way through and found myself saying make it stop every other page. 3289 ways to describe how the sun hits the leaves on a tree....

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (VwHCD)

224 It could be Simone Signoret in America?

Anyway it looks photoshopped. Look at her hands -- they belong on an older woman.

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (S1hrL)

225 I also started re-reading Elizabeth George's "Playing For the Ashes", one of her Thomas Lynley novels. I had forgotten what smutty dreck she included as a backstory. Filth. I skipped over a lot of that crap on my way to the real bones of the story, which is solving the murder of one of England's top cricket players. I don't know what she was thinking. I don't remember her other books being like that.

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (45fpk)

226 Ziba, The Grand Sophy is a romp. Delicious. Civil Contract, which is probably also my favorite, compares very well to Jane Austen. One thing I enjoy about Heyer's earlier works is that you can see how much more polished she became.

Posted by: Wenda at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (4grFk)

227 >>> 31 Finished Robert Spencer Did Mo Exist?, it's a evil in Islam to look yet Jewish and Christian history has extensively been looked into.

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 08:13 AM (2JoB
---
Those who remember me hate-reading Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire will perhaps recall that Gibbon came to a similar conclusion. For a great warrior-conqueror, Mohammed left no contemporary evidence. None of his enemies mentioned him, which is highly unusual. We don't know much about the Huns, but we do know their leaders.

I've got a book somewhere on the early history of Islam that argues that it's a Christian heresy that got out of hand.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:19 AM (llXky)

I can't remember if I've ever seen *Islam* described that way (as opposed to say, Marxism). Might you dig that book up for the next book thread?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (ACi07)

228 I enjoyed the earlier Harry Potter books, they were more geared towards younger readers. The later ones were full of teen angst, and dragged on.

Posted by: Max Power at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (QCc6B)

229 they had to import a labor force, there's a swedish mob lawyers turned crime novelist jens lapidus, that shows how much of the skut work is done by arab serbian russian gangs, native swedes don't bother,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (hMlTh)

230 Speaking of socialist "paradises" and oil wealth. When Biden shut down the federal land oil leases New Mexico lost 60% of their state income for the coming year (at least, maybe forever). They can no longer fulfill the contract the, openly, socialist governor pushed through that gave all teachers a huge raise.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 09:32 AM (1lKRm)

Oops!

Whoopsie!

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:37 AM (qFuUh)

231 "Ninnyhammer doesn't seem quite right because it omits the evil component."

Whether the left or Islam or TheMob, they have fools that believe TheNarrative, that serve as their suicide bombers and BLM/Antifa terrorists.

But the leaders are using deceit and ruthlessness to achieve their ends. ... At the top? imo, it is oligarchs who can toss around millions to stir up chaos as needed, while their smart quants and such make trillions in derivative gambling, and now own the world? (and always they get bailed out, and never indicted)

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 09:37 AM (Cus5s)

232 And reading of publishers, how come cartographers (mapmakers) rarely get a printed credit in books while the author's picture-taker almost always seem ???
=====

Oooh, oooh, oooh, I know this one! (waves hand in the air enthusiastically)

Geography is no longer an academic subject; however, photography is considered a worthy academic pursuit.

Posted by: mustbequantum at September 26, 2021 09:37 AM (MIKMs)

233 @217

they call it "duper's delight"--people who will lie when the truth will do. Apparently it makes them feel powerful, because they're pulling one over on you.

Usually they can't suppress a smile/smirk. Watch Meghan Markle, to see it in action. or that Peter Strzok guy, who testified in front of congress. He looked like he's smirk himself into a muscle cramp

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:38 AM (AwPyG)

234
g'mornin', book-ish 'rons

Posted by: AltonJackson at September 26, 2021 09:38 AM (DUIap)

235 I read several of the Harry Potter books and enjoyed some of them for the humor and creative names of the spells. The YA/teen angst left me cold. But I was pleased to see that for a lot of youngsters they were a springboard to other, and better, books: Treasure Island, LOTR and the Hobbit, and the Narnia series to name a few.
Posted by: JTB at September 26, 2021

***
They are very good stuff, with a hero (Harry) who has talent but has to learn how to channel it, who uses his brains to solve mysteries, and who displays courage and loyalty to his friends. I'd hope that some HP fans would have gone on to try Ellery Queen and Rex Stout's mysteries, and fantasy stories like Fred Saberhagen's (if they could find his stuff) and Larry Niven's, and then into science-fiction.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at September 26, 2021 09:39 AM (c6xtn)

236 I thought that "Guernica" meant should've painted by number.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:39 AM (d9FiS)

237 The first time I read lord of the rings I got about 1/4 of the way through and found myself saying make it stop every other page. 3289 ways to describe how the sun hits the leaves on a tree....

TBF, they were very nice leaves.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 09:39 AM (ZsR3z)

238 At the Bee:

10 ways to woo Christian Women

#8. Tell her you're a Calvinist so she has no choice. Works every time, as it was predestined to.

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 09:39 AM (yrol0)

239 Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:31 AM (y7DUB)

Another one I found fascinating was The Well Beloved.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:39 AM (ONvIw)

240 At the BEE:

COVID Approval Rating Skyrockets After Briefly Interrupting 'The View'

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 09:40 AM (yrol0)

241 Speaking of socialist "paradises" and oil wealth. When Biden shut down the federal land oil leases New Mexico lost 60% of their state income for the coming year (at least, maybe forever). They can no longer fulfill the contract the, openly, socialist governor pushed through that gave all teachers a huge raise.

They had to cancel free college tuition for families making less than 100k.

GOODER AND HARDERER

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (yrol0)

242
COVID Approval Rating Skyrockets After Briefly Interrupting 'The View'
Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 09:40 AM (yrol0)
That's pure Bee

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (ONvIw)

243 Ha - love the Bee

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (45fpk)

244 I tried an on-line book club for a discussion of Camus' The Plague. It was pretty awful. Stilted conversation and overall silly remarks.

The best part of book clubs for me was the human contact and of course a good book discussion. Nabokov was a hit -- Pnin and Lolita.

Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (S1hrL)

245 I can't remember if I've ever seen *Islam* described that way (as opposed to say, Marxism). Might you dig that book up for the next book thread?

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 26, 2021 09:36 AM (ACi07)
---
I posted it upthread, but it's The Hidden Origins of Islam, edited by Ohlig and Puin.

Pretty heavy reading.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (llXky)

246 I'm still reading Victor Klemperer's diaries of the Nazi years. They're not difficult reading, but I don't read as quickly as I used to. I lose focus easily now, probably due to internet use. Still, I'm midway through 1937 now, and there are so many parallels to our present day, I feel like starting a commonplace book and copying out salient extracts.

One thing that strikes me is that over the 4.5 years I've read so far, a recurring theme is how the Nazi regime can't last much longer. Everyone says it - they'll be gone by the end of the month. This is really it, the government is going to collapse. The economy is in the toilet, everything's at the breaking point - and yet Hitler just keeps getting stronger.

Another thing is that supposedly discontent is seething - the rank and file in the military, in the Hitler Youth, in the trades unions, in the police - supposedly EVERYONE hates Hitler, yet he's never in any danger. I feel we're being told the same things today, about how the soldiers are furious at the higher-ups, and the police are refusing to carry out orders. But really, this is just to keep us calm, because nobody is really going to stick their neck out.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (RZclC)

247 196 Notice how those library photos never show any actual people reading any actual books? Just sayin'

Posted by: Dr Wang at September 26, 2021 09:26 AM (/HxZI)

I know; Muldoon used to complain about that regularly.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (qFuUh)

248 "Show him a little ankle."

Posted by: JAS, AoSHQ addict at September 26, 2021 09:42 AM (xopIz)

249 Whether the left or Islam or TheMob, they have fools that believe TheNarrative, that serve as their suicide bombers and BLM/Antifa terrorists.

Latter-day Hashashins.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:42 AM (rYZAP)

250 "Guernica" was a travel poster.

Posted by: klaftern at September 26, 2021 09:42 AM (taPSh)

251 The best part of book clubs for me was the human contact

Sorry, you lost me.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (ZsR3z)

252
I don't think anybody can beat Tolkien in word count. The first time I read lord of the rings I got about 1/4 of the way through and found myself saying make it stop every other page. 3289 ways to describe how the sun hits the leaves on a tree....

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM

I know, right?

makes Ayn Rand seem concise

Posted by: AltonJackson at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (DUIap)

253 The best part of book clubs for me was the human contact

That would be the worst part for me. *shudders*

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (45fpk)

254 243 Ha - love the Bee

Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (45fpk)

In these remarkably stupid times, the Bee is the newspaper of record.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (qFuUh)

255 Speaking of socialist "paradises" and oil wealth. When Biden shut down the federal land oil leases New Mexico lost 60% of their state income for the coming year (at least, maybe forever). They can no longer fulfill the contract the, openly, socialist governor pushed through that gave all teachers a huge raise.

Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at September 26, 2021 09:32

There's some Wall Street fund that allows states to borrow against future tobacco tax proceeds. I imagine some states are already borrowed into the year 2099.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (dQvv7)

256 I can understand some people choosing not to read the Harry Potter books, if you don't have children of a certain age.

It's one of my cherished memories though, reading them with my daughter. Even well after she was old enough to read them by herself.

They're smashing good reads, really. Not great literature, but good enough for these times. I know there's some who have a religious objection to reading them, but honestly, I don't see the point of that.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (owdWk)

257 @231
I don't know if anyone's following the GME epic saga, but it's taken a kind of fun twist (synopsis: everyone at the SEC and stock market enforcement agencies has been exposed as really, really corrupt.)

Gensler, the head of the SEC, promised a report on the GME situation. He said the report would be here by "end of summer"

A private lawsuit was recently filed in Florida, with detailed allegations about who did what, and when, along with communications between the wrongdoers.

So Gensler's report--which was surely going to be a whitewash--is now delayed.

score one for the good guys.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:44 AM (AwPyG)

258 Scaple.

Sponge.

Ninnyhammer.

Posted by: Humphreyrobot at September 26, 2021 09:44 AM (T1fV4)

259 Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (qFuUh)

Libraries are at their neatest with no people set up with computers and backpacks. Besides, who wants to see a gaggle of students or have them bitch about unauthorized pictures?

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:44 AM (ONvIw)

260 They're smashing good reads, really. Not great literature, but good enough for these times. I know there's some who have a religious objection to reading them, but honestly, I don't see the point of that.

If your God is so weak as to be threatened by Harry Potter, that doesn't say much for your God. Sorry, I have no patience for that mindset.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 09:45 AM (ZsR3z)

261 Greetings:

That "Guernica" is one big sucking painting.

Color > B&W

Posted by: 11B40 at September 26, 2021 09:45 AM (uuklp)

262 BTW, I'm feeling pretty good about my decision to go to the vigil Mass last night. With a night game on campus, the crowd was agreeably thin but also in good spirits. Our pastor welcomed the Nebraska fans who were in attendance and remarked that one of our other priests served as the visiting team's chaplain. He turned to the rest of the congregation, and said: "So if Nebraska wins, you can blame Father Matthew. Either way, I'll be happy with the result."

I bet the pews will be packed today. The Sunday after the Hail Mary game against Wisconsin it was standing room only as all the partially lapsed Catholics fulfilled the vows they made the night before.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:45 AM (llXky)

263 17 Hey, I am having a bit of trouble logging onto my online bank and I was wondering if someone can try to see if they have luck from a different computer.

It is Citibank
Username billybob123
Password P@ssword!
Posted by: Ninnyhammer at September 26, 2021 08:10 AM (mdgQ7)

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

I know this is a joke, but now I'm wondering how many bots will scoop up this info, and attempt to log in to the account.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:45 AM (CAJOC)

264 The first Hardy I ever read was Tess, but I liked him better as an author when I read Far From the Madding Crowd and The Mayor of Casterbridge
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:35 AM (ONvIw)

My experience is similar only substitute Jude the Obscure for The Mayor of Casterbridge which I intend on reading. Although MP4 can't go wrong with any of them I think it's somewhat telling that Tess set the hook on both of us.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:46 AM (y7DUB)

265 We want to see the library/bookstore without people blocking certain features.

I think such photos are taken outside of business hours.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:47 AM (rYZAP)

266 Trillionaires do not exist
Billionaires there are about 400. Changing the tax code would take about 2 sentences.
Million dollars per year. Thats about 400k in a normal year and 500k in a great year. Changing the tax code would take about 2 sentences. (PS 1 out of 4 are not in the Million range the next year)

It does not take 2600 pages to fix this if the Dems really wanted to!

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 09:47 AM (yrol0)

267 I finished the SF story "Superego" by Frank J. Fleming, who is also a writer for the Bee. Our psychopathic hero Rico is a hitman who works for the most powerful syndicate in the galaxy. He was engineered with emotional responses genetically removed from his makeup and thinks only in brutal logic. But he still has to mimic normal behavior when among the filthy populace, so he is always asking questions: Why do people observe the social niceties? Should I shoot this person instead of listening to him blather on? Is it wrong to laugh at others' misfortune, and if so, why?

There's a lot of black humor and I liked Rico's inner monologues. If you've ever politely suffered through a windbag bloviating claptrap while gleefully imagining deploying a flamethrower, you will understand Rico's force of will, because that is exactly what he would ordinarily do.

As part of his cover, Rico works with a police woman planetside and starts to feel pleasure in another's company. Can it be...love?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 09:47 AM (Dc2NZ)

268 What Dante translations do you participants prefer?

-
You could condense Inferno to "Hellzapoppin!"

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:47 AM (d9FiS)

269 When Biden shut down the federal land oil leases New Mexico lost 60% of their state income for the coming year (at least, maybe forever).
=====

On to Alaska!

Posted by: mustbequantum at September 26, 2021 09:47 AM (MIKMs)

270
Tip o' the hat to Moron Authors. I sometimes wish I could write, but I have no skill at storytelling. Two ideas I've always had: 1) a Candide type of tale where a bright, idealistic young student gets ground down by today's modern, Woke university; 2) a political novel around the 25th Amendment where the president recovers but the acting president doesn't want to yield power.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 09:48 AM (/U27+)

271 I can testify on this. My very own sister is a piece of shit hard core leftist. Has been her entire life. One of her neighbors posted a picture on some social media platform of herself inside of the Capitol on J6. My sister called the FBI on the person.

====

Do you know what happened to those people ?

Posted by: runner at September 26, 2021 09:48 AM (V13WU)

272 I read the Harry Potter books, started on vacation reading a few in then eventually them all. It's a kids story but thought pretty imaginative

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 09:48 AM (2JoB8)

273 176 I love that picture of Flourish and Blotts up top. I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed those books along with my kids. If you have read them, you'll know what I mean when I say I feel like we are living in the middle of Book 7.

Posted by: bluebell at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (wyw4S)

When my kids were little, we read the LOTR books together as a family. The Potter books weren't available until they were older. They read them all and enjoyed them. I did not finish the first book, it couldn't capture my interest.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:49 AM (qFuUh)

274 *or that person

Posted by: runner at September 26, 2021 09:49 AM (V13WU)

275 Morning Hordemates.
I've begun a series of fill in Sherlock Holmes stories written by Charles Veley. They are really great reading and I'm enjoying them far more than I thought I would.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 26, 2021 09:49 AM (axyOa)

276 257 @231
I don't know if anyone's following the GME epic saga, but it's taken a kind of fun twist (synopsis: everyone at the SEC and stock market enforcement agencies has been exposed as really, really corrupt.)

...

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:44 AM (AwPyG)

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

Corruption in government agencies?! The hell you say!!

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:49 AM (CAJOC)

277 I went to a book event a couple of months ago, and there were two grown women wearing their "school" outfits from the series.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:29 AM (AwPyG)

I've been to some of those. But they weren't "book" events.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 09:49 AM (owdWk)

278 One thing that strikes me is that over the 4.5 years I've read so far, a recurring theme is how the Nazi regime can't last much longer.

-
#twoweeks

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:50 AM (d9FiS)

279 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke is next on my Audible list.
It's amazing that we're 20 years past 2001.

Posted by: N.L. Urker, the Phillips screwdriver of the gods at September 26, 2021 09:51 AM (cSyAR)

280 >>> 130 Okay, got the book: The Hidden Origins of Islam, edited by Ohlig and Puin. It's a series of essays of varying difficulty.

Some are easy to follow, others impenetrable unless you speak five languages.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (llXky)

Ha, see what happens when I wake up late... thanks!

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 26, 2021 09:51 AM (ACi07)

281
My experience is similar only substitute Jude the Obscure for The Mayor of Casterbridge which I intend on reading. Although MP4 can't go wrong with any of them I think it's somewhat telling that Tess set the hook on both of us.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:46 AM (y7DUB)

I read Tess first because when I discovered the boxes of novels in my cousin's attic I was a 14yo girl and thought I'd have more interest in a female character. If I had to choose a favorite it would be Far From the Madding Crowd .

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:51 AM (ONvIw)

282 "They can no longer fulfill the contract the, openly, socialist governor pushed through that gave all teachers a huge raise."

In IL back in 1980 or so, they had a law that teacher retirement accounts must be fully funded. They did not fund them, so then they made a new law, "even if not fully funded, contracts must be fulfilled".

When they were bankrupt and agreed to a new deal (lowered benefits) the unions won in court, clawed back everything promised. ... So we get a federal bailout, or do they start confiscating property from the middle class to fund the golden (early) retirements of teachers that never could teach Juanny to read?

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 09:52 AM (Cus5s)

283
It's amazing that we're 20 years past 2001.
Posted by: N.L. Urker, the Phillips screwdriver of the gods at September 26, 2021 09:51 AM (cSyAR)

___________

2001: Flight to Jupiter

2021: Tik-Tok Videos

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 09:52 AM (/U27+)

284 176 I love that picture of Flourish and Blotts up top. I know I'm in the minority here, but I really enjoyed those books along with my kids. If you have read them, you'll know what I mean when I say I feel like we are living in the middle of Book 7.

...

Posted by: bluebell at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (wyw4S)

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

My wife, my son, and I have read all the books. When the 7th came out my wife and I each bought our own copies. I started reading early on a Saturday, and finished up late that night.

I understand exactly what you mean about living in book 7.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:53 AM (CAJOC)

285 I can testify on this. My very own sister is a piece of shit hard core leftist. Has been her entire life. One of her neighbors posted a picture on some social media platform of herself inside of the Capitol on J6. My sister called the FBI on the person. No petty grudge that I know of, just hard core leftist groupthink.

She was for a period of time somewhat sane, but not anymore. I don't want a person like that in my life, nor does my brother, who kicked her out of his home not so long ago.

I've eliminated this sort of vileness from my life too. It's partly out of a sense of self-preservation. Talking to someone like that increases the risk you'll say something objectionable, and expose yourself to being ratted out as well. People like this have abandoned their own humanity, and family ties won't hold out against the groupthink.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:53 AM (RZclC)

286 If your God is so weak as to be threatened by Harry Potter, that doesn't say much for your God. Sorry, I have no patience for that mindset.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 09:45 AM (ZsR3z)
---
I think that this mentality is being blown out of proportion by leftists trying to discredit Christianity. They find one weirdo, and suddenly that's the Voice of the Faith Everywhere.

My wife and kids read the books (I didn't) and they soured on the ending. While it was going, though, they enjoyed reading them.

Later they graduated to Tolkien, so it was a win.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:53 AM (llXky)

287 249 Whether the left or Islam or TheMob, they have fools that believe TheNarrative, that serve as their suicide bombers and BLM/Antifa terrorists.

Latter-day Hashashins.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:42 AM (rYZAP)

Wait, assassins who smoke hash?

Where do I sign up?

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 09:54 AM (qFuUh)

288 I'm David Hogg, and I approve this message.

Posted by: David Hogg at September 26, 2021 09:54 AM (JwiOA)

289 @276

This scandal's a doozy, and is probably going to affect everyone. (Remember that Chinese company that's going broke?)

Basically, the rough outline is the elite players have been manipulating the stock market at will, so as to make themselves rich at your expense. (why are politicians exempt from insider trading, you ask?) And per the Panama Papers, they are not paying any taxes, to boot.

But they tried to pull their tricks with little old Gamestop, and the autists at Reddit got fired up. Now the whole house of cards is teetering.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:54 AM (AwPyG)

290 The best part of book clubs for me was the human contact and of course a good book discussion. Nabokov was a hit -- Pnin and Lolita.
Posted by: Ziba at September 26, 2021 09:41 AM (S1hrL)

Some book club members are stubbornly resistant to the charms of Nabokov. I think they find him too clever by half.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:55 AM (y7DUB)

291 Posted by: bluebell at September 26, 2021 09:18 AM (wyw4S)

My wife, my son, and I have read all the books. When the 7th came out my wife and I each bought our own copies. I started reading early on a Saturday, and finished up late that night.

I understand exactly what you mean about living in book 7.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:53 AM (CAJOC)

Yup. Pretty impressive, she nailed modern politics in a children's book.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 09:56 AM (owdWk)

292 It was inevitable that those pants would appear in these pants.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (axyOa)

293 They're smashing good reads, really. Not great literature, but good enough for these times. I know there's some who have a religious objection to reading them, but honestly, I don't see the point of that.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (owdWk)

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

It's been my experience that there is a difference between good literature and good story-telling. I blame English classes, where you are expected to wrench meaning out of every word or phrase. Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (CAJOC)

294 Morning all. Currently reading the Foxfire series by Eliot Wiggington, book #5. (Iron making, blacksmithing, flintlock rifles & bear hunting) Have read the series before long ago.

Since getting the homestead, I have gotten on a self sufficiency kick stronger than ever before.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (OCTRt)

295 278 One thing that strikes me is that over the 4.5 years I've read so far, a recurring theme is how the Nazi regime can't last much longer.

-
#twoweeks
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 09:50 AM

I am totally sick of Nazis, bit I recognize why the donks chose that particular smear and antifa did spell it out.
The 1000 year reich has been over since 1945, and yet we have to keep it going and act as it it was still around.
The reason I hate the preoccupation so much is that the prevalence of that theme has made people I know (yes, mainly my husband) all most unbearable at times. He watches nazi themed programs too regularly and it's made him a bit paranoid and too ethnocentric. Nazis are basically very elderly or dead, but on TV they are Peter Pan and never get older. There are "new" plots and twists and of course their descendants are all just waiting to spring. It's sick

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (ONvIw)

296
Do you know what happened to those people ?

Posted by: runner at September 26, 2021 09:48 AM

No, but I imagine same as the others; in jail with no bond. When I mentioned their plight to my sister I asked her just what f*ing country do we live in that denies bail to people whose worst crime is trespassing?

* crickets *

But she's all for closing Guantanamo and letting murderers loose. Did I mention she has a phd in something or other like psychology?

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 09:58 AM (dQvv7)

297 All of my kids and my wife read the Potter books.

I read the first one -- audiobook, I think -- and saw some of the movies.

Good enough, but I'll take the Myth-Adventures any day.

Until he suffered writer's block, Robert Aspirin was a wonderful writer.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (rYZAP)

298 @282

Not to mention that teachers haven't been affected by the pandemic, but were being fully paid to not work and (surprisingly!) are the bigger advocates of "it's still not safe!"

a lot of parents very unhappy with the teaching profession, nowadays.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (AwPyG)

299 It's been my experience that there is a difference between good literature and good story-telling. I blame English classes, where you are expected to wrench meaning out of every word or phrase. Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (CAJOC)

I doubt if the authors would agree with the profs about all the symbolism.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (ONvIw)

300 If your God is so weak as to be threatened by Harry Potter, that doesn't say much for your God.

islam in a nutshell. Weak sauce.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (OCTRt)

301 Back to Mohammed: Another odd feature about him is that the oldest works have very little to say about his life and him personally. It's the later teachings that go into his private affairs, and have all the little vignettes about this or that.

This is completely the opposite of how historical biography works. In every other case, the contemporary accounts provide the most detail and later writers draw upon that for analysis and discussion. Later people might try to fill the gaps with their imagination, but that's pure conjecture. That's why we still read Suetonius, Tacitus, Josephus, etc. Again, its strange that while the Byzantines were getting their butts kicked by this Holy Warrior Genius General, exactly no one was writing about it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (llXky)

302 But she's all for closing Guantanamo and letting murderers loose. Did I mention she has a phd in something or other like psychology?
Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 09:58 AM (dQvv7)

when was the last time she paid taxes..

Posted by: runner at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (V13WU)

303 People like this have abandoned their own humanity, and family ties won't hold out against the groupthink.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 09:53 AM (RZclC)

Or colander facemask world.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (VwHCD)

304
What grounds are there for holding the 1/6 detainees without bail? No capital crime has been committed.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (/U27+)

305 The truly wealthy own valuable assets. They don't need W-2 income. They can borrow at cheap rates to get cash if they need it.

So you won't get them with ordinary income tax. If you use capital gains they'll just sit on what they have, and it will fuck up things for everyone else.

High capital gains rates kills risky investment, what drives growth and new jobs. That's because it makes the government the worst kind of partner -- takes a cut of the ups, but doesn't share in losses, and contributes nothing.

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:01 AM (ZHVt1)

306 Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 09:43 AM (owdWk)

It's been my experience that there is a difference between good literature and good story-telling. I blame English classes, where you are expected to wrench meaning out of every word or phrase. Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (CAJOC)

Ah, I think that's rather the point. Good storytelling, reading for enjoyment, that's one thing. Being transformed by a book is something else, and it can be done entertainingly or not.

Our brains are doing the hard work of making sense of this stuff, and there's nothing wrong with using books to tickle that one certain part of the brain. But there are other parts that can be satisfied, differently.

That's where great literature comes in.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:01 AM (owdWk)

307 "Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism."

And you'd be amazed if you saw how little the people on the NYTimes best seller lists were making, as compared to the good storytellers.

(Look at that! Another circle-back to the people who know best)

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:01 AM (AwPyG)

308
That's because it makes the government the worst kind of partner -- takes a cut of the ups, but doesn't share in losses, and contributes nothing.
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:01 AM (ZHVt1)

___________

Government = Paulie

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:02 AM (/U27+)

309 304
What grounds are there for holding the 1/6 detainees without bail? No capital crime has been committed.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (/U27+)

I read somewhere it is due to the horrible nature of denying the integrity of our elections (something freely donks did for Bush and Trump)

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:02 AM (ONvIw)

310 there are some very fkd up people out there....

Posted by: runner at September 26, 2021 10:03 AM (V13WU)

311 "Trillionaires do not exist -- Billionaires there are about 400"

"A new report from research firm Wealth-X found that the number of global billionaires rose above 3,000 in 2020."

Plandemic trillions went mostly into the accounts of the richest, directly or indirectly. (paupers got a few thousand, which goes to WalMart, or conglomerates, or banks to pay debts).

There are probably some trillionaire families, or foundations. And BigTech acts as one ... several are close to a trillion now.

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 10:03 AM (Cus5s)

312 @293 --

I'll take fiction over literature any day.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 10:03 AM (rYZAP)

313 What grounds are there for holding the 1/6 detainees without bail? No capital crime has been committed.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (/U27+)

What grounds? To show we don't live in a free country anymore.

We're not quite Australia, but we're certainly not free either.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (owdWk)

314 there was a sci fi murder mystery, with Rutger Hauer, that leaned on the notion of the Thames overflowing,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:55 AM (hMlTh)

That was the one with psychic werewolves, chocolate, coffee, and bigger guns I think.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (KbLYZ)

315 @308 Exactimundo, Doctor Hadrian

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (ZHVt1)

316 299 It's been my experience that there is a difference between good literature and good story-telling. I blame English classes, where you are expected to wrench meaning out of every word or phrase. Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (CAJOC)

I doubt if the authors would agree with the profs about all the symbolism.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:59 AM (ONvIw)

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

Wouldn't surprise me. I remember reading once that someone was presenting a paper on the influence of the Vietnam war on one of Stephen King's books (I forget which). Stephen King was there, and when asked, said he really wasn't thinking about Vietnam at all.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (CAJOC)

317 What grounds are there for holding the 1/6 detainees without bail? No capital crime has been committed.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM (/U27+)
---
You can't expect consistency from these people. They demand de-policing and then sic the cops on you. They demand the abolition of bail and then hold people without charges for months.

Pure pursuit of power By Any Means Necessary.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (llXky)

318 Jewish Deplorable
@TrumpJew2
Mayorkas says Biden administration opposes the wall because people crossing illegally is "one of our proudest traditions"

-
Right up there with BLM and Antifa riots.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (d9FiS)

319 OM tipped that Who Dis is French. So my final answer is Simon Simone

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:05 AM (ZHVt1)

320 Same as today. But you left out rape. If you "submit" to Islam you can indulge in the worst excesses against non-believers. Very attractive to sexually frustrated young men. Especially those with 80 IQs.
We'll see this in action with many of our new Afghani neighbors.
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 08:56 AM (ZHVt1)

violence is exacerbated in polygamous societies as well, including domestic violence.

Posted by: Kindltot at September 26, 2021 10:05 AM (KbLYZ)

321 Has anyone here read Hopscotch by Julio Cortazar? I found it in a box of books in the attic from the late 70s or early 80s when I bought it as a highly thought of experimental text and was thoroughly confused by it. After finding it I suggested it to the book group (I was heartened that it's still in print in our increasingly Farenheit 451 setting) and was looking for some Horde of the Book insight as to whether it's worth the effort.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:13 AM (y7DUB)

Long ago and faraway, I read "Hopscotch" and thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, the "key" here is that there is two ways to read "Hopscotch". The Hopscotch way as the book is laid out or the traditional way, which is to "hopscotch" to consecutive chapters scattered throughout the book.

There should be a mapping list in the book, maybe at the back, that allows you to follow the consecutive chapters.

Is it a gimmick book? Why, yes! Yes, it is. But, Cortazar is a strong enough writer to pull it off.

By the way, I'm more a fan of his short stories than his novels. Check out story collections, "Change of Light" and "We Love Gl

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:06 AM (5NkmN)

322 Tell me a good story, don't beat me over the head with symbolism.
=====

Heh. Another take on 'modern' academia. Semiotics.

Posted by: mustbequantum at September 26, 2021 10:06 AM (MIKMs)

323 Wouldn't surprise me. I remember reading once that someone was presenting a paper on the influence of the Vietnam war on one of Stephen King's books (I forget which). Stephen King was there, and when asked, said he really wasn't thinking about Vietnam at all.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (CAJOC)
---
My father and I are polar opposites on politics and when we talk, we often argue (though no grudges are held).

We do, however, both loathe the writing style of Stephen King, so there's that.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:06 AM (llXky)

324 Wouldn't surprise me. I remember reading once that someone was presenting a paper on the influence of the Vietnam war on one of Stephen King's books (I forget which). Stephen King was there, and when asked, said he really wasn't thinking about Vietnam at all.
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 10:04 AM (CAJOC)

If professors didn't make it up there would be no room for a fresh crop of academic papers on long dead authors. That is also what gives us all this patriarchal, racism bull shit. Profs need something new and controversial to energize their careers.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:06 AM (ONvIw)

325 The New Yorker goes full terror supporter.

https://bit.ly/3odMtrl

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:07 AM (d9FiS)

326
What grounds are there for holding the 1/6 detainees without bail? No capital crime has been committed.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at September 26, 2021 10:00 AM

Isn't it funny how even before trial they are reported as being 'insurrectionists'? You can (well I hope you don't) rape someone and become an alleged rapist, or murder someone (like OJ) and still be an alleged murderer before trial.

But no, strolling through the Capital taking selfies and posting them to Facebook makes one an insurrectionist.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 10:07 AM (dQvv7)

327 *shakes fist at Pixy*

"We Love Glenda, So Much!"

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:07 AM (5NkmN)

328
Not Only No, But Heck No! - a limerick

What conclusions can be reached of Harry Potter?
Is he a hero? Or a sniveling rotter?
Well, to simplify the task
There's one question you should ask-
Would you want him to marry your daughter?

Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:07 AM (Xwt96)

329 I think they are holding these people without bail so they can't talk to the press about what really happened. They are not even letting them talk to their attorneys. The lack of civil rights is appalling and the fact that no one on our side is doing anything about it is so very telling. One trip to stand outside the jail and after being denied admission.....oh, well.
The entire Republican caucus should go and stand outside until being allowed in so they can publicly show the harsh conditions and fund attorneys capable of actually providing a defense.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (Y+l9t)

330 Needs a second stanza with "otter", Muldoon.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (Dc2NZ)

331 That picture has some resemblance to my TBR list.
Read The Way Station by Cliff Simak that I have heard talked about for ages. Solid book and makes me want to read more by him. So there is one book off of the TBR list...

Posted by: Charlotte at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (RNpWq)

332 I think that this mentality is being blown out of proportion by leftists trying to discredit Christianity. They find one weirdo, and suddenly that's the Voice of the Faith Everywhere.

That's absolutely true, but I know people who've said that to me (that HP is evil). In the interests of completeness, then, I've no use for either mindset.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (ZsR3z)

333 319 OM tipped that Who Dis is French. So my final answer is Simon Simone
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:05 AM (ZHVt1)

It's Barbara Laage, I looked around and found her after being told she was French. Nobody I ever heard of and pretty inconsequential as an actress, IMO

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (ONvIw)

334 The entire Republican caucus should go and stand outside until being allowed in so they can publicly show the harsh conditions and fund attorneys capable of actually providing a defense.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (Y+l9t)

They can't because they're in on it, just as they knew who killed Ashli but hugged and protected the guy.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:09 AM (ONvIw)

335 Mayorkas says Biden administration opposes the wall because people crossing illegally is "one of our proudest traditions"

-
Right up there with BLM and Antifa riots.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

I still say the state has every right to protect it's borders from illegal aliens.

Yes, immigration is the fedgov's bailiwick, but illegal immigration IS NOT immigration. Legal immigration is.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 10:11 AM (OCTRt)

336 I heard a lot about Harry Potter from devotees, all who were young adults when they read it. One became obsessed enough to skip classes and reread this fantasy stuff.

I'm not sure how true it is but some liked the idea of this predestined hero. That turned me off. I prefer heroes who chose to follow a certain path and reject the idea that one is chosen and preordained to be heroic.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (ONvIw)

337 I remember reading once that someone was presenting a paper on the influence of the Vietnam war on one of Stephen King's books (I forget which). Stephen King was there, and when asked, said he really wasn't thinking about Vietnam at all.

Obligatory: https://tinyurl.com/7udjpc6k

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (ZsR3z)

338 Just thought, the 1940 name smear of Fascist from the Soviets would outlive them both the Soviets and Nazis.

Posted by: Skip at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (2JoB8)

339 Captain Hate,

I meant to add that the weenie to entice your reading group to read "Hopscotch" is that half of them read one way and half the other and then base your discussions around that.

That should be fun.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (5NkmN)

340 @329

For a different take, I'm wary of getting too up in arms about the detainees--particularly because more info is coming out about how it was all a false flag, and staged by the FBI. (see the recent surveillance camera videos, that the prosecutors fought very hard to suppress)

The Constitution expressly provides exactly the remedy for this situation, with a Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus. This allows a prisoner to be taken before a judge, to argue that he is being held illegally. It happens all the time, but for some reason, it's not happening with this situation.

So be a suspicious cat.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (AwPyG)

341 That's absolutely true, but I know people who've said that to me (that HP is evil). In the interests of completeness, then, I've no use for either mindset.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:08 AM (ZsR3z)
---
I think the argument can be made that Harry Potter can be (and is) being turned to evil. It's being elevated as a happy, gay-friendly alternative to actual faith. The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God. That's evil.

Add in the adults claiming to be "School" alums and also the perverts that haunt cosplay events and internet forums, and I can see their point.

One thing I think it interesting is how Tolkien fandom originally was very hippie-oriented, even neo-pagan and how orthodox Christians have pretty aggressively reclaimed his work.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:14 AM (llXky)

342 335 Mayorkas says Biden administration opposes the wall because people crossing illegally is "one of our proudest traditions"

Except if you're from Cuba, the nation that welcomed the Jewish immigrant/refugee Mayorkas' family. They can leave behind communism, but Mayorkas will revive it here. His family immigrated legally and who the fuck is he to state that sneaking in is a proud tradition, damn left wing fraud!

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:15 AM (ONvIw)

343 On the topic of Harry Potter, am I the only one who despised Umbridge more than I despised Voldemort?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 10:16 AM (CAJOC)

344 Dorks like Richard Powers and Charles Stross are totalitarian suckups at heart. Too bad that they let it slip the more popular they get. Same with Spielberg.
Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 09:20 AM (y7DUB)

Yep. Stross has murdered my interest in his stories.

Brilliant writer. Totalitarian toady. Square this circle.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:16 AM (5NkmN)

345 Big crowd at my church this am. So happy to see people out again. And worshiping together.

Posted by: blaster at September 26, 2021 10:16 AM (DH7Uw)

346 Benny Hill had a sketch in which he portrayed a film director being interviewed by a BBC host intent on finding symbolism in everything.

The following is paraphrased.

Host: "Midway through the film, you switched from color to black-and-white. That showed the starkness of current society."

Director: "No, no, no. We switched to black-and-white film because we ran out of color film."

And so on.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 10:16 AM (rYZAP)

347 " I prefer heroes who chose to follow a certain path and reject the idea that one is chosen and preordained to be heroic."

Han Solo >> Mary Sue Luke Skywalker >> Uber Mary Sue Ren

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (ZHVt1)

348 Peanuts was a metaphor for the Vietnam War and the little red headed girl was Jane Fonda.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (d9FiS)

349 If professors didn't make it up there would be no room for a fresh crop of academic papers on long dead authors. That is also what gives us all this patriarchal, racism bull shit. Profs need something new and controversial to energize their careers.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:06 AM (ONvIw)

The last English class I took was decades ago. I haven't thought about anything that got said by an English perfesser in decades.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (owdWk)

350 @335

Article IV section 4 requires the federal government to protect each state from invasion.

Like the habeas corpus thing, an easy petition to bring in court, but for some reason it's not being brought by Texas.

suspicious cat strikes again

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (AwPyG)

351 The 1000 year reich has been over since 1945, and yet we have to keep it going and act as it it was still around.
The reason I hate the preoccupation so much is that the prevalence of that theme has made people I know (yes, mainly my husband) all most unbearable at times. He

That describes my now-estranged lefty sister. She's absolutely marinated in Third Reich terror-porn. Every second book she reads is on the subject, she broods on it constantly. Trump was a fascist! Yet when the actual Reichstag Fire fraud was re-enacted before her eyes, she couldn't see that the regime seizing an excuse to imprison its enemies and violate civil rights was the bad guy in the story. She swallowed whole the "sedition" lie, along with all the other lies. This is why she's no longer in my life. I can't have a relationship with someone who thinks I'm a suitable candidate for the Nuremberg Trials.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:18 AM (RZclC)

352 Ishaq was 100 years after mohammed, bukhari was another hundred, so was tabari, thats pretty far removed from the experience,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 10:18 AM (hMlTh)

353 don't get me started on that vekakte mayorkas or his brother from another mother gascon,

Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 10:19 AM (hMlTh)

354 On the topic of Harry Potter, am I the only one who despised Umbridge more than I despised Voldemort?
Posted by: No One of Consequence at September 26, 2021 10:16 AM (CAJOC)

Voldemort is Hilter. Umbridge is Goebbels.

No reason not to despise both equally, or one more than the other, depending on how close in proximity they are to you.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:19 AM (owdWk)

355 Han Solo >> Mary Sue Luke Skywalker >> Uber Mary Sue Ren

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (ZHVt1)
---
Whoa, back that bus up. Luke was *not* a Mary Sue. Dude got a brutal beat-down handed to him in Empire. Got lost in the snow, etc.

The definition of a Mary Sue is that she is better than everyone at everything. Definitely not Luke.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (llXky)

356 @349

You don't understand--the students are not the audience for the English Professors and their nonsensical "takes" and ideas. Their only audience is each other.

I explain the publishing industry in the same way--they are not trying to market a product to the consumer, instead they are marketing themselves to each other.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (AwPyG)

357 Add in the adults claiming to be "School" alums and also the perverts that haunt cosplay events and internet forums, and I can see their point.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:14 AM (llXky)

Cosplay can become sinister past a certain age. Adults joining kids groups is awful. At least the Starfleet Academy was an adult program, lol. I'm not one for dress up games like this.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (ONvIw)

358 Morning.

I'm out of coffee creamer. All I have is Kahlua, Amaretto and Kamora and it's just too early to be getting liquored up.

*Sips*

Fight me, bishes!

Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (1Yy3c)

359 Nazis make great stylish villians, which is why they endure.

I blame designer Hugo Boss

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (ZHVt1)

360 Like the habeas corpus thing, an easy petition to bring in court, but for some reason it's not being brought by Texas.

suspicious cat strikes again

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (AwPyG)
---
The Texas National Guard is larger than the British Army. If Abbott wanted the border closed, he'd close it.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:21 AM (llXky)

361
You don't understand--the students are not the audience for the English Professors and their nonsensical "takes" and ideas. Their only audience is each other.
Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (AwPyG)

Not entirely. "Academics" get bonus points for influencing groups. Kendi and Cornell West come to mind.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:21 AM (ONvIw)

362 I read Tess first because when I discovered the boxes of novels in my cousin's attic I was a 14yo girl and thought I'd have more interest in a female character. If I had to choose a favorite it would be Far From the Madding Crowd .
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 09:51 AM (ONvIw)

It's hard to argue with that because I enjoyed it thoroughly as did the rest of the group judging from the discussion (initially someone wanted to read Tess until I pointed out the group had already read it; I swear they're all going dotty although maybe it's me...). It has at least four vividly drawn characters and even the secondary ones are so well portrayed you aren't thinking "which one is this?" Anyway good to interact with another Hardy-phile.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 10:22 AM (y7DUB)

363 "Luke was *not* a Mary Sue."

OK, but he was predestined by birth with special gifts ("there is another"). That's why I put him in the middle

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:22 AM (ZHVt1)

364 I think the argument can be made that Harry Potter can be (and is) being turned to evil. It's being elevated as a happy, gay-friendly alternative to actual faith. The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God. That's evil.

In an earlier generation, Star Wars' "The Force" was elevated by the weak-minded into a sort of alternative religion. Nice and vague, but always there to empower the good guys. I think Alec Guinness, who was a very serious Christian, was particularly irritated by this development. He thought people should be following a real religion, not making one up just so they'd feel happy inside.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:23 AM (RZclC)

365 I'm out of coffee creamer. All I have is Kahlua, Amaretto and Kamora and it's just too early to be getting liquored up.

*Sips*

Fight me, bishes!

Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (1Yy3c)
---
Bailey's works best for me.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:23 AM (llXky)

366 I guess I lurk, but mostly I find the comment format here inadequate, since I don't really have time to thumb up and down the comments to follow the conversations.
But your site your choice.

In regards to the books mentioned, many of which I'd find to be of interest, all are linked to Amazon. And I don't buy anything from Amazon... anymore.
I also prefer physical books, not digital. Sorry, just thought I'd let you know.

Posted by: John at September 26, 2021 10:23 AM (/3goP)

367 Peanuts was a metaphor for the Vietnam War and the little red headed girl was Jane Fonda.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:17 AM (d9FiS)

Steve from Blue's Clues came onto social media recently, and said Blue's Clues was a metaphor for the Vietnam War. Blue was the Viet Cong. Magenta was the American Communist Party. Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper of course were fellow travelers, and Steve's notebook of course was Nixon.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:23 AM (owdWk)

368 359 Nazis make great stylish villians, which is why they endure.

I blame designer Hugo Boss
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (ZHVt1)

The antifa handbook explains the endurance as being a villain that must be hated and to whom anything can be done. Hence, groups like this need to keep the saga going to create a villain that you cannot excuse and who can be hurt with impunity

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:23 AM (ONvIw)

369 I think the argument can be made that Harry Potter can be (and is) being turned to evil. It's being elevated as a happy, gay-friendly alternative to actual faith. The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God. That's evil.

Well, first, in my experience, those objecting usually don't get much beyond "magic is anti-God", or some such. It's a story, people, lighten up. It's that kind of sour, pinched approach to everything that turns many people off to religion. Second, what you described sounds to me like a restatement of the religious (or life) choices everyone faces. Do I do what's right, or do I do the easy thing and embrace evil?

The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God. That's evil.

It depends on how you define "greatness". If you mean as an alternative to God, then sure, but I've read all the books multiple times, and I don't see that at all. If, by greatness, you mean rising to the occasion and overcoming huge obstacles, surely that's something to be praised.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:24 AM (ZsR3z)

370 Just like how Star Wars was a metaphor for Vietnam. Lucas says so

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:25 AM (ZHVt1)

371
Ninnyhammer, Norway is where a Winter Olympics was staged in 1994.

The phrase you wanted was "cotton headed ninnymuggins", I believe.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 26, 2021 10:25 AM (pNxlR)

372
Ice cream and whipped cream are my options when I run out of half and half. Black coffee? Never.

Posted by: Traitor Joe's Military Surplus, Vaccine and Massage Parlor at September 26, 2021 10:26 AM (dQvv7)

373 OK, but he was predestined by birth with special gifts ("there is another"). That's why I put him in the middle

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:22 AM (ZHVt1)
---
Right, but the presence of "another" means he could be swapped out.

Besides, did you consider that Obi-Wan was using him as a tool the whole time? Like that as the Republic collapse, Obi-Wan and Yoda realized that the time was not yet ripe, so they went into hiding with the two most potent weapons in the universe against Anakin: his children.

When I did my take on the Star Wars in The Man of Destiny series, I was much more explicit about this. The exiled Ordo Militaris knights know they are beaten, so they go into hiding, waiting for the moment to strike down the Emperor and restore the Commonwealth.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:27 AM (llXky)

374 You don't understand--the students are not the audience for the English Professors and their nonsensical "takes" and ideas. Their only audience is each other.

Excellent point. There is a zero sum market for social status, and they all want a share of it.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:27 AM (ZsR3z)

375
Two Years Later - a limerick

Reviewing the last two years in toto
Your daughter's in a two room flat in LoDo
Good news? The things you taught her
Led to dumping Harry Potter
The bad news? She's started dating Frodo

Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:27 AM (Xwt96)

376 @360

And think about the message being sent, with the constant news about the political prisoners in DC who are practically being tortured and who haven't seen the light of day since January:

Don't protest the California recall, or the Arizona inaction on the audit. Look what happened to those protesters

Like I said--suspicious cat.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:27 AM (AwPyG)

377 Morning, 'rons and 'ronettes.

Going to do some more work on my book today.

Other than that, I got nothing.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at September 26, 2021 10:28 AM (2JVJo)

378 Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:13 AM (5NkmN)

Thanks for the feedback; you headed up the shortlist of readers who might be familiar with him, although the Horde of the Books never fail to provide pleasant surprises.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 10:28 AM (y7DUB)

379 Everybody loves the trope of "I am more important than I seem"

New writers should note this--it's a winner.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:29 AM (AwPyG)

380 Two Years Later - a limerick

Reviewing the last two years in toto
Your daughter's in a two room flat in LoDo
Good news? The things you taught her
Led to dumping Harry Potter
The bad news? She's started dating Frodo
Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:27 AM (Xwt96)

One thing you can say for Harry, nobody ever accused him of being gay for his gay friends.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:29 AM (owdWk)

381 The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God.

I disagree. Substitute "talents" for "greatness." I believe that God gave talents to each of us. We have to discover what ours are.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 10:29 AM (rYZAP)

382 The Texas National Guard is larger than the British Army. If Abbott wanted the border closed, he'd close it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:21 AM (llXky)

The border is a Federal responsibility. That aside, deploying National Guard costs lots of money. Relative sizes of armed forces aside, Texas lacks the printing press.

In short, we're so fucking boned.

*Brushes up on his Haitian Creole*

Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:31 AM (1Yy3c)

383 'Numpty'

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 26, 2021 10:31 AM (CTJwJ)

384 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.

Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)

385
The Iliad was a metaphor for the Vietnam War, according to Homer ("What does it take, a blind guy to point that out?" he was overheard to say).

King Priam was Nixon, Hector was Henry Kissinger and Achilles was Le Duc Tho. Filling out the rest of the cast is a exercise left to the reader.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (pNxlR)

386 - takes a cut of the ups, but doesn't share in losses, and contributes nothing.
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:01 AM (ZHVt1)

Sounds like some marriages.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (II3Gr)

387 If Luke and Leia were with us today, they'd be among the elite who don't have to wear masks. Demi-gods all,

Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (ZHVt1)

388 381 The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God.

I disagree. Substitute "talents" for "greatness." I believe that God gave talents to each of us. We have to discover what ours are.
Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 10:29 AM (rYZAP)

I like the idea of "greatness" as a sort of choice. Yeah we have talents , but we must choose to cultivate them and use them. I detest the idea of the chosen hero that shows up too often, as it gives people an out. I was not "chosen" or granted "specialness" so I'm off the hook.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (ONvIw)

389 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.
Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)

That's exactly what a Sith would say.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:33 AM (owdWk)

390 Just like how Star Wars was a metaphor for Vietnam. Lucas says so
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:25 AM (ZHVt1)

No, just Return Of The Jedi.

Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (1Yy3c)

391 382 Kanpay, oubien map tir�! = stop, or I'll shoot!

Posted by: callsign claymore at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (WHRb9)

392 383 'Numpty'
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 26, 2021 10:31 AM (CTJwJ)

Great word.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (II3Gr)

393 Well, first, in my experience, those objecting usually don't get much beyond "magic is anti-God", or some such. It's a story, people, lighten up.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:24 AM (ZsR3z)
---
People do turn to magic, though. It's A Thing, as the cool kids say.

And it can lead to very dark places. Add in the weird cosplay element, and there is a case to be made that it's been twisted.

I'd also like to revise and extend my remarks about greatness. Yes, we all should work to attain our full potential, but we should take care to understand that success relies on both external and internal factors.

If you look at the wokescolds today, much of the casual cruelty they show to the working class is because they believe they are inherently better. They are aren't mundanes or whatever the common scum are called, so they can do whatever they want to *those* people.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (llXky)

394 382 teeray

Posted by: callsign claymore at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (WHRb9)

395
so, what is the over/under masks will be in force thru out the USA 12 months from now?

Posted by: will choose a nic later at September 26, 2021 10:35 AM (bTQ72)

396 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.
Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)

*Waves hand*

You will go to the store and get me coffee creamer.

Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (1Yy3c)

397 I like the idea of "greatness" as a sort of choice. Yeah we have talents , but we must choose to cultivate them and use them. I detest the idea of the chosen hero that shows up too often, as it gives people an out. I was not "chosen" or granted "specialness" so I'm off the hook.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (ONvIw)

That's the fantasy element of all this, which is why it's rather pointless to argue about how it relates to real life.

The Chosen One is basically a storytelling device. In real life, people BECOME the "chosen one," because of some complex set of circumstances that thrust them to the forefront.

What might be unhealthy though, is the individual who sees themselves as worthless, if they are not the star, the top dog, the best of the best. Instead of doing the best THEY can, if they give up, then they squander the gifts they have.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (owdWk)

398
You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.
Posted by: Drerbrerard

"That putz certainly gave no thought to learning how to edit - that's all I can say!"

-- Marcia Lucas

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (pNxlR)

399 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.

Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)
---
Lol, I wrote a four-volume treatment of it. Quarter of a million words. It's pretty good, though. You should check it out.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:37 AM (llXky)

400 There's no "getting behind" since the lecture parts are available on youtube and elsewhere after the "reading date". You can start anytime that's convenient for you and not be behind. Should you wish.
Posted by: naturalfake

Great news for me. Thanks!

Posted by: April-dash my lace wigs! at September 26, 2021 10:37 AM (OX9vb)

401 >>> 396 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.
Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)

*Waves hand*

You will go to the store and get me coffee creamer.
Posted by: Robert - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (1Yy3c)

Need to add:

"Do it. Do it now."

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at September 26, 2021 10:38 AM (ACi07)

402 Magic is like superstition, in my book. A way to try to control the uncontrollable.

And who can blame everybody? Life is scary, and unpredictable.

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:38 AM (AwPyG)

403 389 You Star Wars guys are giving that tripe WAY WAY more thought this morning than Lucas did in his whole life.
Posted by: Drerbrerard at September 26, 2021 10:32 AM (sVGvG)

No blah blah blah

Posted by: Dr. Varno at September 26, 2021 10:38 AM (vuisn)

404 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:34 AM (llXky)

I agree with all of this.

many of our current "elites" got where they are by trashing the manufacturing base of our country, and now must demoralize those that they replaced in the equation. The replaced have to be made a lower group on the evolutionary scale so that they can feel justified in their destruction.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:38 AM (ONvIw)

405 What might be unhealthy though, is the individual who sees themselves as worthless, if they are not the star, the top dog, the best of the best. Instead of doing the best THEY can, if they give up, then they squander the gifts they have.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (owdWk)
---
That's why Tolkien resonates. Aragorn is the King, but his friends are also essential to the quest succeeding. Even Merry and Pippin, who start out as pretty useless, have pivotal roles to play before all is said and done.

And of course, Sam. The message of "you can't always be the bestest most important, so just do what you can" is a great one to live by. As Tolkien said, "look to your front" is great advice.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:39 AM (llXky)

406 it's always confusing to me that the British refer to "numpty" types as "muppets" because to us, the muppets are pretty cool

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (AwPyG)

407 People do turn to magic, though. It's A Thing, as the cool kids say.

And it can lead to very dark places. Add in the weird cosplay element, and there is a case to be made that it's been twisted.

One can say the same about religion. Anything can be misused, including Christianity.

I'd also like to revise and extend my remarks about greatness. Yes, we all should work to attain our full potential, but we should take care to understand that success relies on both external and internal factors.

Concur.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (ZsR3z)

408 If you look at the wokescolds today, much of the casual cruelty they show to the working class is because they believe they are inherently better. They are aren't mundanes or whatever the common scum are called, so they can do whatever they want to *those* people.

I'd say this is a prime example of the wisdom of the founding fathers. Good government, especially good Republican government that guarantees the rights of everyone, relies on a moral and informed populace.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (ZsR3z)

409 The Inferno is a metaphor for Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:41 AM (d9FiS)

410
so, what is the over/under masks will be in force thru out the USA 12 months from now?
Posted by: will choose a nic later

I had a SiL ask me yesterday how I was getting along in this pandemic. I was dumbfounded to be asked that after not having spoken with her in person for many months now as we were sitting outside, maskless, at a family social gathering.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 26, 2021 10:41 AM (pNxlR)

411
"That putz certainly gave no thought to learning how to edit - that's all I can say!"

-- Marcia Lucas

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (pNxlR)
---
I thought it was funny that she went on the record about how much the prequels suck. She got to see a preview of Episode I and went out into the parking lot and cried because it was so awful.

And her trashing of the sequels was concise and devastating.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:41 AM (llXky)

412 "The teaching that "we all have greatness somewhere within" is essentially elevating man above God. That's evil. -- In an earlier generation, Star Wars' "The Force" was elevated by the weak-minded into a sort of alternative religion."

imo, Christians need a strong foundation in the Bible, then as (young) adults we can understand the darker side influence that makes its way into more contemporary literature.

"The Force" does sorta eliminate the source of power as God ... it becomes more of a mental power all humans have within. Maybe the same with "there is no spoon".

But the struggle to find an American Way (out of our quagmire) requires being aware of the current zeitgeist, promulgated through literature. imo the Christian churches themselves have yielded to so many pagan traditions that secular literature is no less "seditious", and at least does not pretend to be Pure Christian.

Posted by: illiniwek at September 26, 2021 10:41 AM (Cus5s)

413 it's always confusing to me that the British refer to "numpty" types as "muppets" because to us, the muppets are pretty cool
Posted by: artemis

ANIMAL!

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 10:42 AM (OCTRt)

414 it's always confusing to me that the British refer to "numpty" types as "muppets" because to us, the muppets are pretty cool
Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (AwPyG)

Kinda like the flipside of my experience, where I come from hoosiers are idiots and simple minded pinheaded nitwits, with no style or grace.

In Indiana, they're great!

Which is why I don't have any faith in anyone from Indiana.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:42 AM (owdWk)

415 What might be unhealthy though, is the individual who sees themselves as worthless, if they are not the star, the top dog, the best of the best. Instead of doing the best THEY can, if they give up, then they squander the gifts they have.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (owdWk)

I'd rather see the inner working of what made someone choose their path and how they got there, than be told it's because it was "preordained".

Obama's "we are the ones we've been waiting for" sort of suggests a preordination of a generation. I think many ran with this "specialness" without even thinking it through, and went with the sinister and malignant religious quality he projected.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:42 AM (ONvIw)

416 The Inferno is a metaphor for Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks aka Hangdog Barkston at September 26, 2021 10:41 AM (d9FiS)

Whereas the Poseidon Adventure is clearly about the folly of nation building in Iraq.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:43 AM (owdWk)

417 That's why Tolkien resonates. Aragorn is the King, but his friends are also essential to the quest succeeding. Even Merry and Pippin, who start out as pretty useless, have pivotal roles to play before all is said and done.

And of course, Sam. The message of "you can't always be the bestest most important, so just do what you can" is a great one to live by. As Tolkien said, "look to your front" is great advice.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:39 AM (llXky)

That message stretched out to include everybody, even unnamed characters. The Scouring of the Shire was when all the ordinary folk, who stayed home and never went on the great adventure, rose up and fought for truth and righteousness. Before the big battle for Minas Tirith, there was a march of allies from all the surrounding lands, some of them just random mountain men without a leader, coming to do their bit in the battle of good against evil. Everyone had something to do, not just the stars of the show. This was something the movies couldn't get across; only the heroes were allowed to do great things. Everyone else just cowered and cried, or else remained ignorant bumpkins.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:44 AM (RZclC)

418 What might be unhealthy though, is the individual who sees themselves as worthless, if they are not the star, the top dog, the best of the best. Instead of doing the best THEY can, if they give up, then they squander the gifts they have.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:36 AM (owdWk)

I'd rather see the inner working of what made someone choose their path and how they got there, than be told it's because it was "preordained".

Obama's "we are the ones we've been waiting for" sort of suggests a preordination of a generation. I think many ran with this "specialness" without even thinking it through, and went with the sinister and malignant religious quality he projected.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:42 AM (ONvIw)

Right, because that's the idiocy of trying to apply fantasy fiction concepts to real life. There are no "chosen ones" in real life. Save that for books and film.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:44 AM (owdWk)

419
Literary Lovers Final Trajectory - a limerick

Your daughter's story has a final coda
She dumped Frodo and moved to South Dakota
She sent a postcard, rather curt
Said she's living in a yurt
And sleeping with the cultist leader, Yoda!

Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:45 AM (Xwt96)

420 And of course, Sam. The message of "you can't always be the bestest most important, so just do what you can" is a great one to live by. As Tolkien said, "look to your front" is great advice.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:39 AM (llXky)

Yes. Doing what you can and aiding justice is important.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:45 AM (ONvIw)

421 6 Good morning everyone. Re-reading Dante's Divine Comedy led by the Baylor Honors College 100 Days of Dante.

Great stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlIJfHAse3g
Posted by: Tonypete at September 26, 2021 08:04 AM (mD/uy)

That really looks cool! Thanks for the link!

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v at September 26, 2021 10:46 AM (HabA/)

422 The border is a Federal responsibility. That aside, deploying National Guard costs lots of money. Relative sizes of armed forces aside, Texas lacks the printing press.

In short, we're so fucking boned.

*Brushes up on his Haitian Creole*
Posted by: Robert

The border is federal. One foot inside is state. The state has every right to enforce state laws inside it's border. You can't deploy the NG because the president can nationalize them and send them out of state.

You CAN deploy either the State Guard (answerable only to the Governor) or the unorganized state militia.

Offer $5/ear bounty and the border is sealed in a day.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 10:47 AM (OCTRt)

423 so, what is the over/under masks will be in force thru out the USA 12 months from now?
Posted by: will choose a nic later at September 26, 2021 10:35 AM (bTQ72)

Masks are never going away. I said it from the beginning and I stand by it now.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at September 26, 2021 10:47 AM (2JVJo)

424 Literary Lovers Final Trajectory - a limerick

Your daughter's story has a final coda
She dumped Frodo and moved to South Dakota
She sent a postcard, rather curt
Said she's living in a yurt
And sleeping with the cultist leader, Yoda!
Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:45 AM (Xwt96)

Hah! If you're taking requests, now do Neo from The Matrix.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:48 AM (owdWk)

425 it's always confusing to me that the British refer to "numpty" types as "muppets" because to us, the muppets are pretty cool
Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (AwPyG)

That's why I was mystified when John McCain tried to smear Tea Party Republicans by calling them "Hobbits". Since when is "hobbit" a slur? I've always thought of hobbits as terrific!

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:48 AM (RZclC)

426
Right, because that's the idiocy of trying to apply fantasy fiction concepts to real life. There are no "chosen ones" in real life. Save that for books and film.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:44 AM (owdWk)

OK, but too many people are too invested in films in particular. And the desire to be chosen and the willingness to wait for a "chosen" leader is huge. Look at the mileage people got with "trust the plan" and "if you don't trust Trump. Blindly following Obama or assuming Trump was playing 14 dimensional chess and all we had to do was sit back are, sadly, not from the movies or books.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:49 AM (ONvIw)

427 359 Nazis make great stylish villians, which is why they endure.

I blame designer Hugo Boss
Posted by: Doctor Ignoramus at September 26, 2021 10:20 AM (ZHVt1)

As PJ O'Rouke once said about the liberals' penchant for calling conservatives Nazis, "nobody has fantasies about having sex with some guy dressed as a liberal."

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 10:49 AM (qFuUh)

428 Posted by: will choose a nic later at September 26, 2021 10:35 AM (bTQ72)

Masks are never going away. I said it from the beginning and I stand by it now.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at September 26, 2021 10:47 AM (2JVJo)

I have to wear a mask in public places at work, because I work in a medical center. I take it off when I get to my office.

I have not worn one anywhere else in months. I don't think they could get people here to start wearing them again. Big cities though, you have maximum capacity of nitwits. And then some.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:49 AM (owdWk)

429 One can say the same about religion. Anything can be misused, including Christianity.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:40 AM (ZsR3z)
---
I've yet to see a single positive use of magic. The practitioners of "white magic" that I've met are pretty vindictive and also just fine with killing babies in the womb because The Goddess sez it's okay.

And I want to footstomp the class element to Harry Potter. Again, I've not read them, but from the (brief) glimpses of the films, the mundanes literally do not exist outside of comedy relief. They are Unpersoned.

There are no footsoldiers who help turn the tide, or who die nobly. One of the most moving parts of LotR is when Tolkien recounts the losses at the Pelannor, and how this nobleman was unhorsed and cut down, those brothers were trampled leading their men against the oliphaunts and so on. Do average people ever get honored in Harry Potter, or is a purely elite affair?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:50 AM (llXky)

430 That's why I was mystified when John McCain tried to smear Tea Party Republicans by calling them "Hobbits". Since when is "hobbit" a slur? I've always thought of hobbits as terrific!
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette

I couldn't give a shit what that NVA ace called us.

Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 10:50 AM (OCTRt)

431 413 it's always confusing to me that the British refer to "numpty" types as "muppets" because to us, the muppets are pretty cool
Posted by: artemis

Even their insults are rather cutesy. I'm always amused by Brits on the Internet saying an article is "a load of cobblers." I know they have a historical dislike of dentists but what's wrong with shoemakers?

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v at September 26, 2021 10:51 AM (HabA/)

432
I'd also like to revise and extend my remarks about greatness. Yes, we all should work to attain our full potential, but we should take care to understand that success relies on both external and internal factors.

If at first you don't succeed, you're a failure and an embarrassment.

Posted by: Insomniac at September 26, 2021 10:51 AM (II3Gr)

433 Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:44 AM (owdWk)

OK, but too many people are too invested in films in particular. And the desire to be chosen and the willingness to wait for a "chosen" leader is huge. Look at the mileage people got with "trust the plan" and "if you don't trust Trump. Blindly following Obama or assuming Trump was playing 14 dimensional chess and all we had to do was sit back are, sadly, not from the movies or books.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:49 AM (ONvIw)

I really don't think that has much, if anything to do with our present predicament.

I believe tyrants are capable of wrangling people and doing what they will, and always have. We're just not used to it in this country, even though we have plenty of good examples of it happening elsewhere. The folly is, as it probably was everywhere else it HAS worked, in thinking it CAN'T happen here.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:52 AM (owdWk)

434 Even their insults are rather cutesy. I'm always amused by Brits on the Internet saying an article is "a load of cobblers." I know they have a historical dislike of dentists but what's wrong with shoemakers?
Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v at September 26, 2021 10:51 AM (HabA/)

It's because English cooking is so terrible, their cobblers turn out with doughy, leaden crust.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:53 AM (RZclC)

435 several of Betty MacDonald's books are available free at this site - use the "exact match" feature with her name for faster searching, and I'm finding that the pdf versions of her books are the only format that view properly for me

they're much larger than most books there, because they're scanned in, but I get a LOT of books free there, most are the normal smaller size

here's the Egg & I link https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-egg-and-i-d193390821.html

Posted by: clbrto at September 26, 2021 10:54 AM (stBay)

436 Being obsessed at the moment with biographies, I am now finishing one on General Patton.
After the WWII was "concluded" (it wasn't, really) Eisenhower told him to put in civil offices people who weren't Nazis.
Patton told Eisenhower "You may as well try to run Washington DC without Democrats..."

Posted by: casual obseerver 0926 at September 26, 2021 10:54 AM (aAP3z)

437 It's because English cooking is so terrible, their cobblers turn out with doughy, leaden crust.
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:53 AM (RZclC)

And they want to put things like mincemeat in them, whatever that is.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:55 AM (owdWk)

438 Oh, what am I reading? As is my wont, I am reading several books. I am reading Kim Harrison's The Witch with No Name because I'm trying to read all of the books in The Hollows series.

I am also reading a book that I heard about on this very thread: The Invention That Changed the World by Robert Buderi because I had a college professor that was at the RadLab during the war, and I'm kind of hoping there will be a mention. Not so far.

Lastly, I'm reading LLVM Essentials by Suyog Sarda and Mayur Pandey because I'm trying to write a Modula-2 compiler. You know, for fun.

I've been under the weather this week, so it's been a bit of a struggle.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at September 26, 2021 10:55 AM (ezpv1)

439 Currently driving through Corsicana. Keeping an eye out for Ben Had.

Posted by: Jak Sucio at September 26, 2021 10:55 AM (HtHP7)

440 Or kidney pudding.

Good lord, have you people not heard of chocolate?

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (owdWk)

441 @433

I think that's a good point--a lot of good people are incredulous. I have a good friend who's a JFK-type Democrat, and when I try to explain what I think is happening, his response is always--I just can't wrap my head around the idea that there are Americans trying to overthrow America."

I think that's the problem in a nutshell

Posted by: artemis at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (AwPyG)

442 Do average people ever get honored in Harry Potter, or is a purely elite affair?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at September 26, 2021 10:50 AM (llXky)

I have no idea, but I think the reliance on magic and elites is nuts.

The only juvenile fiction I've read beyond the grandsons' material was the first book in The Hunger Games as a patient was obsessed by it. The thing I liked about it was that the heroes were not elites at all and there was no "chosen" element to it. The intended victims were losers in a lottery, but the girl chose to replace her little sister and then used her life skills to succeed. There was no "magic" . It's an ugly story, sure, but life isn't wands and wizards.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (ONvIw)

443 Do average people ever get honored in Harry Potter, or is a purely elite affair?

I'd say that's the specific purpose of the Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood characters, so yes. And they're Muggles, aka mudbloods, not mundanes.

And I want to footstomp the class element to Harry Potter. Again, I've not read them, but from the (brief) glimpses of the films, the mundanes literally do not exist outside of comedy relief. They are Unpersoned.

One of the major themes of the books is that the attitude of some wizards, e.g. the Malfoys, towards the Muggles, is wrong, and (IMHO) is intended to smack of Nazi Germany. One of the major characters, Hermione, has mudblood parents, so Malfoy looks down on her and all mudbloods.

Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (ZsR3z)

444
It's because English cooking is so terrible, their cobblers turn out with doughy, leaden crust.
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:53 AM (RZclC)

Ha, ha! But I found out when I was there (quite a while back) that while English cooking can indeed be awful, there is nothing wrong with their baking....scones, hot cross buns- pretty good stuff.

Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (HabA/)

445 DHS Sec

Number could be higher than 12,000

How about we dont fucking care? FUCK YOU CITIZEN!

Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 10:57 AM (yrol0)

446 Hah! If you're taking requests, now do Neo from The Matrix.

****

The Domni-matrix - a limerick

Your daughter found a job at the stockyard
Found a new boyfriend (...and this part is awkward
His name's Neo. He's in plastics
And does internet gymnastics
A lover who will bend over backward

Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:58 AM (Xwt96)

447 And they want to put things like mincemeat in them, whatever that is.
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:55 AM (owdWk)

It's meat from the mince, an armadillo-like animal indigenous to the city of Dorking.

It sings like a nightingale.

Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 10:58 AM (5NkmN)

448 >What Dante translations do you participants prefer?
Posted by: Wenda

I've been reading the Harvard Classics Henry Clay version. It is pretty good.

Been following along with the Baylor College videos. Makes the entire Comedy not only intelligible but really reveals the complexity of Dante's writings. Incredible.

Posted by: squeakywheel at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (NXy9v)

449
How about we dont fucking care? FUCK YOU CITIZEN!
Posted by: rhennigantx at September 26, 2021 10:57 AM (yrol0)

This will repair the world, that's a big big concept these days.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (ONvIw)

450 Ha, ha! But I found out when I was there (quite a while back) that while English cooking can indeed be awful, there is nothing wrong with their baking....scones, hot cross buns- pretty good stuff.
Posted by: Donna&&&&&&v

I like English desserts too! But they do have an unusual fondness for suet crust, which you don't find in other cooking. We North Americans use lard, the French use butter. The English may be unusual in using suet.

Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (RZclC)

451 Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 10:47 AM (OCTRt)

Okay. But then you have to wait for illegals to start violating State laws. It's not like they can start rounding up illegals all willy nilly.

And money is still the main problem.

We're so boned it's probably a good time to but stock in Kentucky Jelly.

I need more boozed up coffee.

Posted by: Robert, Mr. Negativity - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (1Yy3c)

452 One of the major themes of the books is that the attitude of some wizards, e.g. the Malfoys, towards the Muggles, is wrong, and (IMHO) is intended to smack of Nazi Germany. One of the major characters, Hermione, has mudblood parents, so Malfoy looks down on her and all mudbloods.
Posted by: pep at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (ZsR3z)

And Neville Longbottom is the quintessential average joe, who starts in the series as a buffoon, a stooge, a foil for the cool kids, and in the end is one of the most important characters of all.

Even Snape in the end, is crucial to EVERYTHING, even though he spent basically his whole life in the shadows, watching "chosen ones" come and go.

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 11:00 AM (owdWk)

453 Nood

Posted by: Duke Lowell at September 26, 2021 11:00 AM (kTF2Z)

454 Farenheit.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 11:02 AM (PiwSw)

455 The Domni-matrix - a limerick

Your daughter found a job at the stockyard
Found a new boyfriend (...and this part is awkward
His name's Neo. He's in plastics
And does internet gymnastics
A lover who will bend over backward
Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 10:58 AM (Xwt96)

Thank you, you are a magician!

Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 11:02 AM (owdWk)

456 Oops, it's 451, sorry.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at September 26, 2021 11:02 AM (PiwSw)

457 A lover who will bend over backward

Is there a newsletter?

Posted by: Sandra Flook at September 26, 2021 11:02 AM (Xrfse)

458 Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (RZclC)

I use butter or shortening. I've never even been a fan of schmaltz, but the others seem even worse.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 11:02 AM (ONvIw)

459 If at first you don't succeed, you're a failure and an embarrassment.
Posted by: Insomniac at September 26, 2021 10:51 AM (II3Gr)

Dad? Is that you, Dad?

Posted by: Robert, Mr. Negativity - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 11:03 AM (1Yy3c)

460 Has this word been invented yet?

'Redumdent" - When someone does stupid shit over and over again.

I thought of it because I see masks still worn outside.

Posted by: Cannibal Bob at September 26, 2021 11:04 AM (RoIW/)

461 Ninnyhammer, gets a blank sole less stare from Uncle Joe. Probably thinks its a compliment.

Posted by: Colin at September 26, 2021 11:04 AM (ez4Ug)

462
Okay. But then you have to wait for illegals to start violating State laws. It's not like they can start rounding up illegals all willy nilly.

Posted by: Robert, Mr. Negativity - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (1Yy3c)

I think we should. Being here illegally should by itself be enough to get you deported, before you push out an anchor.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 11:05 AM (ONvIw)

463 Reading kids books with the sprout right now, because who can say no when a 2 year old wants to read books?

Got America's greatest hits going because reasons.

Posted by: Funsize (EiPf6) at September 26, 2021 11:05 AM (EiPf6)

464 That's why I was mystified when John McCain tried to smear Tea Party Republicans by calling them "Hobbits". Since when is "hobbit" a slur? I've always thought of hobbits as terrific!
Posted by: Dr. Mabusette, just to clarify things at September 26, 2021 10:48 AM (RZclC)

McCain was...how shall I phrase this...not smart.

Posted by: Captain Hate Won't Forget Michael Byrd Murdered Ashli Babbitt at September 26, 2021 11:06 AM (y7DUB)

465 This will repair the world, that's a big big concept these days.
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 10:59 AM (ONvIw)

Somehow it's up to the US gub'mint to save the world. The left believes this without question.

Now maybe we can, but first we gotta start with conquering everything.

*Thinks about it for a moment*

I'm down. Let's git'er dun!

Posted by: Robert, Mr. Negativity - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 11:06 AM (1Yy3c)

466 Somehow it's up to the US gub'mint to save the world. The left believes this without question.

Posted by: Robert, Mr. Negativity - Tremonti *Marching In Time* Out NOW!!! at September 26, 2021 11:06 AM (1Yy3c)

No we must save the world by bringing everyone here, good or bad, and it's not our place to judge or deport the bad. We must be destroyed so that others can "live"as we use too much of "the world's " resources, and that includes the resources within our borders. They are not "ours' and "you didn't build that". Tikkun Olam

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 11:10 AM (ONvIw)

467 If at first you don't succeed, you're a failure and an embarrassment.
Posted by: Insomniac

And your mother smells of elderberries !

Posted by: JT at September 26, 2021 11:13 AM (arJlL)

468 440 Or kidney pudding.

Good lord, have you people not heard of chocolate?
Posted by: BurtTC at September 26, 2021 10:56 AM (owdWk)

To us, "pudding" is a thick, gooey, sweet dessert.

To the brits, it's something completely different. See "Yorkshire pudding", which is something you pour meat gravy on.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 11:17 AM (CLYer)

469 To the brits, it's something completely different. See "Yorkshire pudding", which is something you pour meat gravy on.
Posted by: OregonMuse

*****

There's a line I remember, (can't recall the source, whether Dickens or James Heriot or somewhere else) that has stuck with me, of a man describing his constipated state as being "I've got knots in me pudding!" I've never viewed any type of pudding favorably since I read that.

Posted by: Muldoon at September 26, 2021 11:22 AM (Xwt96)

470 Heart of Darkness is a metaphor for Joe Biden's immigration and border policy.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at September 26, 2021 11:22 AM (stUc+)

471 Since getting the homestead, I have gotten on a self sufficiency kick stronger than ever before.
Posted by: rickb223 at September 26, 2021 09:57 AM (OCTRt)

There are a lot of resources out there, but look at this magazine:

https://www.backwoodshome.com/

They guy that ran it for years died, and the kid took it over, and it looks like they have a new direction going. It is a homesteading sort of magazine

Posted by: Kindltot at September 26, 2021 11:22 AM (KbLYZ)

472 Started two books, Michael Schellenberger's Apocalypse Never (a well written and researched debunking of the new environmental religion) and The Wisconsin River, which is supposed to be a mile by mile tour of the history and nature of the river from Lac Vieux Desert to the Mississippi. About 3/4 of the way through Roughing It and nothing to change my original opinion. It's Twain so it's above average but not his best. And also well into Catch the Jew by Tuvia Tennenbom. Catch the Jew is great and maybe the best view of life in Israel and the Palestinian territories. So far, it leaves me with no ground for hope of a peaceful settlement.

Posted by: who knew at September 26, 2021 11:27 AM (4I7VG)

473 What a wonderful book shop
Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:02 AM (45fpk)

A Harry Potter-themed bookshop? Haaaack, ptui!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 26, 2021 11:39 AM (uWimp)

474 122 from a review of Foundation, apparently climate change, is the great crisis across the Empire, no joke,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:43 AM (hMlTh)
Oh, FFS.
Welp, now I can save $4.99/month. Cuz I am not getting Apple+ to see silly crap about climate change.
Esp when this is supposed to be a high technology culture.
Yeesh.
Posted by: naturalfake at September 26, 2021 08:54 AM (5NkmN)

Everything ran on nukes. And no waste heat. Had nuke powered devices worn on the body, like on the wrist and around the waist.

Posted by: Iron Mike Golf at September 26, 2021 12:09 PM (8C7+r)

475 102 yes Islam is a heresy of Judaism, the most severe Pharisaic type, the question is why did i spread like wildfire, through most of the byzantine territories in three generation,
Posted by: alien covenant was much worse at September 26, 2021 08:48 AM

Late to the thread and, yes, I read it through. So there!

My take on this, having read the Koran and the sequel: Because it appeals to base men. They get to kill people, steal stuff, keep slaves, and have any women who comes into their hands - provided there aren't any men around willing to be witnesses in a rape trial. It's all good, as long as they do the public "good things."

What really struck me was the story about Mohammed's adopted son that it's about appearances. I mean, he searched out the guy's distant relatives and reunited them... because marrying his daughter-in-law would have been a dick move. It's still a dick move to unadopt your son and marry his ex-wife, but PBUH and all that.

Compare that to Christianity, in which they're supposed to control themselves. Custody of the eyes? That's hard, especially when all the women are teases. Love enemies? That's crazy-talk.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 26, 2021 12:17 PM (/+bwe)

476 The mention of "Company Aitch.." reminds me of a Civil War book that I read to near destruction in my teen years. "The Young Volunteer: A Record of The Experiences of a Private Soldier" by Joseph Crowell is a book about a common soldier's experience from enlistment to wounding at Antietam to subsequent commissioning.

I highly recommend it. As I said, my version is nearly falling apart as it is a printing from the early 1900's that was given to my grandfather when he was a teenager. I wasn't given it by my parents until I was old enough to treat it well.

Posted by: George V at September 26, 2021 12:18 PM (U2Tva)

477 Read more John Bellairs this week, by the way. His unfinished novel "The Dolphin Cross" made me so sad that he died before completing it. It was scary.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 26, 2021 12:18 PM (/+bwe)

478 My wife (the lovely and accomplished Annalucia) and I began a new read-aloud project this week: reading The Divine Comedy aloud. We're doing one canto a day, so it should take us roughly to the end of the year to finish all 100 cantos. We're reading Dorothy Sayers' verse translation, the only one in rima terza (that I'm aware of). As I don't speak Italian, I cannot vouch for its fidelity to the original, but to my ear, it reads quite well. And Sayers' notes fill in the background of who and what are being referred to, which helps also.

As part of this project, I'm re-reading Sayers' three books of collected essays on Dante: "Introductory Papers on Dante: The Poet Alive in His Writings", "Further Papers on Dante: His Heirs and His Ancestors", and "The Poetry of Search and the Poetry of Statement: On Dante and Other Writers". Sayers was more than a writer of witty mystery stories; his scholarship is excellent, and the clarity of her prose is a model of good writing. All, highly recommended!

Posted by: Nemo at September 26, 2021 12:20 PM (S6ArX)

479 Wow, Nemo! That is great. I wish you and your wife get a lot out of it.

Posted by: NaughtyPine at September 26, 2021 12:31 PM (/+bwe)

480 Not having read it I can't say how well Holloway's "The Last Viking" compares to Anderson's series of the same name (https://tinyurl.com/8u3rr6pm).

Posted by: aelfheld at September 26, 2021 12:48 PM (Zy9Yy)

481 Just read Rules for Radicals (200pg). About 150 pages are good. It explains a lot of what got us here...and how we can go back.

Would recommend.

"You son of a B!tch, I read your book!"

Posted by: Two Weeks at September 26, 2021 12:59 PM (ELnqd)

482 One of the most annoying things about Potter is the parallel caste distinctions of the 19th and 20th century English gentry.

Hogworts is Eton, or colleges at Oxford and Cambridge.

The Hogwarts headmaster is a homosexual Peer. In real England male peers attend "public schools" and become sexualized at an early age - mostly male group rubbing and not sodomy - yet a surprising number of these upper class public school boys end up queer lifers employed by the very same colleges and public schools they attended. One well known example is Alan Turing (not a Don but is sheltered at Kings.)

In real life one may come from a "middle class" family and be given a hand up to Kings College - which in HP's world are the mudbloods. Hereditary Peers remain privileged.

The clubs in Potter parallel exclusive clubs at Oxford colleges. The Apostles come to mind. And one of the most well known Apostles betrays British secrets to Stalin's Soviet Union. While Potter and crew are betrayed by his fellows.

Posted by: 13times at September 26, 2021 01:07 PM (WZs8y)

483 Another good Viking book is Laughing Shall I Die by Tom Shippey.

Shippey is the well known author of two Tolkien related books: The Road to Middle Earth and Author of the Century.

Posted by: 13times at September 26, 2021 01:18 PM (WZs8y)

484 Thanks for the Book Thread OM, great as usual, and a very tricky who dis.

The Harry Potter launched a nice discussion into differences of opinion related to magic/fantasy/cosplay, but I doubt if anyone changed their minds.

I have come to the conclusion that having "chosen" heroes in fiction encourages people to expect this in real life to a greater degree these days due to our over reliance on entertainment. While it's true that Superman and Batman were popular when I was a kid, there was no option to watch these shows over and over as there is today with streaming or even DVDs. Entertainment gobbles up more time than learning (LIVs don't get there because there are no screens) or skill acquisition.
In a very serious way the electronic baby sitter has let us easily fail our young, and now they're adults.
This summer was screen free for my grandsons, but they got over this and developed some actual interests. One big one was geography. I bought a couple of globes, a few maps, and 2nd grade geography book, and this provided many hours of fun as they learned states, countries and continents.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 02:19 PM (ONvIw)

485 I had no idea this was rare. When the older one entered third grade a few weeks ago, the teacher administered a survey test to see what the class knew about the states and countries. Only grandson1 was able to name the majority of the states and place them on the map, and she said it was very unusual and surprising.

When kids aren't fed crap on TV, they'll come up with other entertainment if given the tools.

On a book note, I have started the boys on a few Beverly Cleary books, but the boy oriented ones. Henry Huggins and his dog, Ribsy had some nice clean adventures that fostered responsibility. The younger boy wants me to get Bogie a friend and name him, Ribsy. Of course they're a bit dated, but so is Jane Austen yet people still read those. Sadly they've introduced cosplay into Austen, but I don't think we'll have any worries.

Thanks again.

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 02:29 PM (ONvIw)

486 A Gentleman in Moscow and Rules of Civility by Amor Towles. Good stuff.

Posted by: Job at September 26, 2021 04:13 PM (i+yqt)

487 473 What a wonderful book shop
Posted by: grammie winger at September 26, 2021 08:02 AM (45fpk)

A Harry Potter-themed bookshop? Haaaack, ptui!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at September 26, 2021 11:39 AM (uWimp)

Akshully, I think it's a set from one of the HP movies.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 04:34 PM (pIwBa)

488 OM in da house!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 04:37 PM (Dc2NZ)

489 Posted by: All Hail Eris, Live! from the Dungeon of Discord at September 26, 2021 04:37 PM (Dc2NZ)

Hey, sometimes the thread is still active late in the afternoon.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 05:29 PM (pIwBa)

490 Weekend threads are an all day thing, I thought?

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 05:40 PM (ONvIw)

491 As long as people are still reading and commenting, the thread is alive.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at September 26, 2021 06:57 PM (ezpv1)

492 490 Weekend threads are an all day thing, I thought?
Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 05:40 PM (ONvIw)

I haven't checked the other ones, so I don't know. But I often see new book thread comments very late in the day.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 07:18 PM (qmgjx)

493 Laugh if you like, but I think the photo is a picture of Marilyn Monroe

Posted by: Bill at September 26, 2021 07:28 PM (bmx8d)

494 493 Barbara Laage

Posted by: CN at September 26, 2021 07:53 PM (ONvIw)

495 It is called Book Thread The Undying

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabamillion (oEn12) at September 26, 2021 07:59 PM (oEn12)

496 And here's the proof.

Posted at 9:44 p.m. Sunday.

Now -- book or DVD to close out the night?

Next week, we try again for 500 posts.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:45 PM (Om/di)

497 Next week, we try again for 500 posts.

Posted by: Weak Geek at September 26, 2021 09:45 PM (Om/di)

Dang it. We were so close to 500.

I'm old enough to remember the days when if there were 100 comments, I'd think we were doing pretty good. Shows you how much Ace has been seriously building up his audience over the years.

Posted by: OregonMuse, AoSHQ Thought Leader, Pants Monitor & Social Distancing Professional at September 26, 2021 11:22 PM (7EHj5)

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