Sunday Morning Book Thread - 02-26-2023 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

(Find the sniper!)

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading (Oompa-Loompas not included). Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material, even if it's nothing more than the pharmacy informational pamphlets on Paul's tubes of monkeypox salve (ht: Yudhishthira's Dice). As always, pants are required, especially if you are wearing these pants...(now with more Wonka action!)

PIC NOTE

Today's pic is unusual in that it represents a "future library." The trees in this picture are destined to become an anthology of stories that will not be released until A.D. 2114. According to the Future Library website, each spring an author contributes a story to be included in the anthology. The manuscript is kept preserved in a special drawer that will ensure it will still be in quality condition when the anthology is finally released. The anthology itself will be printed on paper made from the trees in the above picture. The project began back in 2014, so we are now almost a decade closer to reading these stories. On the one hand, it has all the hallmarks of typical pretentious environmentalism. On the other hand, it's a very interesting project where the readers will be able to witness the evolution of literature over 100 years. Libraries, of course, have been around for centuries (or millennia in a few cases), so a 100 year wait for a library is nothing by comparison.

LEFTIST CRUSADE AGAINST LITERATURE CONTINUES

The Left's constant war against mainstream culture continues with the announcement that Puffin Books is "editing" the works of Roald Dahl to remove the more problematic elements. Their goal, they claim, as always, is to make his works more "inclusive" for "modern audiences." In reality, of course, their goal is to change the past, a la 1984. If they can convince enough people that Dahl's book were always written this way, then they can pretend his earlier versions were just rough drafts of the finished product.

All of this is an application of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, specifically Rule 13: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." The Left is very good at playing this game. Here's how it works: They pick someone who has a colorful past that would seem out of place to a modern audience. It was NO accident that Roald Dahl's name was selected. He's dead, so he can't defend himself directly. Only his heirs can do so on his behalf. They may very well agree that he was a "problem," even though they benefit from his estate. He was also reputed to be an anti-Semite. This is just a fig leaf, however, as Dahl's attitudes towards the Jews would NOT have been considered out of place at the time. And we all know how comfortable the Left is with anti-Semitism in general based on their attitudes towards Israel. The icing on the cake is Dahl's womanizing. He was quite the charmer. He also happened to be close friends with Ian Fleming, who created another "problematic" character for the Left, James Bond. Taken as a whole, Roald Dahl is a prime author for cancellation by the Left because they can spin his personal life in any direction they like as a despicable Jew-hating womanizer. Oh, and he was apparently influenced by Christianity (ht: FenelonSpoke). That alone means he should be cancelled, according to the Left's "principles."

Once they have their target selected, they can now go to the next phase which is the direct editing of Dahl's works. The Independent has a list of 6 of the most glaring edits:

In Matilda, references to Joseph Conrad and Rudyard Kipling are replaced with references to Jane Austen and John Steinbeck, respectively. (Conrad and Kipling have both been accused of racism)

In The Witches, a reference to pulling hair (witches are bald so they must wear wigs to blend in) is replaced with the notion that there's nothing wrong with wigs.

Also in The Witches, references to the jobs that witches hold are modified to reflect prestigious professions like scientists or business owners, rather than being ordinary folks running a cash register at a supermarket or working as a clerk in an office.

In George's Marvellous Medicine, a reference to electrocution (a particularly gruesome way to die) turns into a reference to being ejected from a fighter jet (far more cool-sounding)

Among the more grievous changes is a modification to James and the Giant Peach where an entire passage is changed to avoid "fatphobia" (avoiding body shaming someone for being fat, even if it's provided in a humorous context)

Finally, Quentin Blake illustrations are being removed, such as the illustrations of Mike Teavee from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which has Mike carrying around 18 toy guns on his person. (Can't have kids glorifying gun violence!)

This is part of a much larger war that has been ongoing for at least a decade. Recall a few years ago there was a flap about the World Fantasy Award, where the trophy was a statue of H.P. Lovecraft designed by Gahan Wilson. At the time, there was a lot of controversy that the award was being retired because of Lovecraft's racist, misogynist attitudes, regardless of his contributions to fantastic literature. Again, Lovecraft is a perfect target for the Left because they can hide behind Lovecraft's "problematic" personal life while disregarding his literary achievements.

We can also look at all of the adaptations from literature to television and movies. How many stories have been "fixed" during the adaptation process? (I'm looking at you, Amazon's Wheel of Time!) It's all part of the same game to the Left. It's very telling that Amazon's Rings of Power didn't take off until Christopher Tolkien, a true guardian of J.R.R. Tolkien's legacy had passed away. Oh, and it's somehow OUR fault that it flopped because we can't appreciate the genius of Leftist story-telling.

Destroy the culture one bite at a time. Now that they've established a precedent, they WILL come for your favorite author sooner or later. Will J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series be "fixed" in reprints? What about J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings? If they succeed in taking out some of the greatest writers in English literature, they will NEVER stop until the only stories you will be able to find are Leftist-approved screeds.

The only question now seems to be, who's next?

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IT PAYS TO INCREASE YOUR WORD POWER

onerous - adj. - involving, imposing, or constituting a burden.

Comment: I think we can all identify with this word because it's the Left's mode of operation. They take perverse delight in making life as onerous as possible for normal folks. Whether it's stupid and pointless regulations that do nothing or speech codes that violate the First Amendment, there is NOTHING they won't do to create hell on earth.

magniloquent - adj. - describes language that is intended to sound impressive and important, or a person who uses such language.

Comment: This also describes the Left to some extent, though it's certainly not confined to them. Watch out for those who use a lot of flowery language that somehow makes them seem important. Buck Throckmorton had a recent article describing the language used in business that really doesn't mean anything. How many management fads sound cool? But then either don't work as advertised or could be described in very simple terms to the same effect?

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MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

Finished Paul Kengor's Devil and Karl Marx Communism's Long March of Death, Deception and Infiltration.
It was a good review of the very despicable Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles moving then to Lenin and how the Soviets infiltrated Western religions but think best part from there covered how the Frankfurt School moved to the US turning Marxism from class warfare, unions to what today is Cultural Marxism.
Paul Kengor "Maybe the best we can say is that cultural Marxism, for lack of a better term, is essentially, and very simply, Marxism applied to cultural goals. To repeat: Marxism applied to cultural goals. This is distinguished from the classical Marxism applied to economics or class goals. It is Marxist theory affixed to culture, and thus referred to commonly and understandably as "cultural Marxism."
Posted by: Skip at February 19, 2023 09:11 AM (xhxe

Comment: It's hard to understate just how evil and destructive Marxism has been for the human condition. I've been reading Tim Powers' Declare, which involved characters spying on the Germans during WW II on behalf of the Soviet Union. One of the characters is such a true believer in Marxism and Soviet Russia that the she declares herself married to it, despite how she feels about her partner (who loves her in turn). She's so enamored with Communism that she thinks being killed in the Lubyanka prison is a worthy price to pay for advancing Communism around the world. Marxism is a death cult, plain and simple.

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I read One Nation Under Blackmail, Vol. I: The Sordid Union Between Intelligence and Organized Crime That Gave Rise To Jeffery Epstein by Whitney Webb. Most of this book is dedicated to setting the historical background of intelligence organizations working with Mob figures to deal drugs and armaments and to launder money around the world. The blackmailing of politicians and business leaders is also covered.
The last few chapters begin to deal with Jeffery Epstein and with Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine's father. Epstein had CIA and Israeli intelligence connections. I believe volume II will be about Epstein blackmailing elites for his own profit and for the deep state. Not an easy read, but interesting.
Posted by: Zoltan at February 19, 2023 09:11 AM (Eo7K+)

Comment: We've seen so many revelations about which politicians are compromised by foreign agents in recent years that it's not possible to keep it all straight. It's clear that China has near-total domination of the United States government. Why this has been allowed to happen is a bit of a mystery, though copious amounts of cash distribution probably has much to do with it. American politicians are among the greediest in the world. Considering what we *KNOW* about the current crop of politicians and the proclivities, one has to wonder just what is so bad that it still has to remain hidden? Look at the deranged lunatics that have been appointed to key sensitive positions in our government. It's just baffling.

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I actually finally read the Mike Leach book Geronimo. I was compelled to finish it as it was loaned to my by an elderly gentleman quite some time ago and I never read it. He recently passed away and in my guilt in never returning it to him, I read it.
It's actually an interesting to read because Geronimo was an incredible person that accomplished some pretty amazing things. Yes, he was a bloodthirsty killer that took hundreds of lives, but he was fighting for survival against human growth and change. Leach presents it and ties it to everyday life and how lessons can make you a better leader.
It made me want to learn more about Geronimo.
Posted by: Sponge - F*ck Joe Biden at February 19, 2023 09:35 AM (Zz0t1)

Comment: As you might expect with a figure like Geronimo, his life is one of ups and downs. He's something of a Native American folk hero, waging war against his oppressors. To be fair, there are *no* clean hands during the American-Apache conflict. The Apaches mostly wanted to just be free to roam their territory, but neither the Americans nor the Mexicans were keen on that idea. Lots of blood spilled on every side.

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Anyone who reads about Tolkien and CS Lewis knows that George MacDonald's Victorian era fantasies were an big influence on them. I finally got to a couple of his better known stories: "Phantastes" and "The Light Princess". Wish I had read them as a child. They are wonderful works of imagination and provide a richness missing from the Disney-style fairy tales we grew up with. "The Light Princess" is shorter and less complicated than "Phantastes" but the descriptive power is similar. I wasn't prepared for the subtle humor in "The Light Princess" but it adds a delightful layer. "Phantastes" is for an older audience but the richness and wonder of the realm he created would appeal to any age. There is a subtlety to his writing that allows the reader to flow, literally, into his stories to experience the wonders he envisions.
Next up, MacDonald's "Lilith" with an introduction by CS Lewis.
Posted by: JTB at February 19, 2023 10:07 AM (7EjX1)

Comment: We often give credit to J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis for basically inventing the modern fantasy story. However, both authors were well-versed in classical works of fantastical literature. They were inspired by the earlier authors and it shows. Perhaps, in light of the continuing war on children's literature, we should strive to collect these older works for future generations. Given a choice, modern publishers would no doubt prefer that they disappeared entirely.

More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (648 Moron-recommended books so far!)

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WHAT I'VE ACQUIRED THIS PAST WEEK

Walls of Men: A Military History of China 2500 B.C. to A.D. 2020 by Ace-Approved Author A.H. Lloyd

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

Declare by Tim Powers -- Several Morons have recommended this and it's in my TBR pile, so I decided to read it. The first third is a bit slow, but it does establish the Cold War espionage that went on after WWII as well as the hot war spying of all sides during WWII. Then it takes an abrupt turn into supernatural occult thriller about halfway through the novel, when we find out what the Commies were *really* up to during the Cold War.

Forgotten Realms - The Harpers 2 - Elfshadow by Elaine Cunningham -- Haven't read this is in decades, but it's just popcorn fluff about an Action Girl and her magical sword...

Forgotten Realms - The Harpers 3 - Red Magic by Jean Rabe -- a group of Harpers infiltrate the sinister and dangerous realm of the Red Wizards of Thay

Godwars 1 - Forbidden Magic by Angus Wells -- I first read this a *long* time ago and while I remember enjoying it, I can't remember why...

That's about all I have for this week. Thank you for all of your kind words regarding the Sunday Morning Book Thread. This is a very special place. You are very special people (in all the best ways!). The kindness, generosity, and wisdom of the Moron Horde knows no bounds. Let's keep reading!

If you have any suggestions for improvement, reading recommendations, or discussion topics that you'd like to see on the Sunday Morning Book Thread, you can send them to perfessor dot squirrel at-sign gmail dot com. Your feedback is always appreciated! You can also take a virtual tour of OUR library at libib.com/u/perfessorsquirrel. Since I added sections for AoSHQ, I now consider it OUR library, rather than my own personal fiefdom...

PREVIOUS SUNDAY MORNING BOOK THREAD - 02-19-23 (NOTE: Do NOT comment on old threads!)

Posted by: Open Blogger at 09:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 no read this week

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 08:59 AM (BRHaw)

2 Top pic: I can't see the books for the trees.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:01 AM (Angsy)

3 hiya

Posted by: JT at February 26, 2023 09:02 AM (T4tVD)

4 Revised lines include Bond’s assessment in Live and Let Die that would-be African criminals are “pretty law-abiding chaps I should have thought, except when they’ve drunk too much”, which has been changed to “pretty law-abiding chaps I should have thought”.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:02 AM (BRHaw)

5 Here's an update to the Dahl story: I a virtual repeat of the Classic Coke debacle, Penguin has gotten so much blowback, they're reintroducing the original.

https://tinyurl.com/bdcmbhmh

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:02 AM (eOEVl)

6 Tolle Lege.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 26, 2023 09:03 AM (PiwSw)

7 Some sexual descriptors have also allegedly been reworked, with The Telegraph giving the example of one reference to a group of men ogling a woman doing a strip tease at a nightclub acting “like pigs at the trough” in Live and Let Die being axed.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:04 AM (BRHaw)

8 The Lord of the Rings has been under attack for a while now.

The movies of 20 years ago had a lot of 'fixing'.

Posted by: davidt at February 26, 2023 09:04 AM (SYTee)

9 The only question now seems to be, who's next?

Not me! Never, never, never. Probably because no one will ever read my stuff.......

(insert sad face here)

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:05 AM (Angsy)

10 I don't think the pants guy owns a weedwhacker. (if you catch my drift.

Posted by: JT at February 26, 2023 09:06 AM (T4tVD)

11 Good Sunday to ye all assembled.

Posted by: Eromero at February 26, 2023 09:06 AM (MF3yS)

12 The remake of Live and Let Die will have Mr. Big and his gang driving Prius and Tesla responsibly using turn signals and obey all traffic laws.

But mostly not ramming their cars into Popeyes for not getting the biscuits.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:07 AM (BRHaw)

13 Tolle Lege
Finished in a week Phillip Haney's (RIP) See Something, Say Nothing. Book is his career in various government jobs and all around Homeland Security positions tracking Muslims in all kinds of groups working for Jihad. And the Barky administration getting cozy with Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Syria and here permitting their personal in and out of the country. His work to bring them into the light got him in a DOJ grand jury indictment almost for American rights violation for a Saudi citizen.
He was murdered after the book released of course listed as a suicide but reading seems not like a person who would do that.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:07 AM (xhxe8)

14 It's clear that China has near-total domination of the United States government.

The wrong plane was crashed into the field on 9/11.

Too soon?

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:08 AM (Angsy)

15 I understand that Puffin Books has decided to reprint the Dahl books as written in addition to the vandalized versions.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:08 AM (Om/di)

16 I tried to get back into "Poker & Pop Culture" but found myself taking a nostalgia trip into a book I first read in middle school -- "Star Trek Log Two" by Alan D. Foster.

Don't recognize the title? The "Star Trek Log" books adapted the episodes in the animated series, my introduction to ST. I bought the first seven as they came out -- there are 10 in all -- and reread them frequently.

On my way home from visiting my father out of state this weekend, I stopped at a used-book store I patronize. I was glad to see it was open; the proprietor is undergoing radiation treatments. Although I've sworn off entertainment purchases for Lent, I thought she warranted an exception.

So for 80 cents I brought home "Star Trek Log Nine." Two to go.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:09 AM (Om/di)

17
magniloquent - adj. - describes language that is intended to sound impressive and important, or a person who uses such language.

Allow me to humbly propose

malignoquent - adj. - describes language that is intended to sound high minded and beneficial but instead has a concealed and nefarious, if not outright evil, intent lurking within it. As an example, see anything spoken or written by Barack Hussein Obama.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 26, 2023 09:09 AM (pNxlR)

18 I want to start looking back at used books shops and find maybe the Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series or last couple I Patrick O'Brian Aubrey and Maturin series but something lighter.
Not that these last bother me as will jump back again.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:11 AM (xhxe8)

19 As an example, see anything spoken or written by Barack Hussein Obama.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 26, 2023 09:09 AM (pNxlR)

Written, yeah.

Posted by: Bill Ayers at February 26, 2023 09:11 AM (PiwSw)

20 I don't think the pants guy owns a weedwhacker. (if you catch my drift.

Posted by: JT at February 26, 2023 09:06 AM (T4tVD)

Yeah, he's a candy-ass for sure, JT.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:11 AM (Angsy)

21 his career in various government jobs and all around Homeland Security positions tracking Muslims in all kinds of groups working for Jihad.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:07 AM (xhxe

And thirty years ago today we had the first WTC bombing. Nothing learned except Gorelick built the dang (fire)wall.

Posted by: Rex B at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (hnU4t)

22 Yay book thread! Thanks for the support on Walls of Men. The power of the Horde drove it to #1 for New Releases in China History!

Bezos wept.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (llXky)

23 Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.

Those pre-books will be used to print the NEWBOOK. The NEWBOOK will be be the storyline of a well known but subversive missive that will be re-authored into current standards, morals, facts, and understandings that will make the old words new and refreshing.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (BRHaw)

24 Sooner or later, the marxist gang will have to re-write The Bible. Won't be able to help theyselves.

It will be Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (R/m4+)

25 JT, no as only accidentally seen 1 of these pants in all the years of this thread.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:13 AM (xhxe8)

26 We must decimate the trees and burn them to censure all of the offensive trigger words that will be printed in the texts of those future books.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 26, 2023 09:13 AM (Jg7EG)

27 24 Sooner or later, the marxist gang will have to re-write The Bible. Won't be able to help theyselves.

It will be Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (R/m4+)

Already done.

http://www.bible-researcher.com/gan.html

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 26, 2023 09:14 AM (PiwSw)

28 Finished Ace Endorsed Author A. H. Lloyd's "Long Live Death". The first and only book about the Spanish Civil War that made any sense of who was fighting where and how. Id read one big history when I was in college (Beevor? I don't remember for sure) , Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia", and numerous other bits and pieces over the years. And I was left with a very confused picture of the fighting. Although, thanks to Orwell, I could clearly see that the Soviets were pure evil and the Republicans were not the good guys.

Posted by: who knew at February 26, 2023 09:14 AM (4I7VG)

29 As an example, see anything spoken or written by Barack Hussein Obama.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 26, 2023 09:09 AM (pNxlR)

I have that famous, genius line, You ain't my bitch ni**er, buy your own damn fries, tattooed on my arm.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (BRHaw)

30 Sooner or later, the marxist gang will have to re-write The Bible. Won't be able to help theyselves.

It will be Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (R/m4+)
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That's been going on for a while.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (llXky)

31 I read Edmund Burke's Reflections on the Revolution in France. It's book length panegyric by a British MP witnessing the catastrophe in France in real time. His remarks were made in 1790, i.e. before Nappy B, and the worst of the terror, but even then, he could see it was a complete CF. He walks through the mess the revolutionaries have made of the economy, and the absurdity of their reliance on confiscated church property to fund all their fantasies.

The book is really an argument for slow, gradual, considered change, with plenty of time for things to evolve organically. See Chesterton's fence. However, Burke is absolutely prescient in describing the people who are running the revolution, and what they'll ultimately do, i.e. spill blood and institute destruction.

I suppose I don't need to say it for this crowd, but the parallels with the current US administration are stark at times. Just as an example, the current enthusiasm for soaking "millionaires and billionaires" is an exact repeat of what the revolutionaries did to the church. I leave the enthusiasm for dealing with those who oppose them as an exercise for the reader.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (eOEVl)

32 26 We must decimate the trees and burn them to censure all of the offensive trigger words that will be printed in the texts of those future books.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 26, 2023 09:13 AM (Jg7EG)

F451 or 452, whatever it takes.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (BRHaw)

33 Sooner or later, the marxist gang will have to re-write The Bible. Won't be able to help theyselves.

It will be Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (R/m4+)
---
And yet one book they will NEVER touch is the Koran...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:17 AM (BpYfr)

34 I read One Nation Under Blackmail, Vol II by Whitney Webb. Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell move to make contacts in the tech industry to move their blackmailing from sexual compromises to mining of collected data using programs developed by U. S. and Israeli intelligence organizations in collusion with big tech.

Near the end of the book, Webb issues the following warning: "When one realizes where power lies and how it really functions, it becomes clear that the only way to deter a corrupt system of this magnitude, which has merged public and private power into the hands of a very small few, is to not comply." Merged public and private power for the benefit of a few---the classical definition of Fascism.

Posted by: Zoltan at February 26, 2023 09:17 AM (Eo7K+)

35 I have a sci-fi recommendation for the Perfessor. After having heard the Ukraine "adventure" referred to as "The Forever War", it reminded me of the classic novel of the same name by Joe Haldeman. It's "hard" sci-fi, and it includes time dilation as a major part of the plot. The main character goes out on several assignments and when he gets back, centuries or even millennia have elapsed, with interesting changes in the nature of society back home. Many such changes are very relevant today, such as enforced homosexuality after one assignment and health care rationing for the elderly on another. It's a great read for anyone thinking of dipping their toe in the sci-fi pool.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM (Pte31)

36 That's been going on for a while.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (llXky)

True. All the revisions don't just make it "easier to read" do they? In my case, if you see a Jewish prayer book or Torah passage in print, the Hebrew will be original, but the English will not be a direct translation, but a passage either "based on" or "suggested by" the Hebrew. I went to one appalling service at the university in which adonai was translated as "earth mother".

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM (Zzbjj)

37 I suppose I don't need to say it for this crowd, but the parallels with the current US administration are stark at times. Just as an example, the current enthusiasm for soaking "millionaires and billionaires" is an exact repeat of what the revolutionaries did to the church. I leave the enthusiasm for dealing with those who oppose them as an exercise for the reader.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (eOEVl)
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The remarkable thing is that they say that, but the billionaires actually run the government. It's all just a smokescreen to gull the rubes.

The reason I keep bringing up Spain is because if you dig in closely on the politics, it's very similar to what we have now, which is radical leftists who have no common sense and basically think everything they do is great and everyone who questions them is a fascist.

They also think that laws only apply to the other side and of course they want the military and police forces purged of politically unreliable author.

A more in-depth discussion of the politics is in Stanley G. Payne's book on the Spanish Civil War. It's not long and very informative.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:20 AM (llXky)

38 Are those wild cattle by those trees? Quick, kill them before they hurt somebody.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at February 26, 2023 09:20 AM (WAsJj)

39 Read in Sweden burning a Koran is forbidden, but if you want to burn a Bible have at it free and clear.
The Marxists just go after the person and skip over the book burning part.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:21 AM (xhxe8)

40 Got the KU version of Walls of Men. I'm about 40% done w/it. Very fluid writing; very few typos so far, I think I'm still waiting for the descriptions of the military tactics that caused the title to be chosen.

Once I'm done, I think I'll go back and re-read Long Live Death.

Verdict: strongly recommend

Posted by: yara at February 26, 2023 09:21 AM (QdFtX)

41 Just as an example, the current enthusiasm for soaking "millionaires and billionaires" is an exact repeat of what the revolutionaries did to the church. I leave the enthusiasm for dealing with those who oppose them as an exercise for the reader.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (eOEVl)

That's just to fool the rubes into supporting it. Most millionaires and billionaires are in on it. They won't lose their wealth, the middle class will.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:22 AM (Angsy)

42 Merged public and private power for the benefit of a few---the classical definition of Fascism.
Posted by: Zoltan at February 26, 2023 09:17 AM (Eo7K+)

Read the Matt T Twitter files. I think it is installment 1 and 2. It is proof positive that the FBI is in fact using Big Tech and Media to control speech and more importantly direct public abuse to certain groups or people.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:22 AM (BRHaw)

43 Yes haldeman was very prescient on that pojnt, about societal evolution and forever war seems on point with our south asia and now caucasus crusades

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 09:22 AM (PXvVL)

44 Can’t Remember A Series Name Question - read the books several years ago and want to again, but don’t remember. TheUS was split with the South and a Muslim region as the two main areas; the main character was name Raffi or something similar who used a knife as his primary weapon and the South’s ruler had a daughter called Baby. Anyone remember that one?
Tony

Posted by: AnthonyB at February 26, 2023 09:23 AM (YZsjg)

45 It's a great read for anyone thinking of dipping their toe in the sci-fi pool.
Posted by: MichiCanuck at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM (Pte31)

Another book with the same time dilation theme is "Return from the Stars" by Stanislaw Lem, which was written in 1961.

I always wondered if Haldeman had read that book....

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 26, 2023 09:23 AM (PiwSw)

46 The Lord of the Rings has been under attack for a while now.

The movies of 20 years ago had a lot of 'fixing'.
Posted by: davidt at February 26, 2023 09:04 AM (SYTee)

Well, it was a movie not a book, so it was always going to be "different".

However-

Y'all will be glad to know that Warner Bros is now at work on a new remake "maybe" of LOTR.(or possibly the Simarillion?????),

that'll be so full of DIE that it'll make jackson LOTR look like a straight transcription.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:24 AM (KLPy8)

47 That's a strange looking libarry.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at February 26, 2023 09:24 AM (wagHN)

48 Am now re-reading Daniel J. Flynn's 2004 book Intellectual Morons: How Ideology Makes Smart People Fall for Stupid Ideas. Maybe more important and spot-on now than when it was published.

Posted by: FIIGMO at February 26, 2023 09:24 AM (5Xtai)

49 True. All the revisions don't just make it "easier to read" do they? In my case, if you see a Jewish prayer book or Torah passage in print, the Hebrew will be original, but the English will not be a direct translation, but a passage either "based on" or "suggested by" the Hebrew. I went to one appalling service at the university in which adonai was translated as "earth mother".

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM (Zzbjj)
---
I'm going to get in trouble for saying this, but Germans are the absolute worst at this sort of thing. Not just Luther, either - one of the favorite targets of Lord of Spirits is 19th Century German theologians who gave us the whole concept of "deconstructing the Bible" to find the "true meaning" of events and also the concept of "monotheism" being the highest evolution of religion.

And they're still at it! Germany's bishops is now claiming "science" requires the Catholic Church to embrace the gay. Poland's threatening to send in missionaries.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (llXky)

50 If I were to clean up A.A. Milne's works:

Winnie the Pooh => Winnie the Well-formed bowel movement

Piglet => Impossible porklet

100-Acre Wood => People's Collective Farm #875

Kanga & Roo => Aborigine First Marsupial Peoples

Eeeyore => Literally Hitler

Posted by: Muldoon at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (ykeLU)

51 That's just to fool the rubes into supporting it. Most millionaires and billionaires are in on it. They won't lose their wealth, the middle class will.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:22 AM (Angsy)

Billionaires anyway. In order to be in the WEF you can't just be a garden variety small businessman who's done well or a doctor, dentist, lawyer, who's comfortable with some left over. Those people are slated to be downgraded to employees.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (Zzbjj)

52 That's just to fool the rubes into supporting it. Most millionaires and billionaires are in on it. They won't lose their wealth, the middle class will.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:22 AM (Angsy)

The millionaires and billionaires statement are stupid, juvenile, and lazy. There are about 400 billionaires in the US. There are IRS 78,661 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. You could assign 10 to each if you thought there were not paying their "fare share".

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (BRHaw)

53 When it comes time to harvest those trees, that forest will likely be so overgrown that it won't be feasible to fell them. And the project organizers will be dead.

Smells like a scam.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (Om/di)

54 BTW, if you're interested in Burke, and want to hear the opposite set of arguments, I strongly recommend The Great Debate: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine, and the Birth of Right and Left, by Yuval Levin. You'll find yourself going back and forth as two master polemicists have at it.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (eOEVl)

55 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:20 AM (llXky)

I hadn't read your comment yet. Pretty interesting how we both said "rubes."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (Angsy)

56 Y'all will be glad to know that Warner Bros is now at work on a new remake "maybe" of LOTR.(or possibly the Simarillion?????),

that'll be so full of DIE that it'll make jackson LOTR look like a straight transcription.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:24 AM (KLPy

---
I love that studios are setting their money on fire. Yes, yes, MOAR WOKE!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (llXky)

57 I picked up an amusing travel guide this week: Secret Paris, by Thomas Jonglez. (I don't know if he's actually the author or the creator of the guide series or what, but it's his name on the cover.)

It's full of neat trivia, odd sights that don't make it into most guidebooks, and off-beat attractions. Want to go see the spot where Jean Jaures was assassinated? This will tell you where to find it.

I hope to get the chance to make use of it in the near or medium future.

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (QZxDR)

58 The reason I keep bringing up Spain is because if you dig in closely on the politics, it's very similar to what we have now, which is radical leftists who have no common sense and basically think everything they do is great and everyone who questions them is a fascist.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:20 AM (llXky)

There was one passage in "Homage To Catalonia" which always stuck with me. Eric was in an old farmhouse staying for awhile with the other troops and every thing usable had been smashed, broken up, heaped in piles or used as a toilet. He remarked that where ever the marxists went they destroyed everything just from hanging around the place.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (R/m4+)

59 A nice view from the eagle's nest this morning

https://ytube.io/3bIw
Posted by: G'rump928(c) at February 26, 2023 09:27 AM (yQpMk)

Posted by: G'rump928(c) repeats himself at February 26, 2023 09:27 AM (yQpMk)

60 I hadn't read your comment yet. Pretty interesting how we both said "rubes."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (Angsy)
---
Great minds think alike? Perhaps. But I think we both chose the word that best describes the thing.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:28 AM (llXky)

61 Posted by: Muldoon at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (ykeLU)

ha

Christopher Robin => Every Bond Evil Businessman Maybe Drax or Goldfinger.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:28 AM (BRHaw)

62 On "Geronimo": I bought my old boss a copy of "Leadership Secrets of Attila The Hun." He left it out on his desk, right beside the "I yell because I care" paperweight, for the rest of our time together. Made its own quiet statement.

The K'lumbis Blue Jackets are not named "to honor Ohio's Civil War history." They're named after the halfbreed general who, on Nov 4 1791, wiped out the entire United States Army.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 26, 2023 09:30 AM (jYCXf)

63 There was one passage in "Homage To Catalonia" which always stuck with me. Eric was in an old farmhouse staying for awhile with the other troops and every thing usable had been smashed, broken up, heaped in piles or used as a toilet. He remarked that where ever the marxists went they destroyed everything just from hanging around the place.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:26 AM (R/m4+)
---
I quoted a lengthy big of Orwell in Long Live Death, pointing out that his "ideal" unit of Anarchists was a big part of why the Republic lost. Regular army formations cannot function like a knitting commune. One of the biggest concerns is sanitation, and people taking a dump wherever they damn well please will wreck an army faster and more completely than a dozen battles.

Orwell's time at the front was in the winter, too. Come summer half of those troops would have been lost to disease within a couple of weeks.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:30 AM (llXky)

64 > Here's an update to the Dahl story: I a virtual repeat of the Classic Coke debacle, Penguin has gotten so much blowback, they're reintroducing the original.

It will be interesting to compare Amazon Sales Ranks in about a year. I'd be prepared to wager that the classic editions are going to outsell the woke ones. Likely by a lot.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:33 AM (bW8dp)

65 Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered.

Every record has been corrected to the seasonally adjust norm.
Every book updated for ease of comprehension and understanding.
Every picture now applies many of the same techniques created and used by Thom during his lifetime; from sketching to digital and oil brushwork, to image recapture and his use of light. Over time, these mastered skills have evolved into a Kinkadian style of art adored by art collectors around the world.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:33 AM (BRHaw)

66 I just started reading Below Zero by C.J. Box.

Posted by: JT at February 26, 2023 09:34 AM (T4tVD)

67 Hey who here wrote Wearing the Cat. I like that?

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:35 AM (BRHaw)

68 Had one of my kids here for the week, got absolutely no reading done at all. It sure was nice to have her home though, it had been a while.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at February 26, 2023 09:35 AM (a4EWo)

69 I'd be prepared to wager that the classic editions are going to outsell the woke ones. Likely by a lot.

Seems like a sales ploy, doesn't it?

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (Om/di)

70 It will be interesting to compare Amazon Sales Ranks in about a year. I'd be prepared to wager that the classic editions are going to outsell the woke ones. Likely by a lot.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:33 AM (bW8dp)
---
They were testing the waters on this scheme. They'll do something sneaky in the future like quietly altering the digital copies.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (BpYfr)

71 Oh, just a reminder to remember to give positive ratings on Moron Authored books! It's big for fiction but bigger for reference works because when someone goes and says "Hmmm, I'd like to know more about China," they're going to go for the top-rated ones.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (llXky)

72 It's baffling to me how someone as observant as Orwell could somehow still blame the failings of Socialism on bad people subverting it, and not see that it's the fundamental premises which destroy socialism every time.

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (QZxDR)

73 The similarities of the Spanish Revolution that I kind of knew a bit and what I saw what was happening here was why I had to get Long Live Death.
It finally did click the slight of hand the Communists do with the International Brigades giving them nice democracy names.
No reason to think had they won it would have become another Communist mass murder country, not the the Franco side didn't do their part wiping out Communists, but know Communists do not stop at their immediate opponents.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 09:37 AM (xhxe8)

74 Yes, my thought about the Dahl debacle was: what lesson are the Woke publishers going to take away from this? "Don't alter classics" -- or "Don't tell anyone when you alter classics"?

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:37 AM (QZxDR)

75 I'm going with "Food Riots and Cannibalism in the Blue Cities on Thursday".

> that'll be so full of DIE that it'll make jackson LOTR look like a straight transcription.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:24 AM

Eh... Jackson did a good job on LOTR (on The Hobbit, not so much), given the constraints inherent in translating something to the screen.

Personally, I'm just as happy to have not had 45 minutes of Tom Motherfucking Bombadil. There's a reason why every cinematic adaptation, live-action or animated, left that part out.

I would have liked to have seen at least a token effort given to the Scouring of the Shire, but it would have been rather anticlimactic after the gigantic battles we'd seen before. Not visually impressive.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:37 AM (bW8dp)

76 One can't discuss the birth of the modern fantasy genre without bowing down before the great Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett, AKA Lord Dunsany. No flashy nom de plume, that -- he actually was the 18th Baron Dunsany. His short stories still stand as the most perfect brief fantasies of all time: In the space of a dozen pages and a single anecdote, you can feel the weight of a long, complex, unique history underlying the tale, and a world glowing with invitation. Read "Idle Days on the Yann" and you'll feel like you just came back from an incomparable vacation. The scary stories are disturbing indeed, and the satirical ones are evergreen. You're welcome.

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 09:37 AM (SPNTN)

77 > They were testing the waters on this scheme. They'll do something sneaky in the future like quietly altering the digital copies.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (BpYfr)

I would not be surprised.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:38 AM (bW8dp)

78 ...each spring an author contributes a story to be included in the anthology. The manuscript is kept preserved in a special drawer that will ensure it will still be in quality condition when the anthology is finally released. The anthology itself will be printed on paper made from the trees in the above picture

*******

At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly, let me say, "That's dumb." I could elaborate, but...

Posted by: Muldoon at February 26, 2023 09:38 AM (ykeLU)

79 See the country team thats what at play in ukraine

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 09:38 AM (PXvVL)

80 They were testing the waters on this scheme. They'll do something sneaky in the future like quietly altering the digital copies.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (BpYfr)
---
One of the things that gives me hope is the fact that the would-be rulers are utterly clueless about the real world and have no idea how anything actually works.

As the system continued to degrade, they will just sit there, hitting the same button wondering why it's not working.

The can't make a course correction because they don't actually know how.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:39 AM (llXky)

81 @67 --

Author name, H.D. Woodard. Moron name, I don't know.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:39 AM (Om/di)

82 >>> 49 True. All the revisions don't just make it "easier to read" do they? In my case, if you see a Jewish prayer book or Torah passage in print, the Hebrew will be original, but the English will not be a direct translation, but a passage either "based on" or "suggested by" the Hebrew. I went to one appalling service at the university in which adonai was translated as "earth mother".

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM (Zzbjj)
---
I'm going to get in trouble for saying this, but Germans are the absolute worst at this sort of thing. Not just Luther, either - one of the favorite targets of Lord of Spirits is 19th Century German theologians who gave us the whole concept of "deconstructing the Bible" to find the "true meaning" of events and also the concept of "monotheism" being the highest evolution of religion.

And they're still at it! Germany's bishops is now claiming "science" requires the Catholic Church to embrace the gay. Poland's threatening to send in missionaries.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:25 AM (llXky)

Maybe they ought to send some here.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2023 09:39 AM (llON8)

83 A couple of you have mentioned that the billionaires thing was a ruse to fool the rubes. Well, that's exactly what the National Assembly did. They replaced hard money with paper, based on nothing, or at least the grossly overestimated value of what they seized from the churches. This naturally resulted in huge inflation and currency devaluation. Stop me if you've heard this one.

Also, Burke predicted that the revolution could only end in military dictatorship. Again, this was well before Napoleon.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:39 AM (eOEVl)

84 So kinda book adjacent...

Finally got notified it's time to pay shipping on my pledge reward for the Monster Hunter International miniatures game. I've never really painted miniatures before, so we'll see how that goes. But very excited to play the game!

Posted by: She Hobbit at February 26, 2023 09:41 AM (ftFVW)

85 > The scary stories are disturbing indeed, and the satirical ones are evergreen. You're welcome.

Second the recommendation for Dunsany. A lot of his stuff is available for free on Project Gutenberg.

https://tinyurl.com/ymt4vzm3

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:41 AM (bW8dp)

86 Fletcher prouty might have been a nut lansdale was known for collecting them but he was right about these organizations cover for themselves

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 09:41 AM (PXvVL)

87 I'd be prepared to wager that the classic editions are going to outsell the woke ones. Likely by a lot.

Seems like a sales ploy, doesn't it?

I predict that nobody will buy the woke version, which will ultimately be allowed to die a quiet, unmourned, and well-deserved death.

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:42 AM (eOEVl)

88 Sooner or later, the marxist gang will have to re-write The Bible.

An expanded pamphlet called "The Christian-Marxist Dialogue" was widely carried around in the late 60's, and was being passed out at the Newman Center.

Being a mere philosopher, I never had it inflicted on me as a required text, but it was sheet-hawt among El.Ed.Majors, along with Rules for Radicals.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 26, 2023 09:42 AM (jYCXf)

89 See the country team thats what at play in ukraine

Posted by: No 6

?

Posted by: Archimedes at February 26, 2023 09:43 AM (eOEVl)

90 And yet one book they will NEVER touch is the Koran...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:17 AM (BpYfr)

Ackshewallee, long ago and far away, the Saudis(!) used to(and maybe still do) publish an English translation of the Koran that had all of the dicey "kill the Jews!!!111!" and other stuff left out or softened considerably to -

keep of the common misinformation/illusion that islam is just a more stringent Christianity.

Which you would think the Saudis especially would be against, bu-u-u-ut, that seems to be okay under the moslem morality of any lie used against the infidel is a-ok.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:44 AM (KLPy8)

91 Yes, my thought about the Dahl debacle was: what lesson are the Woke publishers going to take away from this? "Don't alter classics" -- or "Don't tell anyone when you alter classics"?
Posted by: Trimegistus

Yeah, I'm thinking it'll be the second one.

Posted by: She Hobbit at February 26, 2023 09:44 AM (ftFVW)

92 Whitney webb postscript

The company used the cosa nostra and the milieu for their purposes same with the triads the yakuza now the bratva and other outfits were at odds with

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 09:47 AM (PXvVL)

93 I have close relatives who are Jewish, and they attend a very liberal synagogue -- not that there's any other kind where they live. It saddens me that every single time the text of the Torah conflicts with modern Progressive dogma, it's Progressivism that wins the day.

Saddens me because the whole reason Judaism survived for four thousand years was the invincible refusal of Jews to compromise their faith. But what the Emperor Titus, Queen Isabella, and Adolf H. failed to accomplish, NYU and NPR have done with ease. Judaism is now just a quaint tradition practiced by devout American leftists.

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (QZxDR)

94 Hey who here wrote Wearing the Cat. I like that?

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:35 AM (BRHaw)

That would be me.

Thanks so much for reading WtC. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

If you wouldn't mind putting a review up on Amazon t

that would be a great help

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (KLPy8)

95
Among getting things lined up for tax accountants on three fronts, including my mother's estate, cleaning out accumulated debris in this abode, and dealing with rambunctious new puppy, I have read precious little since the start of this year.

I have begun reading for a second time "Giants in the Earth" by Rolvaag while having background knowledge that not a few of my families' predecessors were among the Scandi horde that swarmed over the Midwestern Plains a century and a half ago.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (pNxlR)

96 36 That's been going on for a while.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:15 AM (llXky)

True. All the revisions don't just make it "easier to read" do they? In my case, if you see a Jewish prayer book or Torah passage in print, the Hebrew will be original, but the English will not be a direct translation, but a passage either "based on" or "suggested by" the Hebrew. I went to one appalling service at the university in which adonai was translated as "earth mother".
Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:19 AM

****
The easiest solution to that is to use the Soncino Press Torah & Haftarahs (the Hirsch translation and commentary). For prayer books, the dear old Philip Birnbaum translation really has that old-time religion feel, but I prefer the Metsudah line-by-line version, because it has to be both accurate and very terse to fit the arrangement.
Or you can go for broke and go the full Artscroll for everything. Yes, you're going to have a lot of commentary incorporated into the translation, but you'll have the assurance that said commentary will be drawn from the most hardcore, no-compromise traditional approach attainable.

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (SPNTN)

97 I don't see a sniper but I found the Larch.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 09:49 AM (iayUP)

98 I predict that nobody will buy the woke version

Biggest problem is finding New Coke to drink with it.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 26, 2023 09:49 AM (jYCXf)

99 To elaborate on my "sales ploy" theory:

How well were Dahl books selling before this hullabaloo? I'd never heard of most of those titles, and the only two I read were the Wonka stories.

But now ... "Oh, I want to get those to see what the fuss was about!"

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:51 AM (Om/di)

100 Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (QZxDR)

Not completely, there are still those of us who reject the idea that religion must "change with the times" and stick to the rules as best we can. I liken us to those who still celebrate the Latin Mass, and don't gleefully add "exceptions" to the 10C

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:52 AM (Zzbjj)

101 The saud were latecomers to the game of empire building the moroccans babylonians egyptians preceded him followed by the turks

In my novel jambiya the big bad behind some of the latest wahhabism is a kinani an old clan that had influence in andalus

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 09:52 AM (PXvVL)

102 After two consecutive failures (One book that made me want to rage quit, and a second book that actually did make me rage quit) I finally read a comic book collection that didn't suck: "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin." While it didn't really live up to the hype (it was one of the highest selling comics of last year) it was still good. A standard the-future-turned-out-pretty-crappy type of story, wrapped up with a bittersweet ending. Predictable, but enjoyable.

Looking back, I think the biggest draw was the credited involvement of the original series creators. On the other hand, in the context of the current-day comic book industry, basic competence is probably a draw in-and-of-itself, so that could have been it too...

Posted by: Castle Guy at February 26, 2023 09:53 AM (Lhaco)

103 93 I have close relatives who are Jewish, and they attend a very liberal synagogue -- not that there's any other kind where they live. It saddens me that every single time the text of the Torah conflicts with modern Progressive dogma, it's Progressivism that wins the day.

Saddens me because the whole reason Judaism survived for four thousand years was the invincible refusal of Jews to compromise their faith. But what the Emperor Titus, Queen Isabella, and Adolf H. failed to accomplish, NYU and NPR have done with ease. Judaism is now just a quaint tradition practiced by devout American leftists.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM
****
Don't believe the hype, Hermes (may I call you Hermes?)! The only Jewish demographic that is actually growing is the traditionalists. Sure, it's a small community here in these United States with their third-of-a-billion population, but we were never meant to be a huge multitude anyway. Sadly, the real problem is that those "devout American leftists" are some of the worst antisemities out there, in a practical sense.

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 09:53 AM (SPNTN)

104 77 > They were testing the waters on this scheme. They'll do something sneaky in the future like quietly altering the digital copies.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 09:36 AM (BpYfr)

I would not be surprised.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at February 26, 2023 09:38 AM (bW8dp)

Someone here found that. I think it was a Kindle release.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 09:53 AM (BRHaw)

105 Anthony B @ 44: Sorry I can't be any help. I read the series and enjoyed it but thought the end was a little contrived. Went through my Goodreads and I must have read it before I joined.

Posted by: who knew at February 26, 2023 09:54 AM (4I7VG)

106
Maybe they ought to send some here.

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at February 26, 2023 09:39 AM (llON

---
I think the American Church is seeing a revival. The woke leadership is isolated and the priests coming out of the seminaries are very fervently committed to traditional doctrine.

Local example: At the vigil Mass a week ago yesterday, the church was packed because of the shooting at MSU. Christmas-Easter attendance.

When the Mass ended, the same bunch of liberal idiots clapped, just like they do at the student location (one reason why I rarely go there).

This week? Very thin, as would be expected. No clapping. Liberal Catholics have no staying power and no new adherents.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:54 AM (llXky)

107 Is "pisselæon" a magniloquent word? It doesn't seem that way to me.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 09:54 AM (iayUP)

108 I've read every one of those Magic Tree House books to each of my three Kids at least 100 million times.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 09:55 AM (3zvqa)

109 If that precious snowflake in your life is sent to the fainting couch over Roald Dahl, please make sure to introduce them to the works of Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner.

Enjoy the hilarity that ensues!

Posted by: Fritzy at February 26, 2023 09:56 AM (YoZGp)

110 I've heard Whitney Webb do quite a few interviews. I've not read any of her work (book or columns, apparently she works independently, and has a substack account, which I don't do), and anyone who doesn't know should know, she's going to name names. And some of the names she names are not going to be very comfortable to many.

I see how our Perfesser here commented, and I'm not sure why he went so quickly to mentioning China's influence over politicians. Maybe it's uncomfortable to talk about the sex blackmail stuff. All I know is, lots of our politicians and media moguls, and most especially the oligarchs who actually rule us, are sex compromised.

It's a damn fact, and lots of this other stuff? Making money in China? Is minor in comparison to how the sex stuff rules them, and therefore, rules us.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 09:57 AM (M2qSa)

111 Not completely, there are still those of us who reject the idea that religion must "change with the times" and stick to the rules as best we can. I liken us to those who still celebrate the Latin Mass, and don't gleefully add "exceptions" to the 10C

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 09:52 AM (Zzbjj)
---
The "cultural Jews" I think are moving on from the bothersome display of faith. They're finding better things to do, partly because the thrill is gone.

That's a lot of what animates this sort of thing - "Hey, look at my trash the traditions of my parents and grandparents! I'm special!" But after everyone's doing it, the high just isn't there.

Easier to stay home and watch Netflicks while tweeting.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:57 AM (llXky)

112 I'm reading Quiet by Susan Cain. It's about introversion and reminds me that my introversion is not a character flaw.

Posted by: That Northern skulker at February 26, 2023 09:58 AM (eGTCV)

113 I saw something on Bongino's site about how the Dahl stuff is being backed off from. Since I'm not really paying attention, I didn't read it.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 09:58 AM (M2qSa)

114 If that precious snowflake in your life is sent to the fainting couch over Roald Dahl, please make sure to introduce them to the works of Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner.

Enjoy the hilarity that ensues!

Posted by: Fritzy at February 26, 2023 09:56 AM (YoZGp)
---
Evelyn Waugh's Black Mischief might kill them outright.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 09:58 AM (llXky)

115 @108 --

Ditto, to three kids as well. Those books were a staple in our house. We might still have them.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:59 AM (Om/di)

116 In The Witches, a reference to pulling hair (witches are bald so they must wear wigs to blend in)...

********

Surely you know that there IS a diagnostic code for that!

ICD-10 Code F63.3

trichotillomania (Hair plucking)

Posted by: Muldoon at February 26, 2023 09:59 AM (ykeLU)

117 Sales rankings for the original Dahls will probably be better than they are for the woke versions -- but I wouldn't be surprised if the user reviews weigh in favor of the woke versions for a while.

When the Joseph Epstein "Doctor Jill" kerfluffle hit, a bunch of 1-star reviews started showing up for his books -- not just the new one, but backlist titles as well. I'd left a good review of his newest, Gallimaufry, and got a bunch of replies to it informing me of what a bad writer Epstein is. Soon after this, Amazon removed the reply-to-review option. Also soon after this, I found myself subscribed to magazines I'd never ordered and getting junk phone calls up the wazoo -- always wondered if somebody at Amazon was just a tad over-zealous with the woke.

Posted by: Just Some Guy at February 26, 2023 10:00 AM (a/4+U)

118 We're reading "The Maze," Nelson DeMille's newest novel starring John Corey, ex-NYPD detective.

It's first-person Corey with witty snark galore, and Ms G finds it annoying, saying he is talking about himself too much. But he really isn't IMHO. He is describing his relationships with people in his present and past, ex-wives, bosses, partners, lawyers, Russian assassins, and Al Queda terrorists.

I've not completed enough of it to judge how it stacks up to his other works.

If you've not read any DeMille and want to try him, get "The Gate House," which I enjoyed greatly and may re-read it soon. There's a mafioso character so well drawn you want to see the movie version (there isn't one), and you just know who to cast.

Posted by: Mr Gaga at February 26, 2023 10:00 AM (KiBMU)

119 Lemme tell you about my friend Jim.

Posted by: Huckleberry Finn at February 26, 2023 10:01 AM (DhOHl)

120 It will be Adam and Steve, not Adam and Eve.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 09:12 AM (R/m4+)

Could get interesting. I'm particularly curious how they'll make Cain and Abel with their primitive versions of artificial insemination.

Without eggs!

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:01 AM (M2qSa)

121 Regarding Penguin's rape of Dahl...

As usual the Left/Progtards/Commies are engaging hypocritical thuggish behavior.

Long ago and faraway, when I was a wee tad, I learned that -
The greatest literary sin you could ever commit was to read an ABRIDGED or EXPURGATED book,
even worse would be to publish or help create such an abridgment or expurgation

That was Victorian close-mindedness or some such thing.

The old Reader's Digest publications came under a lot of mockery for their abridging and expurgating.

so, what does the fascistic Woke Left do?

That's right. Abridge and Expurgate books, novels, etc for the same reasons as those with that terrible olde-fashioned, Victorian moralist mentality-

to make the books "safe" to read for those who might be offended the the language or ideas contained within.

Feh! on them all.

Be intelligent enough to read what an author wrote or don't read at all. I'm pretty sure something good's on Netflix!

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:02 AM (KLPy8)

122 It's a damn fact, and lots of this other stuff? Making money in China? Is minor in comparison to how the sex stuff rules them, and therefore, rules us.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 09:57 AM (M2qSa)
---
They've definitely adopted a lot of Chinese attitudes, especially the one where internal enemies are the biggest threat and foreigners can be useful allies in crushing them.

Yet here again, there are limits to that wisdom. The Chicoms don't read Sun Tzu (in fact, they probably burned him in the 1960s), and modern elites are likewise ignorant of human natures. That's why they fall back on social shaming and overt displays of force in an attempt to overawe the population.

Yet even Mao's Little Red Book could tell you that's counterproductive.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:02 AM (llXky)

123 that would be a great help
Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (KLPy

done

I did note that I had to read both books as a single volume to appreciate the entire story.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (BRHaw)

124 perfessor squirrel,

A few quibbles:

Roald Dahl's "attitudes towards the Jews would NOT have been considered out of place at the time[,]" is not the case. He wrote into the 1980s, and those sentiments would have been inappropriate in most settings.

And...the publisher has announced that they are rolling back the edits, and will publish his original works as well as the bowdlerized ersatz crap.

But James Bond is now being neutered!

https://is.gd/dWBV2q

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (XIJ/X)

125 I was trying to figure out why the Roald Dohn saga sounded so familiar, then it finally hit me: sometime in the past two weeks, Disney declared that they were blacklisting some classic Scrooge McDuck comics due to 'cultural insensitivity' and crap like that. With comics being harder to alter than regular prose, that meant that they would simply never again reprint to the offending stories.

Sigh. The virus is everywhere, it seems...

Posted by: Castle Guy at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (Lhaco)

126 BTW, several versions of The Sayings of Chairman Mao available on Amazon. The Little Red Book actually has useful advice. Mao won the Chinese Civil War for a reason.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:04 AM (llXky)

127 Oh those were great there was a precursor one essentially gatsby meets the sopranos where the white shoe lawyer gets involved with a new generation mobster and thd mobster with his wife

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:04 AM (PXvVL)

128 That photo of a future library reminds me of a question I have. Why don't environmentalists shriek at publishing houses for all the trees they slaughter publishing worthless and unreadable books by Democrats?

Posted by: That Northern skulker at February 26, 2023 10:04 AM (eGTCV)

129 Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 09:53 AM (SPNTN)

Actually, according to Genesis, Abraham was told that we were to be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the sands on the sea shore.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:05 AM (Zzbjj)

130 The gold coast was the one the gatehouse is about his son

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:06 AM (PXvVL)

131 The definitions I've read:

Unabridged -- "we left the dirty parts in"

Abridged -- "we left the dull parts out"

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 10:06 AM (Om/di)

132 I'm on book 7 of 15 of the Exoeditionary Force series by Craig Alanson. Earth is discovered by an advanced species that is involved in a yuge intergalactic war involving a bunch of highly advanced species all of whom would murder every human if they could.

Humanity's only ally is a sarcastic, absent-minded, asshole of a 10 million year old AI the size of a beer can that is trying to find "The Elders" who were his builders before they mysteriously disappeared from the Universe millions of years ago. "Skippy", the AI, is not allowed to give advanced tech to the humans, who he refers to as "monkeys", but the humans have to somehow prevent the other advanced species from attacking Earth, and Skippy helps behind the scenes.

It's a fairly good series though a little slow moving at times. Lots of technical detail and sarcastic conversations between Skippy and the human commander who just happens to be a sergeant in the US military who found Skippy and liberated him from an evil group of aliens.

Recommended, though not ecstatically.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 10:07 AM (3zvqa)

133 Saddens me because the whole reason Judaism survived for four thousand years was the invincible refusal of Jews to compromise their faith. But what the Emperor Titus, Queen Isabella, and Adolf H. failed to accomplish, NYU and NPR have done with ease. Judaism is now just a quaint tradition practiced by devout American leftists.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (QZxDR)

Meanwhile, Catholicism had its own coup, after sex and money scandals raged through the Vatican, and resulted in the installation of a Marxists into the Big Chair.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:07 AM (M2qSa)

134 But James Bond is now being neutered!

https://is.gd/dWBV2q

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (XIJ/X)

I posted 2 examples above. In the remake of You Only Live Twice he has to marry the fat ugly jap gal! Mr Big is now African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:08 AM (BRHaw)

135 I don't see a sniper but I found the Larch.

Posted by: fd

Tree number 9, no doubt.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 10:08 AM (3zvqa)

136 The politicians in bed with the Chinese barely try to hide it and do it with impunity. In past days they would have been executed for treason.

Posted by: Eternity Matters at February 26, 2023 10:08 AM (MTm8X)

137 Long ago and faraway, when I was a wee tad, I learned that -
The greatest literary sin you could ever commit was to read an ABRIDGED or EXPURGATED book,
even worse would be to publish or help create such an abridgment or expurgation

That was Victorian close-mindedness or some such thing.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:02 AM (KLPy

---
I can think of two exceptions to this rule. The first is Churchill's The World Crisis. The abridged version currently in print was edited by Churchill himself when his later works were published. The book started as a defense of his ministry and the Dardanelles fiasco so he wisely cut some of that out.

The other is Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. If ever a book needed an abridgement, that's the one.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:09 AM (llXky)

138 @125 --

Bombie the Zombie and Foola Zoola the witch doctor.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 10:09 AM (Om/di)

139 The mobster son, who seeks revenge upon the woman who killed her father

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:09 AM (PXvVL)

140 Titus?

It was Caligula that wanted a statue of him to be worshiped.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at February 26, 2023 10:09 AM (TXFi7)

141 Meanwhile, Catholicism had its own coup, after sex and money scandals raged through the Vatican, and resulted in the installation of a Marxists into the Big Chair.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:07 AM (M2qSa)
---
Francis is not the pope we wanted, but he is the pope we desperately needed. No one else could have so thoroughly and completely exposed the corruption within the Vatican and higher reaches of the clergy better than he has.

I mean, he didn't mean to, but God works in mysterious ways.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:11 AM (llXky)

142 Jewells, I sent an email to what *might* be your address. If that didn't work, you can use the address in my nic.

Posted by: Emmie at February 26, 2023 10:11 AM (Emce2)

143 Words I learned from Pliny this week are "philtres", which is like a love potion , and "pisselæon", which I'm not really clear on the definition of but really like saying.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (iayUP)

144 Meanwhile, Catholicism had its own coup, after sex and money scandals raged through the Vatican, and resulted in the installation of a Marxists into the Big Chair.
Posted by: BurtTC

This is why I just stick to the KJ Bible.

Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (tITEI)

145 It is not a rewritten book but it is rewriting history in real time as Project Veritas runs off James.

The next time they will put the persons head in a cage with a rat.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (BRHaw)

146 No he leads the people to unbelief

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (PXvVL)

147 I posted 2 examples above. In the remake of You Only Live Twice he has to marry the fat ugly jap gal!

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:08 AM (BRHaw)

You must mean the book, of course. Neither of those Japanese women were fat in the movie. I'd have taken either one...
Oh, hi honey!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:13 AM (Angsy)

148 Could get interesting. I'm particularly curious how they'll make Cain and Abel with their primitive versions of artificial insemination.
Without eggs!
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:01 AM (M2qSa)

I did it once maybe I can do it again!

Turkey basters and David's cummin'
We're finally on our own
This summer I hear the drummin'
Cain and Abel pregnant in Ohio...

Posted by: Zombie David Crosby, Fat Fertile Hippie at February 26, 2023 10:13 AM (R/m4+)

149 I posted 2 examples above. In the remake of You Only Live Twice he has to marry the fat ugly jap gal! Mr Big is now African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.
Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:08 AM (BRHaw)

Sort of related, I guess, I started watching the Netflix show, Treason, and got about 30 minutes into the first episode before I shut it off.

There's a Russian female who appears to be smarter than everyone else. And I suspect the black American CIA woman is going to be the second smartest person on the show.

No thanks.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:14 AM (M2qSa)

150 This is why I just stick to the KJ Bible.
Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (tITEI)

I have a Topical Bible that has KJ and NIV.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:14 AM (BRHaw)

151 and "pisselæon", which I'm not really clear on the definition of but really like saying.
Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:12 AM (iayUP)

I always thought it was basically turpentine, a sovereign remedy for many ailments.

Posted by: G'rump928(c) at February 26, 2023 10:14 AM (yQpMk)

152 that would be a great help
Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (KLPy

done

I did note that I had to read both books as a single volume to appreciate the entire story.
Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (BRHaw)

Thank you very much. I truly appreciate that.

And thank you for making note of the two volumes, that was due to Kindle/Amazon printing requirements.

I wanted WtC to be a modern version of the old picaresque style and it was too long for them to print/publish as one volume. So, two it was.

So, thank you for mentioning that. WtC is one novel/book split into two convenient bite-sized morsels

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:15 AM (KLPy8)

153 Booken morgen horden!

**5 Here's an update to the Dahl story: I a virtual repeat of the Classic Coke debacle, Penguin has gotten so much blowback, they're reintroducing the original.**

This makes me like QC Camilla lot more.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at February 26, 2023 10:15 AM (fUnHJ)

154 You must mean the book, of course. Neither of those Japanese women were fat in the movie. I'd have taken either one...
Oh, hi honey!
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:13 AM (Angsy)

Sorry that was joke from the movie. The are rewriting Live and Let and Casino R.
I swear his friend tells him he is marrying the fat one!

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:16 AM (BRHaw)

155 There's a Russian female who appears to be smarter than everyone else. And I suspect the black American CIA woman is going to be the second smartest person on the show.

No thanks.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:14 AM (M2qSa)
---
That's part of the crisis of storytelling. People write what they know (see my blog for tons of musings on this topic) and what these woke snowflakes "know" is that they are super-smart and super-special and people just don't appreciate them.

So they tell stories about super-smart, super-special people and how hard it is to be smartest, prettiest, most capable person who doesn't get the credit they deserve even though they are literally smarter than everyone else.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:16 AM (llXky)

156 I don't know the details about Bond being bowlderized, but Fleming's final story, "The Living Daylights," had Bond well on his way to quitting the Service in disgust.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 10:16 AM (Om/di)

157 "I always thought it was basically turpentine, a sovereign remedy for many ailments.
Posted by: G'rump928(c)"

Ok, that makes sense. From "Natural History":

"It is used also for the cure of ear-ache, for the improvement of the sight, and as a salve for the lips; and is employed for hysterical suffocations, inveterate coughs, profuse expectorations, spasms, nervousness, opisthotony, paralysis, and pains in the sinews. It is a very excellent remedy too for itch in dogs and beasts of burden."

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:17 AM (iayUP)

158 Anyway, I have been reading more Torah, but I am finding Kings to be more interesting.

I naturally found an old copy, rather than an online e-version.

Also still reading Conrad's The Rescue, and some Fitzgerald stories. After reading the bio Sometimes Madness is Wisdom, I find myself less happy with the Fitzgeralds

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:17 AM (Zzbjj)

159 Saddens me because the whole reason Judaism survived for four thousand years was the invincible refusal of Jews to compromise their faith. But what the Emperor Titus, Queen Isabella, and Adolf H. failed to accomplish, NYU and NPR have done with ease. Judaism is now just a quaint tradition practiced by devout American leftists.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 09:48 AM (QZxDR)

Gotta quibble with that. God was complaining all the time about Jews compromising their faith. I don't have time to offer a list, but an example would be the Israelites worshipping a golden calf right after God delivered them from Egypt. God repeatedly made it plain that His people survived only because He had mercy on them.

Posted by: Emmie at February 26, 2023 10:18 AM (Emce2)

160 I received your new book on Friday AHL, but have not started it yet. Instead I'm sitting here reading the Book Thread.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:19 AM (iayUP)

161 With the erasing of Rowling I found the show C. B. Strike which is based on the book series by Robert Galbraith aka Rowling. The series is well done so I got the last book. I still have no idea who done it but it's keeping me engaged! I do recommend both the books and TV series.

Posted by: lin-duh at February 26, 2023 10:20 AM (UUBmN)

162 So, thank you for mentioning that. WtC is one novel/book split into two convenient bite-sized morsels

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:15 AM (KLPy

---
I've read it and it is not some mild, 70-proof apple brandy nor even an 80-proof mixer.

That thing is 128-proof pure White Lightning.

Admittedly not for everyone, but if you want the real deal, that's the stuff.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:20 AM (llXky)

163 44, 105:
I forgot the author name and am too lazy to look it up, but the first book was entitled Prayers for the Assassin.

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 10:21 AM (SPNTN)

164 "The Living Daylights," had Bond well on his way to quitting the Service in disgust.
Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 10:16 AM (Om/di)

Timothy Dalton was an OK Bond. So this is near the end of the USSR and maybe Bond realizes that the next enemy of his organization will be British Citizen posting things about their Mohammedan neighbors.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:21 AM (BRHaw)

165 Also, Burke predicted that the revolution could only end in military dictatorship. Again, this was well before Napoleon.
=====

Burke had the advantage in that the Brits already had a Civil War and he knew mass quantities of blood and a Cromwell were coming.

Posted by: mustbequantum at February 26, 2023 10:22 AM (MIKMs)

166 I received your new book on Friday AHL, but have not started it yet. Instead I'm sitting here reading the Book Thread.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:19 AM (iayUP)
---
LOL, thanks. I hope folks like it. I tried to throw in some humor to lighten the atmosphere. I figured the Moron Horde especially would enjoy digressions on to film versions of Chinese history (and a few cheap shots at Tom Cruise).

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:22 AM (llXky)

167 Thank you Perfessor for another fabulous Book Thread. Even if I have to read it Sunday night or Monday morning, I never miss it.

I've been way too preoccupied with work-related stuff but was finally able to settle down with PD James' Cover Her Face, the first book in the Dalgliesh series. It took me a bit to keep track of who's who in the beginning, but I'm enjoying it very much and hope to finish it later today. It's just the sort of relaxing diversion I need.

I also began Fat No More: The Book of Hope for Losing Weight by Susan Cushing. Not because I'm looking to lose weight but because the subject interests me. She struggled with weight for many years, joined Food Addicts Anonymous, with partial success, and found a system that worked for her. Some parts make sense to me, other parts I'm not so sure about. But her tone is very positive and very kind to the reader, which I find very appealing.

Also, thanks to you all, my reading pile keeps growing but with great non-woke book. You all are awesome.

Posted by: KatieFloyd at February 26, 2023 10:23 AM (ob77J)

168 Robert ferrigno

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:23 AM (PXvVL)

169 I haven't been around. Went to my first rodeo for rodeo days. So how much credence are we giving the cartel Katie charges?

Posted by: InZona at February 26, 2023 10:23 AM (bfyic)

170 The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.

Wouldn't it be great if we funded an organization that studied diseases and medicine and shit like that?

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (BRHaw)

171 "LOL, thanks. I hope folks like it."

I will start it this afternoon. I'm looking forward to it.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (iayUP)

172 I have a Topical Bible that has KJ and NIV.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:14 AM (BRHaw)

Really? All you need is the Revised Standard Version....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (Angsy)

173 Really? All you need is the Revised Standard Version....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (Angsy)

Maybe it is RSV but some Topics have both verses listed.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:26 AM (BRHaw)

174 Of course there are the obiigatory digs at a certain figure, this is late 80s new york

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:27 AM (PXvVL)

175 Jesus Revo
Critics 56%
People 99%
Beating out Top Gun at 98%

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:27 AM (BRHaw)

176 Two recommendations in exchange for what I found here:

Fantasy:

Alexey Pehov. Siala Chronicles. Striaght forward Tolkein influenced Fantasy. I wish I read Russian because even in translation the books are fantastic. They're sane too. It's quite the experience to read something totally aimed at pleasing the audience and author. It is "derivative" (I guess?) but it is so very well done. Very pleasing and enjoyable prose (in translation even) and well defined characters.

SciFi

Glen Cook: The Dragon Never Sleeps. A self-aware fleet of almost all-powerful interstellar battleships is growing demented by old age while protecting a decaying culture. Cook is great and his Black Company series is must read. But, he is a boomer neo-lib. And, TDNS is pure boomer neo-lib stuff. Deeply offensive to me personally in view and prob to most here. I won't spoil it, but the larger themes of the work are clearly how The District of Columbia views things and us. Despite that, the dude can flat out write great stories. And has true imaginative genius. And he is a total thief which I appreciate. Here Dune played a large role. I think this would make a great high-end TV series.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 10:27 AM (1ais2)

177 Didja see what that damn DiSantis did?!!!

CBS can’t believe that Flordia might ban a book for simply having a black character

Alex Christy@alexchristy17
Replying to @alexchristy17
.@CBSNews Suggests Florida May Ban Book For Simply A Having Black Character

-
Goodbye Othello! Uncle Remus is out of stories! Gone With the Wind, gone! And in the middle of Black.History Month!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (FVME7)

178 44, 105, 163 I had to look it up because it was bugging the hell out of me:
Prayers for the Assassin
Sins of the Assassin
Heart of the Assassin
by Robert Ferrigno

Posted by: who knew at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (4I7VG)

179 Morning, all! I'm running a little late this am and had to hit the grocery. Now I'm settled in with coffee and toast to see what you have to say.

I finished Clive Barker's Coldheart Canyon ("A Hollywood Ghost Story"), and found it quite entertaining. Don't ask me why I've never read much of Barker. He's been around quite a while and has produced quite a few novels, huh?

Currently I'm reading one of Ruth Rendell's standalone novels, which usually have to do with crime in some fashion while still being high-quality stuff. This one is The Tree of Hands from 1984. The cool thing about her work, aside from the tremendous knowledge of human nature they display, is that her England has evolved as the country has. This one is from '84, but could never be taken for a story about the England of '64, when she began writing.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (omVj0)

180 Emmie I got it! Check your phone.

Posted by: jewells45 fuck cancer at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (wagHN)

181 I have a confession to make: my reading at this point is near zero. I think it's largely burnout from Wall of Men.

I'm still poking my way through Peter Kemp's Alms for Oblivion, but I'm not really invested in it, just finishing the series.

What I am doing is binge-watching Remington Steele, which is cracking me up. I love all the film noir references and it is a throwback to fun, witty writing that doesn't take itself seriously. I missed its original run because it mostly ran at 10 pm (which was past my bedtime), though I remember the intro (which was always drowned out with my protests that I wasn't sleepy).

It's just as well, because I get a lot more out of it than I would have back then.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (llXky)

182 The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that the Covid pandemic most likely arose from a laboratory leak, according to a classified intelligence report recently provided to the White House and key members of Congress.

Wouldn't it be great if we funded an organization that studied diseases and medicine and shit like that?
Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (BRHaw)

I thought Jon Stewart determined it was a lab leak, over a year ago.

The science is already settled.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (M2qSa)

183 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:22 AM (llXky)

Here's a question for you, that I've been curious about, and as The Bible is a book it fits here, why did Catholicism change versions, from the Douay Rheims to the NJB?

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (Zzbjj)

184 Presentism is one of the ten mental defects common to all Leftists. Judging people and events in history based on the cultural standards of the present.

Posted by: polynikes at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (6pcCZ)

185 >>>(and a few cheap shots at Tom Cruise).

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

>Are you being glib? I think you're being glib.

Posted by: Dr. Bone at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (Jg7EG)

186 Sorry that was joke from the movie. The are rewriting Live and Let and Casino R.
I swear his friend tells him he is marrying the fat one!

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:16 AM (BRHaw)

Oh, that one! It was Tiger Tanaka telling James he needed to marry and he and Aki got excited. (the cuter one to me) Aki was offed and James was supposed to marry another agent who turned out to be Mie Hama. (not as cute to me, but still good). Tiger said the woman was ugly, and there was a shot of an ugly woman coming up to the wedding place. It was Tiger's joke to James.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (Angsy)

187 Second the Lord Dunsany recommendation. A master.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 10:30 AM (1ais2)

188 Oh, and I love the music - classic Mancini intro and then smooth jazz as the show unfolds.

Sorry, not a book, but tons of book references in the show and superlative storytelling.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:30 AM (llXky)

189 So, thank you for mentioning that. WtC is one novel/book split into two convenient bite-sized morsels

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:15 AM (KLPy
---
I've read it and it is not some mild, 70-proof apple brandy nor even an 80-proof mixer.

That thing is 128-proof pure White Lightning.

Admittedly not for everyone, but if you want the real deal, that's the stuff.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:20 AM (llXky)

Wow.

Thank you. That's quite a compliment. This Sunday's starting out pretty great!

Oh, and thanks for the review that you've already left!

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:30 AM (KLPy8)

190 Goodbye Othello! Uncle Remus is out of stories! Gone With the Wind, gone! And in the middle of Black.History Month!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (FVME7)

DW Magic Kingdom shut down Splash Mountain to remake it without Song of the South.

HA HA HA

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:30 AM (BRHaw)

191 Alex Christy@alexchristy17
Replying to @alexchristy17
.@CBSNews Suggests Florida May Ban Book For Simply A Having Black Character

-
Goodbye Othello! Uncle Remus is out of stories! Gone With the Wind, gone! And in the middle of Black.History Month!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (FVME7)

Ok, I give up, why are they REALLY going to ban the book? Did the character say "gay?"

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 10:30 AM (M2qSa)

192 always wondered if somebody at Amazon was just a tad over-zealous with the woke.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at February 26, 2023 10:00 AM (a/4+U)

EVERYONE at Amazon is just a tad over-zealous with the woke.
It's why I buy from there as little as possible. My company used to spend big dollars there for crap I can get for only slightly more someplace else. I've not spent over a quarter mill there since I started doing my current job.

Ex wife works there was my initial reason but they just keep giving me more reasons. If something is available anywhere else I buy from them. My own little protest.l

Posted by: Reforger at February 26, 2023 10:31 AM (oB5mO)

193 "The Living Daylights," had Bond well on his way to quitting the Service in disgust.
Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023

***
The short story of that title, which provided the opening sequence of the film, is one of Fleming's best works and probably his best short story. Though the three action-oriented stories in For Your Eyes Only are all well done.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:32 AM (omVj0)

194 What I am doing is binge-watching Remington Steele, which is cracking me up. I love all the film noir references and it is a throwback to fun, witty writing that doesn't take itself seriously. I missed its original run because it mostly ran at 10 pm (which was past my bedtime), though I remember the intro (which was always drowned out with my protests that I wasn't sleepy).

It's just as well, because I get a lot more out of it than I would have back then.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (llXky)

Pierce right. Stephanie something?

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:32 AM (BRHaw)

195 Zimbalist the daughter of mr fbi efrem who plays pierces mentor

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:34 AM (PXvVL)

196 I forgot the author name and am too lazy to look it up, but the first book was entitled Prayers for the Assassin.

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach

Robert Ferrigno

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 10:34 AM (3zvqa)

197 Here's a question for you, that I've been curious about, and as The Bible is a book it fits here, why did Catholicism change versions, from the Douay Rheims to the NJB?

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:29 AM (Zzbjj)
---
I'm unaware of any change. There are multiple Catholic translations out there and it's only an issue if you're doing a group reading and even then people like to common on variations in translation.

Catholicism never had the emphasis on the Bible that Protestant denominations did, but it's getting more attention now as people abandon the liberal interpretations and return to tradition.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:35 AM (llXky)

198
Really? All you need is the Revised Standard Version....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (Angsy)

I disagreee - using several different translations (not versions) is useful when you are studying Scripture. Translations have changed since 1611, since the language has changed. NASB is my personal favorite, along with commentaries and an Archaeological Bible for historical reference. Plus Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic interlinear Bible for word study.

The Message, however, is a big ole mess.

Posted by: Moki at February 26, 2023 10:36 AM (JrN/x)

199 Actually, according to Genesis, Abraham was told that we were to be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the sands on the sea shore.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:05 AM (Zzbjj)

Be like fruit fly and multiply?

Posted by: BignJames at February 26, 2023 10:36 AM (AwYPR)

200 125 I was trying to figure out why the Roald Dohn saga sounded so familiar, then it finally hit me: sometime in the past two weeks, Disney declared that they were blacklisting some classic Scrooge McDuck comics due to 'cultural insensitivity' and crap like that. With comics being harder to alter than regular prose, that meant that they would simply never again reprint to the offending stories.

Sigh. The virus is everywhere, it seems...
Posted by: Castle Guy at February 26, 2023 10:03 AM (Lhaco)

Disney has never released "Song of the South" on video or on streaming.

The film takes place on a plantation in the Reconstruction Era, so Uncle Remus is obviously a former slave. But the Uncle Remus stories are great stories, and not just for children. B'rer Fox, B'rer Rabbit, the tar baby (the last now considered racists, but the story is great). It's a loss to American film.

Posted by: Wethal at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (NufIr)

201 It's just as well, because I get a lot more out of it than I would have back then.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (llXky)

Though I like most of the stuff Doris Roberts is in, I think her character ruined the late run of the show.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (Angsy)

202 Goodbye Othello! Uncle Remus is out of stories! Gone With the Wind, gone! And in the middle of Black.History Month!
=====

Remember Tecumseh! Black Hawk! and all the other great Indian Chiefs. Erasing history, one hero at a time.

Posted by: mustbequantum at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (MIKMs)

203 Zimbalist the daughter of mr fbi efrem who plays pierces mentor

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:34 AM (PXvVL)
---
Yep. She's quite good and has great chemistry with Brosnan, who is amazing. The way he can go from bluster to clueless to competent is just brilliant.

They have tons of little asides that slid past the censors because they were so quick and subtle.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:38 AM (llXky)

204
Disney has never released "Song of the South" on video or on streaming.

I have a pirate copy.

Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 10:38 AM (tITEI)

205 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:38 AM (llXky)

The movie Mr November is an underrated movie.

Posted by: polynikes at February 26, 2023 10:39 AM (8T0gw)

206 Though I like most of the stuff Doris Roberts is in, I think her character ruined the late run of the show.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (Angsy)
---
I'm still on the first season and most shows of that era ultimately fade down the stretch. First 2 seasons of Miami Vice are outstanding and then it starts sucking mightily.

I fondly remember Moonlighting and I'm amused that that they package it in either the full run or just the first 2 seasons.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:40 AM (llXky)

207
The old Reader's Digest publications came under a lot of mockery for their abridging and expurgating. . . .

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023

***
True. But they made interesting stories available to broke people like my family at a very reasonable price. And I don't recall the cuts being all that savage. Glendon Swarthout's Bless the Beasts and Children is written in a unique style, and the RD version (which I read first) keeps his style intact.

If not for RD, I might never have read that, or Jaws, or a lot of other fascinating works.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:40 AM (omVj0)

208 I just realized the Drax killing off humans to then rebuild society is now the fucking hero in the manner of Bill Gates, the WHO, and the WEF.

Bond is the evil villain trying to kill the savior of the world.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:41 AM (BRHaw)

209 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:40 AM (omVj0)

I inherited the entire collection from my father.

Posted by: polynikes at February 26, 2023 10:41 AM (8T0gw)

210 I have a pirate copy.
Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 10:38 AM (tITEI)

Is it rated "Arrrrr?"

I'll show myself out.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 26, 2023 10:42 AM (PiwSw)

211 One of the writers was behind the avengers the british one

Remingtons thing was he had passports named after every bogart character

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:42 AM (PXvVL)

212 I just realized the Drax killing off humans to then rebuild society is now the fucking hero in the manner of Bill Gates, the WHO, and the WEF.

Bond is the evil villain trying to kill the savior of the world.
Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:41 AM (BRHaw)
---
Drax is hardly the only Bond villain to fit that mold...Several of them seem to want to wipe out humanity so that they can rebuild civilization with their chosen ubermensch.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (BpYfr)

213 Really? All you need is the Revised Standard Version....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:24 AM (Angsy)

It was a joke. RSV was the one we used when I was a kid. I don't think any one translation should be above all others when they're faithful to the original texts. Except for stuff like those referenced today that change words to fit today's leftist culture.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (Angsy)

214 True. But they made interesting stories available to broke people like my family at a very reasonable price. And I don't recall the cuts being all that savage. Glendon Swarthout's Bless the Beasts and Children is written in a unique style, and the RD version (which I read first) keeps his style intact.

I remember reading The Readers Digest condensed version of The Day of the Jackal. There were others but that one stands out.

Posted by: That Northern skulker at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (eGTCV)

215 Is it rated "Arrrrr?"

I'll show myself out.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes,

lol

Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (tITEI)

216 Remember Tecumseh! Black Hawk! and all the other great Indian Chiefs. Erasing history, one hero at a time.
Posted by: mustbequantum at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (MIKMs)

Tecumseh builds great lawnmower engines.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (BRHaw)

217 Can I guess what the Marxists are claiming DeSantis is going to do banning any Black characters is what they wish they could do first?

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (xhxe8)

218 Remember Tecumseh! Black Hawk! and all the other great Indian Chiefs. Erasing history, one hero at a time.

Posted by: mustbequantum at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (MIKMs)
---
I re-watched The Last of the Mohicans (1992) which is one of the great examples of a movie being better than the book.

Wow, that thing could not be made today because of it's unflinching portrayal of tribal warfare.

Yet it has a huge Indian presence! Actual tribal members were deeply involved in it, trying to get the feel and look of the period correct (even though most were plains Indians playing woodland Indians). My daughter watched it for the first time and she agreed that it in theory should check all the diversity boxes but...scalping! Nope, can't have that today.

She liked it but couldn't get over Chingachgook calling Hawkeye "my white son."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (llXky)

219 Looking back, I realize though that Reader's Digest Condensed never ran any fantasy that I know of, and rarely did they print science fiction. They did Clarke's A Fall of Moondust, which is a great disaster suspense story, and I think (think!) that they printed Crichton's The Terminal Man. I may be confusing that with the serialization in Playboy, however. Yes; magazines other than the SF ones were still doing serializations as late as 1974 or so.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (omVj0)

220 Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (BpYfr)

The Kingsman more resembles the Gates caricature now.

Posted by: polynikes at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (8T0gw)

221 I remember reading The Readers Digest condensed version of The Day of the Jackal. There were others but that one stands out.
Posted by: That Northern skulker at February 26, 2023

***
You're right! And The Eagle has Landed, Jack Higgins' WWII thriller, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:45 AM (omVj0)

222 129 Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 09:53 AM (SPNTN)

Actually, according to Genesis, Abraham was told that we were to be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and as countless as the sands on the sea shore.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 10:05 AM

****
The promise in context is relative to Abraham's present status as the leader of a small clan, not in comparison to great empires like Egypt and Assyria. Consider this, Deuteronomy 7:7 -- "Not because you are more numerous than any people did the Lord delight in you and choose you, for you are the least of all the peoples." (And have you seen how relatively small is the Land of Israel? Gotta fit somehow....) ;-)

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 10:46 AM (SPNTN)

223 Ben Stiller did a very funny spoof on Last of The Mohicans. Just running and running and sweating. Hahahah

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 10:46 AM (1ais2)

224 Also stromberg is maurice strong man behind rio summit

70s bond was full on schwab walkon

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:46 AM (PXvVL)

225 Drax is hardly the only Bond villain to fit that mold...Several of them seem to want to wipe out humanity so that they can rebuild civilization with their chosen ubermensch.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023 10:43 AM (BpYfr)

I guess Drax seems to me as one of the better fits. Not really a mastermind criminal right up to the point he decides to depopulate the earth.

PS Some people think Thanos is the good guy.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:47 AM (BRHaw)

226 Doris Roberts killed Remington Steele.

Or, what happens a lot, the original writers wanted more money because it was a hit and the producers said "no" and replaced the good writers with Hollywood hacks.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at February 26, 2023 10:47 AM (TXFi7)

227 The film takes place on a plantation in the Reconstruction Era, so Uncle Remus is obviously a former slave. But the Uncle Remus stories are great stories, and not just for children. B'rer Fox, B'rer Rabbit, the tar baby (the last now considered racists, but the story is great). It's a loss to American film.

Posted by: Wethal at February 26, 2023 10:37 AM (NufIr)
---
It had to be canceled because it shows that black Americans had a prominent place in our society. It's not "offensive," it's proof that we've never been as racially divided as our current masters need us to believe.

Our elites also want to be the "first" to overcome bigotry, racism, etc., and there's a problem when people see that the "first" was 80-90 years ago.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:47 AM (llXky)

228 Valentines black swab he has a hotel inside the mountajn

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:48 AM (PXvVL)

229 Looking back, I realize though that Reader's Digest Condensed never ran any fantasy that I know of, and rarely did they print science fiction. They did Clarke's A Fall of Moondust, which is a great disaster suspense story, and I think (think!) that they printed Crichton's The Terminal Man. I may be confusing that with the serialization in Playboy....

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (omVj0)

Today on Tour the Writer's Homes we see the library of Wolfus Aurelius. What a great bookshelf! It's filled with books of all kinds, from the classics, to Reader's Digest Condensed books, to Playboy.....What?! Cut! Cut!!!!

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (Angsy)

230 Drax is hardly the only Bond villain to fit that mold...Several of them seem to want to wipe out humanity so that they can rebuild civilization with their chosen ubermensch.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at February 26, 2023

***
In the film, maybe -- I've never seen Moonraker the movie. In the novel, he wanted revenge on Great Britain for defeating his beloved Germany; and he hated the English anyway. He'd been ostracized and bullied at his Brit public school, and then his face was damaged during the war, for which he blamed the British.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (omVj0)

231 I suspect John Fetterman is anonymously commenting on the book thread...

Posted by: PabloD at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (rUSNJ)

232 Unlike schwab in the valley

The premise of moonraker was the plot in man from uncle

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (PXvVL)

233 I know this is the book thread but Tom Cruise was mentioned. I watched Top Gun: Maverick last night. Fabulous entertainment and it got me reflecting with my wife… that dude has cranked out dozens of highly entertaining movies with only a few duds (Eyes Wide Shut and Interview With a Vampire); I even kinda liked Vanilla Sky. Wish there were more in Hollywood like that strange little guy. Stephanie Zimbalist was also mentioned: Wowza… had a crush on her back in the day

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM (xT8gx)

234 wow

Karl Sigmund Stromberg is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. Stromberg was portrayed by Curd Jürgens. The character Stromberg was created specifically for the film by writer Christopher Wood. Ian Fleming's novel The Spy Who Loved Me was not told from Bond's perspective, but, rather, a Bond girl who is in love with him. The entire plot of the film has actually nothing to do at all with the plot of the novel. This was at Fleming's request; when he sold the rights to his novel to Eon Productions he requested only the title be used.

Second best Bond theme song!

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM (BRHaw)

235 Or, what happens a lot, the original writers wanted more money because it was a hit and the producers said "no" and replaced the good writers with Hollywood hacks.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at February 26, 2023 10:47 AM (TXFi7)
---
One of the producers defected to do "Moonlighting," which was very similar.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM (llXky)

236 A nuclear missile plot

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM (PXvVL)

237 A great thread, as always! More money shoveled at Amazon today, as always...

(A lifting of the coffee mug) Cheers, Perfesser!

Posted by: Brewingfrog at February 26, 2023 10:52 AM (Y90Az)

238 In the film, maybe -- I've never seen Moonraker the movie. In the novel, he wanted revenge on Great Britain for defeating his beloved Germany; and he hated the English anyway. He'd been ostracized and bullied at his Brit public school, and then his face was damaged during the war, for which he blamed the British.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (omVj0)

I would say a 6 on the Bond scale.

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023 10:52 AM (BRHaw)

239 On a whim, I went searching to see if there were any free Apparently, Archive.org is sharing the "Blue Sky Library" (Aozora Bunko), and it has a lot of Japanese books and texts. Peeked at the first one, despite an inability to read the kanji.

"No Longer Human" (Human Disqualified, Ningen Shikkaku). Apparently one of the biggest-selling novels in Japan, released shortly after WW2. The author had... issues, including several suicide attempts including a successful one shortly after the last part of that novel was serialized. Dying for one's art?

I don't have the knowledge to read the original, but it was translated into English, apparently.

Posted by: Another Anon at February 26, 2023 10:53 AM (XRMQ8)

240 Today on Tour the Writer's Homes we see the library of Wolfus Aurelius. What a great bookshelf! It's filled with books of all kinds, from the classics, to Reader's Digest Condensed books, to Playboy.....What?! Cut! Cut!!!!
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023

***
Ha! That's from my mental library, which is good-sized, if crammed with a lot of sensational fiction and other lumber.

Oh, yeah, the old joke, "I only read Playboy for the articles." I freely admit that was not true . . . but when I bought an issue, I read it cover to cover. And they used to publish really entertaining authors like Crichton, Larry Niven, the original novelette "The Fly" which became those movies, and a lot more.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:53 AM (omVj0)

241 Good morning fellow book lovers. Got to sleep in this morning. Sigh. Word of warning . If you decide to live in a condo do not be fooled by the convenience of retail below. Sometimes the "peaceful enjoyment " of you living situation may be compromised.
I just finished J.D. Robb (aka Norah Roberts) Encore in Death, hee umpteenth book in her series about a police detective solving homicides in post urban wars NYC. It is just amazing that every book has a new homicide with it's own twist and turns and hee characters evolve. I have given up on Robert'sclassic romance novels which all read like a cliche'd Hallmark movie but her magical or in this case futuristic novels still are great reads.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (Y+l9t)

242 Personally, I'm just as happy to have not had 45 minutes of Tom Motherfucking Bombadil.

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia

Heh. He and his whack-nut wife Goldberry or whatever are both very wearying characters.

I much prefer the Bored of the Rings version of him, the stoner Tim Benzedrine.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (3zvqa)

243 What marks him in the book is he cheats af cards in ms club blades

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (PXvVL)

244 I know this is the book thread but Tom Cruise was mentioned. I watched Top Gun: Maverick last night. Fabulous entertainment and it got me reflecting with my wife… that dude has cranked out dozens of highly entertaining movies with only a few duds (Eyes Wide Shut and Interview With a Vampire)

Posted by: LinusVanPelt at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM (xT8gx)
---
I bring him up in Walls of Men in the context of "The Last Samurai," which is an ahistorical pile of White Savior junk.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (llXky)

245 Doris Roberts killed Remington Steele.

Or, what happens a lot, the original writers wanted more money because it was a hit and the producers said "no" and replaced the good writers with Hollywood hacks.

Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at February 26, 2023 10:47 AM (TXFi7)

By then Brosnan was sulking because they wouldn't let him out to do Bond.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (Angsy)

246 178 44, 105, 163 I had to look it up because it was bugging the hell out of me:
Prayers for the Assassin
Sins of the Assassin
Heart of the Assassin
by Robert Ferrigno
Posted by: who knew at February 26, 2023 10:28 AM (4I7VG)

I'm a fan but more of his earlier novels like

"The Wake-Up

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (KLPy8)

247 Thanks to all! I knew a Moron would remember those…
Tony

Posted by: AnthonyB at February 26, 2023 10:55 AM (YZsjg)

248 I would say a 6 on the Bond scale.
Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023

***
It had a built-in ticking clock, with the deadline of the launch of the Moonraker rocket, and a classic car chase. Fleming himself thought it would make a good movie. Trivia: John Payne took an option on it in the '50s, thinking to film a version with himself in the lead. He certainly had the right *look* for Bond. Whether he could do a convincing English dialect, or whether they would have made Bond an American agent, I don't know. A shame it never happened.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:56 AM (omVj0)

249 I suspect John Fetterman is anonymously commenting on the book thread...

Posted by: PabloD at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (rUSNJ)

You may be right.

Posted by: BignJames at February 26, 2023 10:57 AM (AwYPR)

250 Heh. He and his whack-nut wife Goldberry or whatever are both very wearying characters.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 10:54 AM (3zvqa)
---
Disagree. The description and mood are some of Tolkien's been writings. That chapter is the bridge between the "normal" world of the Shire and the Outside of Middle Earth. There is lots of foreshadowing in the dreams the hobbits have and of course it leads directly into one of the coolest scenes in the book, the Barrow-wight, which creeped the hell out of me as a kid.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:57 AM (llXky)

251 Heh. He and his whack-nut wife Goldberry or whatever are both very wearying characters.

I much prefer the Bored of the Rings version of him, the stoner Tim Benzedrine.
Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023

***
That's my reaction on both counts. Bombadil made me tired.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:57 AM (omVj0)

252 Tim Benzedrine and Hashberry.

The boggiest drop acid. Classic.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:58 AM (llXky)

253 I never realized that some people looked down upon the Reader's Digest Condensed Books. I recall that Reader's Digest also had a series of condensed books for younger readers. I remember reading the biography of Marie Curie, Treasure Island, and many others that probably would not have if they had not made them easily available.

As an adult, I somehow ended up subscribing with the RD's condensed books and was exposed to many stories that I would not have otherwise. It probably was not "Great Literature" but I enjoyed them very much.

Posted by: KatieFloyd at February 26, 2023 11:00 AM (ob77J)

254 The entire plot of the film has actually nothing to do at all with the plot of the novel. This was at Fleming's request; when he sold the rights to his novel to Eon Productions he requested only the title be used. . . .

Posted by: rhennigantx at February 26, 2023

***
I did not know that. Spy Who the novel is a fascinating experiment. Bond's appearance and the adventure could have been reduced to a long short story; but a young woman like Vivienne would have told the story of how she met Bond in just that way, with her own biography tossed in.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:00 AM (omVj0)

255 Tim Benzedrine and Hashberry.

The boggiest drop acid. Classic.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023

***
"Melts in yore brain, man, not in yore hands!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:01 AM (omVj0)

256 Morning hordelings. Bad sleep for me last night.

I was recommended a non fiction book about Roald Dahl, The Irregulars. It was great. He was tasked with schmoozing in DC to get us into the war. Of course I read all his books as a child.

Right now attempting to read Blood Meridian. Prose is gorgeous, but every chapter is an exercise in "can it get more brutal and inhumane than the last?" Yes it can. So its a bit tough.

Posted by: Funsize (EiPf6) at February 26, 2023 11:01 AM (zds/e)

257 I suspect John Fetterman is anonymously commenting on the book thread...

Posted by: PabloD at February 26, 2023 10:50 AM (rUSNJ)

You may be right.

Posted by: BignJames at February 26, 2023 10:57 AM (AwYPR)

When I find the guy....

Posted by: His Lump at February 26, 2023 11:02 AM (Angsy)

258 You're right! And The Eagle has Landed, Jack Higgins' WWII thriller, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere

The movie adaption with Donald Sutherland, Jenny Agutter and Michael Caine is fantastic.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 11:02 AM (3zvqa)

259 Very late to the thread but some errands can't be put off. Perfessor's observation about 'improving' long published books is why I use physical books for more of my reading. Considering the malignant leftists out there, nothing is safe. Tolkien, Lewis (CS and Carroll both), Robert E. Howard, Mark Twain, and any classic children's books, H. Rider-Haggard, you name it. The old Hardy Boys books were modified years ago to make them easier for modern kids. (Apparently the Hardy Boys books I had no trouble with in second grade, Ike was still in the White House, are beyond even teenagers today.)

If it is of any value to civilization, Christianity, and the importance of the individual, these ghouls will try to destroy it. I'm in the process of getting all the books written by Malcolm Guite, an Anglican priest, poet, essayist, and a lecturer that brings joy to life and the world. I will only get physical copies of his works.

Posted by: JTB at February 26, 2023 11:02 AM (7EjX1)

260 "Oh uncool bush! Unloose this passle
Of furry cats that you hassle!
Tho' speed my brain's destroyed,
I'm not half this paranoid!
So cease this bummer, down the freak-out,
Let caps and joints cause brains to leak-out!
These cats are groovy here among us,
So leave 'em be, you up-tight fungus!"

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 11:05 AM (3zvqa)

261 You're right! And The Eagle has Landed, Jack Higgins' WWII thriller, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
*
The movie adaption with Donald Sutherland, Jenny Agutter and Michael Caine is fantastic.
Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023

***
My memory of the film is dim. Caine played the leader of the German undercover force tasked to kill Churchill in England, right? And Sutherland was the IRA guy, a Brit-hater from the get-go, who Himmler forced the Germans to work with? Caine could have played the IRA agent, but I can't see Donald as the German captain.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:05 AM (omVj0)

262 Marxists do not ever ever ever leave thir bubble

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 11:06 AM (xhxe8)

263 A thing like that!

Posted by: Dr. Varno at February 26, 2023 11:06 AM (X+Ku8)

264 Caine could have played the IRA agent, but I can't see Donald as the German captain.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:05 AM (omVj0)

You didn't think he was adequate in The Eye of the Needle?

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 11:06 AM (Zzbjj)

265 The ira guy is based on a real character who fought for the republic and was recruited by the abwehr

caines character is supposed to be skorzeny but hes such a hulking brute it wouldnt have worked

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (PXvVL)

266 "Tim, Tim, Benzedrine! Hash! Boo! Valvoline!
Clean! Clean! Clean for Gene!
First, second, neutral, park,
Hie thee hence, you leafy narc!"

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (3zvqa)

267 It probably was not "Great Literature" but I enjoyed them very much.

Posted by: KatieFloyd at February 26, 2023 11:00 AM (ob77J)

RD was my first exposure to Michener, many years ago..."The Source".

Posted by: BignJames at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (AwYPR)

268 It probably was not "Great Literature" but I enjoyed them very much.

Posted by: KatieFloyd at February 26, 2023 11:00 AM (ob77J)

We had them and I read most, if not all, of the stories. I never looked down on them. I suppose some snooty folks did, though.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (Angsy)

269 Just like in every Soviet era movie plot, anyone ever found to have left the Communists line is suspected of being turned by information not friendly. Even if not voluntary

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (xhxe8)

270 I just finished the only good thing leftists ever gave us.....avocado toast.

I've been watching Sinbad on Prime. I realized this morning that it is like a Dungeons and Dragons story. A group of adventurers each with a different skill set, setting out on a journey and having to defeat monsters, curses, evil rulers, sorcery and flighty gods. It's entertaining.

Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (Y+l9t)

271 Caine could have played the IRA agent, but I can't see Donald as the German captain.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023
*
You didn't think he was adequate in The Eye of the Needle?
Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023

***
Strangely enough, I do like that performance. Never the handsomest lead actor in films, but always convincing. Maybe he could have played the German parachute squad captain at that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:09 AM (omVj0)

272 There were several such infiltration missions

Skorzeny who ran behind the lines operations during the war managed to slip out to spain where he coordinated with fellow kamaraden in egypt and spain

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:10 AM (PXvVL)

273 233 I know this is the book thread but Tom Cruise was mentioned. I watched Top Gun: Maverick last night. Fabulous entertainment and it got me reflecting with my wife… that dude has cranked out dozens of highly entertaining movies with only a few duds (Eyes Wide Shut and Interview With a Vampire); I even kinda liked Vanilla Sky. Wish there were more in Hollywood like that strange little guy. Stephanie Zimbalist was also mentioned: Wowza… had a crush on her back in the day
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at February 26, 2023 10:51 AM

****
Eyes Wide Shut is an underrated film, especially when compared with the Spanish original version, Abre los Ojos. The changes made in the US version show some interesting cultural differences between these United States and Spain / Europe in general. I love it because it belongs to my favorite story genre, which is "I can't tell you anything about it because any tiny detail could work as a spoiler!"

Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023 11:10 AM (SPNTN)

274 I know the Western doesn't seem to be read much by the Horde, but I've read a few Hopalong Cassidy books by Clarence Mulford. In the middle of reading "Trail Dust," but it doesn't hold my interest as much as the other's I've read. It seems a little dull. I've put it aside, might get back to it. Maybe search for that Perry Mason book I got from the moving neighbor.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 11:11 AM (Angsy)

275 Caines is the honorable german sutherland is the cynic

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:11 AM (PXvVL)

276 I never looked down on them. I suppose some snooty folks did, though.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (Angsy)

Yeah, my sis, the Trotskyite.

Posted by: BignJames at February 26, 2023 11:12 AM (AwYPR)

277 Still reading (slowly) Michael Malice's "The White Pill."

I just read the tale of one Gareth Jones, who had been a secretary for the British PM, Lloyd George, before becoming a journalist. And like any decent journalist, when he got a chance to travel in the Soviet Union in 1933, he got off the train before his designated stop, and walked the countryside.

His reporting on the famine was stark, and... no one believed him. The evil prick Walter Duranty called him a liar.

Two years later, Jones was murdered while covering a story in China. His murder was of course, not a coincidence. So I'm just posting it here, because I'm sure most people have never heard of Gareth Jones. He was a hero. In the sharpest sense of the word. And he died doing what journalists are supposed to do.

Gareth Jones. A name worth remembering.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:12 AM (M2qSa)

278 Thanks for keeping things running Perfessor.

Reading wise, working my way slowly through 'Stranger in a Strange Land'. Somehow I overlooked Heinlein when growing up. Stranger has at least as much depth as any Heinlein book I've read before.
Time to rest, I must grok it more.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at February 26, 2023 11:12 AM (DWTz2)

279 Sharkman, that was like, beautiful, :sniffs: man.

Posted by: Funsize (EiPf6) at February 26, 2023 11:13 AM (zds/e)

280 Eyes wide shut was based on schnizlers tales of fin de seicle austria

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:14 AM (PXvVL)

281 Strangely enough, I do like that performance. Never the handsomest lead actor in films, but always convincing. Maybe he could have played the German parachute squad captain at that.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:09 AM (omVj0)
---
He was quite busy in the 70s and had considerable range. "Klute," Oddball in "Kelly's Heroes" and the aforementioned roles are all very different.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:15 AM (llXky)

282 Eyes Wide Shut is an underrated film, especially when compared with the Spanish original version, Abre los Ojos. The changes made in the US version show some interesting cultural differences between these United States and Spain / Europe in general. I love it because it belongs to my favorite story genre, which is "I can't tell you anything about it because any tiny detail could work as a spoiler!"
Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at February 26, 2023

***
I rented the DVD (this was in the dying days of Blockbuster) because Nicole Kidman was in it. At that point I was no fan of Stanley Kubrick, having hated his "adaptation" of King's The Shining. It turns out Nicole is not in it that much -- and yet I didn't miss her. The film is about the Cruise character's disturbing and surreal journey, most of it during a single night (?), spooky and paranoiac and shadowy.

I decided to appreciate Kubrick a bit after that, and liked The Killing quite a bit.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:16 AM (omVj0)

283 Reading related. I just got a DVD,"The Fantasy Makers: Tolkien, Lewis, and MacDonald" about what MacDonald established and how Tolkien and Lewis carried on with his imaginative approach to life. It is well done and had some surprises. I didn't know MacDonald was a big supporter of Lewis Carroll. MacDonald read Carroll's manuscripts to his children to provide encouragement for the fledgling author. Neat stuff. It's part history and part literature and makes connections between the two. Highly recommended.

Posted by: JTB at February 26, 2023 11:17 AM (7EjX1)

284 A bit OT...26 Feb:
A lot of Moving Target Indicators coming off the sensors and creating a target rich environment for the AH-64s if we can get the sensor report in time so they can set the ambush. Otherwise the just fly across the FLOT and hope for the best. Comms suck but got them launched at 2130 to OBJ Mendin. Looks like the Tawakalna Division is moving, whether to counter attack or retreat is hard to tell. Medina Division looks to be stacked Brigades along the northern edge of the Wade al Batin and are actually giving 1 Armored some trouble. I have asked for names of Iraqi officers who trained in the US…they will know how better to defend against out tactics. Would not be surprised if someone in the Medina had done so. Arclight coming in around midnight. Lots of in-fighting with the Air Force and us on fire support coordination. This will be a discussion point after the war. Corps Arty TAC CP crossed paths with the 2 ACR and shortly afterwards watched a huge fire fight. My Deputy said it was awesome. (Later learned this was the Battle of 73 Easting). Received BDA from ATACMS mission on Day one against a SA-2 site. Complete destruction. One of my targets.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:17 AM (anj39)

285 Which lapses into odessa files now that we know that forsyth was mi 6 we see what he left out of the tale the max schell character is really alois brunner the only one with the clout to run the rocket program in egypt who was working for german intelligence in syria

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:17 AM (PXvVL)

286 I re-watched The Last of the Mohicans (1992) which is one of the great examples of a movie being better than the book.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

James Fenimore Cooper was a terrible writer. His corpse should be dug up and burned just on principle. On the other hand, he was giving the Historical Fiction Genre its first real attempt so he's perhaps to be forgiven for being so terrible. The movie of course is an absolute classic.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 11:18 AM (3zvqa)

287 I know the Western doesn't seem to be read much by the Horde, but I've read a few Hopalong Cassidy books by Clarence Mulford. In the middle of reading "Trail Dust," but it doesn't hold my interest as much as the other's I've read. It seems a little dull. I've put it aside, might get back to it. Maybe search for that Perry Mason book I got from the moving neighbor.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023

***
OrangeEnt, you and I both know the Western is first cousin to the hard-boiled crime story. Or it can be; there are historical Westerns that don't resemble Richard Stark's Parker crime stories at all. It's funny, but for some reason genre fiction like the detective/crime story, the Western, and SF all are judged (unfairly) by their poorest examples, while critics insist on judging "literature" (whatever that is) by its best.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:21 AM (omVj0)

288 Eyes Wide Shut is like an expose of the weird sex & occult shit the pedo "elite" are up to.

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at February 26, 2023 11:21 AM (fUnHJ)

289 Punctuation. It's a thing.

Posted by: Just sayin' at February 26, 2023 11:23 AM (DhOHl)

290 219 Looking back, I realize though that Reader's Digest Condensed never ran any fantasy that I know of, and rarely did they print science fiction. They did Clarke's A Fall of Moondust, which is a great disaster suspense story, and I think (think!) that they printed Crichton's The Terminal Man. I may be confusing that with the serialization in Playboy, however. Yes; magazines other than the SF ones were still doing serializations as late as 1974 or so.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 10:44 AM (omVj0)

I vaguely remember growing up with a lot of Reader's Digest books around the house. Never read any of them, though. Them lacking any sci-fi/fantasy stories may have had something to do with that...

I'm guessing its a matter of markets. Speaking in broad generalizations, the folks RD was marketed to is not the target audience for most sci-fi and fantasy...

Posted by: Castle Guy at February 26, 2023 11:23 AM (Lhaco)

291 I decided to appreciate Kubrick a bit after that, and liked The Killing quite a bit.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:16 AM (omVj0)

I tried watching the film again, a year or so ago. It strikes me as contrived and ultimately, silly.

There are theories about what is real and what isn't. It's also true to say, Kubrick was no stranger to the Hollowood sex depravity, and very well may have participated in the pimping of his young star in Lolita.

I still think he's a hack. I don't really understand why anyone thinks he's a great director.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:23 AM (M2qSa)

292 I understand that Puffin Books has decided to reprint the Dahl books as written in addition to the vandalized versions.
Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:08 AM (Om/di)

The vandalized versions should all be recalled and burned.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 26, 2023 11:24 AM (tkR6S)

293 Eyes Wide Shut is like an expose of the weird sex & occult shit the pedo "elite" are up to.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at February 26, 2023

***
The version I saw must have been edited; I don't recall any explicit sex scenes. If Nicole got naked in it, and I heard she did, I missed it. Darn!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:24 AM (omVj0)

294 2001

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at February 26, 2023 11:25 AM (DWTz2)

295 The Last of the Mohicans
----
LOVE the movie!!! Great soundtrack.
Never read the book.

Posted by: lin-duh at February 26, 2023 11:26 AM (UUBmN)

296 Has anyone read The Silence by Tim Lebbon? I watched the movie yesterday (it's a similar plot to A Quiet Place), and it stunk, but reviews swear the book is better. I'm trying to decide if it is worth picking up the book.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at February 26, 2023 11:26 AM (uPgE/)

297 Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:17 AM (anj39)

Interesting!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 11:26 AM (XIJ/X)

298 Synergy. Allan Eckert's book about Tecumseh is historical fiction and an all time favorite of mine. As is his Frontiersmen. So good.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:27 AM (1ais2)

299 If Nicole got naked in it, and I heard she did, I missed it. Darn!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:24 AM (omVj0)

Yes, she did, and it was quite nice!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 11:27 AM (XIJ/X)

300 The Last of the Mohicans
----
LOVE the movie!!! Great soundtrack.
Never read the book.
Posted by: lin-duh at February 26, 2023 11:26 AM (UUBmN)

I've read Twain's criticism of it. Now that's a hoot.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:27 AM (M2qSa)

301
I still think he's a hack. I don't really understand why anyone thinks he's a great director.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023

***
I hated, and still don't understand, Kubrick's 2001; his mangling of The Shining is legendary; I've never seen Dr. Strangelove all the way through; and I don't recall much about Lolita. Spartacus is great stuff, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:28 AM (omVj0)

302 lin-duh while you can, the book Last of the Mohicans is a mess. On the other hand if you read it you won't know how it ends.

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 11:28 AM (xhxe8)

303 The movie is one of my top 10 watches

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 11:29 AM (xhxe8)

304 I've been watching Sinbad on Prime. I realized this morning that it is like a Dungeons and Dragons story. A group of adventurers each with a different skill set, setting out on a journey and having to defeat monsters, curses, evil rulers, sorcery and flighty gods. It's entertaining.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at February 26, 2023 11:08 AM (Y+l9t)

A Sinbad movie? A Sinbad tv show? Which version of Sinbad?

Not too long ago, I watched two Sinbad movies (back form the Haryhousen era) on Tubi. It was interesting to contrast the two. Golden Voyage of Sinbad looked and sounded exotic, and possibly authentically arabic. The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, however, felt significantly less exotic. Indeed, it was practically domestic...

Since this is the book thread, anyone read a good prose version of Sinbad? The original version, or more recent retelling?

Posted by: Castle Guy at February 26, 2023 11:29 AM (Lhaco)

305 She was first in the altogether in billy bathgate

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:29 AM (PXvVL)

306 BTW The CB Strike books are a detective series. No witches or wizards in sight! I remember the books being very well received before it was revealed that JK Rowling was the real author.

Posted by: lin-duh at February 26, 2023 11:29 AM (UUBmN)

307 292 I understand that Puffin Books has decided to reprint the Dahl books as written in addition to the vandalized versions.
Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:08 AM (Om/di)

The vandalized versions should all be recalled and burned.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 26, 2023 11:24 AM (tkR6S)

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

As I understand it, Puffin Books (which I'm guessing is the kid-lit publishing arm of Penguin?) is printing the bastardized versions. Penguin Books is printing the originals.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at February 26, 2023 11:29 AM (uPgE/)

308 Off to late service...laters!

Posted by: lin-duh at February 26, 2023 11:30 AM (UUBmN)

309 @216 Tecumseh builds great lawnmower engines.

You
have got
to be shitting.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 26, 2023 11:31 AM (jYCXf)

310 I still think he's a hack. I don't really understand why anyone thinks he's a great director.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:23 AM (M2qSa)

He wasn't a "hack". By any definition. I don't like him either. But he was incredibly skilled and intent on doing ambitious things. Just look at Barry Lyndon. What he was all about may not move you and it repels me, but he was a master at every facet of filmmaking. The films are meaningful and exquisitely detailed and plotted. As in rabbit hole levels of "meaning".

He never made a Buckaroo Banzai but then that is an unfair criticism.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:31 AM (1ais2)

311 James Fenimore Cooper was a terrible writer. His corpse should be dug up and burned just on principle. On the other hand, he was giving the Historical Fiction Genre its first real attempt so he's perhaps to be forgiven for being so terrible. The movie of course is an absolute classic.

Posted by: Sharkman at February 26, 2023 11:18 AM (3zvqa)
---
A big part of his fame is that he was one of the first American novelists, so this got him all manner of praise.

Twain's destruction of him is exquisite.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (llXky)

312 Interesting!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 11:26 AM (XIJ/X)

Shamelessly stealing the idea from Muldoon and his father's diary entries. I still have my notebook from the war and as it was 32 years ago this week, am collating my notes into brief summaries for each day. Hope no one minds.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)

313 Can someone explain the references to a Florida book ban? I have a feeling I'm going to need to know the truth when I have to deal with some friends later on.

Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (QZxDR)

314 Thats nekkid in the creek, which i dont recall was in the doctorow book

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (PXvVL)

315 The Uncle Remus museum still exists, in Joel Chandler Harris' birthplace, Eatonton, GA. They are pretty proud of it.

Posted by: fd at February 26, 2023 11:34 AM (iayUP)

316 Even as a kid Twain made my skin crawl. There is very dark stuff in there. Very dark. Evil.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:34 AM (1ais2)

317 I hated, and still don't understand, Kubrick's 2001; his mangling of The Shining is legendary; I've never seen Dr. Strangelove all the way through; and I don't recall much about Lolita. Spartacus is great stuff, though.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:28 AM (omVj0)
---
At James Madison College in the early 1990s, two movies were mandatory view for all incoming freshmen.

The first was "High Noon," which was treated as a metaphor for American Cold War foreign policy.

The second was "Dr. Strangelove." If you want to truly appreciate it, watch "Failsafe" first.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:35 AM (llXky)

318 Started Vince Milam's book The Texas Job.
I'm hooked!

Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (anj39)

319 Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:23 AM (M2qSa)

He wasn't a "hack". By any definition. I don't like him either. But he was incredibly skilled and intent on doing ambitious things. Just look at Barry Lyndon. What he was all about may not move you and it repels me, but he was a master at every facet of filmmaking. The films are meaningful and exquisitely detailed and plotted. As in rabbit hole levels of "meaning".

He never made a Buckaroo Banzai but then that is an unfair criticism.
Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:31 AM (1ais2)

He was a hack. Contrived events, scenes that don't fit the world he builds, nonsense sequences because he thinks they're cool.

2001 is garbage, EWS is garbage, Shining is garbage, Full Metal Garbage is garbage. I don't know about Barry Lyndon, I've never seen it.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (M2qSa)

320 OrangeEnt, you and I both know the Western is first cousin to the hard-boiled crime story. Or it can be; there are historical Westerns that don't resemble Richard Stark's Parker crime stories at all. It's funny, but for some reason genre fiction like the detective/crime story, the Western, and SF all are judged (unfairly) by their poorest examples, while critics insist on judging "literature" (whatever that is) by its best.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:21 AM (omVj0)

Yeah, you're right. I've written western, and hard boiled, (just did another Harry story) and I'm trying a comedy scifi short now. Talk about judging these genres by the worst of it....

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 11:37 AM (Angsy)

321 Shamelessly stealing the idea from Muldoon and his father's diary entries. I still have my notebook from the war and as it was 32 years ago this week, am collating my notes into brief summaries for each day. Hope no one minds.
Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)

There's a mom and pop near me where mil can sign a wall with career notes. I was looking at it one day and then I just started howling with laughter. And the owner came over and we laughed. It was the arty guy's sig. It was perfect. The SOF guys were all flourishes and the one arty guy's looked like he used a ruler and the letters were perfect. Hahahah.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:38 AM (1ais2)

322 Can someone explain the references to a Florida book ban? I have a feeling I'm going to need to know the truth when I have to deal with some friends later on.
Posted by: Trimegistus at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (QZxDR)

Good question, I don't know details, but I believe it has to do with banning CRT in schools, and therefore, whatever books are associated with same.

But I'm not sure.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (M2qSa)

323 At James Madison College in the early 1990s, two movies were mandatory view for all incoming freshmen.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:35 AM (llXky)

My roommate was in Mad College and that must have come later. The only mandatory viewing I remember her complaining about was having to go watch a live performance of La Mandragola.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (Zzbjj)

324 Shamelessly stealing the idea from Muldoon and his father's diary entries. I still have my notebook from the war and as it was 32 years ago this week, am collating my notes into brief summaries for each day. Hope no one minds.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)
---
I have all my notebooks, and the entries would read things like:

Go to dental
Write story on the recent exercise
ATSO Training

I was able to write Three Weeks with the Coasties: A Tale of Disaster and also an Oil Spill because in addition to my notebooks, I have all of my emails, including the daily briefs.

Very easy to turn that into light satire since the entire Deepwater Horizon operation was a comically inept.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (llXky)

325 The second was "Dr. Strangelove." If you want to truly appreciate it, watch "Failsafe" first.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023

***
I have a memory of seeing Fail-Safe at some point -- Henry Fonda plays the U.S. president, right? I know that it, Strangelove, and The Bedford Incident w/ Richard Widmark were the so-called "doomsday trilogy" of 1964.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (omVj0)

326 I liked Barry Lyndon, but then again another of my period kind of movies

Posted by: Skip at February 26, 2023 11:40 AM (xhxe8)

327 My roommate was in Mad College and that must have come later. The only mandatory viewing I remember her complaining about was having to go watch a live performance of La Mandragola.

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (Zzbjj)
---
I should clarify: that only applied to International Relations majors. The Social Relations people probably watched "Sesame Street" and "Roots."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:40 AM (llXky)

328 On #woke Bowdlerisation: https://tinyurl.com/3e2jkce6 and https://tinyurl.com/27bkf4ay

Posted by: aelfheld at February 26, 2023 11:41 AM (Zy9Yy)

329 This week, I've been reading a couple of books in Seanan McGuire's "Incryptid" series. Specifically, Magic for Nothing and Tricks for Free (books 6 and 7 in the series) which should work fairly well as standalone books. They kept me up late turning pages several times in the last couple of weeks. I can't think of any higher praise than that.

Ms McGuire does throw in a couple of woke statements in both books, but it's not clear if that's the author's view or the characters and, well, they stories don't seem to have those views built into their core. The characters are complex, not stereotypes, and good is trying to triumph over evil, even if it's not always clear what that means.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at February 26, 2023 11:42 AM (iZEhM)

330 2001 is garbage, EWS is garbage, Shining is garbage, Full Metal Garbage is garbage. I don't know about Barry Lyndon, I've never seen it.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (M2qSa)
---
Full Metal Jacket is half of a great film. Basically a documentary of how R. Lee Ermey's drill instructors talked.

Without him, there's nothing interesting.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:42 AM (llXky)

331 2001 is garbage, EWS is garbage, Shining is garbage, Full Metal Garbage is garbage. I don't know about Barry Lyndon, I've never seen it.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (M2qSa)

That's fine. But if "hack" includes those who mastered every aspect of film-making.... other than the one where you enjoy the movie.... honestly, I do not like his work, but there aren't any plot holes and he didn't do things just because they were cool. He just didn't. Idk what else to say.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:43 AM (1ais2)

332 I was able to write Three Weeks with the Coasties: A Tale of Disaster and also an Oil Spill because in addition to my notebooks, I have all of my emails, including the daily briefs.

I enjoyed that book.

Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 11:43 AM (tITEI)

333 327. Movies were not as easy to come by in 1975, and Machiavelli's paly did not have a movie version, yet. ;-D

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 11:43 AM (Zzbjj)

334 Good question, I don't know details, but I believe it has to do with banning CRT in schools, and therefore, whatever books are associated with same.

But I'm not sure.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:39 AM (M2qSa)
---
One of the many reasons I stopped reading any news coverage at all was because it's all overt lies. They don't care when they get caught, it's just move onto the next lie.

And then the layoffs hit and the editors cry that reliable news has never been more important.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:45 AM (llXky)

335 32 years ago this week, am collating my notes into brief summaries for each day. Hope no one minds.
Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)

My notebooks are boring from that time. I was in West Germany guarding the housing area in Bamberg. 12 on 12 off for the entirety of Shield and Storm. Then 45 days in Graf and deactivation, home for christmas '91.We were gone before we all got killed by returning husbands.

32 years later and the only thing that stands out in my mind it the ungodly amount of Girlscout cookies we ate.

Posted by: Reforger at February 26, 2023 11:45 AM (oB5mO)

336 I still have my notebook from the war and as it was 32 years ago this week, am collating my notes into brief summaries for each day.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)

I think it is fascinating, and Muldoon would be pleased!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at February 26, 2023 11:45 AM (XIJ/X)

337 Thank you for the Book Thread, Perfessor! It is always most appreciated.
I took my first step to becoming Steve Austin *Six Million kind, not Stone Cold*, and got a new knee early last week. Rehabbing in *Fort Recliner* gave me a chance to finish Meltzer and Mensch*s * The Nazi Conspiracy-The Secret Plan To Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill *. Overall, aside from some overt and unnecessary political digs early on, it provided interesting behind the scenes info on the relationship between The Big Three, and provided a lot of insight into what occurred on The Eastern Front, besides Stalingrad and stretched logistical lines. I had never considered the exponentially greater losses faced by the Soviet Army and population. It was a decent read/listen. I would give their other works a tumble if I was interested in the historical event about which they were writing.
Regarding *fixing* LotRs; if attempted, Tom Bombadil would rise up in full ninja mode and go medival on the fixer*s sorry asses, because, damnit, he is Tom Effing Bomadil!

Posted by: SuperMayorSuperRonNirenberg-Gimme My 4th Term You Peons at February 26, 2023 11:45 AM (Xv4Yc)

338 Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (M2qSa)
---
Full Metal Jacket is half of a great film. Basically a documentary of how R. Lee Ermey's drill instructors talked.

Without him, there's nothing interesting.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:42 AM (llXky)

Yup. Up until the point where Private Pyle (spoiler alert), who has already completed training, has access to a weapon and live ammo in the barracks, and the supposedly wise D.I. stands in front of and berates a crazy person pointing a weapon at him.

It's bullship. Nonsense that Kubrick put in there for no damn reason other than it looked cool.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:46 AM (M2qSa)

339 I enjoyed that book.

Posted by: Infidel at February 26, 2023 11:43 AM (tITEI)
---
Glad you liked it! It's a pretty obscure topic, but I had all the materials and I'd never done a "real-world" novel before. My wife really liked it and my kids found their fictional versions quite funny.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:47 AM (llXky)

340 76 ... werewife,

Glad you mentioned Lord Dunsany. I knew there was another fantasy author I wanted to mention and forgot about Dunsany. I don't know if there is any direct influence between MacDonald and Dunsany or Dunsany and Tolkien. At least I haven't come across any. But it's easy to imagine that Tolkien and Lewis would have enjoyed Dunsany.

Posted by: JTB at February 26, 2023 11:47 AM (7EjX1)

341 Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:36 AM (M2qSa)

...but there aren't any plot holes and he didn't do things just because they were cool. He just didn't. Idk what else to say.
Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:43 AM (1ais2)

Yes, there were, and yes, he did.

He was a hack. A hack who enjoyed pimping underaged girls to rich foreigners.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:47 AM (M2qSa)

342 Ot. Sorry. Trailer morons.
My dad sold everything and did the traveling trailer thing.
After 15 years of traveling planted in around gold beach Oregon. Visited him and his wife several times prior to his passing.
His stories of his travels were fun. Where he landed was an amazing place between a creek and a river.
I've always envied his retirement decisions.

Posted by: Bosk at February 26, 2023 11:48 AM (OR9VM)

343

Glad you mentioned Lord Dunsany. I knew there was another fantasy author I wanted to mention and forgot about Dunsany. I don't know if there is any direct influence between MacDonald and Dunsany or Dunsany and Tolkien. At least I haven't come across any. But it's easy to imagine that Tolkien and Lewis would have enjoyed Dunsany.
Posted by: JTB at February 26, 2023 11:47 AM (7EjX1)

I remember enjoying a Dunsany book--something like The Curse of the Wise Woman. I could be wrong about that title.

Posted by: N.Lurker at February 26, 2023 11:50 AM (eGTCV)

344 Yup. Up until the point where Private Pyle (spoiler alert), who has already completed training, has access to a weapon and live ammo in the barracks, and the supposedly wise D.I. stands in front of and berates a crazy person pointing a weapon at him.

Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:46 AM (M2qSa)
---
Yep. All the vets I know love the first part of the movie and then shut it off at that point.

Ermey's character would need to be told the rifle was loaded, he would have moved with blinding speed and had Pyle on the floor with a rifle butt where his head used to be.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:50 AM (llXky)

345 Way Way Downriver: you must have had a lemon. The most reliable lawn mower I ever owned had a Tecumseh engine. Ran 20 years on one sparkplug and at most two oil changes (I know, I'm terrible). Only sold it because we sold our house and moved cross country and into a condo so I was done (for awhile) with the whole lawn care business. Now I'm back in it and have a Honda. We'll see if it holds up as well as the Tecumseh.

Posted by: who knew at February 26, 2023 11:51 AM (4I7VG)

346 One book I need to re-read is the Frontiersmen, which is a factual history of the Northwest Territories, but told in narrative fashion, almost novel-like, but different. It has numerous men of note, including Tecumseh and George Rogers Clark, and describes in detail the massive New Madrid quakes of 1811-1812. It proceeds chronologically as events happen, so as a younger reader i was able to follow along with no problems, and the narrative style really appealed to me. Think I'll put it on the on-deck pile.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Southpaw at February 26, 2023 11:51 AM (UQUAY)

347 @346 - Written by Allan W. Eckert, BTW.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Southpaw at February 26, 2023 11:52 AM (UQUAY)

348 They lie (spoiler) its a stunt by the duval schoolboard

Kubrick was reasonably faithful to the source material in 2001 (clark) fmj (hasford) dont know about barry lydon. Strangelove was a more comic version of red alert (george,)

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:53 AM (PXvVL)

349 I think a lot of Kubrick's stuff has that "one stupid thing" in it that drags down the finished product.

You look at other films, like The Last of the Mohicans and it's solid clean through. Kubrick always has that wobbly wheel.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 11:53 AM (llXky)

350 A book near and dear to my heart is Henry Fielding's "Tom Jones". The Albert Finney film and the BBC series are fine, but the book, well, the book is wonderful.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2023 11:54 AM (rj6Yv)

351 Can someone explain the references to a Florida book ban? I have a feeling I'm going to need to know the truth when I have to deal with some friends later on.
Posted by: Trimegistus

As far as I know, CBS made up out of whole cloth.

https://bit.ly/3ktbDTo

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 11:55 AM (FVME7)

352 Francis is not the pope we wanted, but he is the pope we desperately needed. No one else could have so thoroughly and completely exposed the corruption within the Vatican and higher reaches of the clergy better than he has.

I mean, he didn't mean to, but God works in mysterious ways.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 10:11 AM (llXky)

The first sentence threw me a bit; the last sentence made me laugh.

Posted by: LASue at February 26, 2023 11:56 AM (Ed8Zd)

353 He was a hack. A hack who enjoyed pimping underaged girls to rich foreigners.
Posted by: BurtTC at February 26, 2023 11:47 AM (M2qSa)

He was an evil repellent sadistic obsessive compulsive. Constitutionally incapable of leaving "plot holes" or not mastering his craft. He had ambitious aims and perhaps failed to fulfill them or bit off more than he could chew but he never did a single thing just because it was cool.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:57 AM (1ais2)

354 There were some changes between the short timers and fmj but not significant

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 11:58 AM (PXvVL)

355 I was in the Sexual Revolution but I didn't keep notes.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 11:59 AM (FVME7)

356 He was an evil repellent sadistic obsessive compulsive. Constitutionally incapable of leaving "plot holes" or not mastering his craft. He had ambitious aims and perhaps failed to fulfill them or bit off more than he could chew but he never did a single thing just because it was cool.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:57 AM (1ais2)
---
But he did, and that's the problem. We just pointed out that there is no earthly way a seasons DI doesn't immediately assume a rifle is loaded and snatch it away as quickly and violently as possible.

Nor is there an explanation of how a trainee got a rifle and ammunition in an open bay with zero privacy.

Fast-forward to the end of the film and it's stultifyingly boring. The "big finish" is a damp squib.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)

357 Nood

Posted by: Duke Lowell at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (u73oe)

358 He was an evil repellent sadistic obsessive compulsive. Constitutionally incapable of leaving "plot holes" or not mastering his craft. He had ambitious aims and perhaps failed to fulfill them or bit off more than he could chew but he never did a single thing just because it was cool.
Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 11:57 AM (1ais2)

IIRC, he put the snake scene in A Clockwork Orange because he knew Malcolm McDowell was afraid of snakes.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (PiwSw)

359 You have to be a little manic even insane to attempt projects like full metal jacket

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (PXvVL)

360 Thanks again, Perfesser! See you next week!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (llXky)

361 The first was "High Noon," which was treated as a metaphor for American Cold War foreign policy.

-
High Noon was about the Cold War? I thought it was about brunch at Hunter's.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (FVME7)

362 Um thats in the book

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:02 PM (PXvVL)

363 Keep your squib dry.

Posted by: BJ Clinton at February 26, 2023 12:02 PM (DhOHl)

364 The short timers ermey improvised the reaction to pyle

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:02 PM (PXvVL)

365 Thanks for the thread, Perfessor.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at February 26, 2023 12:03 PM (Angsy)

366 High Noon was about the Cold War? I thought it was about brunch at Hunter's.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Not a Real Simulation at February 26, 2023 12:01 PM (FVME7)
---
...And we're back to Tim Benzedrine and Hashberry.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:04 PM (llXky)

367 Good is in the way of evil, evil seems to be winning. The story ends with the triumph of good over evil.

Posted by: Eromero at February 26, 2023 12:04 PM (MF3yS)

368 Nor is there an explanation of how a trainee got a rifle and ammunition in an open bay with zero privacy.
Fast-forward to the end of the film and it's stultifyingly boring. The "big finish" is a damp squib.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)

We used to keep our rifles in the squad bay until close to graduation where we turned them in back to the armory. Hung on the end of our bunks.

Cleaning, drilling, etc, etc. But live ammo, no way.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at February 26, 2023 12:05 PM (R/m4+)

369 @345 I must have had a lifetime of lemons. I live a few miles from where they were made, and knew people who were in design at the plant. Maybe yours had the Chinese improvements?

We called them "sick-umsies."
A Troy-Bilt with a Kohler is worth three times as much as one with a Tecumseh.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 26, 2023 12:05 PM (jYCXf)

370 Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" and "Spartacus" were okay for their type. Barry Lyndon is an endurance test, and "Full Metal Jacket" was sporadic. Kubrick was a master, though, when it came to tactical deployments and combat enactments on film.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2023 12:05 PM (rj6Yv)

371 Thanks Diogenes !
Besides Muldoon, I know we get first hand reports from another WW2 vets diary in the comments occasionally.

If no one else will, I'll stand up for James Fenimore Cooper. I read most of the Leatherstocking Tales & don't regret the time spent. Hawkeye influenced many future american characters.

Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at February 26, 2023 12:06 PM (DWTz2)

372 Posted by: Diogenes at February 26, 2023 11:33 AM (anj39)

That's a great project!

Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at February 26, 2023 12:08 PM (fUnHJ)

373 Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" and "Spartacus" were okay for their type. Barry Lyndon is an endurance test, and "Full Metal Jacket" was sporadic. Kubrick was a master, though, when it came to tactical deployments and combat enactments on film.

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2023 12:05 PM (rj6Yv)
---
I really like "Spartacus" the first time I saw it, but it's very preachy and class struggle angle is overdone.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:09 PM (llXky)

374 Nor is there an explanation of how a trainee got a rifle and ammunition in an open bay with zero privacy.

Fast-forward to the end of the film and it's stultifyingly boring. The "big finish" is a damp squib.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)

I don't like the movie or Kubrick. But I am pretty sure that was in the source material. Thinking of him as a "hack" is counter-productive and really very wrong. It is to mistake him completely. What does "hack" even mean then?

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 12:11 PM (1ais2)

375
The author had his complaints

https://tinyurl.com/bde77yhr

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:13 PM (PXvVL)

376 Well it was written by commie dalton trumbo based on another commie howard fast

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:14 PM (PXvVL)

377 No 6 @ 376-
All of hollyweird today is about re-habbing the blacklisted.

Posted by: Eromero at February 26, 2023 12:16 PM (MF3yS)

378 112 I'm reading Quiet by Susan Cain. It's about introversion and reminds me that my introversion is not a character flaw.
Posted by: That Northern skulker at February 26, 2023 09:58 AM (eGTCV)

My sister-in-law gave me that- one of the best gifts I've ever received.

"You mean I haven't been a life-long weirdo that no one knew what to do with? Thanks!"

Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at February 26, 2023 12:19 PM (wE246)

379 The brief interval commies were held accountable

Fast was reasonable true to plutarch
https://tinyurl.com/4a3xfc59

Posted by: No 6 at February 26, 2023 12:20 PM (PXvVL)

380 I really like "Spartacus" the first time I saw it, but it's very preachy and class struggle angle is overdone. - AHL

The older we get ...

Posted by: mrp at February 26, 2023 12:23 PM (rj6Yv)

381 Thanks Diogenes.

There are a few abbreviations in your entries that I can't decipher or figure out from context, but the overall content is interesting to me. Don't stop.

Posted by: Muldoon at February 26, 2023 12:28 PM (ykeLU)

382 I don't like the movie or Kubrick. But I am pretty sure that was in the source material. Thinking of him as a "hack" is counter-productive and really very wrong. It is to mistake him completely. What does "hack" even mean then?

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 12:11 PM (1ais2)
---
I never called him a hack, so I don't know.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:28 PM (llXky)

383 378. I loved that book

Posted by: CN at February 26, 2023 12:28 PM (Zzbjj)

384 Regarding the excuse that a director was going off of "source material," a huge part of good direction and storytelling is making sure that things are explained.

Thus, when moving from a book (which might show how ammo is drawn, whether they are careless with it, I don't know) to a movie would require effort. Otherwise, you get a situation where bullets appear magically and then the centerpiece character of the film who is to this point ruthlessly competent suddenly gets an attack of the stupids.

And if I'm not mistaken, Kubrick does the shooting in schlocky slow-motion, which is in fact a hack thing to do.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:33 PM (llXky)

385 Nor is there an explanation of how a trainee got a rifle and ammunition in an open bay with zero privacy.

Fast-forward to the end of the film and it's stultifyingly boring. The "big finish" is a damp squib.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)

Sorry. Yes. My only point in posting about Kubrick was to argue against the idea he was unskilled or failed to present achieve his own ambitious ends. The films are malignant successes. Not the work of some incompetent.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 12:35 PM (1ais2)

386 And if I'm not mistaken, Kubrick does the shooting in schlocky slow-motion, which is in fact a hack thing to do.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at February 26, 2023 12:33 PM (llXky)

Obv I think this is to mistake him completely. He wasn't Roger Corman etc etc. But like you he violates almost all my "shoulds". I just see intentionality there. And that is not me complementing him. And he's not technically perfect, just masterful.

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 12:39 PM (1ais2)

387 A big thank you to whoever recommended "Eat, Fast, Feast: Heal Your Body While Feeding Your Soul―A Christian Guide to Fasting" a couple of weeks ago.

I passed it on to my daughter who is working with her doctor on losing weight and lowering her A1C and moving out of "pre"-diabetes. Her doctor already had her listen to Fung's "Obesity Code" back in late summer. Daughter has listened to "East Fast Feast" twice and passed the recommendation to her doctor.

Since she's started losing her weight, she's gone from just under 250 (in June 2022) to now 159 (this morning) with her goal is 145 .

Posted by: Just call me Pete at February 26, 2023 12:45 PM (a4vvV)

388 It just makes no sense to me to argue Kubrick worked with lowest common denominator tropes or took the easy way out or was in it for the money or did things because they were or looked cool or difn't care about plot holes or had little patience for craftsmanship or had low expectations of his audience or himself or aimed his movies at the lowest common denominator audience. Idk? Maybe?

Posted by: Thesokorus at February 26, 2023 12:49 PM (1ais2)

389 Re: Dahl, Fleming, etc. and their bowdlerizers -
Keep your original versions, like monks in the middle ages, preserving it for the ages.
Despite the efforts of Disney, copyright *does* expire. At that point, publish away.
If the publishers send hit squads, dig up the ghost guns. :-)

Posted by: buddhaha at February 26, 2023 01:00 PM (8UsxE)

390 Welp.

Looks like my constitutional with the lovely and energetic Mrs naturalfake took too long and the Book Thread died.

I'll check the remains upstairs and see what happened
.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 26, 2023 01:39 PM (KLPy8)

391 The film Barry Lyndon was boooorring, but... the cinematography was sledge-hammer-to-ox-head stunning. Because I never could finish Vanity Fair, I suspect I would have the same opinion of the source.
Wife handed me a couple of JA Jance novels when I mentioned that I was looking for a book.
Evidently, she is a very prolific writer. That's not a rap, just an observation. Multiple plot threads in both books, some interrelated, some not, all resolved by the end. Nice little entertainments.

Posted by: buddhaha at February 26, 2023 02:01 PM (8UsxE)

392 Jumping in just to yap about "Remington Steele."

The series began when I was in college. I loved it. One of the attractions for me was Laura's secretary, Ms. Fox -- and boy she was.

Flash forward to the start of the second season. No Ms. Fox. No Murphy. Instead, Doris Roberts from "Angie."

Nothing against Ms. Roberts, but I was so disappointed that I never watched the show again.

Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 02:57 PM (Om/di)

393 Just finishing The Ball, which documents the process of the sale of Mark McGwire's 70th home run ball via auction to comic-book artist Todd McFarlane. Interesting to me because I'm in the memorabilia business, but well written and pretty quick.

Also about done with my re-read of Catch-22, which I highly recommend and also don't really love, but I'm pretty much a non-fiction guy, so ignore me.

Posted by: The_Hoser at February 26, 2023 03:07 PM (N66D6)

394 Posted by: Weak Geek at February 26, 2023 09:08 AM (Om/di)

I imagine schools will get the "corrected" versions.

Posted by: waelse1 at February 26, 2023 03:38 PM (7YTAg)

395 There's a Mongolian sniper up that tree in the middle.

Posted by: Patrick Carroll at February 26, 2023 03:42 PM (7Ozoq)

396 Am reading a mystery by Colin Dexter-"The Riddle of the Third Mile". I like mysteries but had never read anything by him although I had seen some of the Inspector Morse series on PBS which were very good.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 26, 2023 03:53 PM (FUVRY)

397 I'm making $100 an hour working from home. i was greatly surprised at the same time as my neighbour advised me she changed into averaging $100 however I see the way it works now. I experience mass freedom now that I'm my non-public boss.
I highly recommend everyone to apply… www.Payathome7.com

Posted by: www.Payathome7.com at February 27, 2023 12:15 AM (cZPc9)

398 I think the admin of this web site is actually working hard in favor of his web site, since
here every material is quality based information.

Posted by: EvDEN EVE NAKliyAT at March 01, 2023 01:58 PM (a9Hc6)

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