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Sunday Morning Book Thread - 04-30-2023 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
(ht: Anna Puma)
PIC NOTE
Anna Puma left the following comment last week:
Bing's main page today is Stuttgart's public library. I would never want to visit such an eye searing aesthetic blight in real life. Posted by: Anna Puma at April 23, 2023 10:42 AM (wPlLO)
Naturally, I went looking for such a picture. I have seen this picture turn up on numerous searches for libraries. Didn't even really know this was from Stuttgart, Germany. For me, the best word to describe this library is "sterile." The outside is equally sterile and oddly foreboding. It reminds me of the movie Cube. Or perhaps the Central Bureaucracy from Futurama.
FROM SERIES TO SOAP OPERA
I recently read the Homecoming series of books by R.A. Salvatore, which is part of his long-running Legend of Drizzt series (over 30 books). I suddenly came to the realization that the series was not so much subseries of low fantasy novels about the main character, but it had turned into a soap opera about the main characters from his very first series, the Icewind Dale trilogy. I won't bore you with the details as I know most of you aren't really into fantasy. However, when I look at the overall storylines and characters, it's hard NOT to see the hallmarks of a soap opera contained within the entire series as a whole:
- There's a lot of melodrama in the stories -- many characters are so over-the-top as to be almost caricatures of real people (granted, most of them are variations of fantasy archetypes).
- Over the decades, Salvatore has created a rather large ensemble cast of characters, expanding his core group of the Companions of the Hall (Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and Cattie-Brie) into more than a dozen important characters, some good, some evil, some in-between, all of whom are interesting in some way.
- There's a fair amount of sentimentality with the characters expressing emotion over reason more often than not. Drizzt, in particular, has earned a reputation of being an angst-ridden character because of his race and personality conflicting with each other.
- Although each novel is relatively self-contained, there is also clear continuity between stories so that each novel ends by setting up the next novel in the series, if Salvatore chooses to continue the adventures. The series as a whole spans around 200 years of time. Salvatore even had the characters do a "reboot" somewhere in the middle so that his short-lived characters (Wulfgar and Catti-brie, both human, and Regis, a halfling) could still be a part of the later series with the longer-lived characters (dwarves and dark elves, who both live for centuries).
Now that Salvatore has written more than 30 books in the franchise, it really boils down to a conflict between two major factions struggling for domination over geographic territory. One faction (the Dwarves) wants to restore what they believe is their rightful kingdom. The other faction (Dark Elves) wants to seize that kingdom for themselves and become the greatest nation under the earth. Each faction is represented by key characters that embody the principles and goals of their respective faction.
Although the books can be of mixed quality, the series as a whole represents a very interesting experience for the reader, as we are dragged into a low-fantasy soap opera that seems to be somewhat unique. I'm not sure if I've ever read a series that's developed quite like this, though Raymond E. Feist's Riftwar Saga probably comes pretty close, as does Terry Brooks' Shannara series.
Are there series in other genres that started out as one genre (e.g., mystery or western) and then morphed into a soap opera as the story developed? Did this enhance or detract from the overall story?
Comment: I have to admit, this is a pretty good word to describe my feelings towards the world and circumstances we now find ourselves. It's hard to keep one's chin up in dolorous times like this.
dolorous - adj. - causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief
Comment: I just think this is a fun word to say. I have seen it in the context of someone who is ostensibly in charge of running the day-to-day operations of a business while the main character who owns the business is off having adventures. Nowadays, it seems to refer to a general assistant who carries out the tasks while someone else makes decisions.
factotum - n. - a person who has many diverse activities or responsibilities, and especially one whose work involves a wide variety of tasks.
Comment: Mining is hard, dirty, dangerous work. Those who choose to engage in it to keep civilization and society running are to be commended for their efforts on our behalf. The ugly truth is there are still plenty places in the world where the workers are given no choice at all, as slavery is still a major component of the mining industry in parts of the world, including child slavery.
This week I finished Germinal by Zola. A masterpiece. The descriptions of the lives of the miners is harrowing but the management are portrayed as NOT complete evil. IMO the book only flaw is it's paean to socialism at the end although even that is forgivable since it was written at a time when it was all theory and no practice to judge it. Posted by: who knew at April 23, 2023 09:51 AM (4I7VG)
Comment: Somewhere around here I have a series of books by John Barnes where a group of domestic terrorists use a wide variety of attacks to bring America to its knees. The government in response implements "Directive 51" (which is the name of the first book--oh, look, it starts in late 2024!). Now a group of plucky heroes struggle to rebuild a functioning Constitutional republic from the ashes of the United States. I started reading the first book, then gave up because it was too depressing (and frightening), though I may go back and revisit this series again in light of what's currently happening around the country.
I also read The Final Day by William R. Forstchen. This is the third book in The One Second After series. It continues the story of the small town of Black Mountain, NC, after an EMP attack. It's discovered that some governmental officials knew of the attack ahead of time and moved themselves and their families to a safe location in a hollowed out mountain near Gettysburg, PA, while giving no warning to the rest of the country. The forces from Black Mountain join with others to rectify the situation. Posted by: Zoltan at April 23, 2023 09:17 AM (sDFJU)
Comment: I remember reading about this story a number of years ago. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was talked about on this very blog, but I'm too lazy to go find the relevant blog posts.
Yes! The Lost King by Philippa Langley book. I have not seen the movie yet. But it's probably good too. But of course you already read it, being the erudite you are...but in case you have not, this is written by a woman who helped find Richard iii's. Well, his grave. It all goes back to the war of the roses, Plantagenet v Tudor and "History is written by the victors". Posted by: runner at April 21, 2023 06:15 PM (V13WU)
Comment: A heroic last stand is often a captivating tale of valor and blood in defiance of a seemingly overwhelming force. There are many, many such stories sprinkled throughout history (e.g., Battle of Thermopylae, The Alamo, etc.), and more than a few come from World War II. Many of these serve as inspiration for fictional works, as well. More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (754 Moron-recommended books so far!)
Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors - for the equally mind-blowing valor and courage in another battle - is also a should-read for any Pacific theater aficionados. Or anyone who wants to see just what heights were reached in modern military history. Posted by: rhomboid at April 21, 2023 05:57 PM (OTzUX)
- Saga of the Forgotten Warrior Book 3 - Destroyer of Worlds by Larry Correia -- Ashok is given the green light to wage proper war against his former society in favor of the casteless, whom he is sworn to protect against the Great Extermination. Meanwhile, his blood brother conspires to become king and the Grand Inquisitor is up to his own evil tricks to take over the world.
- Saga of the Forgotten Warrior Book 4 - Tower of Silence by Larry Correia -- Unlike certain other fantasy authors (*cough*Martin and Rothfuss*cough*), I'm supremely confident that Larry Correia will complete his epic fantasy series with a suitably epic climax. While I wait for that, I have plenty of other books that will occupy my time.
- The Banned and the Banished Book 3 - Wit'ch War by James Clements -- Elena prepares to invade A'loa Glen to retrieve the mystical Blood Diary. Clemens *loves* his apostrophes, though it's not a bad series at all. Just lots of common and strange words punctuated with apostrophes (e.g. og're or wit'ch or el'vin).
(Now Huggy Squirrel has to wait...and wait...until the last and final book is released...)
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Tolle Lege
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:00 AM (PiwSw)
2
Plenty of light in that library, but sterile looking.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 09:00 AM (Angsy)
3
I no read this week.
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 09:00 AM (BRHaw)
4
Re: The Stuttgart library: I didn't know M.C. Escher designed libraries...
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:01 AM (PiwSw)
5
Tolle Lege
Still reading David Walder's Nelson, very interesting after all but q of the Aubrey/ Maturin novels
Still reading David Walder's Nelson, very interesting after all but q of the Aubrey/ Maturin novels
Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2023 09:02 AM (xhxe8)
6
The ugly truth is there are still plenty places in the world where the workers are given no choice at all, as slavery is still a major component of the mining industry in parts of the world, including child slavery.
Now do electric vehicle batteries.
Now do electric vehicle batteries.
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 09:02 AM (BRHaw)
7
I'm still reading Escape Orbit, by Patrick Chiles. If there's a third book planned in the series, I hope he's already working on it.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:04 AM (PiwSw)
8
I have an important public announcement: I am keeping 'elevpod' and I don't care what anyone thinks.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:05 AM (43xH1)
9
"Helluva Town" ends with New York as the only capital of the world, all the others having been devastated by war. So what do some New Yorkers do? Move out to the suburbs. Some of them unwillingly.
The latter included Alan King, whose move -- at the behest of his wife -- provided fodder for his comedy career and his first book, "Anybody Who Owns His Own Home Deserves It."
Some of the material is dated, but other observations are timeless. I enjoyed the book. King has always been a favorite of mine.
Then I went back before the war to New York -- specifically, Broadway. Or should I say Runyonland? Yes, it's the world of "Guys & Dolls," a collection of Damon Runyon's stories about the denizens of the underworld. I won't try to imitate his style of narration, but it makes for fun reading.
The latter included Alan King, whose move -- at the behest of his wife -- provided fodder for his comedy career and his first book, "Anybody Who Owns His Own Home Deserves It."
Some of the material is dated, but other observations are timeless. I enjoyed the book. King has always been a favorite of mine.
Then I went back before the war to New York -- specifically, Broadway. Or should I say Runyonland? Yes, it's the world of "Guys & Dolls," a collection of Damon Runyon's stories about the denizens of the underworld. I won't try to imitate his style of narration, but it makes for fun reading.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:05 AM (uIu2G)
10
Addendum: Aggghh, as if there weren't enough competition for my leisure hours, I've just learned of a channel we get that runs "The Red Green Show" around the clock. Besides being funny, it takes me back to when I would watch it with my sons. AAMAF, I learned of the channel from my eldest son.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:05 AM (uIu2G)
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 09:06 AM (OX9vb)
12
This week I read Birth of an Age, the second book in The Christ Clone trilogy, by James Beauseigneur. The story takes a disturbing turn as Christopher, the Christ clone, declares that he is the Antichrist and is working with Satan to bring humanity to The New Age. I've started the third book in the series, Acts of God.
Posted by: Zoltan at April 30, 2023 09:06 AM (8XX5h)
13
I'm in the minority -- I like the look of that library. Reminds me of Mall of America.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:07 AM (uIu2G)
14
Now a group of plucky heroes struggle to rebuild a functioning Constitutional republic from the ashes of the United States.
Are the other countries devastated too? Seems to me if the govt collapsed, we'd quickly see hostile nations move in to take over.
Are the other countries devastated too? Seems to me if the govt collapsed, we'd quickly see hostile nations move in to take over.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 09:08 AM (Angsy)
15
Are the other countries devastated too? Seems to me if the govt collapsed, we'd quickly see hostile nations move in to take over.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 09:08 AM (Angsy)
---
Pretty sure it's a worldwide event, so none of the other countries are in any better shape than us...
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 09:08 AM (Angsy)
---
Pretty sure it's a worldwide event, so none of the other countries are in any better shape than us...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 09:09 AM (BpYfr)
16
Posted by: Zoltan at April 30, 2023 09:06 AM (8XX5h)
That was a great series. You might also want to check out We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell, which is a one-volume treatment of the same subject.
That was a great series. You might also want to check out We All Fall Down, by Brian Caldwell, which is a one-volume treatment of the same subject.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:11 AM (PiwSw)
17
I like sterile architecture. That library is open and light. You don't have to browse in shadows. There is open space. Musty is for used bookstores, not libraries.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (EZebt)
18
As soon as I posted that I realized the solution: brand name. This is also in keeping with the 1950-1960s aesthetic, where authors would constantly name TechnoBabble things after fictional inventors.
I changed my mind: it's not an 'elevpod', it's a Schindler.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
I changed my mind: it's not an 'elevpod', it's a Schindler.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (43xH1)
19
Not crazy about that library either -- but if that was my local library, I could forgive a lot of ugly if the collection was decent.
And speaking of libraries, Instapundit linked to a piece in the College Fix in which Doctor Jill is quoted saying that 'All books should be in the library. All books.' This is probably in the top five of the dumbest things she's ever said.
And speaking of libraries, Instapundit linked to a piece in the College Fix in which Doctor Jill is quoted saying that 'All books should be in the library. All books.' This is probably in the top five of the dumbest things she's ever said.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 09:13 AM (a/4+U)
20
I went on an ebook-buying binge earlier this week -- mostly game sourcebooks, so that's what I've been reading.
As a Beardy Old Guy who started playing DeeanDee when it first hit the mass market, I'm amused, and pleased, to see modern gamers rediscovering some of the principles of old-school gaming. There's even an acronym for it: the "OSR" which can variously stand for Old School Renaissance, Old School Revival, or Old School Rules.
Naturally, there are already schisms in the movement. Some focus on getting back to the tactical wargame roots of the whole thing. Others like the idea of a "shared world" campaign with multiple gamemasters and multiple characters for each player, so instead of one band of heroes you're tracking multiple groups which can come into conflict.
And a lot of them are just sick of WotC/Hasbro's shit.
I'd say that's the main driver, coupled with the discovery that you can't copyright rules, only text, so any mook with a word processor can rewrite the Holmes Basic Set in his own words and publish it. That, plus fifty years' worth of old material means you can run a DeeanDee game without ever actually buying an "official" product again.
As a Beardy Old Guy who started playing DeeanDee when it first hit the mass market, I'm amused, and pleased, to see modern gamers rediscovering some of the principles of old-school gaming. There's even an acronym for it: the "OSR" which can variously stand for Old School Renaissance, Old School Revival, or Old School Rules.
Naturally, there are already schisms in the movement. Some focus on getting back to the tactical wargame roots of the whole thing. Others like the idea of a "shared world" campaign with multiple gamemasters and multiple characters for each player, so instead of one band of heroes you're tracking multiple groups which can come into conflict.
And a lot of them are just sick of WotC/Hasbro's shit.
I'd say that's the main driver, coupled with the discovery that you can't copyright rules, only text, so any mook with a word processor can rewrite the Holmes Basic Set in his own words and publish it. That, plus fifty years' worth of old material means you can run a DeeanDee game without ever actually buying an "official" product again.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 09:14 AM (QZxDR)
21
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 09:14 AM (7EjX1)
22
I am reading "Giants in the Earth" by O. E. Rølvaag and I just completed the first half of it, which ends with Beret, the wife of the main character, Per Hansa, having given birth to their third son, Per, on Christmas Day.
My, but we Scandis can be so readily down in the mouth! The narrative becomes gloomy as all get out each time Beret is called upon to carry the story. She's far too sunk into her own depression to rise even to the level of being a modern day Karen.
We are pretty much aware these days that settling the mid-continent grasslands was a hard slog for those who chose to do so. I have a 2nd great grandfather who died in southern Nebraska in 1880 whose corpse swelled to such an extent that they could not close his coffin completely before burying him. His widow had to scramble to get help in the scarcely settled area to do even that.
Anyway, this is my second time reading this work and, in all likelihood, my last. It is an interesting read, but not one to leave you whistling a happy tune.
I am reading "Giants in the Earth" by O. E. Rølvaag and I just completed the first half of it, which ends with Beret, the wife of the main character, Per Hansa, having given birth to their third son, Per, on Christmas Day.
My, but we Scandis can be so readily down in the mouth! The narrative becomes gloomy as all get out each time Beret is called upon to carry the story. She's far too sunk into her own depression to rise even to the level of being a modern day Karen.
We are pretty much aware these days that settling the mid-continent grasslands was a hard slog for those who chose to do so. I have a 2nd great grandfather who died in southern Nebraska in 1880 whose corpse swelled to such an extent that they could not close his coffin completely before burying him. His widow had to scramble to get help in the scarcely settled area to do even that.
Anyway, this is my second time reading this work and, in all likelihood, my last. It is an interesting read, but not one to leave you whistling a happy tune.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:15 AM (pNxlR)
23
I see William Alan Webb is continuing his Last Brigade series to a book 7 next year. Sigh. Book 6, the conclusion of the trilogy (don't ask), is due May 9, and is only available on Kindle. Double Sigh. Bill, I l like paper.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:16 AM (PiwSw)
24
Morning, 'rons and 'ronettes.
Managed to get all but 10 pages of my new novel typed over the week. It's a dreary rainy day here, so I'm going to try to finish it all up today.
Then it's back to my plot book and sketching out of a couple of new chapters.
Still listening to the John Adams audio book. Haven't read anything new because nothing appeals to me right now.
Managed to get all but 10 pages of my new novel typed over the week. It's a dreary rainy day here, so I'm going to try to finish it all up today.
Then it's back to my plot book and sketching out of a couple of new chapters.
Still listening to the John Adams audio book. Haven't read anything new because nothing appeals to me right now.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 30, 2023 09:16 AM (AW0uW)
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:17 AM (uIu2G)
26
Finishing up book three in Alastair Reynolds' "Revenger" trilogy, which is called "Bone Silence". Book one was "Revenger" ND two was "Shadow Captain".
10 million years in the future two sisters become pirates in a solar system that is all but unrecognizable. The trilogy is a slow build that can be frustrating at times because of that slowness, but I think I know what the author is doing: the spacecraft everyone flies are reliant on solar ray catching sails a d they fight with cannon broadsides at great distances, so it's basically an Olde Tyme Sailing Yarn set in the far future.
Very interesting take with aliens, coins that are used for legal tender that's actually contain the souls of dead aliens, communications through tapping into alien skulls, and all sorts of other crazy shit that I have been enjoying slowly understanding. There have been some deep mysteries that ha e been teased for the first 2.5 books that are finally paying off. I recommend if you already like Reynolds, who is the author of many great books in his "Revelation Space" universe.
Also, this Tuesday the final book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Shards of Earth" trilogy comes out, called "Lords of Uncreation".
10 million years in the future two sisters become pirates in a solar system that is all but unrecognizable. The trilogy is a slow build that can be frustrating at times because of that slowness, but I think I know what the author is doing: the spacecraft everyone flies are reliant on solar ray catching sails a d they fight with cannon broadsides at great distances, so it's basically an Olde Tyme Sailing Yarn set in the far future.
Very interesting take with aliens, coins that are used for legal tender that's actually contain the souls of dead aliens, communications through tapping into alien skulls, and all sorts of other crazy shit that I have been enjoying slowly understanding. There have been some deep mysteries that ha e been teased for the first 2.5 books that are finally paying off. I recommend if you already like Reynolds, who is the author of many great books in his "Revelation Space" universe.
Also, this Tuesday the final book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's "Shards of Earth" trilogy comes out, called "Lords of Uncreation".
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 09:17 AM (9VBwF)
27
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal
I am so looking forward to the blockbuster sci-fi epic, "Schindler's Lift"!
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal
I am so looking forward to the blockbuster sci-fi epic, "Schindler's Lift"!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:18 AM (pNxlR)
28
'All books should be in the library. All books.' This is probably in the top five of the dumbest things she's ever said.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 09:13 AM (a/4+U)
Yeah. Just because you take some crap and put it between cardboard covers, it doesn't make it sacred. So, not all books.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 09:13 AM (a/4+U)
Yeah. Just because you take some crap and put it between cardboard covers, it doesn't make it sacred. So, not all books.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 09:18 AM (OX9vb)
29
Library in top pic looks like it should be an Escher print.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 09:19 AM (9VBwF)
30
Aubrey was more Cochrane then Nelson, but in the same spirit of things, of course the latter is double unplus good now because Reason,
they would rather have Napoleon take over Europe, which is bout where we are now, anyways,
they would rather have Napoleon take over Europe, which is bout where we are now, anyways,
Posted by: no 6 at April 30, 2023 09:19 AM (PXvVL)
31
Weak Geek: I don't know about tables. If you can find a way to make it look different, and avoid using any of the original text, you're probably safe.
Now I find myself wondering if this is just a de facto acknowledgement that copyright enforcement is done by search engines looking for text matches.
Now I find myself wondering if this is just a de facto acknowledgement that copyright enforcement is done by search engines looking for text matches.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 09:20 AM (QZxDR)
32
Morning, folken,
I finished an Agatha Christie non-series mystery, The Pale Horse, this week. A surprise ending, not unusual for her, of course, and while I'd been expecting a thunderbolt, I was looking for it to come from another quarter. Plus I've realized that, while not the pyrotechnic plotter that Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr were, AC had a dry wit and could draw some sharply etched portraits of her characters.
Currently I'm into Maugham's The Magician, a thinly-disguised portrait of Aleister Crowley, whom Maugham knew.
I finished an Agatha Christie non-series mystery, The Pale Horse, this week. A surprise ending, not unusual for her, of course, and while I'd been expecting a thunderbolt, I was looking for it to come from another quarter. Plus I've realized that, while not the pyrotechnic plotter that Ellery Queen and John Dickson Carr were, AC had a dry wit and could draw some sharply etched portraits of her characters.
Currently I'm into Maugham's The Magician, a thinly-disguised portrait of Aleister Crowley, whom Maugham knew.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:21 AM (omVj0)
33
I changed my mind: it's not an 'elevpod', it's a Schindler.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (43xH1)
Story takes place in Europe, does it?
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (43xH1)
Story takes place in Europe, does it?
Posted by: Otis at April 30, 2023 09:21 AM (Angsy)
34
Elevators, the Quiet Monopoly.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (EZebt)
35
MP4, glad to hear about the new novel. Let me know if you would like me to give some feedback when it's ready.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (omVj0)
36
Read this week? One regrettable sack of garbage, one a criminally neglected masterpiece.
'Point Of Origin' by Laird Scranton. If you LOVED 'Prometheus' you will love this book. It's one of those 'Ancient Wise Ones/Aliens' books that make me grind my teeth. I was asked to look up some factoids for a colleague now visiting Turkey regarding Gobekli Tepe. Wow, does that place bring out the loose wingnuts.
'Prisoners Of Fear', a single-print-run, now-forgotten analysis of Nazi concentration camps by an Austrian woman who dedicated her time in them to recording the minutae of the bureaucracy involved. It is absolutely the best book on that subject I have EVER read and I've read hundreds. Pdf on Archive.org, downloadable and free. Best one. It actually provides building blocks for possible solutions, rather than emotional catharsis and wallowing in horror.
'Point Of Origin' by Laird Scranton. If you LOVED 'Prometheus' you will love this book. It's one of those 'Ancient Wise Ones/Aliens' books that make me grind my teeth. I was asked to look up some factoids for a colleague now visiting Turkey regarding Gobekli Tepe. Wow, does that place bring out the loose wingnuts.
'Prisoners Of Fear', a single-print-run, now-forgotten analysis of Nazi concentration camps by an Austrian woman who dedicated her time in them to recording the minutae of the bureaucracy involved. It is absolutely the best book on that subject I have EVER read and I've read hundreds. Pdf on Archive.org, downloadable and free. Best one. It actually provides building blocks for possible solutions, rather than emotional catharsis and wallowing in horror.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (43xH1)
37
Double Sigh. Bill, I l like paper.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:16 AM (PiwSw)
I agree. But I really enjoy this series, so I'll buy it on kindle. Just give me my fix. Sigh.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 09:16 AM (PiwSw)
I agree. But I really enjoy this series, so I'll buy it on kindle. Just give me my fix. Sigh.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (OX9vb)
38
'All books should be in the library. All books.'
Then let's kick things off with your Ed.D. thesis and Big Mike's Princeton undergrad thesis. There is pedantic and scholarly value in having available concrete works to which instructors can point their pupils to admonish, "Aspire to rise above the level of this dreck."
'All books should be in the library. All books.'
Then let's kick things off with your Ed.D. thesis and Big Mike's Princeton undergrad thesis. There is pedantic and scholarly value in having available concrete works to which instructors can point their pupils to admonish, "Aspire to rise above the level of this dreck."
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:24 AM (pNxlR)
39
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:15 AM (pNxlR)
Given their level of depression, I'm surprised Scandis were able to get so much hard work done.
Given their level of depression, I'm surprised Scandis were able to get so much hard work done.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:24 AM (nC+QA)
40
Oops, Shadout Mapes beat me to it.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 09:24 AM (9VBwF)
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:25 AM (qoGsy)
42
Elevator's been in use to mean an elevator for more than a century. Why assume a change?
There's a danger in using too much made up nomenclature just to make your work sound "science-fictiony." That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
There's a danger in using too much made up nomenclature just to make your work sound "science-fictiony." That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 09:25 AM (QZxDR)
43
At a local library hutch -- you know, those little birdhouse-like things where people leave off and/or take cast-off books? -- I found a late Robert B. Parker, one of the Sunny Randall novels, Spare Change. I'm not sure I've read it!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:25 AM (omVj0)
44
so like the aliens in crystal skull, oh bother,
Posted by: no 6 at April 30, 2023 09:25 AM (PXvVL)
45
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:21 AM (omVj0)
A Pale Horse is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. There's a movie as well. I think it stayed pretty true to the plot, but it's been a while since I saw it.
A Pale Horse is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. There's a movie as well. I think it stayed pretty true to the plot, but it's been a while since I saw it.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:27 AM (nC+QA)
46
Top pic reminds me of a discussion I saw ages ago comparing two living rooms. One was neat and tidy and clutter-free with a crisp color scheme - it was relaxing and satisfying just looking at it. The other was a crowded mess of papers and knickknacks everywhere, a riot of colors and textures that didn't go well together and on which you could almost see the dust accumulating. Definitely not relaxing - I was itching to start cleaning it up.
And yet, the consensus in the comments was that the tidy room sucked and the messy, chaotic room was welcoming and comfortable.
As the dragonet said to Dorothy, "Tastes differ."
And yet, the consensus in the comments was that the tidy room sucked and the messy, chaotic room was welcoming and comfortable.
As the dragonet said to Dorothy, "Tastes differ."
Posted by: Mrs. Peel at April 30, 2023 09:27 AM (jrY13)
47
Sometimes I tilt to one side.
Posted by: Oskar Schindler at April 30, 2023 09:28 AM (DhOHl)
48
MP4, glad to hear about the new novel. Let me know if you would like me to give some feedback when it's ready.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (omVj0)
I will, thank you. It'll be a few months yet.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (omVj0)
I will, thank you. It'll be a few months yet.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 30, 2023 09:28 AM (AW0uW)
49
'All books should be in the library. All books.'
That sounds Kamala-esque ...
All books should be in the library. All books. Books have covers! Do you like covers? I do, especially when I'm toasty, snuggly warm in my footie jammies! Do you what else should be jammied? Libraries! Jammied full of books!
* pauses for applause *
'All books should be in the library. All books.'
That sounds Kamala-esque ...
All books should be in the library. All books. Books have covers! Do you like covers? I do, especially when I'm toasty, snuggly warm in my footie jammies! Do you what else should be jammied? Libraries! Jammied full of books!
* pauses for applause *
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:28 AM (pNxlR)
50
factotum: use it in a limerick
*******
It's Allegorical - a limerick
The stories, as Tolkien wrote 'em
Were compiled by his loyal factotum
From the very first screening
Readers sought hidden meaning
"Bilbo Baggins is code talk for 'scrotum'!"
*******
It's Allegorical - a limerick
The stories, as Tolkien wrote 'em
Were compiled by his loyal factotum
From the very first screening
Readers sought hidden meaning
"Bilbo Baggins is code talk for 'scrotum'!"
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 09:30 AM (ykeLU)
51
Elevator's been in use to mean an elevator for more than a century. Why assume a change?
There's a danger in using too much made up nomenclature just to make your work sound "science-fictiony." That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023
***
Right. Unless there is some major new functionality to the elevator, like the [Trek "turbolift," which we were told not only went up and down, but sideways as well to bring them around the big saucer.
There's a danger in using too much made up nomenclature just to make your work sound "science-fictiony." That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023
***
Right. Unless there is some major new functionality to the elevator, like the [Trek "turbolift," which we were told not only went up and down, but sideways as well to bring them around the big saucer.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:30 AM (omVj0)
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 30, 2023 09:30 AM (R/m4+)
53
Last weekend I had a chance to visit my local Barnes and Noble ('local' being a relative term: its a four hour drive away, so I only get to visit when I'm in town on other business) and I saw that Naomi Novak's "Temeraire" series received a new trade dress. If you buy the new paperback versions of the whole series, and line them up on your shelf, the images on the spines combine to create a single image of a dragon flying across the sky!
It looked pretty cool. Too bad I bailed on the series thanks to latent Mary-Sueism and a feeling that 'The Message' (TM) was seeping into the narrative....Oh, well. The money I didn't spend on those paperbacks can now be spent on the graphic-novel western that Razorfist is putting out. Off to "Ghost of the Badlands" indigogo page....
It looked pretty cool. Too bad I bailed on the series thanks to latent Mary-Sueism and a feeling that 'The Message' (TM) was seeping into the narrative....Oh, well. The money I didn't spend on those paperbacks can now be spent on the graphic-novel western that Razorfist is putting out. Off to "Ghost of the Badlands" indigogo page....
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 09:31 AM (Lhaco)
54
I'm rereading Heyer's A Civil Contract. After that, I'll switch gears to a Dresden Files reread - it's been a while. I also picked up a paper copy of Rebecca to read on the plane - I last read it probably over 25 years ago and don't remember much. (But I have to take my ereader as well because one book is not going to cut it on a 14 hr flight.)
Posted by: Mrs. Peel at April 30, 2023 09:31 AM (jrY13)
55
That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
Posted by: Trimegistus
"Oh-oh ...!"
-- week-old crabmeat salad sandwiches
-- in truck stop vending machines
That shit gets old faster than crabmeat salad.
Posted by: Trimegistus
"Oh-oh ...!"
-- week-old crabmeat salad sandwiches
-- in truck stop vending machines
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:31 AM (pNxlR)
56
I am so looking forward to the blockbuster sci-fi epic, "Schindler's Lift"!
I already made that joke last week! Haha!
I already made that joke last week! Haha!
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:31 AM (43xH1)
57
Scrotum? I just met him!
Posted by: Rimshot at April 30, 2023 09:32 AM (DhOHl)
58
At a local library hutch -- you know, those little birdhouse-like things where people leave off and/or take cast-off books? . . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
Ah, speaking of those little libraries, we built one for the old house and left it behind when we moved. We placed it on a little gravel path in a small maze of bushes beside the house. I fashioned a monster slab of maple for use as a bench for the little kiddies - the library only had kid books in it. The wee ones loved it and felt like they were exploring into the deepest, darkest recesses of the earth while walking to it. It gave us great joy to listen to the kids giggle while sitting on the bench reading.
I heard from my old neighbors the new owner ripped it out.
Philistines!!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
Ah, speaking of those little libraries, we built one for the old house and left it behind when we moved. We placed it on a little gravel path in a small maze of bushes beside the house. I fashioned a monster slab of maple for use as a bench for the little kiddies - the library only had kid books in it. The wee ones loved it and felt like they were exploring into the deepest, darkest recesses of the earth while walking to it. It gave us great joy to listen to the kids giggle while sitting on the bench reading.
I heard from my old neighbors the new owner ripped it out.
Philistines!!
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (qoGsy)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (pNxlR)
60
A Pale Horse is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. There's a movie as well. I think it stayed pretty true to the plot, but it's been a while since I saw it.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023
***
The edition I have mentions the Masterpiece Mystery adaptation.
I read a lot of AC when I was in my first mystery period, teen years, and was not as impressed with her plotting and clue technique as I had been with the imaginative Queen and Carr. And she is no stylist like Stout writing as Archie Goodwin in the Nero Wolfe stories. Yet she was a craftsman for sure, frequently able to pull a live iguana out of the hat when you expected a rabbit or even a kitten. I think I'm preferring her non-series novels to the Poirot and Marple ones.
A Pale Horse is one of my favorite Agatha Christie books. There's a movie as well. I think it stayed pretty true to the plot, but it's been a while since I saw it.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023
***
The edition I have mentions the Masterpiece Mystery adaptation.
I read a lot of AC when I was in my first mystery period, teen years, and was not as impressed with her plotting and clue technique as I had been with the imaginative Queen and Carr. And she is no stylist like Stout writing as Archie Goodwin in the Nero Wolfe stories. Yet she was a craftsman for sure, frequently able to pull a live iguana out of the hat when you expected a rabbit or even a kitten. I think I'm preferring her non-series novels to the Poirot and Marple ones.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (omVj0)
61
Thinking about turbolifts, it seems to me that lateral movement would throw a rider off balance. Not fun.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (uIu2G)
62
Just started reading 'The Life of Greece' by Will Durant.
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (88xKn)
63
9 ... "his first book, "Anybody Who Owns His Own Home Deserves It."
Some of the material is dated, but other observations are timeless. I enjoyed the book. King has always been a favorite of mine."
WeakGeek,
Wow! I though I was the only one left who remembered those Alan King books. I have "Anyone Who Owns" and "Help! I'm a Prisoner in a Chinese Bakery" on the shelf. I still re-read them and laugh. I used to look forward to King's appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Some of the material is dated, but other observations are timeless. I enjoyed the book. King has always been a favorite of mine."
WeakGeek,
Wow! I though I was the only one left who remembered those Alan King books. I have "Anyone Who Owns" and "Help! I'm a Prisoner in a Chinese Bakery" on the shelf. I still re-read them and laugh. I used to look forward to King's appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 09:35 AM (7EjX1)
64
Thinking about turbolifts, it seems to me that lateral movement would throw a rider off balance. Not fun.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023
***
True . . . but they had gravity control aboard the ships and stations, so that's consistent with their setup.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023
***
True . . . but they had gravity control aboard the ships and stations, so that's consistent with their setup.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
65
I'd love to spend time in that library, or any library, that wasn't full of drug-addled homeless bums smoking fentanyl and having sex in the bathrooms. But I live in Oregon, so that's not happening anytime soon.
Posted by: PabloD at April 30, 2023 09:36 AM (AYd5v)
66
Just started reading 'The Life of Greece' by Will Durant.
Posted by: dantesed
It's nothing but those thieving Greek homos all the way down!
-- "Reverend" Al Sharpton,
-- raconteur and bon vivant
Just started reading 'The Life of Greece' by Will Durant.
Posted by: dantesed
It's nothing but those thieving Greek homos all the way down!
-- "Reverend" Al Sharpton,
-- raconteur and bon vivant
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:36 AM (pNxlR)
67
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 09:31 AM (Lhaco)
I thought the first Temeraire novel was *very* good, the second good, and I bailed after the third for the very reasons you mentioned.
I did like that she was pretty accurate in her representation of real historical figures. Also, that she brought up areas that don't get a lot of focus, such as India almost ending up as a *French* satellite.
I thought the first Temeraire novel was *very* good, the second good, and I bailed after the third for the very reasons you mentioned.
I did like that she was pretty accurate in her representation of real historical figures. Also, that she brought up areas that don't get a lot of focus, such as India almost ending up as a *French* satellite.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:37 AM (nC+QA)
68
Elevpods (original) don't just go up and down, they're inside huge living blocks and function like an automated order-picking system. A suggestion was 'levpod' but that suggests levitation which this machine does not do. I went with 'elev+pod', only to discover almost literally everyone hated it and had an opinion! I did not expect it triggering such a reaction in people.
You get into a combination 'pod' and 'elevator'. This seemed descriptive to me, and I was totally unprepared for so many people viscerally disliking it! On the other hand, such a thing would very possibly be made by Schindler. So.
No, it's not 'Europe' it's a post-nuclear war world, it's just Terra.
You get into a combination 'pod' and 'elevator'. This seemed descriptive to me, and I was totally unprepared for so many people viscerally disliking it! On the other hand, such a thing would very possibly be made by Schindler. So.
No, it's not 'Europe' it's a post-nuclear war world, it's just Terra.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:38 AM (43xH1)
69
10 ... "I've just learned of a channel we get that runs "The Red Green Show" around the clock."
Please keep the channel info to yourself. That show would soak up all my spare time and my sides would hurt from laughing. Hopefully, it's not available using rabbit ears for TV reception.
Please keep the channel info to yourself. That show would soak up all my spare time and my sides would hurt from laughing. Hopefully, it's not available using rabbit ears for TV reception.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 09:39 AM (7EjX1)
70
I saw Kraftwerk in Stuttgart in 1990.
Only problem I have with the Library is that it is in Stuttgart.
Morning Bookwyrms.
Been too busy this week for much reading so I'm not as far into A Distant Mirror as I would like to be.
I read the Icewind Dale trilogy in Somalia in 93. Thought it was meh so I never followed up on any of it. 25 years later I stumble across the collectors edition hard cover of Legacy of the Drow and buy it only to find out there were a bunch more books now and I needed to read them. Salvator's stuff is the only Non-fiction I have consumed in about 10 years. Haven't found all the books yet but I will eventually.
Only problem I have with the Library is that it is in Stuttgart.
Morning Bookwyrms.
Been too busy this week for much reading so I'm not as far into A Distant Mirror as I would like to be.
I read the Icewind Dale trilogy in Somalia in 93. Thought it was meh so I never followed up on any of it. 25 years later I stumble across the collectors edition hard cover of Legacy of the Drow and buy it only to find out there were a bunch more books now and I needed to read them. Salvator's stuff is the only Non-fiction I have consumed in about 10 years. Haven't found all the books yet but I will eventually.
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 09:39 AM (n80Ta)
71
... and now the rain arrives here and declares, "I own today, kiddos!"
... and now the rain arrives here and declares, "I own today, kiddos!"
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 09:40 AM (pNxlR)
72
@ 63 --
JTB, I didn't know King had written any books. I learned of them from his Wikipedia entry. AbeBooks did the rest.
I used to read a lot of humorous books, particularly those by Erma Bombeck. Short pieces that didn't require you to hunt up a bookmark.
JTB, I didn't know King had written any books. I learned of them from his Wikipedia entry. AbeBooks did the rest.
I used to read a lot of humorous books, particularly those by Erma Bombeck. Short pieces that didn't require you to hunt up a bookmark.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:41 AM (uIu2G)
73
Aesthetica @Anc_Aesthetics
2000 year old Roman Mosaic on the bank of the river Euphrates, Turkey.
https://tinyurl.com/3u3fyw9s
2000 year old Roman Mosaic on the bank of the river Euphrates, Turkey.
https://tinyurl.com/3u3fyw9s
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:41 AM (Vwz3I)
74
I submitted the fantasy story I asked about last week to the Baen Fantasy Adventure contest. Yes, I went with the action opening + flashback technique that (some of) my writing group disliked as "confusing." The alternative was "dull," so I stuck with the original opening that many of you agreed was a valid technique. We won't hear about the finalists until late in June or early in July. It's time I forgot about that and went with a new writing project.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (omVj0)
75
Doctor Jill is quoted saying that 'All books should be in the library. All books.'
******
And like the midwit she is, she conflates protecting minor children from overt sexualization with book banning. What a shrew!
******
And like the midwit she is, she conflates protecting minor children from overt sexualization with book banning. What a shrew!
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (ykeLU)
76
I guess you could go for "pod-a-vator", for the item if you need something to explain what a Schindler is.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (nC+QA)
77
Can roll results charts be copyrighted?
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:17 AM (uIu2G)
---
When WotC declared the d20 system to be open source, I think a lot of legal protections for the charts disappeared.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:17 AM (uIu2G)
---
When WotC declared the d20 system to be open source, I think a lot of legal protections for the charts disappeared.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (llXky)
78
Just started reading 'The Life of Greece' by Will Durant.
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (88xKn)
Interesting, but do they have multiple uses?
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (88xKn)
Interesting, but do they have multiple uses?
Posted by: Bacon Grease at April 30, 2023 09:43 AM (Angsy)
79
My family had a set of Durant's _Story of Civilization_ series, and that was my secret weapon through high school history. I read the whole series a couple of times, and some volumes again and again. Great stuff.
It does show its age, though. Not just in the sense of being at odds with current intellectual fashions -- that's a feature, not a flaw -- but (especially regarding the earlier periods) new discoveries have changed our understanding of what actually happened.
It's still worth reading, and I don't know of a better introduction to the history of Western Civilization.
It does show its age, though. Not just in the sense of being at odds with current intellectual fashions -- that's a feature, not a flaw -- but (especially regarding the earlier periods) new discoveries have changed our understanding of what actually happened.
It's still worth reading, and I don't know of a better introduction to the history of Western Civilization.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 09:43 AM (QZxDR)
80
Didn't do much reading this week -- revisited a couple of Elmore Leonard novels, which were even better than I remembered.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 09:43 AM (a/4+U)
81
Its raining pretty good out thar....
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 09:45 AM (T4tVD)
82
I don't think the pants guy owns a weedwhacker....(if you catch my drift....)
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 09:46 AM (T4tVD)
83
Read both the Fortschen After series and the Directive 51 series. Depressing but interesting.
Posted by: Stacy0311 at April 30, 2023 09:46 AM (ixC6O)
84
hiya
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 09:46 AM (T4tVD)
85
Started Churchill's "History of the English Speaking Peoples"...made it thru Alfred The Great...them Normans are on the horizon.
Posted by: BignJames at April 30, 2023 09:47 AM (AwYPR)
86
"I read the Icewind Dale trilogy in Somalia in 93."
I read Conrad's 'Nostromo' on the Balkan Express train from Budapest to Belgrade into FRY in 1993.
In retrospect it was wholly appropriate.
And prescient. Both the book and my time there ended up almost the same.
Exit reading, same train, was 'Catcher in The Rye' in English paperback, which I had not read before. I thought it infantile garbage and threw it out the train window somewhere North of Szeged.
I read Conrad's 'Nostromo' on the Balkan Express train from Budapest to Belgrade into FRY in 1993.
In retrospect it was wholly appropriate.
And prescient. Both the book and my time there ended up almost the same.
Exit reading, same train, was 'Catcher in The Rye' in English paperback, which I had not read before. I thought it infantile garbage and threw it out the train window somewhere North of Szeged.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:47 AM (43xH1)
87
Muldoon,
'Midwit' may be a little too generous -- I'm thinking maybe, say, 'complete lackwit.' But then, I sometimes tend to be a bit harsh and judgmental.
'Midwit' may be a little too generous -- I'm thinking maybe, say, 'complete lackwit.' But then, I sometimes tend to be a bit harsh and judgmental.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 09:47 AM (a/4+U)
88
I submitted the fantasy story I asked about last week to the Baen Fantasy Adventure contest. Yes, I went with the action opening + flashback technique that (some of) my writing group disliked as "confusing."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (omVj0)
Good. I liked that intro. Valid technique in my worthless opinion.
Been reworking "Going Up?" a bit to submit to The Dark City. I'll give them one more chance, then move on to something else if they reject that one too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:42 AM (omVj0)
Good. I liked that intro. Valid technique in my worthless opinion.
Been reworking "Going Up?" a bit to submit to The Dark City. I'll give them one more chance, then move on to something else if they reject that one too.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 09:48 AM (Angsy)
89
I heard from my old neighbors the new owner ripped it out.
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (qoGsy)
Some people just want to watch the world burn.
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (qoGsy)
Some people just want to watch the world burn.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 09:48 AM (OX9vb)
90
Salvator's stuff is the only Non-fiction I have consumed in about 10 years. Haven't found all the books yet but I will eventually.
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 09:39 AM (n80Ta)
----
"Non-fiction?"
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 09:39 AM (n80Ta)
----
"Non-fiction?"
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 09:48 AM (BpYfr)
91
Last week I was fixing to get back into Conrad but someone dropped a comment over on my blog informing me that in addition to the HBO adaptation of Parade's End, there had been an earlier BBC version from 1964 starring Judi Densch is Valentine Wannop.
Naturally I had to find this and I was able to order a sealed copy on ebay for under $7 (including shipping!). I've got a review posted on my blog for those who care, but what this did was rekindle my interest in Ford Madox Ford and I discovered that Max Saunders had written a well-received two-volume "critical biography" of Ford in the 1990s.
I snagged a used copy of Volume I and find it quite interesting. For a variety of reasons, Ford's legacy languished for decades, and serious biographical study didn't start until he'd been dead for 30 years.
Saunders calls his work a "critical biography" because Ford himself was a notorious embellisher, unable to tell the same story the same way twice. His papers were not well preserved and since he abandoned his family, he was denied the treatment given to Lewis or Tolkien by their heirs.
Naturally I had to find this and I was able to order a sealed copy on ebay for under $7 (including shipping!). I've got a review posted on my blog for those who care, but what this did was rekindle my interest in Ford Madox Ford and I discovered that Max Saunders had written a well-received two-volume "critical biography" of Ford in the 1990s.
I snagged a used copy of Volume I and find it quite interesting. For a variety of reasons, Ford's legacy languished for decades, and serious biographical study didn't start until he'd been dead for 30 years.
Saunders calls his work a "critical biography" because Ford himself was a notorious embellisher, unable to tell the same story the same way twice. His papers were not well preserved and since he abandoned his family, he was denied the treatment given to Lewis or Tolkien by their heirs.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 09:49 AM (llXky)
92
@69 --
JTB, that's the drawback with such channels -- you have to have the willpower to say, "I'm shutting off the TV after this one."
(Why is this phone underlining "the"?)
JTB, that's the drawback with such channels -- you have to have the willpower to say, "I'm shutting off the TV after this one."
(Why is this phone underlining "the"?)
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:49 AM (uIu2G)
93
I heard from my old neighbors the new owner ripped it out.
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (qoGsy)
---
I believe I was able to post a pic of it on the Sunday Morning Book Thread last year, so it's at least immortalized around here...
Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2023 09:33 AM (qoGsy)
---
I believe I was able to post a pic of it on the Sunday Morning Book Thread last year, so it's at least immortalized around here...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 09:50 AM (BpYfr)
94
in the more meh category, is the first of the new and improved series of bond books, by kim sherwood, where the gimmick is one, bond is missing, and its more about a very diverse group of 00s, the set pieces are good, but the characters are very one dimensional and they are all on the skydragon fraud, the villain is a variation of the toby stephens character in the last brosnan bond,
Posted by: no 6 at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (PXvVL)
95
Is "Kraftwerk" a German processed-cheese-food factory??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (Vwz3I)
96
Then it's back to my plot book and sketching out of a couple of new chapters.
Still listening to the John Adams audio book. Haven't read anything new because nothing appeals to me right now.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing
If you ever run out of plot and want to embark on a fresh and epic trilogy, let me know. It would be larger than Atlas Shrugged - I just don't have the time or skills to write it.
Still listening to the John Adams audio book. Haven't read anything new because nothing appeals to me right now.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing
If you ever run out of plot and want to embark on a fresh and epic trilogy, let me know. It would be larger than Atlas Shrugged - I just don't have the time or skills to write it.
Posted by: Reuben Hick at April 30, 2023 09:52 AM (YXHzG)
97
E.C.Tubb wrote "Dumarest of Earth" about 27 volumes.
Posted by: TheAncient at April 30, 2023 09:52 AM (6VEbr)
98
dolorous - adj. - causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief
Comment: I have to admit, this is a pretty good word to describe my feelings towards the world and circumstances we now find ourselves. It's hard to keep one's chin up in dolorous times like this.
-----------------------
Is it something I did?
Comment: I have to admit, this is a pretty good word to describe my feelings towards the world and circumstances we now find ourselves. It's hard to keep one's chin up in dolorous times like this.
-----------------------
Is it something I did?
Posted by: Lola - ALL the 1/6 videotapes from Alexandra & Jade, too. at April 30, 2023 09:52 AM (GshMh)
99
"I'd say that's the main driver, coupled with the discovery that you can't copyright rules, only text, so any mook with a word processor can rewrite the Holmes Basic Set in his own words and publish it. That, plus fifty years' worth of old material means you can run a DeeanDee game without ever actually buying an "official" product again.
Posted by: Trimegistus"
That is a very interesting note. Thank you.
Posted by: Trimegistus"
That is a very interesting note. Thank you.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:52 AM (43xH1)
100
Good morning fellow book enthusiasts.
I haven't read any Agatha Christy but did watch The Pale Horse on Prime. There are several based on her books. I know I enjoyed watching while they were on the screen but nothing sticks. I could not tell you the plot.
I haven't read any Agatha Christy but did watch The Pale Horse on Prime. There are several based on her books. I know I enjoyed watching while they were on the screen but nothing sticks. I could not tell you the plot.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 09:54 AM (Y+l9t)
101
I changed my mind: it's not an 'elevpod', it's a Schindler.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
--------------
Schindler's Lift???
[Have I been beaten to that one??]
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
--------------
Schindler's Lift???
[Have I been beaten to that one??]
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:54 AM (Vwz3I)
102
34 Elevators, the Quiet Monopoly.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (EZebt)
Shhhhh.
I got introduced to that gig through the ski lift industry. Great gig if you can land it but that union is tight. Damn good money but you gotta know your shit inside and out and work to ANSI B77 standards. Much higher than regular mech work. The control and safety systems in elevators are the same as ski lifts. I think Doppelmyer is the main manufacturer of elevators as well as lifts. I've been out of the industry for a while now so I'm not sure.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 30, 2023 09:23 AM (EZebt)
Shhhhh.
I got introduced to that gig through the ski lift industry. Great gig if you can land it but that union is tight. Damn good money but you gotta know your shit inside and out and work to ANSI B77 standards. Much higher than regular mech work. The control and safety systems in elevators are the same as ski lifts. I think Doppelmyer is the main manufacturer of elevators as well as lifts. I've been out of the industry for a while now so I'm not sure.
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 09:55 AM (B/g/o)
103
Last week I had an opportunity to see Nellie Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird performed in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. It's done in two acts: one on the grounds of, and one inside of the courthouse. A very enjoyable experience. The actor playing Atticus Finch was a dead ringer for Gregory Peck. All local actors.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 30, 2023 09:55 AM (DhOHl)
104
dolorous - adj. - causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief
Comment: I have to admit, this is a pretty good word to describe my feelings towards the world and circumstances we now find ourselves. It's hard to keep one's chin up in dolorous times like this.
I'm going to try this at church today, but will use "dolorous" instead of "splendid" using the same bright and sunny delivery just to see who recognizes the incongruity.
Comment: I have to admit, this is a pretty good word to describe my feelings towards the world and circumstances we now find ourselves. It's hard to keep one's chin up in dolorous times like this.
I'm going to try this at church today, but will use "dolorous" instead of "splendid" using the same bright and sunny delivery just to see who recognizes the incongruity.
Posted by: Reuben Hick at April 30, 2023 09:55 AM (YXHzG)
105
I bought "The Jesuits: The Society of Jesus and the Betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church" by Malachi Martin.
Published in 1987, I have been told that Bergoglio is prominently mentioned.
I look forward to reading it this week.
Published in 1987, I have been told that Bergoglio is prominently mentioned.
I look forward to reading it this week.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at April 30, 2023 09:56 AM (5u1+1)
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 30, 2023 09:56 AM (AW0uW)
107
"...His dolorous Passion..."
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at April 30, 2023 09:56 AM (5u1+1)
108
During my working years I spent quite a bit of time in various archives. That's what the Stuttgart library reminds me of. Archives are very sterile by design to preserve the materials. But of course they don't have open shelves like a lending library.
I guess because of that background the looks of the library didn't immediately turn me off but it certainly doesn't look like a place you'd want to curl up with a book.
I guess because of that background the looks of the library didn't immediately turn me off but it certainly doesn't look like a place you'd want to curl up with a book.
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at April 30, 2023 09:57 AM (fTtFy)
109
Churchill's book shaped the way I think about language.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at April 30, 2023 09:58 AM (EZebt)
110
Pod seems too generic. How about "conveyor" or "mover" or "ascensor" (from Spanish) or "car" or "musead" (from Arabic) or "attollo" (from Latin), or "erebeta" (Japanese).
Any of those sound good?
Any of those sound good?
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 09:58 AM (QZxDR)
111
"Non-fiction?"
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 09:48 AM (BpYfr)
I haven't finished my coffee yet.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 09:48 AM (BpYfr)
I haven't finished my coffee yet.
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 09:58 AM (B/g/o)
112
Happy Birthday to CF Gauss.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 09:58 AM (MvF+J)
113
I haven't read any Agatha Christy but did watch The Pale Horse on Prime. There are several based on her books. I know I enjoyed watching while they were on the screen but nothing sticks. I could not tell you the plot.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023
***
Christie flirts with the supernatural in it -- part of the mystery involves, could a self-professed "witch" actually sicken and kill someone by mind alone at a distance? It occurs to me that England did not remove the legal prohibition against witchcraft until the mid- or late '60s, I think. So this novel, published in 1962, features characters who would have been outside the law at that point. A law never enforced by then, but still the law.
I haven't read any Agatha Christy but did watch The Pale Horse on Prime. There are several based on her books. I know I enjoyed watching while they were on the screen but nothing sticks. I could not tell you the plot.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023
***
Christie flirts with the supernatural in it -- part of the mystery involves, could a self-professed "witch" actually sicken and kill someone by mind alone at a distance? It occurs to me that England did not remove the legal prohibition against witchcraft until the mid- or late '60s, I think. So this novel, published in 1962, features characters who would have been outside the law at that point. A law never enforced by then, but still the law.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 09:58 AM (omVj0)
114
Is "Kraftwerk" a German processed-cheese-food factory??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (Vwz3I)
Ummmmmmm….Yes.
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (Vwz3I)
Ummmmmmm….Yes.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 30, 2023 09:59 AM (R/m4+)
115
One thing I like about Christie was how she implied some things without stating them directly, which could have embarrassed the publisher.
For example, in one book the inspector is reading a report on somebody's wife. From his comment, we glean that the woman had a checkered past, and we can imagine just what she had been/done.
For example, in one book the inspector is reading a report on somebody's wife. From his comment, we glean that the woman had a checkered past, and we can imagine just what she had been/done.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:59 AM (uIu2G)
116
95 Is "Kraftwerk" a German processed-cheese-food factory??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (Vwz3I)
It's the musical equivalent.
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 09:51 AM (Vwz3I)
It's the musical equivalent.
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 10:01 AM (B/g/o)
117
I thought the first Temeraire novel was *very* good, the second good, and I bailed after the third for the very reasons you mentioned.
I did like that she was pretty accurate in her representation of real historical figures. Also, that she brought up areas that don't get a lot of focus, such as India almost ending up as a *French* satellite.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:37 AM (nC+QA)
I bought books 1, 2 and 3 as a hardcover omnibus edition. I would have bailed there, but I did come back for book 5 because it had Wellington in it. I was on a big "Sharpe's Rifles" kick at the time, so was naturally a bit of a Wellington fanboy. I think I read book 6 from the library, but there was no Wellington there, so that was it for me.
I did like that she was pretty accurate in her representation of real historical figures. Also, that she brought up areas that don't get a lot of focus, such as India almost ending up as a *French* satellite.
Posted by: Polliwog the 'Ette at April 30, 2023 09:37 AM (nC+QA)
I bought books 1, 2 and 3 as a hardcover omnibus edition. I would have bailed there, but I did come back for book 5 because it had Wellington in it. I was on a big "Sharpe's Rifles" kick at the time, so was naturally a bit of a Wellington fanboy. I think I read book 6 from the library, but there was no Wellington there, so that was it for me.
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 10:02 AM (Lhaco)
118
Book 6, the conclusion of the trilogy (don't ask), is due May 9,
--------------
Boy, is that ever moronic!
--------------
Boy, is that ever moronic!
Posted by: Dune at April 30, 2023 10:02 AM (Vwz3I)
119
Reading Heinlein's 'Govt Take Back.' He starts with the proposition "Most people are basically honest, kind and decent." I don't buy that for one single second, but I will keep reading and give him a chance.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (MvF+J)
120
I think I finally see the problem with the 'elevpod' thing: I've worked in FCs (RomneyOfficeCorp) and while the system itself is very well documented, I am unable to find any definite term for what the focal point/robot that does the actual picking is CALLED.
That is, the *system* has a name or brand-name but the... thing... that goes and picks the product does not. Expand it to large-scale and make it a people-handling system, that thing that goes where it's directed has to have a name, and nobody, as far as I can tell, has done that yet. It's a carrier, a robot, an actuator. It's New Tech right now and nobody has named it yet.
Horde?
That is, the *system* has a name or brand-name but the... thing... that goes and picks the product does not. Expand it to large-scale and make it a people-handling system, that thing that goes where it's directed has to have a name, and nobody, as far as I can tell, has done that yet. It's a carrier, a robot, an actuator. It's New Tech right now and nobody has named it yet.
Horde?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (43xH1)
121
Krebs: I've read Giants in the Earth, twice, and it's truly depressing (especially Beret) but still a great book. The Emigrants and it's 3 follow up novels by Moberg also covers Scandinavian immigration to the upper midwest but it's not as dark. Maybe because the settlers end up in the St. Croix valley on the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, a friendlier setting than the North Dakota plains.
Posted by: who knew at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (4I7VG)
122
Hey, Castle Guy, did the Wonder Woman tc you read include a fight between Ares and the Creeper?
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:04 AM (uIu2G)
123
Reading Heinlein's 'Govt Take Back.' He starts with the proposition "Most people are basically honest, kind and decent." I don't buy that for one single second, but I will keep reading and give him a chance.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023
***
Heinlein was writing in, and for, a high-trust society.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023
***
Heinlein was writing in, and for, a high-trust society.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:05 AM (omVj0)
124
Been rereading The Face Of Battle by John Keegan. Still holds up very well. The Waterloo chapters are quite illuminating.
Before that, I finally finished the sleeping aid and small marmot killer of Uncompromising Honor by David Weber. This is the current end of the Honor Harrington universe. Fleet Admiral Harrington triumphs over, well, everyone. Good wins, evil is smitten, the Human Universe is saved, and she goes off into the sunset to start that hardest of tasks, being the mother to her young children.
The book could be edited down 75%; the prose is turgid, the characters now boring, and the plot runs on rails.
Before that, I finally finished the sleeping aid and small marmot killer of Uncompromising Honor by David Weber. This is the current end of the Honor Harrington universe. Fleet Admiral Harrington triumphs over, well, everyone. Good wins, evil is smitten, the Human Universe is saved, and she goes off into the sunset to start that hardest of tasks, being the mother to her young children.
The book could be edited down 75%; the prose is turgid, the characters now boring, and the plot runs on rails.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:05 AM (u82oZ)
125
I'm into the true crime stuff, reading and TV.
Finished Ace Atkins "White Shadow" built around the unsolved murder of a gangster in 1955 Tampa, and now halfway through his "Devil's Garden," set in 1920s California, the Fatty Arbuckle murder trials the heart of this one.
Amazing the lies people tell and the secrets they keep. Atkins does a terrific job in both novels with dialog, settings, landscape, and characters. I love how they talk about "the pictures" back in the silent film era. Now, all the artistes say "film," or "cinema," but back at the dawn of it all, it was tough guys and dames saying "pictures."
Which brings me to a movie. "Movie," heh, from "moving pictures." Another true crime thing, this one an axe murder, the one now playing as a serial on HBO Max, the one titled "Love and Death."
Both of them pissed as hell about the affair one is having with the other's husband, one has an axe and says I'm gonna kill you, the other reacts, a fight breaks out, and the murderer strikes the other not once but FORTY ONE times, the scene looking like Lizzy Borden on steroids.
Five hours, the jury says not guilty, self defense.
Finished Ace Atkins "White Shadow" built around the unsolved murder of a gangster in 1955 Tampa, and now halfway through his "Devil's Garden," set in 1920s California, the Fatty Arbuckle murder trials the heart of this one.
Amazing the lies people tell and the secrets they keep. Atkins does a terrific job in both novels with dialog, settings, landscape, and characters. I love how they talk about "the pictures" back in the silent film era. Now, all the artistes say "film," or "cinema," but back at the dawn of it all, it was tough guys and dames saying "pictures."
Which brings me to a movie. "Movie," heh, from "moving pictures." Another true crime thing, this one an axe murder, the one now playing as a serial on HBO Max, the one titled "Love and Death."
Both of them pissed as hell about the affair one is having with the other's husband, one has an axe and says I'm gonna kill you, the other reacts, a fight breaks out, and the murderer strikes the other not once but FORTY ONE times, the scene looking like Lizzy Borden on steroids.
Five hours, the jury says not guilty, self defense.
Posted by: Mr Gaga at April 30, 2023 10:05 AM (KiBMU)
126
Still on a William Gibson kick this week. Read Virtual Light, the first book of the Bridge Trilogy of which IDORU is the second. He sets up his dystopia in this book which is caused by a combination of earthquakes and a pandemic caused by the AIDS virus which wipes out a major portion of the human race.
Most of the action takes place in San Francisco centered around a bike messenger who lives on the Bridge which closed due to earthquake damage has become a little city with make shift residences, stalls selling all sorts of things, bars even a sewage system and electricity.
You can "see" his characters and setting. The hustle and bustle of life in this dystopian world.
Most of the action takes place in San Francisco centered around a bike messenger who lives on the Bridge which closed due to earthquake damage has become a little city with make shift residences, stalls selling all sorts of things, bars even a sewage system and electricity.
You can "see" his characters and setting. The hustle and bustle of life in this dystopian world.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 10:06 AM (Y+l9t)
127
Spit it Out, Man! - a limerick
His voice is like a will-o-the-wisp
And his fricatives are not very crisp
He mumbles and he sputters
Yet he overcomes the stutters
The heroic epic tale of Schindler's Lisp
Spit it Out, Man! - a limerick
His voice is like a will-o-the-wisp
And his fricatives are not very crisp
He mumbles and he sputters
Yet he overcomes the stutters
The heroic epic tale of Schindler's Lisp
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:07 AM (ykeLU)
128
123 I doubt it was true then, either. It flies in the face of everything we know about human nature. If it were true, we wouldn't even need govts at all.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:07 AM (MvF+J)
129
Pod seems too generic. How about "conveyor" or "mover" or "ascensor" (from Spanish) or "car" or "musead" (from Arabic) or "attollo" (from Latin), or "erebeta" (Japanese).
Any of those sound good?
Posted by: Trimegistus
Go Uppy ?
Any of those sound good?
Posted by: Trimegistus
Go Uppy ?
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:07 AM (T4tVD)
130
It's a carrier, a robot, an actuator. It's New Tech right now and nobody has named it yet.
Horde?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (43xH1)
Lpod? Spoken as a colloquialism by the people using it instead of its actual "name."
Horde?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (43xH1)
Lpod? Spoken as a colloquialism by the people using it instead of its actual "name."
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:08 AM (Angsy)
131
@120 --
LenNeal: Bus?
Be glad that once you settle on a name, all you'll need to do is run search/replace instead of retyping the whole story.
LenNeal: Bus?
Be glad that once you settle on a name, all you'll need to do is run search/replace instead of retyping the whole story.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:08 AM (uIu2G)
132
I was amused to learn that the last witchcraft prosecution in the UK was during World War II. Helen Duncan, a spirit medium grifter (but I repeat myself) was preying on the relatives of dead servicemen by claiming to talk to their spirits, and someone in the justice system realized there actually was still a law against that.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:08 AM (QZxDR)
133
I am so looking forward to the blockbuster sci-fi epic, "Schindler's Lift"!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM)
---------------
Darn you, KvC!!!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM)
---------------
Darn you, KvC!!!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:09 AM (Vwz3I)
134
I see dolorous and think sonorous. Similar mood I think.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 10:10 AM (Y+l9t)
135
One thing I like about Christie was how she implied some things without stating them directly, which could have embarrassed the publisher.
For example, in one book the inspector is reading a report on somebody's wife. From his comment, we glean that the woman had a checkered past, and we can imagine just what she had been/done.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023
***
Golden Age (of the mystery) writers all had to do that. There are no graphic descriptions of prostitution in 1930s-40s Ellery Queen, for instance; hints, yes, and glimpses of women as mistresses, but no graphic stuff. Hardboiled writers had more latitude, I guess.
For example, in one book the inspector is reading a report on somebody's wife. From his comment, we glean that the woman had a checkered past, and we can imagine just what she had been/done.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023
***
Golden Age (of the mystery) writers all had to do that. There are no graphic descriptions of prostitution in 1930s-40s Ellery Queen, for instance; hints, yes, and glimpses of women as mistresses, but no graphic stuff. Hardboiled writers had more latitude, I guess.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:11 AM (omVj0)
136
To wash the taste of that book away, I reread the first 6 books in the main-line Honor Harrington universe:
On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor Among Enemies.
There is a 1/x pattern decay in the books. The first one was very good. I have never known a real military to have so many good people, skilled designers and maintainers, and wise actions in battle.
Most books ends with a climactic battle against staggering odds. Honor Harrington wins, with huge losses. I calculated the chances of her survival, based on random probabilities, as less than 1% over all those battles. What a way to run a Space Navy.
On Basilisk Station
The Honor of the Queen
The Short Victorious War
Field of Dishonor
Flag in Exile
Honor Among Enemies.
There is a 1/x pattern decay in the books. The first one was very good. I have never known a real military to have so many good people, skilled designers and maintainers, and wise actions in battle.
Most books ends with a climactic battle against staggering odds. Honor Harrington wins, with huge losses. I calculated the chances of her survival, based on random probabilities, as less than 1% over all those battles. What a way to run a Space Navy.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:11 AM (u82oZ)
137
130 It's a carrier, a robot, an actuator. It's New Tech right now and nobody has named it yet.
Horde?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (43xH1)
Create an Inventor character and name it after him or her or...
Horde?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (43xH1)
Create an Inventor character and name it after him or her or...
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 10:12 AM (B/g/o)
138
Good morning!
Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:12 AM (u82oZ)
139
This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:12 AM (uIu2G)
140
I am so looking forward to the blockbuster sci-fi epic, "Schindler's Lift"!
I already made that joke last week! Haha!
Posted by: LenNeal
------------
Darn you, too!
I already made that joke last week! Haha!
Posted by: LenNeal
------------
Darn you, too!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (Vwz3I)
141
Penn State’s “Affinity Graduations” are scheduled for Apr. and May 2023 and call on graduates to celebrate their identities, according to a description from the university’s office of Student Affairs.
The segregated graduations include the Lavender ceremony, intended “to honor and acknowledge lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally graduating students.”
Latinx, black, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi graduates can also participate in their own ceremonies.
How in the hell are these people going to get along at work? How are they going to fit into society?
The segregated graduations include the Lavender ceremony, intended “to honor and acknowledge lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally graduating students.”
Latinx, black, American Indian, and Asian/Pacific Islander/Desi graduates can also participate in their own ceremonies.
How in the hell are these people going to get along at work? How are they going to fit into society?
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
142
dolorous
*******
In classical Medicine, the four hallmarks of inflammation are Rubor, Calor, Dolor and Tumor.
Redness
Heat
Pain
Swelling
/ClavinGPT5.0
*******
In classical Medicine, the four hallmarks of inflammation are Rubor, Calor, Dolor and Tumor.
Redness
Heat
Pain
Swelling
/ClavinGPT5.0
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (ykeLU)
143
This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck.
Posted by: Weak Geek
Stegawaruses
This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck.
Posted by: Weak Geek
Stegawaruses
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 10:14 AM (pNxlR)
144
The segregated graduations include the Lavender ceremony, intended “to honor and acknowledge lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and ally graduating students.”
********
If you separate them into their own ceremony, how are they going to shock the normies?
********
If you separate them into their own ceremony, how are they going to shock the normies?
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:15 AM (ykeLU)
145
How in the hell are these people going to get along at work? How are they going to fit into society?
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
By cancelling you.
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
By cancelling you.
Posted by: BignJames at April 30, 2023 10:15 AM (AwYPR)
146
This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck.
Posted by: Weak Geek
Lizzos
Posted by: Weak Geek
Lizzos
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:15 AM (T4tVD)
147
139 Tarkuses.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:15 AM (MvF+J)
148
The highlight of my reading this week was "On the Incarnation" by Saint Athanasius. This edition has an introduction by CS Lewis and information from Sister Penelope Lawson who did the translation in the early 1940s.
I am beyond bowled over by this book. Athanasius, writing in the 4th century AD, explains Christianity and its importance in such clear, positive tones. If the translation is faithful in approach to the original Greek, the book must have had a huge impact on the still forming church and traditions. That tone reminds me of some of the works of CS Lewis and Chesterton about 1,700 years later. (That is praise for all concerned.)
Part of the value for me was learning more about the philosophy, and variations, within the early church. Athanasius is fighting for what he believes to be the true meaning of Christianity in the face of other interpretations. It also makes me want to learn more about the early writings of Christianity, starting with the Ten Commandments and what they were intended to provide.
I am beyond bowled over by this book. Athanasius, writing in the 4th century AD, explains Christianity and its importance in such clear, positive tones. If the translation is faithful in approach to the original Greek, the book must have had a huge impact on the still forming church and traditions. That tone reminds me of some of the works of CS Lewis and Chesterton about 1,700 years later. (That is praise for all concerned.)
Part of the value for me was learning more about the philosophy, and variations, within the early church. Athanasius is fighting for what he believes to be the true meaning of Christianity in the face of other interpretations. It also makes me want to learn more about the early writings of Christianity, starting with the Ten Commandments and what they were intended to provide.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 10:16 AM (7EjX1)
149
"139 This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck."
'The Vibrator'.
'The Vibrator'.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:17 AM (43xH1)
150
Good morning! Here at church early waiting for service to start. Thought I'd pop in since I'm wearing pants.
I do have a book with me.
I do have a book with me.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:17 AM (mE7cY)
151
Reading Heinlein's 'Govt Take Back.' He starts with the proposition "Most people are basically honest, kind and decent." I don't buy that for one single second, but I will keep reading and give him a chance.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (MvF+J)
---
It is true in some communities, untrue in others. If you look at pre-immigration Europe, you saw very low crime, very high social cohesion.
Middle America used to be like that and there are still pockets of it here and there - usually small towns. I remember visiting a small town in northern Michigan (Rogers City) in the 1980s and people left the keys in the car. Everyone knew everyone, and when I went into the local grocery store, the clerk already knew my name.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (MvF+J)
---
It is true in some communities, untrue in others. If you look at pre-immigration Europe, you saw very low crime, very high social cohesion.
Middle America used to be like that and there are still pockets of it here and there - usually small towns. I remember visiting a small town in northern Michigan (Rogers City) in the 1980s and people left the keys in the car. Everyone knew everyone, and when I went into the local grocery store, the clerk already knew my name.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
152
This levpod/Schindler discussion makes me wonder what tanks would have been called if the cover name had not stuck.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:12 AM (uIu2G)
Staceys.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:12 AM (uIu2G)
Staceys.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (Angsy)
153
148 Added to my list, thanks!
https://tinyurl.com/cppn4xfw
https://tinyurl.com/cppn4xfw
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (MvF+J)
154
122 Hey, Castle Guy, did the Wonder Woman tc you read include a fight between Ares and the Creeper?
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:04 AM (uIu2G)
Nope. Lots of Ares, but no Creeper. Actually, it had surprisingly few non-mythology DC characters in general...
On that note, I'm about 2/3 through "The Fall of the Mutants" omnibus. Early 80's X-Men comics, and related spin-off books. I hate to say it, but some of these books are the embodiment of why comics have such a juvenal reputation. "X-Factor" in particular just feels....needlessly ridiculous. Which is a shame, because I was looking forward to an awesome story about how Angel became the Archangel of Death. Alas, it was not to be....
I suppose next on my list should be some of the crowdfunded comics I've acquired but not yet read. That is quite the pile at this point.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:04 AM (uIu2G)
Nope. Lots of Ares, but no Creeper. Actually, it had surprisingly few non-mythology DC characters in general...
On that note, I'm about 2/3 through "The Fall of the Mutants" omnibus. Early 80's X-Men comics, and related spin-off books. I hate to say it, but some of these books are the embodiment of why comics have such a juvenal reputation. "X-Factor" in particular just feels....needlessly ridiculous. Which is a shame, because I was looking forward to an awesome story about how Angel became the Archangel of Death. Alas, it was not to be....
I suppose next on my list should be some of the crowdfunded comics I've acquired but not yet read. That is quite the pile at this point.
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (Lhaco)
155
I finisihed Panbread and Jerky by Walter H Scott. The Scotts came to Oregon by wagon in the 1880's to settle in Eastern Oregon around John Day and Prairie City. As a child he helped his father "prove up" his land claim and eventually became part of the state forestry division, but between those times he broke horses, farmed, mined, hunted and managed a couple of cargo and stage lines.
He talks a bit about the mining towns that boomed and then turned into ghost towns.
He also gives an independent account of Gov Oswald West's closing of the brothels and taverns in Copperfield Oregon, by sending his 25 year old female secretary backed up by appointed marshals "with experience from the Philippines"
He talks a bit about the mining towns that boomed and then turned into ghost towns.
He also gives an independent account of Gov Oswald West's closing of the brothels and taverns in Copperfield Oregon, by sending his 25 year old female secretary backed up by appointed marshals "with experience from the Philippines"
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (xhaym)
156
I wasn't in the services, but I'm thinking TC for "tracked cannon."
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (uIu2G)
157
I used to date a cute redhead named Dolorous. She did not have a very sunny disposition.
Posted by: RetSgtRN at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (RqUF/)
158
The French call tanks "chars" which comes from "chariot." Not bad for a war vehicle. Germans, of course, use "panzerkampfwagen" which in typical German fashion means "armored war vehicle."
I'm guessing that if the cover name tank had fallen by the wayside we'd either adopt the French name or just call them something like "armored tractors."
Though remember the original study group was called the "land ships comittee" so we could call them landships. Churchill would like that, I think.
Maybe "turtles" or "tortoises" especially since the originals were pretty slow?
I'm guessing that if the cover name tank had fallen by the wayside we'd either adopt the French name or just call them something like "armored tractors."
Though remember the original study group was called the "land ships comittee" so we could call them landships. Churchill would like that, I think.
Maybe "turtles" or "tortoises" especially since the originals were pretty slow?
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (QZxDR)
159
Just finished Neil Stephenson's "Fall, or Dodge in Hell".
888 pages of amazing SF. Most epic single SF novel I've read in many years, and I highly recommend it. 15 bucks on Kindle, well worth the read. Amazon link:
https://is.gd/1IsYV1
888 pages of amazing SF. Most epic single SF novel I've read in many years, and I highly recommend it. 15 bucks on Kindle, well worth the read. Amazon link:
https://is.gd/1IsYV1
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (iKBwy)
160
I think the device you're describing is a Gitcher. As in "Gitcher butt over here right now!"
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at April 30, 2023 10:20 AM (DhOHl)
161
Dolorous is a good one. Lugubrious is good, too. But I'm more of a morose guy. I like the connotation of possible aggression in "morose."
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 30, 2023 10:20 AM (oINRc)
162
I wish someone had some sort of database that could help me find books that I cannot remember the author or title but remember the general plot.
I've been trying to find a sci-Fi book I read as a teen but cannot ever find it. I've searched every permutation of plot points but come up with zilch.
I've been trying to find a sci-Fi book I read as a teen but cannot ever find it. I've searched every permutation of plot points but come up with zilch.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:20 AM (mE7cY)
163
Also, because the post-Nuke Terra is mostly a make-work society that lives under UN control under domes and underground, the 'Elevpod/Schindler' etc. has a human operator as all do.
His name is Bob H and all his lines are quotes from Heinlein books.
The whole thing started as a total parody, which I posted on Literotica (!!) entitled 'Phillip K's Dick'.
Then it was too good of a parody and now I'm cleaning it up and making it into an actual book.
Damn you, success.
His name is Bob H and all his lines are quotes from Heinlein books.
The whole thing started as a total parody, which I posted on Literotica (!!) entitled 'Phillip K's Dick'.
Then it was too good of a parody and now I'm cleaning it up and making it into an actual book.
Damn you, success.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:21 AM (43xH1)
164
Rhymes with a female body part.
Posted by: Obligatory Seinfeld reference at April 30, 2023 10:22 AM (DhOHl)
165
125 I'm into the true crime stuff, reading and TV.
Posted by: Mr Gaga at April 30, 2023 10:05 AM
I like this genre, as well. I don't watch much tv, but I really like reading historical true crime. I read one last year called "The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, The Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder that Shocked Jazz-Age America" by Karen Abbott.
Sheesh, that title, tho.
But the story is fascinating, and it was a good read. I'm looking for a good historical true crime to read next.
Posted by: Mr Gaga at April 30, 2023 10:05 AM
I like this genre, as well. I don't watch much tv, but I really like reading historical true crime. I read one last year called "The Ghosts of Eden Park: The Bootleg King, The Women Who Pursued Him, and the Murder that Shocked Jazz-Age America" by Karen Abbott.
Sheesh, that title, tho.
But the story is fascinating, and it was a good read. I'm looking for a good historical true crime to read next.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:22 AM (OX9vb)
166
I recall reading Heinlein recounting an anecdote from his youth -- which I think strongly affected his view of human nature. Apparently there was a case where several people were struck and killed by a train, because they were all trying to help one man whose foot was caught in the rail switch. According to RAH, none of them even knew the guy.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (QZxDR)
167
Part of the value for me was learning more about the philosophy, and variations, within the early church. Athanasius is fighting for what he believes to be the true meaning of Christianity in the face of other interpretations. It also makes me want to learn more about the early writings of Christianity, starting with the Ten Commandments and what they were intended to provide.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 10:16 AM (7EjX1)
---
In the most recent Lord of Spirits podcast, one of the hosts actually called out a Protestant theologian by name because he's openly reviving an old heresy and acting like it's perfectly okay so long as it's done with good intent and a smiling, friendly face.
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 10:16 AM (7EjX1)
---
In the most recent Lord of Spirits podcast, one of the hosts actually called out a Protestant theologian by name because he's openly reviving an old heresy and acting like it's perfectly okay so long as it's done with good intent and a smiling, friendly face.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (llXky)
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (u82oZ)
169
151 Reading Heinlein's 'Govt Take Back.' He starts with the proposition "Most people are basically honest, kind and decent." I don't buy that for one single second, but I will keep reading and give him a chance.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (MvF+J)
---
It is true in some communities, untrue in others. If you look at pre-immigration Europe, you saw very low crime, very high social cohesion.
Middle America used to be like that and there are still pockets of it here and there - usually small towns. I remember visiting a small town in northern Michigan (Rogers City) in the 1980s and people left the keys in the car. Everyone knew everyone, and when I went into the local grocery store, the clerk already knew my name.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
Basically, we're looking at the high-trust-society vs low-trust-society dichotomy. In a HTS, you can safely assume that most people are good. In a LTS, not so much....
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:03 AM (MvF+J)
---
It is true in some communities, untrue in others. If you look at pre-immigration Europe, you saw very low crime, very high social cohesion.
Middle America used to be like that and there are still pockets of it here and there - usually small towns. I remember visiting a small town in northern Michigan (Rogers City) in the 1980s and people left the keys in the car. Everyone knew everyone, and when I went into the local grocery store, the clerk already knew my name.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
Basically, we're looking at the high-trust-society vs low-trust-society dichotomy. In a HTS, you can safely assume that most people are good. In a LTS, not so much....
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (Lhaco)
170
Good morning!
Couldn't sleep Friday night so downloaded Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. It's the first book with an appearance by Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Still fascinating. I read it when it first came out back in the 80s and it holds up well. (The FBI are heroes, so that's obviously outdated).
So after reading almost half the book on Friday night, I rented Manhunter on Saturday night. Great movie. Paragraphs of dialogue from the book are in the movie. It's very faithful. Directed by Michael Mann (lots of sunsets/sunrises, neon colors, and moody pop music).
I guess you could say I had a serial killer weekend.
Couldn't sleep Friday night so downloaded Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. It's the first book with an appearance by Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Still fascinating. I read it when it first came out back in the 80s and it holds up well. (The FBI are heroes, so that's obviously outdated).
So after reading almost half the book on Friday night, I rented Manhunter on Saturday night. Great movie. Paragraphs of dialogue from the book are in the movie. It's very faithful. Directed by Michael Mann (lots of sunsets/sunrises, neon colors, and moody pop music).
I guess you could say I had a serial killer weekend.
Posted by: Biergood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (FQWHA)
171
I've been trying to find a sci-Fi book I read as a teen but cannot ever find it. I've searched every permutation of plot points but come up with zilch.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:20 AM (mE7cY)
---
Have you tried HordeMind(TM)?
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:20 AM (mE7cY)
---
Have you tried HordeMind(TM)?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (BpYfr)
172
151 Human nature is wicked. We know it from history and from Scripture. The Founders were guided by that knowledge as much as anything else in designing a republic. If man were basically good, there would be no need for govts at all.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (MvF+J)
173
Castle Guy, I thought X-Factor sounded like a "Ghostbusters" ripoff with an undercurrent of "we'll teach you how to pass" in the racial sense.
I dropped it after the first few issues and didn't pick it back up until Peter David retooled the book.
I dropped it after the first few issues and didn't pick it back up until Peter David retooled the book.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:24 AM (uIu2G)
174
The best Christie book is I'm Governor, Damn It!, And I Want Pizza Now!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at April 30, 2023 10:24 AM (FVME7)
175
Bama: what's the plot of the book you're looking for? Morons can help!
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:24 AM (QZxDR)
176
Sheesh, that title, tho.
But the story is fascinating, and it was a good read. I'm looking for a good historical true crime to read next.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:22 AM (OX9vb)
Yeah, coulda used subtitles. Guess the author didn't read last week's Book Thread....
But the story is fascinating, and it was a good read. I'm looking for a good historical true crime to read next.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:22 AM (OX9vb)
Yeah, coulda used subtitles. Guess the author didn't read last week's Book Thread....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:25 AM (Angsy)
177
I'm guessing that if the cover name tank had fallen by the wayside we'd either adopt the French name or just call them something like "armored tractors."
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (QZxDR)
---
The original code name was "water carrier" but no one wanted to join the "W.C. Committee"
(W.C. means "water closet" aka bathroom in England.)
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (QZxDR)
---
The original code name was "water carrier" but no one wanted to join the "W.C. Committee"
(W.C. means "water closet" aka bathroom in England.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:25 AM (llXky)
178
recall reading Heinlein recounting an anecdote from his youth -- which I think strongly affected his view of human nature. Apparently there was a case where several people were struck and killed by a train, because they were all trying to help one man whose foot was caught in the rail switch. According to RAH, none of them even knew the guy.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023
***
He told, or re-told, that anecdote in his address to Annapolis graduates in 1972 or so. It was reprinted in an early 1973 issue of Analog, the first I ever bought. Without looking it up, I think it was a pregnant woman whose foot was caught.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023
***
He told, or re-told, that anecdote in his address to Annapolis graduates in 1972 or so. It was reprinted in an early 1973 issue of Analog, the first I ever bought. Without looking it up, I think it was a pregnant woman whose foot was caught.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:25 AM (omVj0)
179
168 AlaBAMA
What is the plot?
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (u82oZ
A teen something boy finds a mirror that transports him to an another realm sort of like the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe. In the real world he's losing his mother to sickness, IIRC. He uses the mirrors to pop back and forth between the worlds. I believe at some point the baddies figure out how to use the mirror also.
What is the plot?
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (u82oZ
A teen something boy finds a mirror that transports him to an another realm sort of like the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe. In the real world he's losing his mother to sickness, IIRC. He uses the mirrors to pop back and forth between the worlds. I believe at some point the baddies figure out how to use the mirror also.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:26 AM (mE7cY)
180
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
I live in a small city like this. 30k. Had *three* felony calls the last year the feds published records on it (201
. Not rich, not poor, straight-up middle class. A couple low-rent but nonviolent neighborhoods, a couple rich but not gated neighborhoods.
I think one of the reasons it's been able to remain in a 1950s time warp is the splendid natural environment. It's kind of difficult to get all froggy surrounded by this splendor.
I live in a small city like this. 30k. Had *three* felony calls the last year the feds published records on it (201
. Not rich, not poor, straight-up middle class. A couple low-rent but nonviolent neighborhoods, a couple rich but not gated neighborhoods.
I think one of the reasons it's been able to remain in a 1950s time warp is the splendid natural environment. It's kind of difficult to get all froggy surrounded by this splendor.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at April 30, 2023 10:26 AM (oINRc)
181
Sorry, I know it's not a lot to go on.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:27 AM (mE7cY)
182
Panbread and Jerky
The Amish rejoinder to Starsky and Hutch. Trotting through the rolling farmlands and keeping the peace among the gentlefolk.
Who removed the barrels of cheese curds from old Stoltfutz's spring house? Who made off with Margit Yoder's shoo-fly pies that she left to cool on her kitchen windowsill? Panbread and Jerky are on the case!
Panbread and Jerky
The Amish rejoinder to Starsky and Hutch. Trotting through the rolling farmlands and keeping the peace among the gentlefolk.
Who removed the barrels of cheese curds from old Stoltfutz's spring house? Who made off with Margit Yoder's shoo-fly pies that she left to cool on her kitchen windowsill? Panbread and Jerky are on the case!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 10:28 AM (pNxlR)
183
(W.C. means "water closet" aka bathroom in England.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
Why didn't they call it a Poop Closet ?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
Why didn't they call it a Poop Closet ?
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:29 AM (T4tVD)
184
Human nature is wicked. We know it from history and from Scripture. The Founders were guided by that knowledge as much as anything else in designing a republic. If man were basically good, there would be no need for govts at all.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (MvF+J)
---
No, humanity is prone to error, which is very different. I reject Calvin's doctrine of "utter depravity," and the Scriptures themselves teach of of Gentiles who without having the law, nevertheless seem to observe it by doing right by each other.
I live in a pretty high-trust community, but it is prone to error, because people want to feel good about themselves. Thus a paradox: you can leave your bike lying out in the yard with no fear it will be stolen, but your kid might be brainwashed into becoming "trans" at the local high school.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (MvF+J)
---
No, humanity is prone to error, which is very different. I reject Calvin's doctrine of "utter depravity," and the Scriptures themselves teach of of Gentiles who without having the law, nevertheless seem to observe it by doing right by each other.
I live in a pretty high-trust community, but it is prone to error, because people want to feel good about themselves. Thus a paradox: you can leave your bike lying out in the yard with no fear it will be stolen, but your kid might be brainwashed into becoming "trans" at the local high school.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:29 AM (llXky)
185
Without looking it up, I think it was a pregnant woman whose foot was caught.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:25 AM (omVj0)
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:25 AM (omVj0)
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:30 AM (Angsy)
186
*162 I wish someone had some sort of database that could help me find books that I cannot remember the author or title but remember the general plot.*
A Shazam app for book plots...?
(Begins to scribble furiously.)
A Shazam app for book plots...?
(Begins to scribble furiously.)
Posted by: 19 year old computer geek at April 30, 2023 10:31 AM (DhOHl)
187
A Shazam app for book plots...?
(Begins to scribble furiously.)
Posted by: 19 year old computer geek at April 30, 2023 10:31 AM (DhOHl
Egg Zachary.
A Shazam app for book plots...?
(Begins to scribble furiously.)
Posted by: 19 year old computer geek at April 30, 2023 10:31 AM (DhOHl
Egg Zachary.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:31 AM (mE7cY)
188
Reading Bismarck by Edward Crankshaw, who takes a very dim view of him.
His great years were between 1861 and 1870, where he overcame an abdication crisis, defeated Denmark in the War for Schleswig-Holstein, threw Austria out of German affairs in 1866 and united Germany under Wilhelm I after defeating France in 1870. But even here his conduct and diplomacy alternated between bullying and duplicitousness.
After that, he had 20 years left to run in his chancellorship, which was almost wholly negative and largely devoted to keeping himself in power.
Like Churchill, he was bored by domestic affairs. The constitution he set up worked only so long as he was chancellor with a pliant Emperor. He devoted a great deal of futile energy to beating the Catholics into submission. He completely failed to grow a political class capable of governing without him. His diplomacy after 1870 kept the peace in Europe, but was so devious and intricate that his successors ended up angering everyone when they had to unwind them. Bismarck in the portrait drawn by Crankshaw is a strange, brilliant, neurotic man whose legacy eventually was the destruction of the Prussian state he created.
Reading Bismarck by Edward Crankshaw, who takes a very dim view of him.
His great years were between 1861 and 1870, where he overcame an abdication crisis, defeated Denmark in the War for Schleswig-Holstein, threw Austria out of German affairs in 1866 and united Germany under Wilhelm I after defeating France in 1870. But even here his conduct and diplomacy alternated between bullying and duplicitousness.
After that, he had 20 years left to run in his chancellorship, which was almost wholly negative and largely devoted to keeping himself in power.
Like Churchill, he was bored by domestic affairs. The constitution he set up worked only so long as he was chancellor with a pliant Emperor. He devoted a great deal of futile energy to beating the Catholics into submission. He completely failed to grow a political class capable of governing without him. His diplomacy after 1870 kept the peace in Europe, but was so devious and intricate that his successors ended up angering everyone when they had to unwind them. Bismarck in the portrait drawn by Crankshaw is a strange, brilliant, neurotic man whose legacy eventually was the destruction of the Prussian state he created.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (MoZTd)
189
How in the hell are these people going to get along at work? How are they going to fit into society?
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
---
They're going to work in HR.
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
---
They're going to work in HR.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (llXky)
190
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: OrangeEnt
********
maybe she thought joining the Railworkers' Union would help her go into labor...?
Posted by: OrangeEnt
********
maybe she thought joining the Railworkers' Union would help her go into labor...?
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:33 AM (ykeLU)
191
173 Castle Guy, I thought X-Factor sounded like a "Ghostbusters" ripoff with an undercurrent of "we'll teach you how to pass" in the racial sense.
I dropped it after the first few issues and didn't pick it back up until Peter David retooled the book.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:24 AM (uIu2G)
Never read much of the Peter David run (just parts of cross-overs) but that part of the run did have a better cast, and much cooler costumes.
I dropped it after the first few issues and didn't pick it back up until Peter David retooled the book.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:24 AM (uIu2G)
Never read much of the Peter David run (just parts of cross-overs) but that part of the run did have a better cast, and much cooler costumes.
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 10:34 AM (Lhaco)
192
Spit it Out, Man! - a limerick
His voice is like a will-o-the-wisp
And his fricatives are not very crisp
He mumbles and he sputters
Yet he overcomes the stutters
The heroic epic tale of Schindler's Lisp
What is the title of Muldoon's book again? I forgot to order it last time someone told me. I reiterate I am in awe of this ability, and have a big library of screenshots of limericks from Muldoon.
His voice is like a will-o-the-wisp
And his fricatives are not very crisp
He mumbles and he sputters
Yet he overcomes the stutters
The heroic epic tale of Schindler's Lisp
What is the title of Muldoon's book again? I forgot to order it last time someone told me. I reiterate I am in awe of this ability, and have a big library of screenshots of limericks from Muldoon.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:34 AM (43xH1)
193
Without looking it up, I think it was a pregnant woman whose foot was caught.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Was she pregnant BEFORE her foot was caught ?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Was she pregnant BEFORE her foot was caught ?
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:34 AM (T4tVD)
194
I changed my mind: it's not an 'elevpod', it's a Schindler.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (43xH1)
"paternoster" is the name for those odd elevators that were developed in Europe. I am not sure if is because it is the size of a confessional, is like beads on a rosary, or what you say under your breath while riding those dangerous looking things.
You could also call it a "manlift" or something similar
By the way, my favorite multilevel multi-stop individual transport was from L. Neal Smith where you stepped into a wall and billions of cillae held you and transported you through a form of peristalsis to your chosen destination. The Cillae held you and cushioned you against rapid changes in velocity and direction.
Schindler is the lift company that is almost ubiquitous in Europe. It makes total sense and is in keeping with the vibe.
"Frank T checked his Gyrojet and got into the Schindler."
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 09:12 AM (43xH1)
"paternoster" is the name for those odd elevators that were developed in Europe. I am not sure if is because it is the size of a confessional, is like beads on a rosary, or what you say under your breath while riding those dangerous looking things.
You could also call it a "manlift" or something similar
By the way, my favorite multilevel multi-stop individual transport was from L. Neal Smith where you stepped into a wall and billions of cillae held you and transported you through a form of peristalsis to your chosen destination. The Cillae held you and cushioned you against rapid changes in velocity and direction.
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 10:34 AM (xhaym)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at April 30, 2023 10:34 AM (FVME7)
196
How in the hell are these people going to get along at work? How are they going to fit into society?
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
Sadly, corporate America is awash with this nonsense, so they'll be fine. It's the rest of us who will cease to fit into society and get along at work. How many of us are already silenced at work?
Posted by: rhennigantx at April 30, 2023 10:13 AM (BRHaw)
Sadly, corporate America is awash with this nonsense, so they'll be fine. It's the rest of us who will cease to fit into society and get along at work. How many of us are already silenced at work?
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
197
A teen something boy finds a mirror that transports him to an another realm sort of like the Lion, Witch and Wardrobe. In the real world he's losing his mother to sickness, IIRC. He uses the mirrors to pop back and forth between the worlds. I believe at some point the baddies figure out how to use the mirror also.
Posted by: AlaBAMA
Sounds suspiciously like Stephen King and Peter Straub's "The Talisman".
Posted by: AlaBAMA
Sounds suspiciously like Stephen King and Peter Straub's "The Talisman".
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (iKBwy)
198
Muldoon's Library of Limericks, vol 1 by Seamus Muldoon on Amazon
Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 30, 2023 10:37 AM (u7leW)
199
maybe she thought joining the Railworkers' Union would help her go into labor...?
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:33 AM (ykeLU)
Maybe, but it seems they wouldn't have much familiarity with women stuff. I heard they spent a lot of time together in the caboose.
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:33 AM (ykeLU)
Maybe, but it seems they wouldn't have much familiarity with women stuff. I heard they spent a lot of time together in the caboose.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:37 AM (Angsy)
200
He completely failed to grow a political class capable of governing without him.
---------------
A load of Junk!
---------------
A load of Junk!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:37 AM (Vwz3I)
201
He devoted a great deal of futile energy to beating the Catholics into submission.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (MoZTd)
---
The Kulturkampf. When I visited Trier there was an interesting contrast. The ancient seat of the Archbishop of Trier (formerly an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire) was absolutely glorious, literally brought tears to my eyes. During the 1930s, the Archbishop vehemently opposed the Nazis, who wanted to arrest him but because of the lineage of his position, feared to do so.
The nearby Evangelical Church (that is, state-controlled Lutheran) dutifully fell in line. The building they used was heavily ornamented and upgraded to cement the notion of Prussian control over the Rhineland. During WW II, Trier got hit by allied bombing. The Dom was unscathed, the Evangelical Church was gutted. The Evangelical church building (known as Constantine's Basilica) underwent a very minimal restoration, and the walls document its changes in history but also the guilt of its leaders.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (MoZTd)
---
The Kulturkampf. When I visited Trier there was an interesting contrast. The ancient seat of the Archbishop of Trier (formerly an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire) was absolutely glorious, literally brought tears to my eyes. During the 1930s, the Archbishop vehemently opposed the Nazis, who wanted to arrest him but because of the lineage of his position, feared to do so.
The nearby Evangelical Church (that is, state-controlled Lutheran) dutifully fell in line. The building they used was heavily ornamented and upgraded to cement the notion of Prussian control over the Rhineland. During WW II, Trier got hit by allied bombing. The Dom was unscathed, the Evangelical Church was gutted. The Evangelical church building (known as Constantine's Basilica) underwent a very minimal restoration, and the walls document its changes in history but also the guilt of its leaders.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:38 AM (llXky)
202
Sounds suspiciously like Stephen King and Peter Straub's "The Talisman".
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (iKBwy
I might be mixing plots because I read that. Possible. But this was definitely mirrors, not a talisman.
My memory is fuzzy sometimes.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (iKBwy
I might be mixing plots because I read that. Possible. But this was definitely mirrors, not a talisman.
My memory is fuzzy sometimes.
Posted by: AlaBAMA at April 30, 2023 10:39 AM (mE7cY)
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:39 AM (u82oZ)
204
By the way, the example of the German Evangelical Church is an excellent example of how an orderly, personally decent people can be warped into acts of great evil.
They weren't depraved, just wrong.
They weren't depraved, just wrong.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:40 AM (llXky)
205
A load of Junk!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:37 AM (Vwz3I)
A load of Junkers? Yeah, that was the main problem.
A load of Junk!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:37 AM (Vwz3I)
A load of Junkers? Yeah, that was the main problem.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:40 AM (MoZTd)
206
Maybe she was looking for a good berth...
Posted by: Muldoon at April 30, 2023 10:41 AM (ykeLU)
207
By the way, the example of the German Evangelical Church is an excellent example of how an orderly, personally decent people can be warped into acts of great evil.
They weren't depraved, just wrong.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:40 AM (llXky)
Lucky that can never happen in this country!
By the way, the example of the German Evangelical Church is an excellent example of how an orderly, personally decent people can be warped into acts of great evil.
They weren't depraved, just wrong.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:40 AM (llXky)
Lucky that can never happen in this country!
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:41 AM (MoZTd)
208
Mike Tyson Says He Wishes He Had Taken Psychedelics in His Prime
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
'Oh man, I'm so methed up. I can't feel my teef. Luthee in the thky with diamonds.'
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks
'Oh man, I'm so methed up. I can't feel my teef. Luthee in the thky with diamonds.'
Posted by: Biergood at April 30, 2023 10:41 AM (FQWHA)
209
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023
***
Crossing from one side of town to the other?
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023
***
Crossing from one side of town to the other?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:42 AM (omVj0)
210
As a boy I read and reread two books, re: books you recall the plot to but can't remember the title. One was Marine At War, Russell Davis, I always have multiple copies on hand; the other is a 1950s library book whose title I recall as 'The Mountain', WWII, Italy, and it was, as the former, in the Juvenile section. It recounts an absolutely harrowing struggle by the last remaining US soldiers to brawl their way to the top of an Italian mountain.
i CANNOT find this book. I have never found it anywhere. I may not be getting the title right. Both books recount a very specific moment: the 'victor' on top of a mountain, looking down at the wreckage of everyone and everything that put him there; and instead of any feeling of triumph, experiencing a horrific isolation; and never after, being able to explain it to, or even relate to, anyone who has never been to the Top of the Mountain.
i CANNOT find this book. I have never found it anywhere. I may not be getting the title right. Both books recount a very specific moment: the 'victor' on top of a mountain, looking down at the wreckage of everyone and everything that put him there; and instead of any feeling of triumph, experiencing a horrific isolation; and never after, being able to explain it to, or even relate to, anyone who has never been to the Top of the Mountain.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:43 AM (43xH1)
211
LenNeal, elvepod will be shortened by use to "elves" as in
Take the Elves to the third level, row Cee, and the unit you want is three doors down.
Language as spoken is a collection of difficult to mouth stuff that gets tumbled around in speech until it is pebble smooth
LenNeal, elvepod will be shortened by use to "elves" as in
Take the Elves to the third level, row Cee, and the unit you want is three doors down.
Language as spoken is a collection of difficult to mouth stuff that gets tumbled around in speech until it is pebble smooth
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 10:44 AM (xhaym)
212
Bismarck's Kulturkampf has the same roots as the FBI infiltrating traditional Catholic groups. In the aftermath of Vatican I and the doctrine of papal infallibility, Bismarck didn't want the German bishops aligned with Rome and, potentially, against anything German.
Bismarck's Kulturkampf has the same roots as the FBI infiltrating traditional Catholic groups. In the aftermath of Vatican I and the doctrine of papal infallibility, Bismarck didn't want the German bishops aligned with Rome and, potentially, against anything German.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (MoZTd)
213
Sadly, corporate America is awash with this nonsense, so they'll be fine. It's the rest of us who will cease to fit into society and get along at work. How many of us are already silenced at work?
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
Yes. Was reading the other day someone commenting that you are more likely to get a white collar job if you are on the lgbtq etc spectrum.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
Yes. Was reading the other day someone commenting that you are more likely to get a white collar job if you are on the lgbtq etc spectrum.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (Y+l9t)
214
You can find that Heinlein anecdote re the men trying to free a woman from the railroad tracks in EXPANDED UNIVERSE. As I recall it, the man and his wife were simply crossing the tracks, and she put a foot down wrong and got it wedged. Her husband and a passing stranger were killed trying to free her; neither man jumped away as the train approached. Heinlein said you expected that from the husband, as it's a man's duty toward his wife -- his real admiration was for the passing stranger.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (a/4+U)
215
Panbread and Jerky are on the case!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM)
*snort
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM)
*snort
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (OX9vb)
216
Have a great day, everyone.
May you be blessed with authentic American values in your local area.
But remember. In the words of that great scholar, Mike Tyson, "Every one has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
May you be blessed with authentic American values in your local area.
But remember. In the words of that great scholar, Mike Tyson, "Every one has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u82oZ) at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (u82oZ)
217
I've been in a mood for old style adventure reading. I haven't read any Edgar Rice Burroughs for a long time so I started with his Pellucidar stories. It's easy to forget how enjoyable these books are and how they must have been such a hit when serialized. Innovation, action, and a bit of humor. I came across a used but pristine compilation of his "Land that Time Forgot" books for two bucks and already have his Barsoom books in a hardcover edition. That should leave me in good stead. (There's always Rider Haggard for variety.)
Posted by: JTB at April 30, 2023 10:46 AM (7EjX1)
218
Lucky that can never happen in this country!
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:41 AM (MoZTd)
---
I think it's becoming increasingly untenable to explain human behavior purely through logic or "science." There is absolutely a spiritual side, and it's never been so obvious. We sit and say "Gosh, why are they doing that, it makes no sense!" but it makes perfect sense of they are being driven by demonic energy.
Look at the faces of the parents taking their kids to drag porn shows. Look at Fauci's leering grin. Biden himself looks like his head's going to start spinning around at any time.
But no, let's all pretend that tweaking the right message, picking up key endorsements are how you change this.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:41 AM (MoZTd)
---
I think it's becoming increasingly untenable to explain human behavior purely through logic or "science." There is absolutely a spiritual side, and it's never been so obvious. We sit and say "Gosh, why are they doing that, it makes no sense!" but it makes perfect sense of they are being driven by demonic energy.
Look at the faces of the parents taking their kids to drag porn shows. Look at Fauci's leering grin. Biden himself looks like his head's going to start spinning around at any time.
But no, let's all pretend that tweaking the right message, picking up key endorsements are how you change this.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:46 AM (llXky)
219
Looked once at used book store for volumes of Durant's History of Civilization I don't have but there were not any. He said they do come in and out often.
Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2023 10:46 AM (xhxe8)
220
I found the Analog with the Heinlein speech. It was a young married couple out for a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, and the wife got her foot caught in the tracks as they were crossing. You could understand the husband sticking by her, but his story focuses on the total stranger, a tramp, who stopped to help. All three were killed. But RAH focuses on the tramp, who could have saved himself at the last second, but didn't.
"This is how a man dies. This is how a man . . . lives!"
"This is how a man dies. This is how a man . . . lives!"
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:47 AM (omVj0)
221
61 Thinking about turbolifts, it seems to me that lateral movement would throw a rider off balance. Not fun.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (uIu2G)
They've got artificial gravity. They use it to cancel out pretty serious ship maneuvers, so it seems reasonable you could apply that to the turbolifts.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 09:34 AM (uIu2G)
They've got artificial gravity. They use it to cancel out pretty serious ship maneuvers, so it seems reasonable you could apply that to the turbolifts.
Posted by: Iron Mike Golf A2E6, Easy 6 Titanium Enhanced at April 30, 2023 10:48 AM (8C7+r)
222
I've been trying to find a sci-Fi book I read as a teen but cannot ever find it. I've searched every permutation of plot points but come up with zilch.
Posted by: AlaBAMA
What do you remember about it?
Posted by: AlaBAMA
What do you remember about it?
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 10:49 AM (9VBwF)
223
But no, let's all pretend that tweaking the right message, picking up key endorsements are how you change this.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:46 AM (llXky)
Endorsements are how people know you're good!! It says it right there in yo.... nevermind.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:46 AM (llXky)
Endorsements are how people know you're good!! It says it right there in yo.... nevermind.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:49 AM (Angsy)
224
I also read The Final Day by William R. Forstchen. This is the third book in The One Second After series....It's discovered that some governmental officials knew of the attack ahead of time and moved themselves and their families to a safe location.......
Posted by: Zoltan
I am about to finish the audiobook of Forstchen*s **48 Hours**, where he further explores the *who gets saved when the SHTF* conundrum. Forstchen sometimes needs a better editor, but he does tell a good story. **48 Hours** does a nice job of examining the secondary and tertiary effects of making what seems like *the right decision* at the time. I never cared for Bronson Pinchot as a tv/movie actor, but wow, he is a fantastic audiobook performer. I think his performance adds much to this particular book. I say *48 Hours* is a good read for Forstchen fans, and a good way to dip your toes into Forstchen, for new readers not sure if they want to commit to the One Second trilogy, of which I found the first two books to be excellent, and the final book got soap operay as the Perfessor discussed. Thanks Perfessor!
Posted by: Zoltan
I am about to finish the audiobook of Forstchen*s **48 Hours**, where he further explores the *who gets saved when the SHTF* conundrum. Forstchen sometimes needs a better editor, but he does tell a good story. **48 Hours** does a nice job of examining the secondary and tertiary effects of making what seems like *the right decision* at the time. I never cared for Bronson Pinchot as a tv/movie actor, but wow, he is a fantastic audiobook performer. I think his performance adds much to this particular book. I say *48 Hours* is a good read for Forstchen fans, and a good way to dip your toes into Forstchen, for new readers not sure if they want to commit to the One Second trilogy, of which I found the first two books to be excellent, and the final book got soap operay as the Perfessor discussed. Thanks Perfessor!
Posted by: SuperMayorSuperRonNirenberg-Buffer Than Ever, Ready For My Fourth Term at April 30, 2023 10:49 AM (c8P/R)
225
Dementia Joe strikes again. The elve doesn't go to the top floor.
Spriter @Spriter99880 · 21h
Joe Biden hosted the football team today! He was to be presented with a ball signed by the team, a helmet and a football jersey with his name on it. But Biden grabbed only a sweater and began to wander, looking for a way out.
https://tinyurl.com/3ryuakxa
USAF Academy I assume; 16 seconds
Spriter @Spriter99880 · 21h
Joe Biden hosted the football team today! He was to be presented with a ball signed by the team, a helmet and a football jersey with his name on it. But Biden grabbed only a sweater and began to wander, looking for a way out.
https://tinyurl.com/3ryuakxa
USAF Academy I assume; 16 seconds
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 10:50 AM (Vwz3I)
226
@191 --
I'm talking about Peter David's run on the original book. You're thinking of the subsequent series.
Both are terrific, I say.
I'm talking about Peter David's run on the original book. You're thinking of the subsequent series.
Both are terrific, I say.
Posted by: Weak Geek at April 30, 2023 10:51 AM (uIu2G)
227
Bismarck's Kulturkampf has the same roots as the FBI infiltrating traditional Catholic groups. In the aftermath of Vatican I and the doctrine of papal infallibility, Bismarck didn't want the German bishops aligned with Rome and, potentially, against anything German.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (MoZTd)
---
Everything within the state, nothing outside the state.
I think you can credibly argue that 19th Century German Protestantism was well on the path to perdition, and this was helping power their implacable hatred of the Catholic Church.
The whole German "scientific" notion of religion being an evolutionary philosophy (which happened to peak at Luther), meshed well with Darwinian appeals to being the superior race.
Hard to sustain that if a chunk of the population shares a faith with the French, Poles, Austrians, and Italians.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:45 AM (MoZTd)
---
Everything within the state, nothing outside the state.
I think you can credibly argue that 19th Century German Protestantism was well on the path to perdition, and this was helping power their implacable hatred of the Catholic Church.
The whole German "scientific" notion of religion being an evolutionary philosophy (which happened to peak at Luther), meshed well with Darwinian appeals to being the superior race.
Hard to sustain that if a chunk of the population shares a faith with the French, Poles, Austrians, and Italians.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:52 AM (llXky)
228
Mirrored Talisman used to tour with The Moody Blues back in the day.
Posted by: Just Sayin' at April 30, 2023 10:52 AM (DhOHl)
229
Good morning, all you bookies. Strange things I found this week were You Could Look It Up by William Safire. Excellent essays as I recall, and I will report back when I do the reread. Other strange thing was Book II of Julian May's Metaconcert. I remember enjoying the trilogy, but I usually dislike Book II of anything so why do I only have the second? Will report back.
Posted by: mustbequantum at April 30, 2023 10:52 AM (MIKMs)
230
I asked this before some years back. I am trying to locate a short story that is set in either an eastern prep school or one of the Ivies. Its protagonist comes from a monied family and background. He serves as coxswain for the school's crewing team. As times have changed, many of the oarsmen now come from lower class backgrounds (think eastern European). The protagonist's family consider him low for engaging with such folk. There is a race, and everything is going well until his oarsmen mess up and they will lose to crews of "better classed" shells. Rattled and chagrined, the coxswain, knowing what his snobby family will say about the debacle and "those people", decides that bringing his crew together, no matter what their backgrounds, is most important at that moment. He calms them, gets them re-focused, and brings them across the finish line, last, of course, but functioning as a team.
What is this story? Who wrote it? Any help is appreciated!
I asked this before some years back. I am trying to locate a short story that is set in either an eastern prep school or one of the Ivies. Its protagonist comes from a monied family and background. He serves as coxswain for the school's crewing team. As times have changed, many of the oarsmen now come from lower class backgrounds (think eastern European). The protagonist's family consider him low for engaging with such folk. There is a race, and everything is going well until his oarsmen mess up and they will lose to crews of "better classed" shells. Rattled and chagrined, the coxswain, knowing what his snobby family will say about the debacle and "those people", decides that bringing his crew together, no matter what their backgrounds, is most important at that moment. He calms them, gets them re-focused, and brings them across the finish line, last, of course, but functioning as a team.
What is this story? Who wrote it? Any help is appreciated!
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 10:53 AM (pNxlR)
231
Yep, that's The Talisman:
"Jack Sawyer, twelve years old, is about to begin a most fantastic journey, an exalting, terrifying quest for the mystical Talisman—the only thing that can save Jack’s dying mother. But to reach his goal, Jack must make his way not only across the breadth of the United States but also through the wondrous and menacing parallel world of the Territories.
In the Territories, Jack finds another realm, where the air is so sweet and clear a man can smell a radish being pulled from the ground a mile away—and a life can be snuffed out instantly in the continuing struggle between good and evil. Here Jack discovers “Twinners,” reflections of the people he knows on earth—most notably Queen Laura, the Twinner of Jack’s own imperiled mother. As Jack “flips” between worlds, making his way westward toward the redemptive Talisman, a sequence of heart-stopping encounters challenges him at every step."
"Jack Sawyer, twelve years old, is about to begin a most fantastic journey, an exalting, terrifying quest for the mystical Talisman—the only thing that can save Jack’s dying mother. But to reach his goal, Jack must make his way not only across the breadth of the United States but also through the wondrous and menacing parallel world of the Territories.
In the Territories, Jack finds another realm, where the air is so sweet and clear a man can smell a radish being pulled from the ground a mile away—and a life can be snuffed out instantly in the continuing struggle between good and evil. Here Jack discovers “Twinners,” reflections of the people he knows on earth—most notably Queen Laura, the Twinner of Jack’s own imperiled mother. As Jack “flips” between worlds, making his way westward toward the redemptive Talisman, a sequence of heart-stopping encounters challenges him at every step."
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (9VBwF)
232
Endorsements are how people know you're good!! It says it right there in yo.... nevermind.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:49 AM (Angsy)
---
Well played.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 10:49 AM (Angsy)
---
Well played.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (llXky)
233
The Founders were guided by that knowledge as much as anything else in designing a republic. If man were basically good, there would be no need for govts at all.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (MvF+J)
What should be clear, from history, is that the founders were as flawed as everyone else, and almost immediately started corrupting the foundation they created.
Not least of which was Washington's sending an army to force Veterans of his revolution to pay taxes, thus enslaving them to the state in a manner that was very much like the one they just threw off.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 10:23 AM (MvF+J)
What should be clear, from history, is that the founders were as flawed as everyone else, and almost immediately started corrupting the foundation they created.
Not least of which was Washington's sending an army to force Veterans of his revolution to pay taxes, thus enslaving them to the state in a manner that was very much like the one they just threw off.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (3meCg)
234
Thanks for the Muldoon information.
An Amish detective is not far-fetched. I live in a WI city but around me are Amish and Mennonite. They usually deal with things internally but we had a case (WARNING!!! For the sensitive!!!) a couple years ago of a newborn infant found in the crotch of a tree shot dead with 6 .22 bullets.
Yeah, turned out some Yoder knocked up a girl, she hid her pregnancy somehow, did a live birth in a barn, he talked her into taking the kid out past Amish property then propped the baby in a tree and riddled the child.
That one involved County Sheriffs. So yeah, it's known here these kind of things happen.
I don't recall how that one turned out. But yeah, there is crime/stuff on Amish and Mennonite territory. They're human like any others.
An Amish detective is not far-fetched. I live in a WI city but around me are Amish and Mennonite. They usually deal with things internally but we had a case (WARNING!!! For the sensitive!!!) a couple years ago of a newborn infant found in the crotch of a tree shot dead with 6 .22 bullets.
Yeah, turned out some Yoder knocked up a girl, she hid her pregnancy somehow, did a live birth in a barn, he talked her into taking the kid out past Amish property then propped the baby in a tree and riddled the child.
That one involved County Sheriffs. So yeah, it's known here these kind of things happen.
I don't recall how that one turned out. But yeah, there is crime/stuff on Amish and Mennonite territory. They're human like any others.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (43xH1)
235
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
In my town, that's how you got pregnant.
In my town, that's how you got pregnant.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at April 30, 2023 10:55 AM (jYCXf)
236
"222 I've been trying to find a sci-Fi book I read as a teen but cannot ever find it. I've searched every permutation of plot points but come up with zilch.
Posted by: AlaBAMA
What do you remember about it?"
It was that one, with the guy, with the rain, and it was dark, you know what I'm talking about!
Posted by: AlaBAMA
What do you remember about it?"
It was that one, with the guy, with the rain, and it was dark, you know what I'm talking about!
Posted by: Your Wife at April 30, 2023 10:57 AM (43xH1)
237
Word from the Street is that Huggy Squirrel is a shameless pimp who gropes and sniffs innocent chickmunks in the YA section of the library.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at April 30, 2023 10:58 AM (KVGVf)
238
Well played.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (llXky)
Whew!
(wipes brow)
You took it in the lighthearted sense it was intended.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (llXky)
Whew!
(wipes brow)
You took it in the lighthearted sense it was intended.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (Angsy)
239
FYI -
For you WWII military history fans out there, John C. McManus is releasing the third book of his Pacific Theater trilogy this upcoming Tuesday:
To the End of the Earth
For you WWII military history fans out there, John C. McManus is releasing the third book of his Pacific Theater trilogy this upcoming Tuesday:
To the End of the Earth
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (BpYfr)
240
This week I finished the audiobook of Michael Connelly*s latest Harry Bosch/Renee Ballard book, Desert Star. For me, it was the best Bosch story in a while, although I love every Bosch book. Great performance by THE MIGHTY Titus Weliver as Harry, and Christine Lakin as Renee. Bosch is my favorite literary character, and through the two Bosch tv series, Titus Weliver has completely embodied the Bosch character. I cannot think of Harry without imagining him as Weliver. This book further laid the pathway for Harry*s death from the radiation dose received in *The Overlook*. I wonder how many more Bosch books Connelly plans? Connelly toned down his Trump Hate this time around. Michael, you don*t sell a gazillion books by alienating part of your audience! A good read all around. Have a great week all.
Posted by: SuperMayorSuperRonNirenberg-Buffer Than Ever, Ready For My Fourth Term at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (c8P/R)
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (5u1+1)
242
Word from the Street is that Huggy Squirrel is a shameless pimp who gropes and sniffs innocent chickmunks in the YA section of the library.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
That goes a long way toward explaining his lascivious tone of voice whenever he refers to "chippies".
Word from the Street is that Huggy Squirrel is a shameless pimp who gropes and sniffs innocent chickmunks in the YA section of the library.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
That goes a long way toward explaining his lascivious tone of voice whenever he refers to "chippies".
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 11:01 AM (pNxlR)
243
Whew!
(wipes brow)
You took it in the lighthearted sense it was intended.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (Angsy)
---
Credit must be given where it is due.
(wipes brow)
You took it in the lighthearted sense it was intended.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:00 AM (Angsy)
---
Credit must be given where it is due.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:01 AM (llXky)
244
Crossing from one side of town to the other?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:42 AM (omVj0)
So, you're saying they went both ways?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:42 AM (omVj0)
So, you're saying they went both ways?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:01 AM (Angsy)
245
Started to read MAYOR OF NOOBTOWN, guy gets hit by a truck and is transported to a fantasy world and how he deals with it, He gets a Demon familiar that craps on him for being how dumb Jim the main character is, What do you mean Earth has no magic sound's boring, and Jim gets a Badger companion who is a homicidal maniac who wants to kill a man named Charles. The world is run like an RPG and JIM can't understand the rules of the world and he comes off a dumb hick.
Really funny and it's better on Audiobook, it reminds me a lot of Starship Grifters in the humor.
Really funny and it's better on Audiobook, it reminds me a lot of Starship Grifters in the humor.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (dKiJG)
246
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
----------
In my town, that's how you got pregnant.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at April 30, 2023 10:55 AM (jYCXf)
Don't get me started.
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In my town, that's how you got pregnant.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at April 30, 2023 10:55 AM (jYCXf)
Don't get me started.
Posted by: Ronette Pulaski at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (xsLlg)
247
I don't recall how that one turned out. But yeah, there is crime/stuff on Amish and Mennonite territory. They're human like any others.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (43xH1)
I heard they have a mafia too.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (43xH1)
I heard they have a mafia too.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (Angsy)
248
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Why would folks choose alongside railroad tracks as a place to dance the "Hokey Pokey"?
"You put your left foot in, you take you left for out ..."
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Why would folks choose alongside railroad tracks as a place to dance the "Hokey Pokey"?
"You put your left foot in, you take you left for out ..."
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 11:04 AM (pNxlR)
249
"LenNeal, elvepod will be shortened by use to "elves" as in
Take the Elves to the third level, row Cee, and the unit you want is three doors down.
Language as spoken is a collection of difficult to mouth stuff that gets tumbled around in speech until it is pebble smooth"
'Elves' is similar to 'shelves', I see the point and taken. But it still does not answer the question of what the 'pod' itself should be called. Are there multiples? Therefore if the one a resident must take is always the same one, it's an 'elve'? I'm still thinking Schindler. Short perhaps for Schindler's Lift, which everyone keeps coming up with!
I mean, nobody calls it a 'Kleenex tissue'.
Hahaha! Maybe I WILL call it 'Schindler's Lift', it's my book.
Take the Elves to the third level, row Cee, and the unit you want is three doors down.
Language as spoken is a collection of difficult to mouth stuff that gets tumbled around in speech until it is pebble smooth"
'Elves' is similar to 'shelves', I see the point and taken. But it still does not answer the question of what the 'pod' itself should be called. Are there multiples? Therefore if the one a resident must take is always the same one, it's an 'elve'? I'm still thinking Schindler. Short perhaps for Schindler's Lift, which everyone keeps coming up with!
I mean, nobody calls it a 'Kleenex tissue'.
Hahaha! Maybe I WILL call it 'Schindler's Lift', it's my book.
Posted by: Your Wife at April 30, 2023 11:06 AM (43xH1)
250
I heard they have a mafia too.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (Angsy)
---
Back when we had cable or the dish I recall seeing a reality show about the Amish Mafia and the whole time I was thinking: "This is a total troll by the Amish to dupe whoever is paying them to do this."
It was about the same time the "Inside the KKK" or whatever it was called was revealed to be a setup by cunning Hillbillies to bilk cable TV producers.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (Angsy)
---
Back when we had cable or the dish I recall seeing a reality show about the Amish Mafia and the whole time I was thinking: "This is a total troll by the Amish to dupe whoever is paying them to do this."
It was about the same time the "Inside the KKK" or whatever it was called was revealed to be a setup by cunning Hillbillies to bilk cable TV producers.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (llXky)
251
'Frank T holstered his Gyrojet and entered the Schindler Lift'.
(Gyrojet is a joke, for a very brief time the Gyrojet pistol was a celebrity in Sci-fi 1960s).
(Gyrojet is a joke, for a very brief time the Gyrojet pistol was a celebrity in Sci-fi 1960s).
Posted by: Your Wife at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (43xH1)
252
Credit must be given where it is due.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:01 AM (llXky)
Of course, endorsements are a shorthand to let people know the sender is on your team. You see a candidate flyer with groups you affiliate with, you don't have to do deep research to see if you'll vote for that candidate.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:01 AM (llXky)
Of course, endorsements are a shorthand to let people know the sender is on your team. You see a candidate flyer with groups you affiliate with, you don't have to do deep research to see if you'll vote for that candidate.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (Angsy)
253
Nice haywagon you got there. Be ashamed if something happened to it
Posted by: Elijah "Baby Face" Berkey at April 30, 2023 11:09 AM (DhOHl)
254
Raining here.....
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 11:09 AM (T4tVD)
255
There's a sci fi short story I've been trying to find for decades.
Dude is in the jungle being stalked by an alien that is called "He/She", and he happens to take a big purple pill that has a skull and crossbones and the word "heavy" stamped on it. He starts hallucinating so hard that when he does confront the alien he somehow blows the alien's mind psychedelically.
It was very funny.
Dude is in the jungle being stalked by an alien that is called "He/She", and he happens to take a big purple pill that has a skull and crossbones and the word "heavy" stamped on it. He starts hallucinating so hard that when he does confront the alien he somehow blows the alien's mind psychedelically.
It was very funny.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023 11:12 AM (9VBwF)
256
where the air is so sweet and clear a man can smell a radish being pulled from the ground a mile away
------------
I hope there aren't any beans or cabbage in the Territories!
------------
I hope there aren't any beans or cabbage in the Territories!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:12 AM (Vwz3I)
257
The raindrops ain't coming down on little cat feet.....
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 11:13 AM (T4tVD)
258
245 Started to read MAYOR OF NOOBTOWN, guy gets hit by a truck and is transported to a fantasy world and how he deals with it, He gets a Demon familiar that craps on him for being how dumb Jim the main character is, What do you mean Earth has no magic sound's boring, and Jim gets a Badger companion who is a homicidal maniac who wants to kill a man named Charles. The world is run like an RPG and JIM can't understand the rules of the world and he comes off a dumb hick.
Really funny and it's better on Audiobook, it reminds me a lot of Starship Grifters in the humor.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (dKiJG)
Does that book come from Japan? The hit-by-a-truck-and-transported-to-another-world thing seems to be a pretty common trope in anime and manga circles. Some people have even jokingly called the killer-vehicle 'truck-chan.' (or 'truck-kun' or whatever other suffixes seem appropriate....)
Really funny and it's better on Audiobook, it reminds me a lot of Starship Grifters in the humor.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:03 AM (dKiJG)
Does that book come from Japan? The hit-by-a-truck-and-transported-to-another-world thing seems to be a pretty common trope in anime and manga circles. Some people have even jokingly called the killer-vehicle 'truck-chan.' (or 'truck-kun' or whatever other suffixes seem appropriate....)
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (Lhaco)
259
Spellmonger series, Terry Mancour is up to book 15, I really love this series and I highly recommend it. A retired warmage goes to the boonies to retire and as he and his apprentice are sleeping off their night of drinking Goblins decided to invade his town with gemstones that give wizards supercharged powers. The Kingdom has stripped the Wizards of all rights to own property and they are regulated by an ATF organization, Audiobook is really good
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (dKiJG)
260
Bastard mine NOT!!!
Posted by: Yoder at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (Vwz3I)
261
Back when we had cable or the dish I recall seeing a reality show about the Amish Mafia and the whole time I was thinking: "This is a total troll by the Amish to dupe whoever is paying them to do this."
It was about the same time the "Inside the KKK" or whatever it was called was revealed to be a setup by cunning Hillbillies to bilk cable TV producers.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (llXky)
I knew about that program, but never watched it because it sounded fake. You probably are right about it.
But the Amish are sort of strange. Why or how would they know tv if they don't participate in the world? Of course, they do, but only in certain ways. I was watching one of the treehouse builder programs and they needed some carpenter help. They brought in a couple of Amish ones. They used power tools. Huh? They explained they could use power tools on a job, but they couldn't own them or use them on their own projects.
It was about the same time the "Inside the KKK" or whatever it was called was revealed to be a setup by cunning Hillbillies to bilk cable TV producers.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (llXky)
I knew about that program, but never watched it because it sounded fake. You probably are right about it.
But the Amish are sort of strange. Why or how would they know tv if they don't participate in the world? Of course, they do, but only in certain ways. I was watching one of the treehouse builder programs and they needed some carpenter help. They brought in a couple of Amish ones. They used power tools. Huh? They explained they could use power tools on a job, but they couldn't own them or use them on their own projects.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (Angsy)
262
They're webbed feet.
Posted by: Just Sayin' at April 30, 2023 11:15 AM (DhOHl)
263
Bismarck in the portrait drawn by Crankshaw is a strange, brilliant, neurotic man whose legacy eventually was the destruction of the Prussian state he created.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (MoZTd)
Sounds like Klemens von Metternich and what he meant in the end for Austria
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 10:32 AM (MoZTd)
Sounds like Klemens von Metternich and what he meant in the end for Austria
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 11:15 AM (xhaym)
264
We also had a quickly truncated court case involving foster care, in which a childless, older Mennonite couple fostered a bunch of Black kids from Milwaukee, and later adopted the children. They lived Mennonite and wore Mennonite clothing and etc.
Commies in Madison tried a stunt but there was nowhere to go with it, and where I live is still the only place I have ever seen Black Mennonite children with their White parents at the local farmer's market.
Commies in Madison tried a stunt but there was nowhere to go with it, and where I live is still the only place I have ever seen Black Mennonite children with their White parents at the local farmer's market.
Posted by: Your Wife at April 30, 2023 11:15 AM (43xH1)
265
Thank you all for your thoughts on the topic! Many of you live in idyllic redoubts that are utterly different from any of the places I have ever lived.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:17 AM (MvF+J)
266
Of course, endorsements are a shorthand to let people know the sender is on your team. You see a candidate flyer with groups you affiliate with, you don't have to do deep research to see if you'll vote for that candidate.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (Angsy)
---
Right, but this isn't 1996. A ton of right-to-lifers have been revealed to lying crapweasels who never wanted to do a damn thing about abortion. The NRA is just a racket, they do nothing on the national level.
I could go on, but won't out of respect for this thread.
The point I was trying to make is that this isn't small-ball stuff anymore. People are burning down churches and threatening to use state power to suppress them. Look at Fen's church - all they want to do is follow the same worship put in place decades ago, but because they won't reject their old teachings, the elders want them shut down. They'd rather shut down a Christian community than suffer one to preach against homosexuality. That right there is demonic.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:08 AM (Angsy)
---
Right, but this isn't 1996. A ton of right-to-lifers have been revealed to lying crapweasels who never wanted to do a damn thing about abortion. The NRA is just a racket, they do nothing on the national level.
I could go on, but won't out of respect for this thread.
The point I was trying to make is that this isn't small-ball stuff anymore. People are burning down churches and threatening to use state power to suppress them. Look at Fen's church - all they want to do is follow the same worship put in place decades ago, but because they won't reject their old teachings, the elders want them shut down. They'd rather shut down a Christian community than suffer one to preach against homosexuality. That right there is demonic.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:17 AM (llXky)
267
Started reading Sanderson's Way of the King at the recommendation of a Moron.
I am giving him a chance. Starts out kind of like this:
Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!
Except without any background. Seems to be settling in now maybe 100 pages in.
I am giving him a chance. Starts out kind of like this:
Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!
Except without any background. Seems to be settling in now maybe 100 pages in.
Posted by: blaster at April 30, 2023 11:18 AM (pwExq)
268
HAHAHA! Amish and Mennonites totally cheat.
Everyone in any constricted society does. Women have cell phones and hidden laptops, men use GPS, etc.
Yeah, it's an open secret. They're just not on those things all the time.
I work at a supermarket, we well TONS of Amish romance novels not only to Hallmark women but to actual Amish women, most of whom have discreetly hidden mobile phones.
I admit I don't care, just one of those things.
Everyone in any constricted society does. Women have cell phones and hidden laptops, men use GPS, etc.
Yeah, it's an open secret. They're just not on those things all the time.
I work at a supermarket, we well TONS of Amish romance novels not only to Hallmark women but to actual Amish women, most of whom have discreetly hidden mobile phones.
I admit I don't care, just one of those things.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:18 AM (43xH1)
269
There's a sci fi short story I've been trying to find for decades.
Dude is in the jungle being stalked by an alien that is called "He/She", and he happens to take a big purple pill that has a skull and crossbones and the word "heavy" stamped on it. He starts hallucinating so hard that when he does confront the alien he somehow blows the alien's mind psychedelically.
It was very funny.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023
***
Sounds like a Fredric Brown-type story.
Dude is in the jungle being stalked by an alien that is called "He/She", and he happens to take a big purple pill that has a skull and crossbones and the word "heavy" stamped on it. He starts hallucinating so hard that when he does confront the alien he somehow blows the alien's mind psychedelically.
It was very funny.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023
***
Sounds like a Fredric Brown-type story.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 11:18 AM (omVj0)
270
What the hell would a pregnant woman be doing around a railroad track??
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023
Crossing from one side of town to the other?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:42 AM (omVj0)
She was most likely a working girl working up till the 9th month.
Gotta eat and all that…all those fellas probably knew her quite well.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023
Crossing from one side of town to the other?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at April 30, 2023 10:42 AM (omVj0)
She was most likely a working girl working up till the 9th month.
Gotta eat and all that…all those fellas probably knew her quite well.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (R/m4+)
271
Prob get willowed.
But, I wanted to point out something about writing professionally these days.
Glen Cook is one of the best going right now. He has been at it a while and his wheelhouse is military fantasy.
However, he has been for years writing a series of detective novels at the behest of his publishers: Garrett, PI.
It's really very good. It is a fantasy detective series in the hardboiled noir style. But kinda goofy and "charming". Almost a little Xanthy.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
But, I wanted to point out something about writing professionally these days.
Glen Cook is one of the best going right now. He has been at it a while and his wheelhouse is military fantasy.
However, he has been for years writing a series of detective novels at the behest of his publishers: Garrett, PI.
It's really very good. It is a fantasy detective series in the hardboiled noir style. But kinda goofy and "charming". Almost a little Xanthy.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (leuV0)
272
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:17 AM (llXky)
I don't disagree. Anyway, back to book stuff.
I don't disagree. Anyway, back to book stuff.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:21 AM (Angsy)
273
By the way, Ralph Raico had a lot to say about Otto v Bismarck, and none of it complimentary
Raico's lectures can be found on YouTube, his specialty was European history and the growth and eclipse of classical liberal politics.
He didn't do a lot of books, and when asked why he hadn't written more for the benefit of Mankind, he allegedly quipped, "I despise Mankind"
Raico's lectures can be found on YouTube, his specialty was European history and the growth and eclipse of classical liberal politics.
He didn't do a lot of books, and when asked why he hadn't written more for the benefit of Mankind, he allegedly quipped, "I despise Mankind"
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 11:21 AM (xhaym)
274
Dude is in the jungle being stalked by an alien that is called "He/She", and he happens to take a big purple pill that has a skull and crossbones and the word "heavy" stamped on it. He starts hallucinating so hard that when he does confront the alien he somehow blows the alien's mind psychedelically.
It was very funny.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023
I think I read that - the guy is not just in the jungle, he's a soldier in Vietnam?
It was very funny.
Posted by: Sharkman at April 30, 2023
I think I read that - the guy is not just in the jungle, he's a soldier in Vietnam?
Posted by: blaster at April 30, 2023 11:22 AM (pwExq)
275
"Thank you all for your thoughts on the topic! Many of you live in idyllic redoubts that are utterly different from any of the places I have ever lived.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood"
Oh, I was born on the West Side of Chicago. I now live in a failed factory town in the Rust Belt (surrounded by farmland) and to be honest with myself, I can't live in some Mayberry place. I would go insane from the absence of violence and daily tests. Without the compressive effect of threat, I'd lose what's left of my mind.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood"
Oh, I was born on the West Side of Chicago. I now live in a failed factory town in the Rust Belt (surrounded by farmland) and to be honest with myself, I can't live in some Mayberry place. I would go insane from the absence of violence and daily tests. Without the compressive effect of threat, I'd lose what's left of my mind.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:22 AM (43xH1)
276
Thank you all for your thoughts on the topic! Many of you live in idyllic redoubts that are utterly different from any of the places I have ever lived.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:17 AM (MvF+J)
---
I have lived in sketchier places, and while you can leave a bike on the lawn without fear in front of my house, do that up at the corner a quarter of a mile away and it will be gone in minutes.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:17 AM (MvF+J)
---
I have lived in sketchier places, and while you can leave a bike on the lawn without fear in front of my house, do that up at the corner a quarter of a mile away and it will be gone in minutes.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:22 AM (llXky)
277
"Looked once at used book store for volumes of Durant's History of Civilization I don't have but there were not any. He said they do come in and out often."
Check your local library book sales. They can't get rid of the classics fast enough; they give em away free or for a quarter. They need to make shelf space for "History of Civ for Dummies."
Check your local library book sales. They can't get rid of the classics fast enough; they give em away free or for a quarter. They need to make shelf space for "History of Civ for Dummies."
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:23 AM (MvF+J)
278
Watching Time After Time and it seems all of the San Franciscans H.G. Wells interacts with have NY accents even though it's clearly filmed there!
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:24 AM (Vwz3I)
279
"Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"
Did he arrive in an elevpod, or a Schindler?
Did he arrive in an elevpod, or a Schindler?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:24 AM (43xH1)
280
One more poast
Been back reading Jack Vance. I can't even put into words how enjoyable he is. His Gaean Reach/Alastor books and the setting amaze me. Also make me sad that we as a culture once had an idea of the future like that. We were so sane.
I think Dragon Masters and the Cadwall series are must reads for Sc fi fans. And the Cugel series for fantasy fans.
But it is amazingly all good.
A master craftsman whose cool and sane and decent and chill personality shines through and occasionally hits it out of the park.
Been back reading Jack Vance. I can't even put into words how enjoyable he is. His Gaean Reach/Alastor books and the setting amaze me. Also make me sad that we as a culture once had an idea of the future like that. We were so sane.
I think Dragon Masters and the Cadwall series are must reads for Sc fi fans. And the Cugel series for fantasy fans.
But it is amazingly all good.
A master craftsman whose cool and sane and decent and chill personality shines through and occasionally hits it out of the park.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:24 AM (leuV0)
281
She was only a stableman's daughter, but all the horsemen knew her.
Posted by: I'll be here all week at April 30, 2023 11:25 AM (DhOHl)
282
It's really very good. It is a fantasy detective series in the hardboiled noir style. But kinda goofy and "charming". Almost a little Xanthy.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (leuV0)
---
I haven't thought about Xanth in a loooong time. I was on something of a Piers Anthony kick during high school. Never bought any of it, just read it at the lieberry.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (leuV0)
---
I haven't thought about Xanth in a loooong time. I was on something of a Piers Anthony kick during high school. Never bought any of it, just read it at the lieberry.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:25 AM (llXky)
283
153 Fuck Fox.
****
Hey now, lots of conservatives still love Hannity and Laura and Neil. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!! Remember Reagan's 11th commandment. Republicans have a big tent - we welcome all!!! Plus, where else will Patriotic Muricans!!! get unbiased coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine???!
Go Ukraine!!
****
Hey now, lots of conservatives still love Hannity and Laura and Neil. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!! Remember Reagan's 11th commandment. Republicans have a big tent - we welcome all!!! Plus, where else will Patriotic Muricans!!! get unbiased coverage of the Russian invasion of Ukraine???!
Go Ukraine!!
Posted by: The Nipper at April 30, 2023 11:26 AM (Q7IU+)
284
Now I want to reread Dragon Masters. I remember being absolutely blown away by that one when I first read the Hugo Winners collection.
Remember when the Hugo Award was a badge of excellence? That means you're old.
Remember when the Hugo Award was a badge of excellence? That means you're old.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (QZxDR)
285
279 "Gozer the Traveler. He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"
Did he arrive in an elevpod, or a Schindler?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:24 AM (43xH1)
Arriving as a Stay-puft Marshmellow Man?
Did he arrive in an elevpod, or a Schindler?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:24 AM (43xH1)
Arriving as a Stay-puft Marshmellow Man?
Posted by: Reforger at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (B/g/o)
286
Check your local library book sales. They can't get rid of the classics fast enough; they give em away free or for a quarter. They need to make shelf space for "History of Civ for Dummies."
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:23 AM (MvF+J)
---
Probably long gone by now. Our city library used to be packed with books, but now they're most a teen hangout and women's book club. Also, DVDs.
They did have a decent selection of Waugh, though, which was nice.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:23 AM (MvF+J)
---
Probably long gone by now. Our city library used to be packed with books, but now they're most a teen hangout and women's book club. Also, DVDs.
They did have a decent selection of Waugh, though, which was nice.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (llXky)
287
I want to go back in time and live on the same block as the Cleaver family did. The worst "youth" they had to deal with was Eddie Haskell.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (MvF+J)
288
I haven't thought about Xanth in a loooong time. I was on something of a Piers Anthony kick during high school. Never bought any of it, just read it at the lieberry.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:25 AM (llXky)
Same. I loved the covers and the chill comic goofy vibe.
If you haven't read the Garrett PI stuff they are really fun and cool.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:25 AM (llXky)
Same. I loved the covers and the chill comic goofy vibe.
If you haven't read the Garrett PI stuff they are really fun and cool.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (leuV0)
289
Zip Pod? Zip Box? Called a Zipper colloquially?? Zipper-Flipper??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:29 AM (Vwz3I)
290
Zip Pod? Zip Box? Called a Zipper colloquially?? Zipper-Flipper??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:29 AM (Vwz3I)
---
Zip Pod Beeblebrox?
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:29 AM (Vwz3I)
---
Zip Pod Beeblebrox?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:30 AM (llXky)
291
I don't recall how that one turned out. But yeah, there is crime/stuff on Amish and Mennonite territory. They're human like any others.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (43xH1)
in the 1880's there was a Chinese laundry in town that was run by two Chinese (as such things are) and one morning they were found shot and pushed down their well.
The local town marshal and the Sheriff had nothing to go by, but there was a Chinese detective, either from their protective agency or some sort of Chinese workers monitoring run from China, that came in, told a tale about tongs and whatnot, promised to solve it and was never heard of again.
I thought that would be a fantastic basis for an historical detective series.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 10:54 AM (43xH1)
in the 1880's there was a Chinese laundry in town that was run by two Chinese (as such things are) and one morning they were found shot and pushed down their well.
The local town marshal and the Sheriff had nothing to go by, but there was a Chinese detective, either from their protective agency or some sort of Chinese workers monitoring run from China, that came in, told a tale about tongs and whatnot, promised to solve it and was never heard of again.
I thought that would be a fantastic basis for an historical detective series.
Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2023 11:30 AM (xhaym)
292
159 Just finished Neil Stephenson's "Fall, or Dodge in Hell".
...
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (iKBwy)
If you liked that, check out Circuit of Heaven and End of Days, by Dennis Danvers.
...
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at April 30, 2023 10:19 AM (iKBwy)
If you liked that, check out Circuit of Heaven and End of Days, by Dennis Danvers.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at April 30, 2023 11:30 AM (PiwSw)
293
Zip-Trip? A Tripper?
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:30 AM (Vwz3I)
294
Does that book come from Japan? The hit-by-a-truck-and-transported-to-another-world thing seems to be a pretty common trope in anime and manga circles. Some people have even jokingly called the killer-vehicle 'truck-chan.' (or 'truck-kun' or whatever other suffixes seem appropriate....)
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (Lhaco)
No but the author did joke about it, With everything going on in the world I am glad to read an adventure that's fun and witty.
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:14 AM (Lhaco)
No but the author did joke about it, With everything going on in the world I am glad to read an adventure that's fun and witty.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:31 AM (dKiJG)
295
Same. I loved the covers and the chill comic goofy vibe.
If you haven't read the Garrett PI stuff they are really fun and cool.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (leuV0)
---
Hmmm, light reading, what's that?
If you haven't read the Garrett PI stuff they are really fun and cool.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (leuV0)
---
Hmmm, light reading, what's that?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:31 AM (llXky)
296
284 Now I want to reread Dragon Masters. I remember being absolutely blown away by that one when I first read the Hugo Winners collection.
Remember when the Hugo Award was a badge of excellence? That means you're old.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (QZxDR)
Cadwall is great too. I can only compare it to Lovejoy the British detective series in vibe. Completely different from Dragon Masters. But masterful.
The Last Castle is great but v depressing rn.
Remember when the Hugo Award was a badge of excellence? That means you're old.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (QZxDR)
Cadwall is great too. I can only compare it to Lovejoy the British detective series in vibe. Completely different from Dragon Masters. But masterful.
The Last Castle is great but v depressing rn.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:31 AM (leuV0)
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:32 AM (Vwz3I)
298
I wish I could get to the Book Thread earlier, but I get home from my Sunday extremist White Supremacist meeting (we use Latin as a code) rather late because it's a long drive.
I wish I could get to the Book Thread earlier, but I get home from my Sunday extremist White Supremacist meeting (we use Latin as a code) rather late because it's a long drive.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 11:32 AM (MoZTd)
299
287 I want to go back in time and live on the same block as the Cleaver family did. The worst "youth" they had to deal with was Eddie Haskell.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (MvF+J)
—-
Did that actually exist? Cuz I’d love to live in NYC in in the 90s in an awesome apartment, eating out every night and wearing designer clothes 24/7, while making minimum wage like in Friends. But that didn’t actually exist outside TV.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:28 AM (MvF+J)
—-
Did that actually exist? Cuz I’d love to live in NYC in in the 90s in an awesome apartment, eating out every night and wearing designer clothes 24/7, while making minimum wage like in Friends. But that didn’t actually exist outside TV.
Posted by: Montec at April 30, 2023 11:33 AM (bOCa8)
300
wish I could get to the Book Thread earlier, but I get home from my Sunday extremist White Supremacist meeting (we use Latin as a code) rather late because it's a long drive.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 11:32 AM (MoZTd)
---
I went to the 8 a.m. Mass. Student parish. With the bongos.
Another cross I have to bear.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 30, 2023 11:32 AM (MoZTd)
---
I went to the 8 a.m. Mass. Student parish. With the bongos.
Another cross I have to bear.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:34 AM (llXky)
301
Thought that would be a fantastic basis for an historical detective series.
------------
The Adventures of Mr. Wu
"SFrisca cok sooka!"
------------
The Adventures of Mr. Wu
"SFrisca cok sooka!"
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:34 AM (Vwz3I)
302
299 You are correct. And my inability to master time travel makes it moot, I guess.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:35 AM (MvF+J)
303
Mr. Wu and the Ancient Chinese Secret
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:36 AM (Vwz3I)
304
299 Strangely enough, many or most of the plots of Leave It To Beaver revolve around lying. The whole family lies about silly things, and then ends up facing silly consequences.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:36 AM (MvF+J)
305
The outside of the Stuttgart library reminds me of a Borg spaceship from Star Trek.
Posted by: Tuna at April 30, 2023 11:38 AM (gLRfa)
306
Did that actually exist? Cuz I’d love to live in NYC in in the 90s in an awesome apartment, eating out every night and wearing designer clothes 24/7, while making minimum wage like in Friends. But that didn’t actually exist outside TV.
Posted by: Montec at April 30, 2023 11:33 AM (bOCa
---
Listening to my father, there were quiet neighborhoods like that. He had a newspaper route, and nothing remotely interesting happened on his block.
I do think it's funny that they did a film a while back ("Pleasantville?") where this Edenic existence was stripped away by modern kids introducing sin and that was portrayed as a good thing.
You know, yay Serpent! We should be grateful for that fruit of the forbidding tree.
Like I keep saying, spiritual warfare.
Posted by: Montec at April 30, 2023 11:33 AM (bOCa
---
Listening to my father, there were quiet neighborhoods like that. He had a newspaper route, and nothing remotely interesting happened on his block.
I do think it's funny that they did a film a while back ("Pleasantville?") where this Edenic existence was stripped away by modern kids introducing sin and that was portrayed as a good thing.
You know, yay Serpent! We should be grateful for that fruit of the forbidding tree.
Like I keep saying, spiritual warfare.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:38 AM (llXky)
307
290 Zip Pod? Zip Box? Called a Zipper colloquially?? Zipper-Flipper??
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:29 AM (Vwz3I)
---
Zip Pod Beeblebrox?
Okay now you're just making fun of me.
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:29 AM (Vwz3I)
---
Zip Pod Beeblebrox?
Okay now you're just making fun of me.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:38 AM (43xH1)
308
MusicFab is an app that lets you download music from Spotify and Amazon music, really hoping that they will do Audible so I can download my Audiobook library, because I know they will edit those books as well.
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:39 AM (dKiJG)
309
Oh! My absolute favorite crime was in a small town I used to live in, which had a very successful sporting goods shop run by two unrelated partners. They got into an argument about finances and one partner killed the other with a baseball bat in the office... of a fully stocked gun store.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:41 AM (43xH1)
310
If you like military sci fi, I will again put in a recommendation for Christopher Nuttall's marines in space books. Series called The Empire's Corps. The marines are the last honorable corps left on dystopian earth, really the only corps left on earth, when they sent to a distant planet to help quell an uprising. Too far for timely communication with Earth's corruptocrats(corporations have become government pretty much) and rumors that Earth has been destroyed so now what?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 11:43 AM (Y+l9t)
311
Listening to my father, there were quiet neighborhoods like that. He had a newspaper route, and nothing remotely interesting happened on his block.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:38 AM (llXky)
Must have been Mulberry Street. Nothing ever really happens there.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:38 AM (llXky)
Must have been Mulberry Street. Nothing ever really happens there.
Posted by: Marco at April 30, 2023 11:43 AM (Angsy)
312
I am reading a sci-fy book on time travel. It's one thing to invent so science to make the story move along, but it's another to continually create new super advanced technology to keep the hero out of trouble.
I am vexed.
I am vexed.
Posted by: Diogenes at April 30, 2023 11:44 AM (anj39)
313
I guess Michael Whelan did the Xanth xovers I liked so much.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:44 AM (leuV0)
314
309 Why choose a bat?
It happened to have a suppressor.
It was the only loaded weapon within reach.
Batter could not master DA/SA pistol operation.
Did not wish to risk penetrating walls with gunfire and harming bystanders.
Scared of loud noises.
It happened to have a suppressor.
It was the only loaded weapon within reach.
Batter could not master DA/SA pistol operation.
Did not wish to risk penetrating walls with gunfire and harming bystanders.
Scared of loud noises.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:45 AM (MvF+J)
315
However, he has been for years writing a series of detective novels at the behest of his publishers: Garrett, PI.
It's really very good. It is a fantasy detective series in the hardboiled noir style. But kinda goofy and "charming". Almost a little Xanthy.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (leuV0)
I can confirm that the Garett PI books sold. My stack is probably missing newer entries by now, but at one point I had all the Garett novels that had been released! Never tried Cook's other books, though...
It's really very good. It is a fantasy detective series in the hardboiled noir style. But kinda goofy and "charming". Almost a little Xanthy.
I doubt Cook would write something like this on his own. But he writes for money and these things sell. And he does a great job. There is no sense that he has "sold out" to the books.
Maybe some lessons to be learned there....
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:19 AM (leuV0)
I can confirm that the Garett PI books sold. My stack is probably missing newer entries by now, but at one point I had all the Garett novels that had been released! Never tried Cook's other books, though...
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:46 AM (Lhaco)
316
one partner killed the other with a baseball bat in the office... of a fully stocked gun store.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:41 AM (43xH1)
I think "profiling" is woke anti-white hokum but there are connections between method and motive and relationship btwn killer and vic.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:41 AM (43xH1)
I think "profiling" is woke anti-white hokum but there are connections between method and motive and relationship btwn killer and vic.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:47 AM (leuV0)
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:47 AM (MvF+J)
318
Okay now you're just making fun of me.
-------------
Never! Then I would have quoted the Airplane! George Zip "do it for the Zipper" speech.
How about something using "cube"?
-------------
Never! Then I would have quoted the Airplane! George Zip "do it for the Zipper" speech.
How about something using "cube"?
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at April 30, 2023 11:47 AM (Vwz3I)
319
Never tried Cook's other books, though...
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:46 AM (Lhaco)
Dude dude dude. Dude.
Black Company is a must read. A must read. Necessary.
And The Dragon Never Sleeps is a personal Hall of Fame sci fi.
Posted by: Castle Guy at April 30, 2023 11:46 AM (Lhaco)
Dude dude dude. Dude.
Black Company is a must read. A must read. Necessary.
And The Dragon Never Sleeps is a personal Hall of Fame sci fi.
Posted by: Thesokorus at April 30, 2023 11:48 AM (leuV0)
320
I've started over on Elmore Leonard. Talks like me 'n you.
Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2023 11:48 AM (Uv0D2)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 11:48 AM (pNxlR)
322
For crime stories, if I ever do one, like, a mystery type thing, the Red-Wing Blackbird did it.
I swear, they are the WORST.
I swear, they are the WORST.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:49 AM (43xH1)
323
Have a great day people.
Thanks Perfessor Squirrel. Love that we have this forum.
First day at the new range so have to decide what to wear. ('Ette issue)🤠
Thanks Perfessor Squirrel. Love that we have this forum.
First day at the new range so have to decide what to wear. ('Ette issue)🤠
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 11:49 AM (Y+l9t)
324
"Looked once at used book store for volumes of Durant's History of Civilization I don't have but there were not any. He said they do come in and out often."
-
Will be replaced by Civilization: F*ck That Shit!
-
Will be replaced by Civilization: F*ck That Shit!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at April 30, 2023 11:50 AM (FVME7)
325
310 If you like military sci fi, I will again put in a recommendation for Christopher Nuttall's marines in space books. Series called The Empire's Corps. The marines are the last honorable corps left on dystopian earth, really the only corps left on earth, when they sent to a distant planet to help quell an uprising. Too far for timely communication with Earth's corruptocrats(corporations have become government pretty much) and rumors that Earth has been destroyed so now what?
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 11:43 AM (Y+l9t)
Second
Books are good, the Earth Government collapses due to the overwhelming weight of all the social programs and the Earth Colonies refusing to just give their grain and money to Earth that are a bunch of leaches, Food riots are just starting Colonies are rebelling
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at April 30, 2023 11:43 AM (Y+l9t)
Second
Books are good, the Earth Government collapses due to the overwhelming weight of all the social programs and the Earth Colonies refusing to just give their grain and money to Earth that are a bunch of leaches, Food riots are just starting Colonies are rebelling
Posted by: Patrick From Ohio at April 30, 2023 11:51 AM (dKiJG)
326
314 cont
Batter was poor shot, but having a .375 season.
First blow was a bunt to get the runner on third in to the plate.
Killer was so vicious, he preferred a Nerf bat, so the victim would die very slowly.
Batter was poor shot, but having a .375 season.
First blow was a bunt to get the runner on third in to the plate.
Killer was so vicious, he preferred a Nerf bat, so the victim would die very slowly.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:53 AM (MvF+J)
327
I just finished “Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two” by Joseph Bruchac. The main character, Ned Begay, is telling the story of his life to his “grandchildren,” as an elder of a tribe instructing the youth. Ned begins with his education at a Mission Boarding School, where the students are shorn (literally) of their Navajo identity and punished for speaking their native language. When Ned is 16, a Marine recruiter comes to his high school, looking for volunteers for a special project. Ned is too young and must wait a year before enlisting. The rest of his story is about island-hopping in the Pacific.
1/2
1/2
Posted by: March Hare at April 30, 2023 11:54 AM (WOU9P)
328
Oh! My absolute favorite crime was in a small town I used to live in, which had a very successful sporting goods shop run by two unrelated partners. They got into an argument about finances and one partner killed the other with a baseball bat in the office... of a fully stocked gun store.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:41 AM (43xH1)
---
Right, so your notion is that he should stalk off to go get a gun leaving a perfectly functional baseball bat *behind him* where his enraged partner can use it to brain him.
"Wait here, and leave that bat alone!"
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:41 AM (43xH1)
---
Right, so your notion is that he should stalk off to go get a gun leaving a perfectly functional baseball bat *behind him* where his enraged partner can use it to brain him.
"Wait here, and leave that bat alone!"
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:54 AM (llXky)
329
26 314 cont
Batter was poor shot, but having a .375 season.
First blow was a bunt to get the runner on third in to the plate.
Killer was so vicious, he preferred a Nerf bat, so the victim would die very slowly.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:53 AM (MvF+J)
He enjoyed it, thus putting the fun in fungo bat.
Batter was poor shot, but having a .375 season.
First blow was a bunt to get the runner on third in to the plate.
Killer was so vicious, he preferred a Nerf bat, so the victim would die very slowly.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:53 AM (MvF+J)
He enjoyed it, thus putting the fun in fungo bat.
Posted by: Ooooo and a pop fly eyeball! at April 30, 2023 11:55 AM (pLSJi)
330
Empire's Corps sounds very much like Pournelle's Janissaries series.
Posted by: Trimegistus at April 30, 2023 11:56 AM (QZxDR)
331
314 cont
Victim was perched on a tee. Choice was obvious.
Attacker was on the DH list.
Victim provoked attack by throwing beanball.
Victim was perched on a tee. Choice was obvious.
Attacker was on the DH list.
Victim provoked attack by throwing beanball.
Posted by: gp's Prophecies Of Mood at April 30, 2023 11:56 AM (MvF+J)
332
I don't recall too much to worry about back in Chicago Lawn or Gage Park when I was growing up there (mid-50s to mid-60s with high school in Englewood) -- wouldn't walk through there now if you paid me.
There's a movie called THE WINDOW from 1949, I think. Bobby Driscoll, Arthur Kennedy, from a Cornell Woolrich story, set in NYC. Kid who tells tall stories sees the upstairs neighbors commit a murder and nobody believes him but the neighbors. He saw it happen because he was sleeping on the fire escape trying to beat the heat. No big deal made of a kid sleeping on the fire escape. Imagine that...
There's a movie called THE WINDOW from 1949, I think. Bobby Driscoll, Arthur Kennedy, from a Cornell Woolrich story, set in NYC. Kid who tells tall stories sees the upstairs neighbors commit a murder and nobody believes him but the neighbors. He saw it happen because he was sleeping on the fire escape trying to beat the heat. No big deal made of a kid sleeping on the fire escape. Imagine that...
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 11:57 AM (a/4+U)
333
Rage kills and personal kills do seem to be performed with more intimate methods than firearms. Bats, knives, expedient bludgeoning objects, bare hands.
Posted by: Beating someone to death with a bat takes a lot of effort at April 30, 2023 11:57 AM (pLSJi)
334
Also, I stated on another thread Israel has only produced two good things, Gal Gadot and SodaStream; I forgot Fobus holsters.
Highly recommended, but not in all sizes. I was skeptical about Plastic Fantastic but got one for a S&W Airweight and it's a dandy.
So, I guess its a threeway.
I volunteer to sacrifice myself.
I mean, Gal Gadot can always do better, and why not me?
Highly recommended, but not in all sizes. I was skeptical about Plastic Fantastic but got one for a S&W Airweight and it's a dandy.
So, I guess its a threeway.
I volunteer to sacrifice myself.
I mean, Gal Gadot can always do better, and why not me?
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 11:57 AM (43xH1)
335
W.C. means "water closet" aka bathroom in England.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
Why didn't they call it a Poop Closet ?
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:29 AM (T4tVD)
It was called the Water Closet to distinguish where the poop went. Before that there were Earth Closets, i.e., your basic outhouse over a hold in the ground.
There was actually a book published in the 1990s called "Flushed with Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper."
Yes, that's where the word "crap" comes from.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
Why didn't they call it a Poop Closet ?
Posted by: JT at April 30, 2023 10:29 AM (T4tVD)
It was called the Water Closet to distinguish where the poop went. Before that there were Earth Closets, i.e., your basic outhouse over a hold in the ground.
There was actually a book published in the 1990s called "Flushed with Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper."
Yes, that's where the word "crap" comes from.
Posted by: Wethal at April 30, 2023 11:58 AM (NufIr)
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2023 11:58 AM (pNxlR)
337
I just finished “Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two” by Joseph Bruchac. The main character, Ned Begay, is telling the story of his life to his “grandchildren,” as an elder of a tribe instructing the youth. Ned begins with his education at a Mission Boarding School, where the students are shorn (literally) of their Navajo identity and punished for speaking their native language. When Ned is 16, a Marine recruiter comes to his high school, looking for volunteers for a special project. Ned is too young and must wait a year before enlisting. The rest of his story is about island-hopping in the Pacific.
1/2
Posted by: March Hare at April 30, 2023 11:54 AM (WOU9P)
---
Assimilating the Indians was a big Progressive project. Nixon reversed it, demanding that the treaties be upheld and pushing for a "nation-to-nation" framework.
As with slavery, segregation, etc., the Dems successfully convinced the victims of their policies that it was really *someone else* who did that to them.
1/2
Posted by: March Hare at April 30, 2023 11:54 AM (WOU9P)
---
Assimilating the Indians was a big Progressive project. Nixon reversed it, demanding that the treaties be upheld and pushing for a "nation-to-nation" framework.
As with slavery, segregation, etc., the Dems successfully convinced the victims of their policies that it was really *someone else* who did that to them.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 11:58 AM (llXky)
338
Perfesser Squirrel, I watched The Walking Dead for several years before realizing it was a zombie soap opera. Never again. I resolved to quit the habit, so started to attend every Sunday night meeting here (though been at the HQ for so long can't remember when I started. It is the methadone of blogs
'Hi, My name is Eromero. I am a moron.'
'Hi, My name is Eromero. I am a moron.'
Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2023 11:59 AM (Uv0D2)
339
The saddest part of Sunday morning has arrived again. The end of the book thread. Thanks, Perfessor.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at April 30, 2023 11:59 AM (Angsy)
340
Yep, thanks Perfesser!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at April 30, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)
341
Greetings! A topic that I think came up is of last stands. A great book is of that name "Last Stands" by friend of the blog Michael Walsh.
I can endorse that, gladly.
I'm about halfway thru a book mentioned last week "Proof of Heaven" about an experience we call near death or NDE. The author had a vivid one while in a coma. The only thing I wonder is if all souls will have a similar experience. I tend to think not.
I can endorse that, gladly.
I'm about halfway thru a book mentioned last week "Proof of Heaven" about an experience we call near death or NDE. The author had a vivid one while in a coma. The only thing I wonder is if all souls will have a similar experience. I tend to think not.
Posted by: gourmand du jour, stay savory, morons! at April 30, 2023 12:00 PM (jTmQV)
342
The gun store killing? Yeah it was surmised it might have been a spur of the moment thing.
With both parties.
I mean, come on, it was funny. It was, to us.
With both parties.
I mean, come on, it was funny. It was, to us.
Posted by: LenNeal at April 30, 2023 12:01 PM (43xH1)
343
"The saddest part of Sunday morning has arrived again. The end of the book thread. Thanks, Perfessor."
Agreed. Wish it was a couple hours longer.
Agreed. Wish it was a couple hours longer.
Posted by: Tuna at April 30, 2023 12:01 PM (gLRfa)
344
CBD IS UP TO TAKE US INTO THE AFTERNOON
NOOD
NOOD
Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2023 12:02 PM (xhxe8)
345
2/2. “Code Talkers” is a YA novel, so the horrors of war and jungle fighting are mentioned, but not graphically described. Mr. Bruchac includes information and stories about real people and situations, including the prejudice the Navajo faced within their units (until they proved themselves in combat) and stateside after the War. But the point is not belabored and Ned retains his inherent dignity throughout the novel. The existence of Code Talkers was classified until 1968, so it is still relatively unknown.
I would recommend for middle-school & older, especially boys.
I would recommend for middle-school & older, especially boys.
Posted by: March Hare at April 30, 2023 12:02 PM (WOU9P)
346
"The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors" is superb. Hornfischer's "Neptune's Inferno: The US Navy at Guadalcanal" is also a must-read. The US Navy lost far more sailors during the Solomon Islands campaign than did the ground forces. Heroes all.
Posted by: mrp at April 30, 2023 12:04 PM (rj6Yv)
Posted by: Just Some Guy at April 30, 2023 12:06 PM (a/4+U)
Posted by: Javems at April 30, 2023 12:08 PM (AmoqO)
349
The Public Library of Stuttgart, Germany. Welcome to the ‘Hive Mind’ school of architecture. There are many words which could describe this building - none of which would be complimentary. ‘Fascistic’. ‘Orwellian’. ‘Sterile’. ‘Federal’. ‘Authoritarian’. ‘Brutalistic’. ‘Escher’-esque. ‘Intimidating’. It is not ‘friendly’. It is not ‘warm’. It is not ‘welcoming’. It is not ‘pretty’. It is ‘Governmental Intimidation’ architecture. It is ‘You Will Comply.’ architecture. It is Star Trek “Borg” ‘tertiary adjunct number five’ architecture. Thanks ever so much, but … ‘No’.
Posted by: Dr_No at April 30, 2023 12:15 PM (mu5GU)
350
Just askin' ... did anyone notice the 'Cafe Lesbar' signage on the top row of the interior shot of the Stuttgart Library? Does it mean what I may think it means ... ? And more to the point: Where's 'Cafe Homar' ... ?
Posted by: Dr_No at April 30, 2023 12:18 PM (mu5GU)
351
255 The story "Overdose", by Spider Robinson, in Antinomy. The alien was called 'Yteic-Os'.
Posted by: Nazdar at April 30, 2023 12:29 PM (9XWKq)
352
I am reading some C.M. Kornbluth short stories, and picked up a Robert Silverberg paperback for a buck, Born With The Dead.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at April 30, 2023 12:32 PM (ufFY8)
353
Each Amish congregation has its own application of rule, with local bishops and church councils ruling on the use of modern technology. They talk these things over. There is no Amish Pope or college of cardinals to make one law over everyone. They also are nowhere near a shooting war over which language to hold their services in, and no Amishman has ever burned a Catholic at the stake.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at April 30, 2023 12:45 PM (jYCXf)
354
320 I've started over on Elmore Leonard. Talks like me 'n you.
Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2023 11:48 AM (Uv0D2)
He is my husband's aunt's cousin. Odd connections.
Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2023 11:48 AM (Uv0D2)
He is my husband's aunt's cousin. Odd connections.
Posted by: tcn in AK, Hail to the Thief at April 30, 2023 03:44 PM (LOVUx)
355
I am able to create $88/h to complete a few jobs on a home computer. I never thought that it's even achievable but my closest mate earned $17k in only five weeks simply working on this leading project & she had convinced me to join Discover extra details by going to the following web.. I highly recommend everyone to apply… www.Payathome7.com
Posted by: www.Payathome7.com at April 30, 2023 11:31 PM (7fXKt)
356
Concerning Raymond E. Feist, he was quite possibly the first prominent author whose work I absolutely fell in love with, after discovering 'Silverthorn' in a high school library.
I naturally had to work backwards from there, starting with Magician, and then working my way back up (reading Silverthorn again), and then finally catching up with the author's releases, I think with "Prince of the Blood" around 1990.
However, I began to notice odd errors in Feist's work, continuity problems which gradually became worse as his work went on. And also about this time, I of course discovered both "Betrayal at Krondor" and "Return to Krondor" in video game form, with RtK being a long staple of mine.
And then...the old adage, "don't meet your heroes" showed up, as I ran into Feist on FB...and discovered that wow, this guy is really a piece of work.
All he talked about was just how brilliant he was from a publishing and writing perspective, never mind his actual written work was slipping. I followed the Riftwar series until the next to last book...and still haven't bothered to read it.
I naturally had to work backwards from there, starting with Magician, and then working my way back up (reading Silverthorn again), and then finally catching up with the author's releases, I think with "Prince of the Blood" around 1990.
However, I began to notice odd errors in Feist's work, continuity problems which gradually became worse as his work went on. And also about this time, I of course discovered both "Betrayal at Krondor" and "Return to Krondor" in video game form, with RtK being a long staple of mine.
And then...the old adage, "don't meet your heroes" showed up, as I ran into Feist on FB...and discovered that wow, this guy is really a piece of work.
All he talked about was just how brilliant he was from a publishing and writing perspective, never mind his actual written work was slipping. I followed the Riftwar series until the next to last book...and still haven't bothered to read it.
Posted by: EvilScientistMoose at May 01, 2023 02:05 AM (Cf1wl)
357
All hail the ILOH! I'm a little behind on the Forgotten Warrior series, but picking up a Larry book is always easy. Always feels like coming back to a cozy house because he doesn't dumb anything down for his readers.
Posted by: Jon at May 01, 2023 12:54 PM (H4mKV)
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