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Sunday Morning Book Thread - 10-20-2024 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
PIC NOTE
The Malleus Maleficarum is a notorious book, the "Hammer of Witches," a how-to guide on dealing with them harshly, as the Lord commands (or so the authors claim, of course). I'll steal a page from Kamala Harris and plagiarize Wikipedia here:
The Malleus Maleficarum asserts that three elements are necessary for witchcraft: the evil intentions of the witch, the help of the Devil, and the permission of God. The treatise is divided into three sections. The first section is aimed at clergy and tries to refute critics who deny the reality of witchcraft, thereby hindering its prosecution. The second section describes the actual forms of witchcraft and its remedies. The third section is to assist judges confronting and combating witchcraft, and to aid the inquisitors by removing the burden from them. Each of the three sections has the prevailing themes of what is witchcraft and who is a witch. REFERENCE: Malleus Maleficarum. (2024, August 23). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Malleus_Maleficarum
TREASURE TROVE OF RARE BOOKS
- Students are NOT being taught how to read starting in grade school, as we've discussed here before. They are NOT using the proven strategy of learning phonics in order to master reading. This holds them back even as they are passed on to the next grade level, so by the time they reach junior high, tremendous damage has been done. When they get to college, they simply do not have the capacity to read a college-length text at a college level.
- When students get to the higher grade levels, the types of texts they are expected to read can be broken down into two main categories: informational texts and the fragments found in standardized tests. They are taught how to find key pieces of information within a text, but are not taught how to properly analyze literature to uncover themes, narrative structure, character development, world building, etc. In addition, many children are subject to reading programs like Accelerated Reading which channel their reading towards very specific stories which may not interest them or even hold them back when they try to progress beyond their AR level.
- The development of technology like smart phones and social media has greatly reduced the attention span of children so that they are no longer able to focus on a given text for any meaningful length of time. This is compounded by students also being diagnosed as ADHD and heavily medicated. So now students are drugged while forced to read boring texts that they don't like.
MORON RECOMMENDATIONS
Float the Boat by Mark S. Ehrlich It's December 2017 and consultant Nick Harmon is screwed. When he finds his ex-flame murdered the night before a reunion, police suspect he's the long-hibernating Surf Club Killer. Nick has his own theory too: that Adnan Sulaiman, the event's guest-of-honor, copycat-killed her. Backing it up only sinks him deeper into suspicion. But Nick's unconcerned. Even if he cuts his own throat, he's going to make Sulaiman pay. Adnan Sulaiman's latest deal will make real estate history. But the Indonesian billionaire now stands accused of murder. Not by DC police, by a dead woman he never met and a cabal of media loudmouths. The bad news goes global fast. One partner bails, others waiver, and protesters mass at headquarters. He's in the fight of his life and won't back down. Detective Steve Caine designates Nick the key suspect and Sulaiman a longshot. But is either man the elusive serial killer? Troubling inconsistencies mount, and unanswered questions dog him. Then a reporter breaks news about crucial evidence. One murderer or two? And if the Surf Club Killer's in town, when will he carve another wave? www.markserlich.com
Comment: Yeah, these stories might have been "dangerous" if they had been published back in the early to mid-1970s, when The Last Dangerous Visions was supposed to be published. But these stories have languished in development for *decades* and therefore don't carry quite the same stigma of being transgressive against the cultural norms. Just read the news today--or J.J. Sefton's excellent Morning Report--and you'll find REAL stories that would have shocked even the more progressive types to the core back then.
The Last Dangerous Visions has some awfully good stories in it; not sure you could call them 'dangerous' now, though some of them might have been in the 70s. The opening essays by J. M. Straczynski have a lot of information about how Harlan Ellison's career in general and this book in particular were affected by his illnesses. Well worth a read. Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 13, 2024 09:20 AM (q3u5l)
Comment: I have never heard of this author before, but I looked him up on Amazon and then went over to his website to see what he has to say. He's British, so he no doubt has a slightly different perspective on "social credit" than Americans do, but he seems less woke than most, or even anti-woke. Apparently, he's as dispirited by the wokeness in modern literature as the rest of us. He recently went on a reading hiatus, but then discovered Larry Correia's fun and exciting Monster Hunter series, which then led him to Jim Butcher's also fun and exciting Dresden Files series. I recommend both for anyone who likes urban fantasy with lots of destruction...Neither author holds back on the action when it's time to throw down with the bad guys...
This week I finished up World Walkers by Neal Asher. Asher is in my opinion the finest science fiction writer working today. All of his books are very technically savvy and regularly introduce brtilliant new ideas and concepts. I also appreciate that he is writing sci-fi and not woke-fi, even though he is published by Tor. World Walkers is different. The Asher signature is there all through the book, but I think the pandemic lockdowns broke him from the consensus narrative. Previously staying apolitical, World Walkers explicitly goes into the expected consequences of the oncoming social credit system. Social Assets (SA) above Zero Assets (ZA), all under the Bureaucracy, which governs nominal nation-states but in reality is run by the multi-national elite. Live in the pods, eat the bugs, and those who step out of line get harvested by the shepherds. Really a scary, excellent work. I can only hope Asher keeps getting published by Trad Pub. Posted by: Candidus at October 13, 2024 10:29 AM (d5aIs)
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 08:59 AM (0eaVi)
2
Tolle Lege
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 08:59 AM (fwDg9)
3
read on
Posted by: rhennigantx at October 20, 2024 08:59 AM (gbOdA)
4
Glitchy?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 09:01 AM (0eaVi)
5
Not sure I trust a book written in Latin
Anyway ever so slowly getting through Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a life
Anyway ever so slowly getting through Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a life
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:01 AM (fwDg9)
6
Hmmm, comments appeared, then disappeared. Eh, they're back.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 09:01 AM (0eaVi)
7
Sooo....of the three reasons why kids now can't read books, 2 or 2 and a half are directly related to the educational establishment. Oops. I meant "educators".
That word; I think it does not mean what you think it means.
That word; I think it does not mean what you think it means.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:04 AM (xCA6C)
8
Sooo....of the three reasons why kids now can't read books, 2 or 2 and a half are directly related to the educational establishment. Oops. I meant "educators".
That word; I think it does not mean what you think it means.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:04 AM (xCA6C)
---
Yep. It all starts from there...
That word; I think it does not mean what you think it means.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:04 AM (xCA6C)
---
Yep. It all starts from there...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at October 20, 2024 09:05 AM (BpYfr)
9
I was going to add Black Magic books always seem to be in Latin or Runes
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:05 AM (fwDg9)
10
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.
And greetings to the Texas group. I trust everyone had a wonderful time and have a safe trip home.
And greetings to the Texas group. I trust everyone had a wonderful time and have a safe trip home.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:07 AM (yTvNw)
11
The phonics issue was brought home to me last night when I was grading essays (handwritten in class, so no computer programs to check their grammar), and came upon phrases like "could of known." Even though I teach history, I really want to take time out of class next week to explain why that's wrong.
Posted by: Dr. T at October 20, 2024 09:07 AM (lHPJf)
12
Greetings from MoMe City. A great time as always -- bang, bang; chomp, chomp; glug, glug; yack, yack.
Between travel and TV, I didn't get in much reading. I'm still in "Retief: Diplomat at Arms." Somebody here (Salty?) said last week that he had been reading the same collection, which contains his favorite Retief tale. "Which one?" I ask. (I have a guess.)
I took an extra day for travel and used it to hit two Half Price bookstores and a comics shop in the Mid-Cities. My haul: a Nero Wolfe with a better cover than the one I have; "Forever and a Death," the last Donald Westlake novel, published posthumously and using a plot that he meant for a Bond movie; "The Forgotten Room" by Lincoln Child, reviewed in this space a few weeks ago; and Marvel Epic Collection No. 2 of "Luke Cage: Power Man," '70s blaxploitation in print.
And as I have all of today to drive home, I plan to stop at HPB's flagship store to sell a couple of Perry Mason books in good condition. One is so old that it has instructions on how to send the book to a military member overseas. I'll let you know how that went.
Between travel and TV, I didn't get in much reading. I'm still in "Retief: Diplomat at Arms." Somebody here (Salty?) said last week that he had been reading the same collection, which contains his favorite Retief tale. "Which one?" I ask. (I have a guess.)
I took an extra day for travel and used it to hit two Half Price bookstores and a comics shop in the Mid-Cities. My haul: a Nero Wolfe with a better cover than the one I have; "Forever and a Death," the last Donald Westlake novel, published posthumously and using a plot that he meant for a Bond movie; "The Forgotten Room" by Lincoln Child, reviewed in this space a few weeks ago; and Marvel Epic Collection No. 2 of "Luke Cage: Power Man," '70s blaxploitation in print.
And as I have all of today to drive home, I plan to stop at HPB's flagship store to sell a couple of Perry Mason books in good condition. One is so old that it has instructions on how to send the book to a military member overseas. I'll let you know how that went.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 09:07 AM (1aFZz)
13
Started Dan Jones' new biography of Henry V. He explained in his introduction that other biographies of the warrior king spent too little time on Henry's youth so he's concentrating on that part of his life. The book is written in the present tense which takes a little getting use to but so far so good.
Posted by: Tuna at October 20, 2024 09:08 AM (oaGWv)
14
The Texas MoMe was phenomenal. Getting to meet many members in person was a treat.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:09 AM (oCsk1)
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 09:09 AM (OX9vb)
16
The Texas MoMe was phenomenal. Getting to meet many members in person was a treat. Special thanks to Ben Hand for the use of the ranch.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:10 AM (oCsk1)
17
Have heard everyone at a Mo-Me has to wear a mask to prevent any government spy from finding out identifications
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:10 AM (fwDg9)
18
I was nearly a spontaneous reader, who needed very little prompting. But that seems to be really rare. I think some subset of the population has overdeveloped auditory/visual cortices or some kind of quirky link between the two that permits this to happen.
And then a large portion of the population, called teachers, have a grossly overdeveloped ego, observe this phenomenon, and think they can make it happen by virtue of their expertise.
And then a large portion of the population, called teachers, have a grossly overdeveloped ego, observe this phenomenon, and think they can make it happen by virtue of their expertise.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2024 09:12 AM (7oYYI)
19
The only reason I know what Malleus Maleficarum is is that it features in one of Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn mysteries, "A Surfeit of Lampreys."
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 20, 2024 09:12 AM (FEVMW)
20
Howdy, Horde.
Reading this week -- nothing organized or systematic. Skipping around in old noir stuff reissued by Prologue Books and Stark House. Thinking about revisiting a bunch of Donald Westlake/Richard Stark. Picked up a used copy of one of the Nero Wolfes a couple of weeks ago, and I'm almost afraid to read it because then I'll probably want to scrounge up the whole series.
Of the assorted classics I've meant to read or reread, we will not speak...
Reading this week -- nothing organized or systematic. Skipping around in old noir stuff reissued by Prologue Books and Stark House. Thinking about revisiting a bunch of Donald Westlake/Richard Stark. Picked up a used copy of one of the Nero Wolfes a couple of weeks ago, and I'm almost afraid to read it because then I'll probably want to scrounge up the whole series.
Of the assorted classics I've meant to read or reread, we will not speak...
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:15 AM (q3u5l)
21
Morning, Book Folken!
I finished Robert Ruark's novel of the Mau Mau Emergency, Something of Value, and found it as solid and in places horrifying as I remembered.
Further library books: a couple of John Dickson Carrs, an Agatha Christie, and a classical British mystery by an author I don't know, Cyril Hare. And a big collection of John Collier's short stories, Fancies and Goodnights. Several of his tales appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock anthologies of the Fifties and Sixties. You may know his "Evening Primrose" and "Thus I Refute Beelzy." This volume has much more in that vein. He does not pretend that he is not writing a story you are reading; his author voice is often right there with witty observations on the characters and their situations. You don't mind it because it's so clever and well-done.
I finished Robert Ruark's novel of the Mau Mau Emergency, Something of Value, and found it as solid and in places horrifying as I remembered.
Further library books: a couple of John Dickson Carrs, an Agatha Christie, and a classical British mystery by an author I don't know, Cyril Hare. And a big collection of John Collier's short stories, Fancies and Goodnights. Several of his tales appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock anthologies of the Fifties and Sixties. You may know his "Evening Primrose" and "Thus I Refute Beelzy." This volume has much more in that vein. He does not pretend that he is not writing a story you are reading; his author voice is often right there with witty observations on the characters and their situations. You don't mind it because it's so clever and well-done.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 09:15 AM (omVj0)
22
With a collection like that it’s no wonder the rare book owner was the wisest on The Planet of Apes.
Posted by: RustyG at October 20, 2024 09:15 AM (BSfbV)
23
Good morning again morons and thanks perfesser
As a result of the above issues, by the time students arrive in college, they no longer have the desire to read or to become lifelong readers.
====
By the time I graduated h.s. I was expected to discuss great works of Spanish language poetry and literature, in Spanish.
As a result of the above issues, by the time students arrive in college, they no longer have the desire to read or to become lifelong readers.
====
By the time I graduated h.s. I was expected to discuss great works of Spanish language poetry and literature, in Spanish.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:16 AM (RIvkX)
24
The only reason I know what Malleus Maleficarum is is that it features in one of Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn mysteries, "A Surfeit of Lampreys."
Ya know, I suspect it's very infrequently that one hears "what this place needs is more lampreys!".
Ya know, I suspect it's very infrequently that one hears "what this place needs is more lampreys!".
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:17 AM (xCA6C)
25
they make it sound like the Malleus is as bad the the Necronomicon don't they, were these witches 'innocent' really,
it the 40s there was a comic film with Veronica lake and Robert Benchley, about witchcraft in modern times, which I swear was a model for bewitched, which normalized the practice I suppose,
it the 40s there was a comic film with Veronica lake and Robert Benchley, about witchcraft in modern times, which I swear was a model for bewitched, which normalized the practice I suppose,
Posted by: no 6 at October 20, 2024 09:18 AM (pGTZo)
26
It is with sadness that I report, based upon intercepted comments near the end of last week's Book Thread, that certain Commenters are not wearing pants in this Thread.
In fact, they are *deliberately* not wearing pants for the Thread, and flaunt this by announcing that, and that they will be donning pants for the *next* Thread.
Now the reading issues that Perfessor started this Thread with are not to be ignored, but of far greater impact is the lack of courtesy and respect for the gravitas of this Thread, and therefore, for the greater AoSHQ Commentator Community.
You know who you are.
In fact, they are *deliberately* not wearing pants for the Thread, and flaunt this by announcing that, and that they will be donning pants for the *next* Thread.
Now the reading issues that Perfessor started this Thread with are not to be ignored, but of far greater impact is the lack of courtesy and respect for the gravitas of this Thread, and therefore, for the greater AoSHQ Commentator Community.
You know who you are.
Posted by: Bob from NSA at October 20, 2024 09:19 AM (a3Q+t)
27
Kids, and adults, will read if reading is fun. For example, the Harry Potter series, The lord of the Rings, etc.
Posted by: davidt at October 20, 2024 09:20 AM (i0F8b)
28
Anyway ever so slowly getting through Martin Gilbert's Churchill, a life
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:01 AM (fwDg9)
---
A few years ago when I was finishing up Walls of Men, I decided I needed to pause and audit myself by reading a modern, respected history of China. Something pulled from academia and popular with that set. I ended up reading Hansons The Open Empire, which was an easy read and of course filled with lives of da wimmen, but helped validate my work in terms of chronology, correct transliteration, etc.
Gilbert's book reminds me of this. I've already read his autobiography and everything that's currently in print. So while Gilbert fills in some interesting social details, I'm also able to see things he got wrong. For example, Churchill himself states that his actual first step into India was marred by a rogue wave and he ended up dislocating his right shoulder, which never fully healed. As a result, he could no longer use his saber, and instead preferred the pistol instead. This saved his life at Omdurman.
con't
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:01 AM (fwDg9)
---
A few years ago when I was finishing up Walls of Men, I decided I needed to pause and audit myself by reading a modern, respected history of China. Something pulled from academia and popular with that set. I ended up reading Hansons The Open Empire, which was an easy read and of course filled with lives of da wimmen, but helped validate my work in terms of chronology, correct transliteration, etc.
Gilbert's book reminds me of this. I've already read his autobiography and everything that's currently in print. So while Gilbert fills in some interesting social details, I'm also able to see things he got wrong. For example, Churchill himself states that his actual first step into India was marred by a rogue wave and he ended up dislocating his right shoulder, which never fully healed. As a result, he could no longer use his saber, and instead preferred the pistol instead. This saved his life at Omdurman.
con't
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:20 AM (llXky)
29
There's a story in Fancies and Good nights called "Over Insurance." Won't discuss the plot, but I've never been able to read the last paragraph of that one without laughing my kazoosis off.
Collier at novel length never quite did it for me, but his short stories are a joy. If memory serves, a few were adapted for the Hitchcock TV shows. One, "The Chaser," was adapted by Serling for Twilight Zone -- if you watch that one, stop at the halfway point; everything after that was follow-up to fill out the half-hour because the story proper ends when George Grizzard leaves the store.
Collier at novel length never quite did it for me, but his short stories are a joy. If memory serves, a few were adapted for the Hitchcock TV shows. One, "The Chaser," was adapted by Serling for Twilight Zone -- if you watch that one, stop at the halfway point; everything after that was follow-up to fill out the half-hour because the story proper ends when George Grizzard leaves the store.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:21 AM (q3u5l)
30
Books of powerful magic always have to be written in an obscure language. That's so that nobody can see what bullshit they are.
I'm not just being cynical here. A lot of the "practice of magick" was invented by failed seminary students in the late Medieval/early Modern era. Flunk out of priest training, hit the road as a "wizard" or an "alchemist." You can spin the jargon, you've got some strange books in Latin (probably a bootleg Satyricon), and you're just educated enough to put one over on provincial merchants and minor gentry. Naturally they played up the Halloween decoration aspects -- skulls, blood, etc. And because you've always got to "cool the mark" before you blow town, invite them to some ritual in a cemetery and maybe pretend to stab your girlfriend or something equally serious, so there's no way they can run to the local authorities.
See Elliot Rose's _A Razor for a Goat_ for a good hard-nosed look at the bullshit behind the bullshit in "occultism."
I'm not just being cynical here. A lot of the "practice of magick" was invented by failed seminary students in the late Medieval/early Modern era. Flunk out of priest training, hit the road as a "wizard" or an "alchemist." You can spin the jargon, you've got some strange books in Latin (probably a bootleg Satyricon), and you're just educated enough to put one over on provincial merchants and minor gentry. Naturally they played up the Halloween decoration aspects -- skulls, blood, etc. And because you've always got to "cool the mark" before you blow town, invite them to some ritual in a cemetery and maybe pretend to stab your girlfriend or something equally serious, so there's no way they can run to the local authorities.
See Elliot Rose's _A Razor for a Goat_ for a good hard-nosed look at the bullshit behind the bullshit in "occultism."
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:21 AM (78a2H)
31
Posted by: Bob from NSA at October 20, 2024 09:19 AM (a3Q+t)
====
*dispenses nitrous oxide through USB port*
====
*dispenses nitrous oxide through USB port*
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:22 AM (RIvkX)
32
Morning, all.
When I was younger, some small press put out a translation of the Malleus. I have it somewhere.
Been skipping around in my reading lately, going from one thing to another and not really retaining much. I'm in one of those moods where I keep buying books, put them aside and then buy more. The only thing I've been able to finish was Voluptuous Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin, and that only because some of it intrigued my twisted psyche.
I'm typing up part of my own novel right now, but still have 11 handwritten pages to go. It's times like this I wish someone could read my writing, so I could just send the stuff off to a typist.
But never mind - I'm always cranky and out of sorts on Sundays.
When I was younger, some small press put out a translation of the Malleus. I have it somewhere.
Been skipping around in my reading lately, going from one thing to another and not really retaining much. I'm in one of those moods where I keep buying books, put them aside and then buy more. The only thing I've been able to finish was Voluptuous Panic: The Erotic World of Weimar Berlin, and that only because some of it intrigued my twisted psyche.
I'm typing up part of my own novel right now, but still have 11 handwritten pages to go. It's times like this I wish someone could read my writing, so I could just send the stuff off to a typist.
But never mind - I'm always cranky and out of sorts on Sundays.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:22 AM (Q0kLU)
33
The Texas MoMe was phenomenal. Getting to meet many members in person was a treat. Special thanks to Ben Had for the use of the ranch.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:10 AM (oCsk1)
————
Seconded!
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:10 AM (oCsk1)
————
Seconded!
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024 09:22 AM (Kcw7x)
34
"it the 40s there was a comic film with Veronica lake and Robert Benchley, about witchcraft in modern times"
It's "I Married a Witch" (1942). And, yes, it along with "Bell Book and Candle" were inspirations for "Bewitched."
The 1942 movie is pretty entertaining.
It's "I Married a Witch" (1942). And, yes, it along with "Bell Book and Candle" were inspirations for "Bewitched."
The 1942 movie is pretty entertaining.
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 20, 2024 09:23 AM (FEVMW)
35
I first heard of the Malleus book in an essay on witch trials that appeared in a Rod Serling-edited anthology of creepy stories, Witches, Warlocks, and Werewolves. It's a fascinating collection with stories by Gordon Dickson, Fritz Leiber, and including one of the most unusual werewolf stories ever, "Wolves Don't Cry," by Bruce Elliott. Anyway, the witchcraft essay was over my head at age eleven, but I've read it since and have found it intriguing.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 09:24 AM (omVj0)
36
Gilbert, being British, also knows nothing about firearms. Churchill would have carried a revolver in India (probably a Webley), but when he went to Egypt he purchased the latest hardware available, a Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" chambered in the powerful 7.63mm cartridge. Clip-fed, with a ten-round internal magazine capacity, this beast played a prominent role in Churchill's life. At Omdurman, he was able to drop Dervishes at a distance, and after passing through their lines, reload relatively quickly. This was also the weapon he was carrying in South Africa and in his autobiography, Churchill notes that it was beside him as he writes. A minor detail, but significant and moreover, easy to get right.
I'm going to continue reading because almost all British authors (except Churchill!) screw up firearms. Even the great British firearms authority, Ian Hogg, is fricking clueless about their actual operation.
I'm going to continue reading because almost all British authors (except Churchill!) screw up firearms. Even the great British firearms authority, Ian Hogg, is fricking clueless about their actual operation.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:24 AM (llXky)
37
Note also that the pre-Reformation Church was pretty shrewd about witches. Most of the "witches" weren't prosecuted for witchcraft. They were prosecuted for _pretending to be witches_ -- i.e. committing fraud with mumbo-jumbo and hocus pocus.
Witch hunts were the equivalent of Twitter mobs, and usually the authorities, secular and religious, would do their best to shut them down.
Witch hunts were the equivalent of Twitter mobs, and usually the authorities, secular and religious, would do their best to shut them down.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:25 AM (78a2H)
38
I've been reading the Richard Osman series, "The Thursday Murder Club", and it's entertaining. Like many series authors of "quirky" characters, they don't have character development so much as their quirks intensify over the course of the books. You see it more often in television shows, particularly sitcoms, and it's what causes the show to become unenjoyable. Same with books. The third book, "The Bullet That Missed" was the best of the series, and if he had stopped there, it would have been a job well done. Then he had to write a fourth and it literally lost the plot.
Posted by: Moki at October 20, 2024 09:26 AM (wLjpr)
39
There's a story in Fancies and Good nights called "Over Insurance." Won't discuss the plot, but I've never been able to read the last paragraph of that one without laughing my kazoosis off.
Collier at novel length never quite did it for me, but his short stories are a joy. If memory serves, a few were adapted for the Hitchcock TV shows. One, "The Chaser," was adapted by Serling for Twilight Zone -- if you watch that one, stop at the halfway point; everything after that was follow-up to fill out the half-hour because the story proper ends when George Grizzard leaves the store.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I'll skip ahead to those two next!
Collier at novel length never quite did it for me, but his short stories are a joy. If memory serves, a few were adapted for the Hitchcock TV shows. One, "The Chaser," was adapted by Serling for Twilight Zone -- if you watch that one, stop at the halfway point; everything after that was follow-up to fill out the half-hour because the story proper ends when George Grizzard leaves the store.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I'll skip ahead to those two next!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 09:27 AM (omVj0)
40
Note also that the pre-Reformation Church was pretty shrewd about witches. Most of the "witches" weren't prosecuted for witchcraft. They were prosecuted for _pretending to be witches_ -- i.e. committing fraud with mumbo-jumbo and hocus pocus.
I didn't know that. Interesting.
I didn't know that. Interesting.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (xCA6C)
41
I’m finishing up my send reading of Vampires of Michigan. I enjoyed it the first time but rushed through it because I just had to find out what happened to Zip. I’m enjoying it even more the second time.
Zip is the lead singer in a local rock band. They’re good. He has big dreams but the other band members have lives and day jobs. For them it’s a hobby; for Zip it’s his life. Besides, because of some past mistakes, he feels he’s unemployable in a regular job. His old girlfriend has moved on and is now engaged. He’s living out of his van. He can’t seem to move forward.
Zip has recently noticed a beautiful, mysterious blond woman at his shows. She always slips away before he can talk to her, but one night Zip manages to catch up with her. One thing leads to another and Zip has unwittingly been drawn into the world of the Vampires of Michigan, a cross between Dark Shadows and The Godfather.
Who knew that vampires lived in Michigan? What happens when the discipline and sense of duty of the older generations breaks down? What is the meaning of life when life goes on almost endlessly?
Zip is the lead singer in a local rock band. They’re good. He has big dreams but the other band members have lives and day jobs. For them it’s a hobby; for Zip it’s his life. Besides, because of some past mistakes, he feels he’s unemployable in a regular job. His old girlfriend has moved on and is now engaged. He’s living out of his van. He can’t seem to move forward.
Zip has recently noticed a beautiful, mysterious blond woman at his shows. She always slips away before he can talk to her, but one night Zip manages to catch up with her. One thing leads to another and Zip has unwittingly been drawn into the world of the Vampires of Michigan, a cross between Dark Shadows and The Godfather.
Who knew that vampires lived in Michigan? What happens when the discipline and sense of duty of the older generations breaks down? What is the meaning of life when life goes on almost endlessly?
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (EsfzF)
42
By the time I graduated h.s. I was expected to discuss great works of Spanish language poetry and literature, in Spanish.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:16 AM (RIvkX)
---
Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:16 AM (RIvkX)
---
Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (llXky)
43
Hi Horde! I'm in the middle of doing stuff but wanted to drop in to say "Grüß Gott!"
Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 20, 2024 09:29 AM (5CEo8)
44
This week I'm still reading Flynn's _In the Belly of the Whale_, along with a big fat travel guidebook for my next vacation trip.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:29 AM (78a2H)
45
>42 Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
I was just telling my public administration class that if they want to understand Germans to first read Kant and then read Kafka.
I was just telling my public administration class that if they want to understand Germans to first read Kant and then read Kafka.
Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 20, 2024 09:30 AM (5CEo8)
46
This week I'm still reading Flynn's _In the Belly of the Whale_, along with a big fat travel guidebook for my next vacation trip.
Posted by: Trimegistus
Where are you going?
Posted by: Trimegistus
Where are you going?
Posted by: Tuna at October 20, 2024 09:30 AM (oaGWv)
47
I was just telling my public administration class that if they want to understand Germans to first read Kant and then read Kafka.
I'd have said first read the Brothers Grimm.
I'd have said first read the Brothers Grimm.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:30 AM (xCA6C)
48
I was going to add Black Magic books always seem to be in Latin or Runes
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:05 AM (fwDg9)
---
Latin was a language of scholarship with established grammar and spelling. Vernacular languages were still being the developed and varied considerably by region. Of the tiny percentage of the population that was literate, they all read Latin. Old French or Old Low German? Not so much.
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 09:05 AM (fwDg9)
---
Latin was a language of scholarship with established grammar and spelling. Vernacular languages were still being the developed and varied considerably by region. Of the tiny percentage of the population that was literate, they all read Latin. Old French or Old Low German? Not so much.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (llXky)
49
Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (llXky)
====
Jorge Luis Borges and Pablo Neruda and Federico Garcia Lorca could be a little mind-bending.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (llXky)
====
Jorge Luis Borges and Pablo Neruda and Federico Garcia Lorca could be a little mind-bending.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (RIvkX)
50
I'm so glad you included the Malcolm Guite video in the post. His delight in these rare volumes (I also expected gloves would be needed) is infectious.
I have seen probably every YT video by him and about him. He always brings insight into the books he discusses and does so with joy and verve. It is nearly impossible not to get caught up in his appreciation and enthusiasm. He is one of the reasons I have a reignited enjoyment of poetry.
And he is a pipe smoker like Lewis, Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, myself and other notables.
I have seen probably every YT video by him and about him. He always brings insight into the books he discusses and does so with joy and verve. It is nearly impossible not to get caught up in his appreciation and enthusiasm. He is one of the reasons I have a reignited enjoyment of poetry.
And he is a pipe smoker like Lewis, Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, myself and other notables.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (yTvNw)
51
Let me clarify: witches prosecuted as frauds was more common in the "superstitious, ignorant" Middle Ages. With the coming of the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, shit got real and the sense that the Devil was active in the world got widespread. That's when you got witch panics, executions, etc.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (78a2H)
52
I have a copy of the Malleum autographed by the Witchsmeller Pursuivant himself. He graciously signed it after burning my cousin at the stake for causing the flax harvest to fail.
Posted by: PabloD at October 20, 2024 09:32 AM (/zi6l)
53
Been skipping around in my reading lately, going from one thing to another and not really retaining much. I'm in one of those moods where I keep buying books, put them aside and then buy more.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:22 AM (Q0kLU)
That's my situation in a nutshell, for the last several weeks. Currently settled on Death Match by Lincoln Child. So far, so good.
I did read The Unmothers, by Leslie J. Anderson. Eris reviewed it a few months ago, and it finally came in on my library holds. That is a weird tale, and was a perfect October book. Wimmens, horses, bad guys, and supernatural.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:22 AM (Q0kLU)
That's my situation in a nutshell, for the last several weeks. Currently settled on Death Match by Lincoln Child. So far, so good.
I did read The Unmothers, by Leslie J. Anderson. Eris reviewed it a few months ago, and it finally came in on my library holds. That is a weird tale, and was a perfect October book. Wimmens, horses, bad guys, and supernatural.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 09:32 AM (OX9vb)
54
If you like mind-bending, read El Aleph by Borges.
It's about the entire world incorporated in a Hebrew letter under the stairs. I think.
It's about the entire world incorporated in a Hebrew letter under the stairs. I think.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (RIvkX)
55
Hello, my bookie wookies! *grRROWrrrr*
I have a copy of the Malleus Maleficarum!
Because of course I do.
I have a copy of the Malleus Maleficarum!
Because of course I do.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (t9gtU)
56
I got jaded with Bill O'Reilly's "Killing the _______" series of books but I made an exception for his book Killing the Mob, The Fight Against Organized Crime in America.
This was a really engaging True Crime type of book. I had to re read several chapters because they seemed so implausible. Many detours thru mysterious lives of celebrities were made in detail. The origins of the FBI were covered in detail.
This was a really engaging True Crime type of book. I had to re read several chapters because they seemed so implausible. Many detours thru mysterious lives of celebrities were made in detail. The origins of the FBI were covered in detail.
Posted by: gourmand du jour at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (MeG8a)
57
> 47 I'd have said first read the Brothers Grimm.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:30 AM (xCA6C)
Good point. I wish Grimm started with a 'K' so I could maintain the alliteration.
If I were transliterating Hangul I might be able to get away with that. I learned that after being stationed at Kunsan Air Base near Gunsan, Republic of Korea.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:30 AM (xCA6C)
Good point. I wish Grimm started with a 'K' so I could maintain the alliteration.
If I were transliterating Hangul I might be able to get away with that. I learned that after being stationed at Kunsan Air Base near Gunsan, Republic of Korea.
Posted by: SPinRH_F-16 at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (5CEo8)
58
I'm planning to visit Australia. I have a friend who's going to be working in Adelaide so we're going to tour Australia's wine country. The guidebook is so I can find other things to do besides drink and look at funny animals.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (78a2H)
59
The fifth and final book of the Chronicles of Amber series by Roger Zelazny is The Courts of Chaos. Our hero Corwin is trying to prevent the destruction of the pattern that governs not only Amber, but all shadow worlds as well. The pattern must be repaired or replaced to hold everything together. He has to rally the loyal members of his family to defend the universe from chaos.
Corwin is faced with multiple challenges, many of which force him to improvise his way through. It finally becomes clear which of his family are allies, and which are traitors, and it will be a fight to the death to determine the fate of all of them.
The five books that make up this series need to be read complete and in sequence to grasp the full story; in fact, in recent years they have been brought together as an omnibus. The overall story arc is clever and well written, with first person narration in modern voice, and dialogue in more archaic voice. Given that it was written five decades ago, and helped define modern fantasy, it deserves the appellation of classic.
Corwin is faced with multiple challenges, many of which force him to improvise his way through. It finally becomes clear which of his family are allies, and which are traitors, and it will be a fight to the death to determine the fate of all of them.
The five books that make up this series need to be read complete and in sequence to grasp the full story; in fact, in recent years they have been brought together as an omnibus. The overall story arc is clever and well written, with first person narration in modern voice, and dialogue in more archaic voice. Given that it was written five decades ago, and helped define modern fantasy, it deserves the appellation of classic.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (oCsk1)
60
I have a copy of the Malleum autographed by the Witchsmeller Pursuivant himself. He graciously signed it after burning my cousin at the stake for causing the flax harvest to fail.
Understandable.
Understandable.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:34 AM (xCA6C)
61
Oh, and in writing matters:
Publisher Left Field (the name is disturbing, I know, but their money is as good as anyone else's) wrote back to me after five months, saying they really liked and were intrigued by the sample chapters I'd sent them of a mystery novel with a female protagonist. (I'm allowing them to think I'm female too.) They wanted the whole ms., and I sent it off this week.
I also submitted a short story to an anthology; sent another mystery novel to a contest, the Minotaur Books Contest; and am preparing to send the first of my fantasy novels to a publisher called Second Sky. Their website says that, even if they don't like the particular book, if they like your writing they might get in touch to discuss other projects. So who knows.
You send your children out into the world, and you hope they succeed.
Publisher Left Field (the name is disturbing, I know, but their money is as good as anyone else's) wrote back to me after five months, saying they really liked and were intrigued by the sample chapters I'd sent them of a mystery novel with a female protagonist. (I'm allowing them to think I'm female too.) They wanted the whole ms., and I sent it off this week.
I also submitted a short story to an anthology; sent another mystery novel to a contest, the Minotaur Books Contest; and am preparing to send the first of my fantasy novels to a publisher called Second Sky. Their website says that, even if they don't like the particular book, if they like your writing they might get in touch to discuss other projects. So who knows.
You send your children out into the world, and you hope they succeed.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 09:34 AM (omVj0)
62
Note also that the pre-Reformation Church was pretty shrewd about witches. Most of the "witches" weren't prosecuted for witchcraft. They were prosecuted for _pretending to be witches_ -- i.e. committing fraud with mumbo-jumbo and hocus pocus.
Witch hunts were the equivalent of Twitter mobs, and usually the authorities, secular and religious, would do their best to shut them down.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:25 AM (78a2H)
The great witch hunts we think of today were almost entirely a feature of the early modern period, and specifically of the chaos surrounding the Wars of Religion, when you had attempts to re-impose religious certainty on the one hand, and a breakdown in local law and order on the other.
Though it should be noted that these have been wildly exaggerated. 40-50,000 is a lot of deaths, but nowhere near the 9 million some sources later claimed.
Witch hunts were the equivalent of Twitter mobs, and usually the authorities, secular and religious, would do their best to shut them down.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:25 AM (78a2H)
The great witch hunts we think of today were almost entirely a feature of the early modern period, and specifically of the chaos surrounding the Wars of Religion, when you had attempts to re-impose religious certainty on the one hand, and a breakdown in local law and order on the other.
Though it should be noted that these have been wildly exaggerated. 40-50,000 is a lot of deaths, but nowhere near the 9 million some sources later claimed.
Posted by: Dr. T at October 20, 2024 09:35 AM (lHPJf)
63
I would add another factor about kids not reading any more.
Take the average English class where you are not only reading so-called "classics" but you have to analyze the rich layers of symbolism in everything from the color of the sky or the way the main character turned his head when he takes a dump.
And if you're student like me who argues that there was no symbolism and it was just descriptive prose? You get banished to lower level English classes. So yeah; high school is meant to foster a hatred of reading where the most bitter of students become English teachers later in life.
Take the average English class where you are not only reading so-called "classics" but you have to analyze the rich layers of symbolism in everything from the color of the sky or the way the main character turned his head when he takes a dump.
And if you're student like me who argues that there was no symbolism and it was just descriptive prose? You get banished to lower level English classes. So yeah; high school is meant to foster a hatred of reading where the most bitter of students become English teachers later in life.
Posted by: NR Pax at October 20, 2024 09:35 AM (lXCUP)
64
Never did get to the point where I could read work in German or French or Latin (or any other language), and am in awe of those who can. Couple of years of high-school Latin, one year of high-school French, and one year of college German. I dimly recall references to other writers learning to read French by sitting down with a French dictionary and Simenon's novels, and there are days when I'm tempted to do just that because some of his novels haven't been translated. But that's a lot like work, and I've long since gone into full Maynard G. Krebs mode.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:38 AM (q3u5l)
65
This week I'm still reading Flynn's _In the Belly of the Whale_, along with a big fat travel guidebook for my next vacation trip.
Posted by: Trimegistus
Where are you going?
Posted by: Tuna
In the belly of a whale? Us this some sort of discount package?
Posted by: Trimegistus
Where are you going?
Posted by: Tuna
In the belly of a whale? Us this some sort of discount package?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 09:38 AM (oCsk1)
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 09:38 AM (mH6SG)
67
I would add another factor about kids not reading any more.
There's another factor. So many schools now no longer teach "the classics", they teach Maya Angelou, Catcher in the Rye, and other such drek. I remember disliking most of the classics when I was in HS, but I'd take those in an instant over the "modern classics", i.e. woke nonsense. More importantly, one doesn't just start to read the best literature ever written, you have to work up to it, in the same way that one doesn't just start doing advanced math.
There's another factor. So many schools now no longer teach "the classics", they teach Maya Angelou, Catcher in the Rye, and other such drek. I remember disliking most of the classics when I was in HS, but I'd take those in an instant over the "modern classics", i.e. woke nonsense. More importantly, one doesn't just start to read the best literature ever written, you have to work up to it, in the same way that one doesn't just start doing advanced math.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:39 AM (xCA6C)
68
In the picture above, Poet Malcolm Guite looks like one of the wise elder apes in "Planet of the Apes".
Poet on, Dr Zaius! Poet on.
In the picture above, Poet Malcolm Guite looks like one of the wise elder apes in "Planet of the Apes".
Poet on, Dr Zaius! Poet on.
Posted by: naturalfake at October 20, 2024 09:40 AM (eDfFs)
69
Witch hunts were the equivalent of Twitter mobs, and usually the authorities, secular and religious, would do their best to shut them down.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:25 AM (78a2H)
---
The business of Catholics burning heretics and witches at the stake was greatly emphasized by Protestant propagandists, particularly in England to justify their own horrific acts against Catholic dissidents. The Brits were quicker to emancipate slaves than Catholics and the reason the US has no established Church was colonial disdain for the C of E and the Puritans. Washington pledging Catholic emancipation boosted his recruiting in Catholic areas considerably. Washington himself donated funds to build a Catholic church building in Maryland and is rumored to have pulled a John Wayne and converted on his deathbed. Naturally, there's no proof.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:25 AM (78a2H)
---
The business of Catholics burning heretics and witches at the stake was greatly emphasized by Protestant propagandists, particularly in England to justify their own horrific acts against Catholic dissidents. The Brits were quicker to emancipate slaves than Catholics and the reason the US has no established Church was colonial disdain for the C of E and the Puritans. Washington pledging Catholic emancipation boosted his recruiting in Catholic areas considerably. Washington himself donated funds to build a Catholic church building in Maryland and is rumored to have pulled a John Wayne and converted on his deathbed. Naturally, there's no proof.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:40 AM (llXky)
70
Never did get to the point where I could read work in German or French or Latin (or any other language), and am in awe of those who can.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:38 AM (q3u5l)
---
I can't anymore. Too long away from it. I saved some of my school work and it's strange to have an essay written in my own hand that I cannot read. Eerie, even.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:38 AM (q3u5l)
---
I can't anymore. Too long away from it. I saved some of my school work and it's strange to have an essay written in my own hand that I cannot read. Eerie, even.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:42 AM (llXky)
71
I'm planning to visit Australia. I have a friend who's going to be working in Adelaide so we're going to tour Australia's wine country. The guidebook is so I can find other things to do besides drink and look at funny animals.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (78a2H)
===
We just got back and spent a lot of time in Sydney at the beach and hiking from beach to beach.
I wanted to take a train ride to hike in the Blue Mountains but got vetoed.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:33 AM (78a2H)
===
We just got back and spent a lot of time in Sydney at the beach and hiking from beach to beach.
I wanted to take a train ride to hike in the Blue Mountains but got vetoed.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:43 AM (RIvkX)
72
As to college students and other young people not reading and, worse, not being able to. I've noticed over the last few years that there have been more newly published collections of CS Lewis, Belloc, George MacDonald, Chesterton and others that bring out the importance of imagination in art and wonderfully effective writing. I realize many of these are in the public domain but, even so, they wouldn't have been printed if there wasn't an audience for them. They can't all be bought by oldsters like me. That gives me a little bit of hope.
I don't include Tolkien in this group as his work has become its own industry. But the others being brought forward is encouraging.
I don't include Tolkien in this group as his work has become its own industry. But the others being brought forward is encouraging.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:43 AM (yTvNw)
73
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (EsfzF)
Wasn't Vampires of Michigan written by one of the Moron authors?
Wasn't Vampires of Michigan written by one of the Moron authors?
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:43 AM (Q0kLU)
74
Thanks for posting the Neal Asher mini-review Perfesser. Anyone interested in trying to jump into Asher's massive body of work, I'd recommend the Polity series. If you want a one-book prelude to the whole Universe I'd suggest Prador Moon.
Posted by: Candidus at October 20, 2024 09:44 AM (Y0IYe)
75
Good morning, good people. I have to give credit to my parents for indulging my voracious reading appetite as a young person, with no caveats about subject. The very least it did was to enhance my vocabulary greatly.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 20, 2024 09:44 AM (hKoQL)
76
Symbol-hunting always took the fun out of reading. But it's probably essential for the "educators" gig -- how would they bamboozle their way into a steady paycheck if they ever admitted that usually a cigar is just a cigar?
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:44 AM (q3u5l)
77
Okay, I have the Foxtrot collection that was featured as the 'guilty pleasure' pic, but the comic featured in the post itself was not from that collection. In fact, I don't think I've ever read that particular comic before. It must a semi-recent one, published after the strip went Sunday-only.
The Foxtrot strips are definitely a guilty pleasure. Seeing Jason nerd-out to then-current pop-culture is a nostalgic treat. Same with watching him (and occasionally the rest of the family) experience the 00's cultural events.
The Foxtrot strips are definitely a guilty pleasure. Seeing Jason nerd-out to then-current pop-culture is a nostalgic treat. Same with watching him (and occasionally the rest of the family) experience the 00's cultural events.
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 09:44 AM (Lhaco)
78
Who knew that vampires lived in Michigan? What happens when the discipline and sense of duty of the older generations breaks down? What is the meaning of life when life goes on almost endlessly?
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (EsfzF)
---
Glad you like it! I really enjoyed writing that one and more than once laughed out loud and a scene I set up. That's why I want to get back into fiction again. Just waiting for the mood to strike me. I've got some ideas, but inspiration has not yet reached critical mass.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (EsfzF)
---
Glad you like it! I really enjoyed writing that one and more than once laughed out loud and a scene I set up. That's why I want to get back into fiction again. Just waiting for the mood to strike me. I've got some ideas, but inspiration has not yet reached critical mass.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:45 AM (llXky)
79
With a collection like that it’s no wonder the rare book owner was the wisest on The Planet of Apes.
Posted by: RustyG at October 20, 2024 09:15 AM (BSfbV)
Rats! Beaten to the punch.
*kicks dirt*
Posted by: RustyG at October 20, 2024 09:15 AM (BSfbV)
Rats! Beaten to the punch.
*kicks dirt*
Posted by: naturalfake at October 20, 2024 09:46 AM (eDfFs)
80
Please note that I'm wearing pants for the Book Thread. Mainly because I'm waiting to board my plane out of Tyler TX. They have ONE gate! I love small airports.
Anyway, I'm reading the second book in the Hinder Stars series in Cherryh's Union-Alliance universe, "Alliance Unbound". It would be gibberish to anyone unversed in the Cherryh-verse, being mostly politics and culture clash between the space stations, the merchant fleet, and Sol system trying unsuccessfully to maintain a grip on everyone in an era of FTL travel, but I love it.
My nightstand reading is another in the modern Wind in the Willows series, "Willows and Beyond".
Anyway, I'm reading the second book in the Hinder Stars series in Cherryh's Union-Alliance universe, "Alliance Unbound". It would be gibberish to anyone unversed in the Cherryh-verse, being mostly politics and culture clash between the space stations, the merchant fleet, and Sol system trying unsuccessfully to maintain a grip on everyone in an era of FTL travel, but I love it.
My nightstand reading is another in the modern Wind in the Willows series, "Willows and Beyond".
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 09:47 AM (t9gtU)
81
On the topic of witchcraft, I'm just going to say: yes, its real, and a growing problem.
"Mister, we could sure use a Grand Inquisitor right now."
"Mister, we could sure use a Grand Inquisitor right now."
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:47 AM (llXky)
82
24 The only reason I know what Malleus Maleficarum is is that it features in one of Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn mysteries, "A Surfeit of Lampreys."
Ya know, I suspect it's very infrequently that one hears "what this place needs is more lampreys!".
It just occurred to me that "A Surfeit of Lampreys" may have been the early working version of "my hovercraft is filled with eels".
Ya know, I suspect it's very infrequently that one hears "what this place needs is more lampreys!".
It just occurred to me that "A Surfeit of Lampreys" may have been the early working version of "my hovercraft is filled with eels".
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:48 AM (xCA6C)
83
Current library read is Rob Schneider's
"You Can Do It!: Speak Your Mind, America" . I'm not a fan of his but it looked like it had potential.
Every other new non-fiction audiobook with references to disinformation added into our library system has been BS propaganda. A few had titles and sub-heads so dishonest that I gave them a shot.This one is an exception
Schneider’s very entertaining and on point regarding cancel culture and more. Rob is one of many celebrities I knew has name but really not much else. I am now a fan.
"You Can Do It!: Speak Your Mind, America" . I'm not a fan of his but it looked like it had potential.
Every other new non-fiction audiobook with references to disinformation added into our library system has been BS propaganda. A few had titles and sub-heads so dishonest that I gave them a shot.This one is an exception
Schneider’s very entertaining and on point regarding cancel culture and more. Rob is one of many celebrities I knew has name but really not much else. I am now a fan.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at October 20, 2024 09:49 AM (pKKMW)
84
. I have to give credit to my parents for indulging my voracious reading appetite as a young person, with no caveats about subject. The very least it did was to enhance my vocabulary greatly.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 20, 2024
***
Same here, IG. Mom did not want me reading the James Bond books; I was eight or nine. I guess she thought they were too racy, or something. But she had me read the "venomous centipede in Bond's bed" scene in Doctor No, and I was hooked. Dad steered me to Tarzan, Mom to Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, and that was it.
Mom also did not want me looking at her nursing textbooks, and after a peek or two, I could see why. B & W photos of a case of elephantiasis are enough to put anybody off medical topics.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 20, 2024
***
Same here, IG. Mom did not want me reading the James Bond books; I was eight or nine. I guess she thought they were too racy, or something. But she had me read the "venomous centipede in Bond's bed" scene in Doctor No, and I was hooked. Dad steered me to Tarzan, Mom to Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe, and that was it.
Mom also did not want me looking at her nursing textbooks, and after a peek or two, I could see why. B & W photos of a case of elephantiasis are enough to put anybody off medical topics.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 09:50 AM (omVj0)
85
Reread Terry Pratchett's Making Money. Not as good as Going Postal, but still very good.
Lord Havelock Vetinari, Lord Patrician, tyrant of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork makes the most of his appearances in the book.
Lord Havelock Vetinari, Lord Patrician, tyrant of the city-state of Ankh-Morpork makes the most of his appearances in the book.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 09:50 AM (u82oZ)
86
I read The Oceans an the Stars by Mark Halprin. Halprin has written a love story, an action/adventure war story and a court martial story. He deftly weaves these together to make an interesting, very enjoyable read.
Posted by: Zoltan at October 20, 2024 09:51 AM (d7Hjf)
87
This week I acquired (but have not yet read) two very cheap ebooks.
First, "Deception Game" by Will Jordan. Modern day thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I'll make an exception for a book written by YouTube's "The Critical Drinker." Amazon currently has the book discounted to 2.99.
Second book was "Witness of Go" by John Norman. Sword and Sorcery is definitely my thing, and I read and enjoyed the first Gor book a while back. The Gor series has a....smutty....reputation, which the first installment did not live up (or down) to. However, I suspect this installment will fully justify the reputation.
And while it's not a book I bought, I stumbled across the cover of "The Silver Warriors" by Michael Moorcock. Drawn by Frank Frazetta, the cover has some barbarian riding in a sleigh/chariot being pulled by 4 polar bears. Just that concept is pure pulpy brilliance!
First, "Deception Game" by Will Jordan. Modern day thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I'll make an exception for a book written by YouTube's "The Critical Drinker." Amazon currently has the book discounted to 2.99.
Second book was "Witness of Go" by John Norman. Sword and Sorcery is definitely my thing, and I read and enjoyed the first Gor book a while back. The Gor series has a....smutty....reputation, which the first installment did not live up (or down) to. However, I suspect this installment will fully justify the reputation.
And while it's not a book I bought, I stumbled across the cover of "The Silver Warriors" by Michael Moorcock. Drawn by Frank Frazetta, the cover has some barbarian riding in a sleigh/chariot being pulled by 4 polar bears. Just that concept is pure pulpy brilliance!
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 09:51 AM (Lhaco)
88
My Dad turned me on to Edgar Rice Burroughs and Richard Halliburton around 4th grade. Those made all the predigested books for 3rd graders fade in the background.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 09:52 AM (u82oZ)
89
On the inability to read books, I think an overwhelming factor is focus. The ability to focus on one thing for an extended period of time is really a pre-requisite to being able to ... anything great, novel, unique. Getting pinged every seven seconds, with a subsequent dopamine hit, is destroying minds.
Vernor Vinge has a magnificent novel 'A Deepness in the Sky' in which focus is a central element. As always with Vinge, the sci-fi is hard, with all of the limitations of our current understanding of physics, and the interplay between software, human intelligence, and non-human intelligence is very entertaining.
Vernor Vinge has a magnificent novel 'A Deepness in the Sky' in which focus is a central element. As always with Vinge, the sci-fi is hard, with all of the limitations of our current understanding of physics, and the interplay between software, human intelligence, and non-human intelligence is very entertaining.
Posted by: Candidus at October 20, 2024 09:52 AM (Y0IYe)
90
I'm probably guilty of the low-attention-span thing because I usually alternate reading w/ something else, for instance I'll watch football and read two sentences between plays or three if there's an injury or time out, or baseball with a sentence between pitches or two between batters.
Posted by: Norrin Radd, sojourner of the spaceways at October 20, 2024 09:52 AM (tRYqg)
Posted by: Emmie at October 20, 2024 09:53 AM (Sf2cq)
92
My HS French we read (sp and gender matches iffy) Les Jeux Sont Fait (Sartre), L'Etranger (Camus), Le Petit Prince (St Exupery), and I also got La Silence de la Mer (?) cause I read so well.
Posted by: yara at October 20, 2024 09:54 AM (s8LAW)
93
Weirdly, I can't remember being taught to read -- I could read already when I started kindergarten and was always ahead of grade level. No idea how I got started.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 09:54 AM (q3u5l)
94
The great witch hunts we think of today were almost entirely a feature of the early modern period, and specifically of the chaos surrounding the Wars of Religion, when you had attempts to re-impose religious certainty on the one hand, and a breakdown in local law and order on the other.
Though it should be noted that these have been wildly exaggerated. 40-50,000 is a lot of deaths, but nowhere near the 9 million some sources later claimed.
Posted by: Dr. T at October 20, 2024 09:35 AM (lHPJf)
---
There were periodic witch hunts in England, fueled in part by Protestant paranoia regarding a Catholic regaining the throne.
One also had bitter internal disputes within Protestantism itself, and the line between witchcraft and heresy got pretty thin when holy icons were now redefined as idol worship.
A crucial difference is that an accused witch could always repent and do some penance. If one considered the charges nonsense, it was still a reasonable play. But when one starts getting to denying one's core beliefs, people were more willing to die than comply.
Though it should be noted that these have been wildly exaggerated. 40-50,000 is a lot of deaths, but nowhere near the 9 million some sources later claimed.
Posted by: Dr. T at October 20, 2024 09:35 AM (lHPJf)
---
There were periodic witch hunts in England, fueled in part by Protestant paranoia regarding a Catholic regaining the throne.
One also had bitter internal disputes within Protestantism itself, and the line between witchcraft and heresy got pretty thin when holy icons were now redefined as idol worship.
A crucial difference is that an accused witch could always repent and do some penance. If one considered the charges nonsense, it was still a reasonable play. But when one starts getting to denying one's core beliefs, people were more willing to die than comply.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:54 AM (llXky)
95
I'm a little surprised he was not required to wear white cotton gloves while handling those books, some of which are centuries old.
I was either in the Bancroft Library, or the Huntington Library, for a history class and the person leading our group passed around seventeenth century documents for us to look at. How many greasy hands touched it, i don't know. But, maybe the document wasn't important, or there were many copies so it didn't matter?
I was either in the Bancroft Library, or the Huntington Library, for a history class and the person leading our group passed around seventeenth century documents for us to look at. How many greasy hands touched it, i don't know. But, maybe the document wasn't important, or there were many copies so it didn't matter?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 09:55 AM (0eaVi)
96
We've had our first few days of cooler weather which starts me into hibernation mode: bread making, long, slow cooking stews and soups on the stove top, and, especially, certain books. The books you can curl up with for long sessions of reading. LOTR tops the list, of course, since it's me. But it also includes poetry of all sorts: Shakespeare's sonnets, Tennyson, Poe, Guite's (his poetry is wonderful) and others that benefit from reading aloud.
I don't know if others have 'seasonal' reading or if I'm just peculiar. (PS: I don't mind being peculiar.)
I don't know if others have 'seasonal' reading or if I'm just peculiar. (PS: I don't mind being peculiar.)
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:55 AM (yTvNw)
97
Henry I of England famously died of a surfeit of lampreys. Lampreys were a delicacy in those days -- and given how yummy Scottish smoked eel and Japanese unagi are, I expect they would still be a delicacy today if they didn't look like something out of the Alien movie franchise.
Henry's death was a big deal because his son William drowned when the White Ship sank on the way from Normandy to Britain, so the succession was disputed between Stephen of Blois (Henry's nephew) and Empress Mathilda (Henry's daughter and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor). The result was a fifteen-year civil war during which nobody was in charge of the country.
So be careful how many lampreys you take at the buffet.
Henry's death was a big deal because his son William drowned when the White Ship sank on the way from Normandy to Britain, so the succession was disputed between Stephen of Blois (Henry's nephew) and Empress Mathilda (Henry's daughter and widow of the Holy Roman Emperor). The result was a fifteen-year civil war during which nobody was in charge of the country.
So be careful how many lampreys you take at the buffet.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 09:56 AM (78a2H)
98
I'd read that a year or two back Barnes and Noble gave their store managers the power to organize and stock their stores to best match their clientele. It has boosted sales overall.
However, in one nearby B&N the manager must be a Wiccan, as that garbage is everywhere in the store, filling the end caps by "Religious Studies" and prominently displayed in the "Young Adult" and even Children's section.
However, in one nearby B&N the manager must be a Wiccan, as that garbage is everywhere in the store, filling the end caps by "Religious Studies" and prominently displayed in the "Young Adult" and even Children's section.
Posted by: Candidus at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (Y0IYe)
99
Wasn't Vampires of Michigan written by one of the Moron authors?
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:43 AM (Q0kLU)
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Yours truly. It was the last novel I published. After that I did the Spanish Civil War and China books - thoroughly burning myself out in the process. Nonfiction does sell better over the long haul, though. You might consider putting your knowledge of early Hollywood into a series of essays or something.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 09:43 AM (Q0kLU)
---
Yours truly. It was the last novel I published. After that I did the Spanish Civil War and China books - thoroughly burning myself out in the process. Nonfiction does sell better over the long haul, though. You might consider putting your knowledge of early Hollywood into a series of essays or something.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (llXky)
100
Also reread Sidhe-Devil, one of two homages to Doc Savage in a fantasy urban world, by Aaron Allston.
Pretty good. Better than Doc Savage books, which pale with plot holes after one is over 15 years old.
Pretty good. Better than Doc Savage books, which pale with plot holes after one is over 15 years old.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 09:59 AM (u82oZ)
101
I just took a natural interest in reading at a young age. Although my folks encouraged it, there was no prodding on their part. Just kinda happened organically. Can't explain it but I sure am glad it worked out that way.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:00 AM (mH6SG)
102
Rob Schneider is known as a rare conservative in Hollywood. He has been appearing on "Gutfeld!"
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 10:00 AM (RIvkX)
103
I've been re-visiting what I call my 'Appalachia Collection'. John Fox, Harriet Arnow, et al.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 20, 2024 10:00 AM (XeU6L)
104
My HS French we read (sp and gender matches iffy) Les Jeux Sont Fait (Sartre), L'Etranger (Camus), Le Petit Prince (St Exupery), and I also got La Silence de la Mer (?) cause I read so well.
Posted by: yara at October 20, 2024 09:54 AM (s8LAW)
---
I read a translation of The Stranger when "Killing an Arab" was on the radio and people argued about what it meant. Kind of a cool adaptation.
Posted by: yara at October 20, 2024 09:54 AM (s8LAW)
---
I read a translation of The Stranger when "Killing an Arab" was on the radio and people argued about what it meant. Kind of a cool adaptation.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:00 AM (llXky)
105
I’m currently reading Waffle House Menu. It seems vaguely familiar, sorta like I read it a year ago.
Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (e7JB9)
106
However, in one nearby B&N the manager must be a Wiccan, as that garbage is everywhere in the store, filling the end caps by "Religious Studies" and prominently displayed in the "Young Adult" and even Children's section.
Posted by: Candidus at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (Y0IYe)
---
Our local big box bookstore (Schuler's I think) is all about the gay. All over the place, huge section on sexuality, and the need for constant affirmation is just weird.
Posted by: Candidus at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (Y0IYe)
---
Our local big box bookstore (Schuler's I think) is all about the gay. All over the place, huge section on sexuality, and the need for constant affirmation is just weird.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (llXky)
107
You might consider putting your knowledge of early Hollywood into a series of essays or something.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (llXky)
I had forgotten VoM was yours, since I've been following the saga of your Spanish Civil War book.
As far as the essays, I'm planning on doing a series of long-form blog posts on Hollywood and the early days once I get my website revamped and current. Not being tech-savvy, I need to find someone to help.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:57 AM (llXky)
I had forgotten VoM was yours, since I've been following the saga of your Spanish Civil War book.
As far as the essays, I'm planning on doing a series of long-form blog posts on Hollywood and the early days once I get my website revamped and current. Not being tech-savvy, I need to find someone to help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (Q0kLU)
108
After many weeks of plodding through multiple comic book collections, I finally finished one of them: "Spider-Girl The Complete Collection" Volume 2. It's a 'what-if' story that ran amuck; it pretends that Peter Parker was allowed to marry his girlfriend, settle down, and quietly raise a family.....Until his teenaged daughter developed spider-powers and was drawn into the wild world of Marvel Superheroes, just like her father before her.
It's really enjoyable. It's a little bit retro; every issue is its own story, but written in a modern (well, 90's) style where the writing isn't too cheesy. The art isn't my favorite, but it tries to imitate the earlies Spider-Man comics, so it can certainly justify its style. My only real complaint is that the main character has the dumbest and least-feminine haircut imaginable for the first 24 issues. C'mon, Mayday, your Mother was a supermodel! Try to live up her example, at least a little....At least this collection did see her getting a decent cut..
It's really enjoyable. It's a little bit retro; every issue is its own story, but written in a modern (well, 90's) style where the writing isn't too cheesy. The art isn't my favorite, but it tries to imitate the earlies Spider-Man comics, so it can certainly justify its style. My only real complaint is that the main character has the dumbest and least-feminine haircut imaginable for the first 24 issues. C'mon, Mayday, your Mother was a supermodel! Try to live up her example, at least a little....At least this collection did see her getting a decent cut..
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:03 AM (Lhaco)
109
93 Weirdly, I can't remember being taught to read -- I could read already when I started kindergarten and was always ahead of grade level. No idea how I got started.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I don't remember either, except Mom told me some years later that she started me with comic books like the Dell Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck ones. We'd read them together, her doing the "hard" words and me the "easy" ones. Before too long, she said, I was doing the hard ones too.
My first grade teacher scared me one day about two weeks into school, when she asked me to stay nehind at 3 pm. I thought I was in trouble. Instead she said, "Young Wolfus, you know how to read, don't you?" And I blinked and said, "Sure." I thought everybody did, and my schoolmates who stumbled over "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" were just slow.
(I may have made up that last book title.)
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I don't remember either, except Mom told me some years later that she started me with comic books like the Dell Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck ones. We'd read them together, her doing the "hard" words and me the "easy" ones. Before too long, she said, I was doing the hard ones too.
My first grade teacher scared me one day about two weeks into school, when she asked me to stay nehind at 3 pm. I thought I was in trouble. Instead she said, "Young Wolfus, you know how to read, don't you?" And I blinked and said, "Sure." I thought everybody did, and my schoolmates who stumbled over "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" were just slow.
(I may have made up that last book title.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:03 AM (omVj0)
110
"Students are NOT being taught how to read starting in grade school"
Teaching is hard. Indoctrination is much easier.
Teaching is hard. Indoctrination is much easier.
Posted by: BeckoningChasm at October 20, 2024 10:04 AM (CHHv1)
111
I read a translation of The Stranger when "Killing an Arab" was on the radio and people argued about what it meant. Kind of a cool adaptation.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024
***
James M. Cain is on record as saying The Stranger was an influence on him -- themes or style, I don't remember which, or maybe both.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024
***
James M. Cain is on record as saying The Stranger was an influence on him -- themes or style, I don't remember which, or maybe both.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:05 AM (omVj0)
112
Getting pinged every seven seconds, with a subsequent dopamine hit, is destroying minds.
Sadly, I would have to agree.
Sadly, I would have to agree.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:05 AM (mH6SG)
113
Perfessor,
Your comment in the post about so many textbooks written by academics and 'fact checked' for accuracy but not readability made me think of Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy. His ability as a novelist combined with a huge amount of research made it so effective as a learning tool. There is a lesson there for textbook writers (assuming the writers actually want to teach and be read).
That might not work for engineering or a hard science but should for history, literary context, even geography.
Your comment in the post about so many textbooks written by academics and 'fact checked' for accuracy but not readability made me think of Shelby Foote's Civil War trilogy. His ability as a novelist combined with a huge amount of research made it so effective as a learning tool. There is a lesson there for textbook writers (assuming the writers actually want to teach and be read).
That might not work for engineering or a hard science but should for history, literary context, even geography.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 10:05 AM (yTvNw)
114
Morning, Bookish Horde. Anyone here have an e-mail for Weird Dave? Cannot find it in the sidebar, and this laptop is not playing well with the HQ.
Still in Corsicana.
Still in Corsicana.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 20, 2024 10:05 AM (1aFZz)
115
The Committee has rendered a decision. While in temporary recess the dishwasher requires depopulating. There's no recourse, the chore must be completed ASAP so I will comply and BBIAB. You guys can enjoy yourselves in the interim.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 20, 2024 10:06 AM (hKoQL)
116
Little Golden Books.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 20, 2024 10:06 AM (XeU6L)
117
Aaron Allston did a lot ofStar Wars novels and a wide gaming articles.
Of note: He was born in Corsicana, Texas and died after a heart attack in Branson, Missouri.
Of note: He was born in Corsicana, Texas and died after a heart attack in Branson, Missouri.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:06 AM (u82oZ)
118
AOP. I have it and will send it to you right now
Posted by: Ben Had at October 20, 2024 10:07 AM (t8vHj)
119
As far as the essays, I'm planning on doing a series of long-form blog posts on Hollywood and the early days once I get my website revamped and current. Not being tech-savvy, I need to find someone to help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024
***
That will be fascinating, MPPPP! One of my former writing group's members has mentioned that I should do something similar with my knowledge of movies, TV shows, and books, and how they all intertwine. If I start it up on Substack, maybe I could get a following and earn a little money.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024
***
That will be fascinating, MPPPP! One of my former writing group's members has mentioned that I should do something similar with my knowledge of movies, TV shows, and books, and how they all intertwine. If I start it up on Substack, maybe I could get a following and earn a little money.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:07 AM (omVj0)
120
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 at October 20, 2024 10:07 AM (u82oZ)
121
and this laptop is not playing well with the HQ.
Still in Corsicana.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------
Probably accustomed to Metric bits vs. English measure bits.
;-)
Still in Corsicana.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
------
Probably accustomed to Metric bits vs. English measure bits.
;-)
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 20, 2024 10:08 AM (XeU6L)
122
As requested at the MoMe yesterday, a very good book on the refloating and repair of the Pearl Harbor battleships is Resurrection by Daniel Madsen. This book details how the damaged ships were raised from the mud, made watertight, and rebuilt to fight another day. Only the Arizona and Oklahoma did not return to service.
I often imagine the Japanese surprise at the battle of Surigao Strait, when their T was crossed by the ships they thought they had destroyed at Pearl on December 7.
I often imagine the Japanese surprise at the battle of Surigao Strait, when their T was crossed by the ships they thought they had destroyed at Pearl on December 7.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:08 AM (oCsk1)
123
I don't know if others have 'seasonal' reading or if I'm just peculiar. (PS: I don't mind being peculiar.)
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
***
Once I retire and move to a climate with winter, I plan on doing the same.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
***
Once I retire and move to a climate with winter, I plan on doing the same.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:09 AM (omVj0)
124
As far as the essays, I'm planning on doing a series of long-form blog posts on Hollywood and the early days once I get my website revamped and current. Not being tech-savvy, I need to find someone to help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (Q0kLU)
---
Use the blog as a test bed for the finished material. That's mostly what my blog is, a sounding board for other stuff. Most of the column I write at Bleeding Fool start as blog posts and then get refined.
I use Typepad, btw. Customer service is decent and the interface is dated but easy to use. I kind of like that it hasn't changed much over the years.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (Q0kLU)
---
Use the blog as a test bed for the finished material. That's mostly what my blog is, a sounding board for other stuff. Most of the column I write at Bleeding Fool start as blog posts and then get refined.
I use Typepad, btw. Customer service is decent and the interface is dated but easy to use. I kind of like that it hasn't changed much over the years.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:09 AM (llXky)
125
AOP. I have it and will send it to you right now
Posted by: Ben Had at October 20, 2024 10:07 AM (t8vHj)
Thank you! Now to see if I can access my webmail!
Posted by: Ben Had at October 20, 2024 10:07 AM (t8vHj)
Thank you! Now to see if I can access my webmail!
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 20, 2024 10:09 AM (1aFZz)
126
Oh, I read The Magic Bullet, by Harry Stein. J.J. recommended it a few weeks back; I think he said he knows the author.
It's a fascinating work of fiction that explores the cutthroat world of medical research, specifically cancer. Research doctors compete for funding and glory, hiding and stealing secrets and formulas from other researchers. And hope to not kill too many test subjects along the way.
It's a fascinating work of fiction that explores the cutthroat world of medical research, specifically cancer. Research doctors compete for funding and glory, hiding and stealing secrets and formulas from other researchers. And hope to not kill too many test subjects along the way.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:09 AM (OX9vb)
127
Aaron Allston wrote Star Wars novels and a large number of gaming articles.
Auto-cucumber. Harumph!
Auto-cucumber. Harumph!
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:09 AM (u82oZ)
128
Probably accustomed to Metric bits vs. English measure bits.
;-)
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 20, 2024 10:08 AM (XeU6L)
there is this about measurements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk
;-)
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at October 20, 2024 10:08 AM (XeU6L)
there is this about measurements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYqfVE-fykk
Posted by: rhennigantx at October 20, 2024 10:10 AM (gbOdA)
129
-- I don't have any answers on how to fix this, but a great place to start is to teach students proper reading skills using phonics instruction from early on (as I was taught) and then proceed from there. --
This must happen at HOME, as the schools have all turned hostile to phonics as a method of reading instruction. Reading, and inculcating a love of it in our kids, is far too important to be left to a bunch of arrogant credentialed asses anyway.
This must happen at HOME, as the schools have all turned hostile to phonics as a method of reading instruction. Reading, and inculcating a love of it in our kids, is far too important to be left to a bunch of arrogant credentialed asses anyway.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at October 20, 2024 10:10 AM (Nmmyc)
130
Somewhere in my folks' house (I hope) is a copy of "The Big Green Thing" with a note from Mom that says I read it all by myself at age 4.
I feel sorry for households with empty bookshelves.
I feel sorry for households with empty bookshelves.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 10:10 AM (1aFZz)
131
My youngest concealed the fact that he could read for about a year because he didn't want to give up bedtime story reading time. When his elementary school teacher complained about him reading in class (instead of doing whatever pointless bullshit the other kids were supposed to be doing) the jig was up. We assured him that we'd continue storytime as long as he wanted.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 10:12 AM (78a2H)
132
AH Lloyd, Long Live Death concerns the Spanish Civil War: the politics leading up to it, and the politics of it. But those politics on the Nationalist side pretty much end when Mola and then solely Franco take command. In the Republic the infighting kept... on... going.
It is probably the best popular-aimed book on the subject if only on account it doesn't paint devil horns on Franco, like popular accounts from the big publishers. Franco was a schemer but then so was Stalin - and Mussolini; Franco was just marginally better at it.
The Horde can learn that Stalin didn't simply steal all the Spanish gold; he did pay the Republic back, with all manner of munitions, the tanks being the best of these. But the Republic was bad at using them.
Mussolini's main contributions were aircraft, which were good; and leadership, which was laughable and ignored as soon as Franco was in position to. Schiklgruber provided aircraft as well but they weren't as good (yet).
Franco's other main ally was Portugal, where Salazar was in charge. Spain's secondary ally was France when their chaotic government could manage it, until Mola and Franco cut off the north.
It is probably the best popular-aimed book on the subject if only on account it doesn't paint devil horns on Franco, like popular accounts from the big publishers. Franco was a schemer but then so was Stalin - and Mussolini; Franco was just marginally better at it.
The Horde can learn that Stalin didn't simply steal all the Spanish gold; he did pay the Republic back, with all manner of munitions, the tanks being the best of these. But the Republic was bad at using them.
Mussolini's main contributions were aircraft, which were good; and leadership, which was laughable and ignored as soon as Franco was in position to. Schiklgruber provided aircraft as well but they weren't as good (yet).
Franco's other main ally was Portugal, where Salazar was in charge. Spain's secondary ally was France when their chaotic government could manage it, until Mola and Franco cut off the north.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:12 AM (q0vMN)
133
...Marvel Epic Collection No. 2 of "Luke Cage: Power Man," '70s blaxploitation in print.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 09:07 AM (1aFZz)
Ah, I bought the Luke Cage Omnibus earlier in the year, when it was super-discounted on eBay. It's one of the multiple comic collections I've been bouncing between. It's not my preferred genre, it is fun to see something that is so unapologetically different than the rest of the Marvel offerings...
As I pull the book from my shelf to check, I see my bookmark is parked on the cover to issue 14, so I doubt reached the material from Epic Collection 2 yet.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 09:07 AM (1aFZz)
Ah, I bought the Luke Cage Omnibus earlier in the year, when it was super-discounted on eBay. It's one of the multiple comic collections I've been bouncing between. It's not my preferred genre, it is fun to see something that is so unapologetically different than the rest of the Marvel offerings...
As I pull the book from my shelf to check, I see my bookmark is parked on the cover to issue 14, so I doubt reached the material from Epic Collection 2 yet.
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:13 AM (Lhaco)
134
Phonics goes all the way back to ancient Sumerian cuneiform. Modern day 'educators' gotta try to re-invent the wheel.
Posted by: davidt at October 20, 2024 10:14 AM (i0F8b)
135
Safe travels to all MoMeet participants.
I was assured by a pal in either the National Reconnaissance Office or the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency that no satellites were involved in tracking Piper during her time at the MoMeet. Evidently, she has a fan club among the few remaining heterosexual men at those agencies.
I was assured by a pal in either the National Reconnaissance Office or the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency that no satellites were involved in tracking Piper during her time at the MoMeet. Evidently, she has a fan club among the few remaining heterosexual men at those agencies.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:14 AM (u82oZ)
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:15 AM (mH6SG)
137
This must happen at HOME, as the schools have all turned hostile to phonics as a method of reading instruction. Reading, and inculcating a love of it in our kids, is far too important to be left to a bunch of arrogant credentialed asses anyway.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at October 20, 2024
***
Public schools, at least mine in backwards Lousy-ana, were all in on the "see it and say it" method of teaching reading even when I was small. Good thing I'd learned to sound things out at home. I still do it: Presented with a strange word or name from a foreign language, I still pick out portions and sound them, then put them together.
Posted by: Francis W. Porretto at October 20, 2024
***
Public schools, at least mine in backwards Lousy-ana, were all in on the "see it and say it" method of teaching reading even when I was small. Good thing I'd learned to sound things out at home. I still do it: Presented with a strange word or name from a foreign language, I still pick out portions and sound them, then put them together.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:15 AM (omVj0)
138
I feel sorry for households with empty bookshelves.
At this juncture, probably 80% or more.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024
***
Furniture stores no longer sell bookcases.
At this juncture, probably 80% or more.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024
***
Furniture stores no longer sell bookcases.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (omVj0)
139
Thanks for the Book Thread, Perfessor!
Dreary and chilly day here, perfect for curling up with a nice warm book.
Dreary and chilly day here, perfect for curling up with a nice warm book.
Posted by: Legally Sufficient at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (rxCpr)
140
I can pin down with reasonable certainty how old I was when I could read. I was driving with my father in his Toyota Landcruiser, and we rolled up to a stop sign. I pointed at it and said: "S-T-O-P. Stop!" My dad was very pleased.
This was before the divorce, so I would have been no older than four. (And yes, back then, little kids could sit up front.)
This was before the divorce, so I would have been no older than four. (And yes, back then, little kids could sit up front.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (llXky)
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (u82oZ)
142
[cont'd] Perhaps the whole mess could have been avoided if the Republic's last "conservative" President Alcalá-Zamora hadn't been a Macron. CEDA had won a plurality, like FN lately in France, to which A-Z simply decided to cobble an alliance of parties without them. There was then a rebellion, which A-Z was able to crush (this isn't the civil war yet). Then the bastard called a new election citing the "chaos" which his decisions had caused.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (q0vMN)
143
By the time I graduated h.s. I was expected to discuss great works of Spanish language poetry and literature, in Spanish.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:16 AM (RIvkX)
---
Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (llXky)
I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 09:16 AM (RIvkX)
---
Lucky you! In German class, we got to read Kafka. Mind-bending stuff in the original Deutsch.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 09:28 AM (llXky)
I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
144
OK, folks, I really need to get back to typing. I have been putting it off too much.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (Q0kLU)
145
I feel sorry for households with empty bookshelves.
Posted by: Weak Geek
I have been shocked when visiting some homes and don't see any books.
Posted by: Weak Geek
I have been shocked when visiting some homes and don't see any books.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:18 AM (oCsk1)
146
Good morning Hordemates!
Posted by: Diogenes at October 20, 2024 10:20 AM (W/lyH)
147
@133 --
Castle Guy, Epic Collection 2 contains Power Man issues 24-47 and Annual 1. It includes the so-bad-it's-good Mr. Fish story.
With issue 48, which I own, Cage encounters Iron Fist, and two low-selling titles merged into one of Marvel's hits of the late '70s.
Castle Guy, Epic Collection 2 contains Power Man issues 24-47 and Annual 1. It includes the so-bad-it's-good Mr. Fish story.
With issue 48, which I own, Cage encounters Iron Fist, and two low-selling titles merged into one of Marvel's hits of the late '70s.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 10:20 AM (1aFZz)
148
Glad to see you on the book thread, Terlit Hobo!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 10:20 AM (t9gtU)
149
My first grade teacher scared me one day about two weeks into school, when she asked me to stay nehind at 3 pm. I thought I was in trouble. Instead she said, "Young Wolfus, you know how to read, don't you?" And I blinked and said, "Sure." I thought everybody did, and my schoolmates who stumbled over "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" were just slow.
(I may have made up that last book title.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:03 AM (omVj0)
Maybe someone could write a short story of three medieval blind men/women describing modern day sex toys.
(I may have made up that last book title.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:03 AM (omVj0)
Maybe someone could write a short story of three medieval blind men/women describing modern day sex toys.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:22 AM (g8Ew8)
150
Thomas Paine, how very nice to meet you. Thank you for joining us.
Posted by: Ben Had at October 20, 2024 10:22 AM (t8vHj)
151
I have been shocked when visiting some homes and don't see any books.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:18 AM (oCsk1)
That is more horrifying than Terrifier 3.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:18 AM (oCsk1)
That is more horrifying than Terrifier 3.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at October 20, 2024 10:24 AM (ufFY8)
152
The Horde can learn that Stalin didn't simply steal all the Spanish gold; he did pay the Republic back, with all manner of munitions, the tanks being the best of these. But the Republic was bad at using them.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:12 AM (q0vMN)
---
Stalin sold the Republic "new" weapons but gave them whatever wartime surplus and captured junk he didn't need. Only later did they get new-manufacture Mosins. I believe I own one of the last ones sent, in the January 1938 shipment.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:12 AM (q0vMN)
---
Stalin sold the Republic "new" weapons but gave them whatever wartime surplus and captured junk he didn't need. Only later did they get new-manufacture Mosins. I believe I own one of the last ones sent, in the January 1938 shipment.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:24 AM (llXky)
153
Thomas Paine, how very nice to meet you. Thank you for joining us.
Posted by: Ben Had
Thank you for generously opening your ranch to a bunch of degenerates
Posted by: Ben Had
Thank you for generously opening your ranch to a bunch of degenerates
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:24 AM (oCsk1)
154
{{{Ben Had}}}
🐴 🎼 🎶 Good Morning! ♩ ♫ ♬ 🎶
🥃
🥃
May a quick recovery from dancing go with these libations.
🐴 🎼 🎶 Good Morning! ♩ ♫ ♬ 🎶
🥃
🥃
May a quick recovery from dancing go with these libations.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (u82oZ)
155
One hilarious Spanish political custom was the "Pronouncement". If you were a general and you were buttmad at the government you could Pronounce that you weren't gonna do what they told ya (*ugh*! / ratm). For whatever reason half the time the government wouldn't call your bluff and then there'd be a new election or a two-year junta or something.
Real stable system you had there, Spaniards.
Real stable system you had there, Spaniards.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (q0vMN)
156
@5 Not sure I trust a book written in Latin
Descartes, Spinoza, Linnaeus and Newton, poof. Gone.
Of course, there are early and late Principia Mathematica...
Descartes, Spinoza, Linnaeus and Newton, poof. Gone.
Of course, there are early and late Principia Mathematica...
Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (zdLoL)
157
anyway thanks for the comments, Eris + NaCly Dog and others, and thanks for the book thread overall.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (q0vMN)
158
There've been occasions when I've visited faculty or administrator's homes for some function or other, and seen no bookcases. Maybe they keep 'em in some other room. I hope so anyway.
Mrs Some Guy and I have a lot fewer bookcases since we went to ebooks, but there are always going to be some physical books and shelves here in Casa Some Guy. Can't imagine not having them around.
Mrs Some Guy and I have a lot fewer bookcases since we went to ebooks, but there are always going to be some physical books and shelves here in Casa Some Guy. Can't imagine not having them around.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (q3u5l)
159
Thank you for generously opening your ranch to a bunch of degenerates
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024
***
The horses will talk about it for weeks, and will pass the tales on to frighten their colts for generations.
Thank you for generously opening your ranch to a bunch of degenerates
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024
***
The horses will talk about it for weeks, and will pass the tales on to frighten their colts for generations.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (omVj0)
160
I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
---
Like everyone else here, I'm 29.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
---
Like everyone else here, I'm 29.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (llXky)
161
G'morn, bookies.
Woke up with this in mind, so I'm telepathing it to you:
Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Jose Feleciano walk into a bar…
🙄
"I'll steal a page from Kamala Harris and plagiarize Wikipedia here…"
I'm pretty sure, Perfessor, that it's not plagiarizing if you cite your source.
But you know that.
🙄
Woke up with this in mind, so I'm telepathing it to you:
Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Jose Feleciano walk into a bar…
🙄
"I'll steal a page from Kamala Harris and plagiarize Wikipedia here…"
I'm pretty sure, Perfessor, that it's not plagiarizing if you cite your source.
But you know that.
🙄
Posted by: mindful webworker - ow! ow! ow! at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (OGsvs)
162
I too remember very little of what I read in the classroom as a youngling, but can recall so many books read for pleasure and amusement. I can see the covers and practically smell the pulp!
Thank goodness I grew up a house stuffed to the gills with books, and a dad who had a standing date for a trip to the bookstores on Saturday.
Thank goodness I grew up a house stuffed to the gills with books, and a dad who had a standing date for a trip to the bookstores on Saturday.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (t9gtU)
163
I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
I don't know how old you are, but I don't remember there being gifted and talented classes. Of course, I went to a small county school in southern Ohio, so maybe things were different there than in the cities.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
I don't know how old you are, but I don't remember there being gifted and talented classes. Of course, I went to a small county school in southern Ohio, so maybe things were different there than in the cities.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (OX9vb)
Posted by: NaCly Dog at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (u82oZ)
165
I am halfway through Heinlein's The Cat Who Walked Through Walls. Noir-ish so far, just getting into the science-fictiony stuff.
Pleas don't eat my Cat.
Pleas don't eat my Cat.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at October 20, 2024 10:27 AM (ufFY8)
166
We just had a new Barnes and Noble reopen this week in our town. It relocated to a different venue and took months to do. I did go through the shelves to see what was stocked. It had a decent selection of their 'leather bound' classics (which are usually pretty good), the usual popular bestsellers which I seldom touch, and to my surprise a good selection of CS Lewis Signature volumes. One thing that bothered me was the lack of hardcover books. Even the Tolkien was all paperbacks. There was a line waiting to get in for the opening, which I was glad to see.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 10:27 AM (yTvNw)
167
Real stable system you had there, Spaniards.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (q0vMN)
---
If you think about it, it's much more efficient than actually making the troops fall in, issue them arms, and then march out and occupy public buildings. The highest, most civilized form of coup.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (q0vMN)
---
If you think about it, it's much more efficient than actually making the troops fall in, issue them arms, and then march out and occupy public buildings. The highest, most civilized form of coup.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:28 AM (llXky)
168
I was in the strange and unusual class.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 10:28 AM (t9gtU)
169
I can pin down with reasonable certainty how old I was when I could read. I was driving with my father in his Toyota Landcruiser, and we rolled up to a stop sign. I pointed at it and said: "S-T-O-P. Stop!" My dad was very pleased.
This was before the divorce, so I would have been no older than four. (And yes, back then, little kids could sit up front.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (llXky)
STOP: One of the ten most important words to be learned in any language.
This was before the divorce, so I would have been no older than four. (And yes, back then, little kids could sit up front.)
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (llXky)
STOP: One of the ten most important words to be learned in any language.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:29 AM (g8Ew8)
170
Morning Hoard. Still pissed at myself for stupidifying myself out of going to the MoMe. I am my own worst enemy.
King James the First wrote on demons and witches a bit before doing his version of the Bible.
Probably already mentioned.
Off to get caught up on comments.
King James the First wrote on demons and witches a bit before doing his version of the Bible.
Probably already mentioned.
Off to get caught up on comments.
Posted by: Reforger at October 20, 2024 10:29 AM (xcIvR)
171
I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
====
Get off my lawn! This was in Spanish AP.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
====
Get off my lawn! This was in Spanish AP.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 10:30 AM (RIvkX)
172
JTB: last time I was in Virginia the B-ampersand-N at Tysons was closed. They were going to move it. It was a good one too, like the one in Arlington County.
The B&N in the Mosaic district is godawful, like one of the worse Crown Books back in the 1990s. And they closed down a bunch of them in DC proper.
The B&N in the Mosaic district is godawful, like one of the worse Crown Books back in the 1990s. And they closed down a bunch of them in DC proper.
Posted by: Boulder Terlit Hobo at October 20, 2024 10:30 AM (q0vMN)
173
Well, time for Mass. Thanks again, Perfesser!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:30 AM (llXky)
174
. I pointed at it and said: "S-T-O-P. Stop!" My dad was very pleased.
This us EXACTLY my experience.
What is strange, is that I told my wife this very thing yesterday.
Weird.
This us EXACTLY my experience.
What is strange, is that I told my wife this very thing yesterday.
Weird.
Posted by: Deplorable Ian Galt at October 20, 2024 10:32 AM (ufFY8)
175
Ben Had - sounds like the TxMoMe was another resounding success. Well done.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:32 AM (mH6SG)
176
One thing that bothered me was the lack of hardcover books. Even the Tolkien was all paperbacks. There was a line waiting to get in for the opening, which I was glad to see.
Posted by: JTB
I went to a B&N recently, and was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few buyable books (by my standards) on the shelves. I did note that only the latest book by any author was there, and paperbacks dominated. I imagine that is the marketing plan, given the availability of online competition.
Posted by: JTB
I went to a B&N recently, and was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few buyable books (by my standards) on the shelves. I did note that only the latest book by any author was there, and paperbacks dominated. I imagine that is the marketing plan, given the availability of online competition.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:32 AM (oCsk1)
177
I was in the strange and unusual class.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 10:28 AM (t9gtU)
===
*Vulcan salute*
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Cat Slave at October 20, 2024 10:28 AM (t9gtU)
===
*Vulcan salute*
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 10:32 AM (RIvkX)
178
160 I don't know how old you two are, but I was in the gifted and talented classes in high school and we never did anything like that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
---
Like everyone else here, I'm 29.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (llXky)
Heh.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (0eaVi)
---
Like everyone else here, I'm 29.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (llXky)
Heh.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:32 AM (g8Ew8)
179
I'm probably guilty of the low-attention-span thing because I usually alternate reading w/ something else, for instance I'll watch football and read two sentences between plays or three if there's an injury or time out, or baseball with a sentence between pitches or two between batters.
Posted by: Norrin Radd, sojourner of the spaceways at October 20, 2024 09:52 AM (tRYqg)
I'll sometimes write between reading or perusing one of these threads.
Posted by: Norrin Radd, sojourner of the spaceways at October 20, 2024 09:52 AM (tRYqg)
I'll sometimes write between reading or perusing one of these threads.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (0eaVi)
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (EsZUh)
181
67 There's another factor. So many schools now no longer teach "the classics", they teach Maya Angelou, Catcher in the Rye, and other such drek. I remember disliking most of the classics when I was in HS, but I'd take those in an instant over the "modern classics", i.e. woke nonsense. More importantly, one doesn't just start to read the best literature ever written, you have to work up to it, in the same way that one doesn't just start doing advanced math.
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:39 AM (xCA6C)
Related: about five years back I re-read "Hatchet" before gifting it to my nephew. It was a great book, with passages that have stuck with my for 30 years. It also happens to be a Newberry Award winner. Did it win the award for being a harrowing and super-memorable tale of wilderness survival? Probably not. It probably won the award because it has passages of the hero-kid reflecting on his parent's divorce, and contemplating his feelings on the matter. Those passages (unlike the kid discovering fire or how to spear-fish) had completely left my mind. So if the book got awarded for the forgettable parts, well....
Posted by: Archimedes at October 20, 2024 09:39 AM (xCA6C)
Related: about five years back I re-read "Hatchet" before gifting it to my nephew. It was a great book, with passages that have stuck with my for 30 years. It also happens to be a Newberry Award winner. Did it win the award for being a harrowing and super-memorable tale of wilderness survival? Probably not. It probably won the award because it has passages of the hero-kid reflecting on his parent's divorce, and contemplating his feelings on the matter. Those passages (unlike the kid discovering fire or how to spear-fish) had completely left my mind. So if the book got awarded for the forgettable parts, well....
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:35 AM (Lhaco)
182
Perfesser, in your opening monograph, you wrote:
They are written by academics for textbook companies. They are vetted by other academics to ensure that the content is accurate, but they do not do a very good job of presenting the material in a way that beginning students can understand. So students never read their assigned textbooks.
My argument would be that beginning students should not be filling seats in colleges…
They are written by academics for textbook companies. They are vetted by other academics to ensure that the content is accurate, but they do not do a very good job of presenting the material in a way that beginning students can understand. So students never read their assigned textbooks.
My argument would be that beginning students should not be filling seats in colleges…
Posted by: Slash Buzz at October 20, 2024 10:36 AM (qVs5k)
183
Notorious BFD, if there was only some way to convey how amazing this group is. Words fail me but the memories last for ever.
Posted by: Ben Had at October 20, 2024 10:36 AM (t8vHj)
184
I don't know if others have 'seasonal' reading or if I'm just peculiar. (PS: I don't mind being peculiar.)
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
If you're peculiar, then so am I. I'm also "moody" in what I choose to read. It being fall, and nearing Halloween, I seem to be on a vampire kick. Just finishing up Vampires of Michigan and starting A Betrayal in Blood, Mark Latham's which involves Sherlock Holmes investigating a death and how it relates to Count Dracula and Professor Van Helsing. I also have some ghost stories in the To Be Read pile but we'll see if I get to them before my mood shifts again. Sigh... So many books, so little time!
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
If you're peculiar, then so am I. I'm also "moody" in what I choose to read. It being fall, and nearing Halloween, I seem to be on a vampire kick. Just finishing up Vampires of Michigan and starting A Betrayal in Blood, Mark Latham's which involves Sherlock Holmes investigating a death and how it relates to Count Dracula and Professor Van Helsing. I also have some ghost stories in the To Be Read pile but we'll see if I get to them before my mood shifts again. Sigh... So many books, so little time!
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:36 AM (EsfzF)
185
Despite three years of Spanish in HS, I was always poor at speaking and composing the language. In college they started me on the speaking track, and I quickly transferred to reading-only classes. Was up to reading short stories by the time I left college.
I discovered that, just as in English, some Spanish writers were easier to read than others.
It startled me, too, on my first trip to New Mexico and viewing the Spanish messages carved into Inscription Rock that -- again, like English -- the language has changed since 1540 or whatever. Archaic spellings and odd capitalizations abounded. In school I always had the impression that the language was fixed, like an insect pinned to a board, and had always been the same as it was in my texts. I should have known better.
I discovered that, just as in English, some Spanish writers were easier to read than others.
It startled me, too, on my first trip to New Mexico and viewing the Spanish messages carved into Inscription Rock that -- again, like English -- the language has changed since 1540 or whatever. Archaic spellings and odd capitalizations abounded. In school I always had the impression that the language was fixed, like an insect pinned to a board, and had always been the same as it was in my texts. I should have known better.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:36 AM (omVj0)
186
As far as the essays, I'm planning on doing a series of long-form blog posts on Hollywood and the early days once I get my website revamped and current. Not being tech-savvy, I need to find someone to help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (Q0kLU)
Pixy, to the white courtesy phone. Pixy, to the white courtesy phone.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at October 20, 2024 10:02 AM (Q0kLU)
Pixy, to the white courtesy phone. Pixy, to the white courtesy phone.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:38 AM (0eaVi)
187
Back from my Christian Nationalist meeting.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (EsZUh)
LOL. Have they taught you how to goose-step yet?
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (EsZUh)
LOL. Have they taught you how to goose-step yet?
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:38 AM (g8Ew8)
188
Notorious BFD, if there was only some way to convey how amazing this group is. Words fail me but the memories last for ever.
Yes, they do. *fist bump*
Yes, they do. *fist bump*
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:39 AM (mH6SG)
189
If you're peculiar, then so am I. I'm also "moody" in what I choose to read. It being fall, and nearing Halloween, I seem to be on a vampire kick. Just finishing up Vampires of Michigan and starting A Betrayal in Blood, Mark Latham's which involves Sherlock Holmes investigating a death and how it relates to Count Dracula and Professor Van Helsing. I also have some ghost stories in the To Be Read pile but we'll see if I get to them before my mood shifts again. Sigh... So many books, so little time!
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024
***
My tradition for Halloween for some years has been to reread two of the creepiest stories ever written, Richard Matheson's "Crickets," and M.R. James's "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad." Maybe this year I'll go back to the scariest passages in King's Salem's Lot.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024
***
My tradition for Halloween for some years has been to reread two of the creepiest stories ever written, Richard Matheson's "Crickets," and M.R. James's "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad." Maybe this year I'll go back to the scariest passages in King's Salem's Lot.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:40 AM (omVj0)
190
I don't know if young people do this anymore but when I started with Treasure Island, some Heinlein juveniles, Tarzan, and others 'above' my grade level (maybe 2nd or 3rd grade) I often had a dictionary nearby. In my case it was the two volume dictionary that came with our World Book encyclopedia set. Damn near wore them out. It's also when I first got interested in the etymology of the words I was looking up.
By the time I got to LOTR in 7th grade I had a great appreciation and enjoyment of his rather archaic words like 'fell' for dangerous or evil or 'league' for a distance and many others.
By the time I got to LOTR in 7th grade I had a great appreciation and enjoyment of his rather archaic words like 'fell' for dangerous or evil or 'league' for a distance and many others.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 10:41 AM (yTvNw)
191
Back from my Christian Nationalist meeting.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (EsZUh)
*
LOL. Have they taught you how to goose-step yet?
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024
***
We have a German Cultural Center in a nearby suburb. Yesterday they were having a mini-Oktoberfest with music, pretzels, and beer. I always joke I'll go to one of their events when they have a National Socialist Night.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:33 AM (EsZUh)
*
LOL. Have they taught you how to goose-step yet?
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024
***
We have a German Cultural Center in a nearby suburb. Yesterday they were having a mini-Oktoberfest with music, pretzels, and beer. I always joke I'll go to one of their events when they have a National Socialist Night.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:41 AM (omVj0)
192
There is heterogeneous grouping and homogeneous grouping in schools. If you recognize the words and the meaning of the sentence then you probably attended a school with homogeneous grouping.
There is heterogeneous grouping and homogeneous grouping in schools. If you recognize the words and the meaning of the sentence then you probably attended a school with homogeneous grouping.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 10:42 AM (MwtZ5)
193
I seem to recall there were some advanced placement classes in my high school -- Chem Study, for instance, a deeper exploration of chemistry. I don't recall many others. In junior year English, my teacher spun me off into a class of one and had me write a paper on something that interested me -- in my case, the evolution of the detective story. That spring I spent that class hour in the school library, and was pleased to do so.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:45 AM (omVj0)
194
136 I feel sorry for households with empty bookshelves.
At this juncture, probably 80% or more.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:15 AM (mH6SG)
That's hard for some of us to even conceive of. Sometime I help my mom sort/wrap presents for the nieces/nephews/grandkids, and it's not at all implausible for each kid of get a half-dozen books of one sort or another. Sometimes entire families become book-people...
At this juncture, probably 80% or more.
Posted by: Notorious BFD at October 20, 2024 10:15 AM (mH6SG)
That's hard for some of us to even conceive of. Sometime I help my mom sort/wrap presents for the nieces/nephews/grandkids, and it's not at all implausible for each kid of get a half-dozen books of one sort or another. Sometimes entire families become book-people...
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:45 AM (Lhaco)
195
I have been shocked when visiting some homes and don't see any books. Posted by: Thomas Paine at October 20, 2024 10:18 AM
Honestly, I'm more shocked when I visit a home and actually see books, it's become so rare. And when I do see books (and especially bookcases full of books) my heart swells with joy.
Honestly, I'm more shocked when I visit a home and actually see books, it's become so rare. And when I do see books (and especially bookcases full of books) my heart swells with joy.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:45 AM (GMf4a)
196
Hollywood and the early days
-
I saw a YouTube about Clara Bow, the "It Girl" of the 20s. She was batshit.
-
I saw a YouTube about Clara Bow, the "It Girl" of the 20s. She was batshit.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I've Been Through the Desert On a Horse With No Shame at October 20, 2024 10:48 AM (L/fGl)
197
There is heterogeneous grouping and homogeneous grouping in schools. If you recognize the words and the meaning of the sentence then you probably attended a school with homogeneous grouping.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 10:42 AM (MwtZ5)
Not necessarily. There just weren't enough students in my school for homogeneous grouping. When in high school, we did have some teachers who gave additional or more in-depth assignments to some students. I recall a girl who wanted to be in our "special" group, but teacher wouldn't allow her. I always felt bad about that, because I think the girl was probably smart enough, but she was epileptic and socially awkward, and could really have benefitted from being in on the assignment. I would have partnered with her.
I learned to despise teachers early.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 10:42 AM (MwtZ5)
Not necessarily. There just weren't enough students in my school for homogeneous grouping. When in high school, we did have some teachers who gave additional or more in-depth assignments to some students. I recall a girl who wanted to be in our "special" group, but teacher wouldn't allow her. I always felt bad about that, because I think the girl was probably smart enough, but she was epileptic and socially awkward, and could really have benefitted from being in on the assignment. I would have partnered with her.
I learned to despise teachers early.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:48 AM (OX9vb)
198
Furniture stores no longer sell bookcases.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (omVj0)
Yeah, it's sad how hard it is to find good shelves. While I like the idea of build-it-yourself bookcases, I hate that all you can find are particle-board shelves with cardboard backs...
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:16 AM (omVj0)
Yeah, it's sad how hard it is to find good shelves. While I like the idea of build-it-yourself bookcases, I hate that all you can find are particle-board shelves with cardboard backs...
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:48 AM (Lhaco)
199
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024
It would be the snazzy uniforms I would be jealous of
It would be the snazzy uniforms I would be jealous of
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 10:49 AM (fwDg9)
200
Started and finished The Ipcress File by Len Deighton. Thought it was just OK. It came in a set of 4 Harry Palmer novels so we'll see if they improve as I go along. I also started Paradise Lost. That on will take awhile.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024 10:49 AM (+ViXu)
201
Still plowing through Richard Osborne's biography of the conductor Herbert von Karajan. I still don't know about how I feel about him. He was no sadist like Reiner but he had his inhuman qualities. He comes across as a musical Louis XIV, around whom Europe's musical world rotated. Still, not quite as destructive a figure as Boulez.
Still plowing through Richard Osborne's biography of the conductor Herbert von Karajan. I still don't know about how I feel about him. He was no sadist like Reiner but he had his inhuman qualities. He comes across as a musical Louis XIV, around whom Europe's musical world rotated. Still, not quite as destructive a figure as Boulez.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 10:50 AM (EsZUh)
202
147 With issue 48, which I own, Cage encounters Iron Fist, and two low-selling titles merged into one of Marvel's hits of the late '70s.
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 10:20 AM (1aFZz)
Ah, Power Man and Iron Fist. The Heroes for Hire. A team-up so iconic that even the 90's it still seemed the natural way of things...
Posted by: Weak Geek at October 20, 2024 10:20 AM (1aFZz)
Ah, Power Man and Iron Fist. The Heroes for Hire. A team-up so iconic that even the 90's it still seemed the natural way of things...
Posted by: Castle Guy at October 20, 2024 10:51 AM (Lhaco)
203
Greetings, O Book Thread!
I *love* John Bellairs. Face in the Frost is nightmare fuel, but fun anyway. I think the book of evil is based on the Voynich manuscript, which may be one of those fake witch tomes. Lots of analysis done on the writing which may be a code. A less dark book is The House with a Clock in its Walls, also fun.
The problem of kids not reading has been known for a while, and many authors trace it to the banalization of tradpub. Indie books seem to have fixed it, but getting people BACK to reading takes work. I have myself gotten comments like "I stopped reading but this book is fun like I remember books being when I was a kid."
I *love* John Bellairs. Face in the Frost is nightmare fuel, but fun anyway. I think the book of evil is based on the Voynich manuscript, which may be one of those fake witch tomes. Lots of analysis done on the writing which may be a code. A less dark book is The House with a Clock in its Walls, also fun.
The problem of kids not reading has been known for a while, and many authors trace it to the banalization of tradpub. Indie books seem to have fixed it, but getting people BACK to reading takes work. I have myself gotten comments like "I stopped reading but this book is fun like I remember books being when I was a kid."
Posted by: Sabrina Chase at October 20, 2024 10:51 AM (he7fo)
204
And when I do see books (and especially bookcases full of books) my heart swells with joy.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:45 AM (GMf4a)
I was delighted to see a little free library appear in front of a house up the street. Reminds me, I need to select a couple of books I enjoyed, but won't re-read, and go exchange them for something else. See what the neighbors like to read.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:45 AM (GMf4a)
I was delighted to see a little free library appear in front of a house up the street. Reminds me, I need to select a couple of books I enjoyed, but won't re-read, and go exchange them for something else. See what the neighbors like to read.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:52 AM (OX9vb)
205
All hail the book thread!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 20, 2024 10:53 AM (gDlxJ)
206
I always joke I'll go to one of their events when they have a National Socialist Night.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:41 AM (omVj0)
Dress up like your favorite national socialist !
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:41 AM (omVj0)
Dress up like your favorite national socialist !
Posted by: runner at October 20, 2024 10:55 AM (V13WU)
207
Thanks for the book thread Perfessor and thanks to all those who contribute posts. Each week is an education for me and I do appreciate it.
Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at October 20, 2024 10:56 AM (tJ28a)
208
Thanks, Wolfus.
I seem to have missed Matheson's "Crickets" completely. Weird, because I have a collection that includes it...
Will hit that one this evening.
Some of my Halloween reading next week will include several Leibers, some Ramsey Campbell short stories, and maybe a revisit of Jackson's Hill House. And probably some M. R. James -- been a while for his.
I seem to have missed Matheson's "Crickets" completely. Weird, because I have a collection that includes it...
Will hit that one this evening.
Some of my Halloween reading next week will include several Leibers, some Ramsey Campbell short stories, and maybe a revisit of Jackson's Hill House. And probably some M. R. James -- been a while for his.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 10:57 AM (q3u5l)
209
Many of America’s witches have endorsed Kamala Harris and are out there casting spells for ballots
New York City's witches are bringing their coven together to march in the Village's Halloween parade, and that might just sound like a bunch of ladies dressed up like witches, but these ladies are the practicing type.
And they want to make it clear that they're voting for Kamala Harris with the slogan, "casting spells for casting ballots."
Mari Gustafson, the leader of the voting witches coven, says,
'I think elections make people nervous and a little sad, and I wish they didn't feel that way,' she told The Post.
'Witches believe in the alchemy of democracy and that every vote is magical. In 2020, I voted dressed as a witch.'
New York City's witches are bringing their coven together to march in the Village's Halloween parade, and that might just sound like a bunch of ladies dressed up like witches, but these ladies are the practicing type.
And they want to make it clear that they're voting for Kamala Harris with the slogan, "casting spells for casting ballots."
Mari Gustafson, the leader of the voting witches coven, says,
'I think elections make people nervous and a little sad, and I wish they didn't feel that way,' she told The Post.
'Witches believe in the alchemy of democracy and that every vote is magical. In 2020, I voted dressed as a witch.'
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I've Been Through the Desert On a Horse With No Shame at October 20, 2024 10:58 AM (L/fGl)
210
My tradition for Halloween for some years has been to reread two of the creepiest stories ever written, Richard Matheson's "Crickets," and M.R. James's "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad." Maybe this year I'll go back to the scariest passages in King's Salem's Lot.
So it was you! I went and acquired M.R. James last year on your recommendation. I just checked on it and it's still in bookcase #2, still unopened in its plastic wrapper. I'll have to read that one next.
I haven't looked at Salem's Lot since I was a teen in the late 70's, early 80's. I loved Stephen King's early stuff. I somehow lost my interest in him even before politics became a factor. I really should take another look at Salem's Lot, though.
So it was you! I went and acquired M.R. James last year on your recommendation. I just checked on it and it's still in bookcase #2, still unopened in its plastic wrapper. I'll have to read that one next.
I haven't looked at Salem's Lot since I was a teen in the late 70's, early 80's. I loved Stephen King's early stuff. I somehow lost my interest in him even before politics became a factor. I really should take another look at Salem's Lot, though.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (eQjft)
211
Started and finished The Ipcress File by Len Deighton. Thought it was just OK. It came in a set of 4 Harry Palmer novels so we'll see if they improve as I go along. I also started Paradise Lost. That on will take awhile.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024
***
Len Deighton is well thought of, but I have never been able to finish the few of his I've tried. His lead or narrator characters all seem to have some major assumption which they never specify, but which informs their every decision and movement. I couldn't read, or watch the movie of, Mary McCarthy's The Group for the same reason.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024
***
Len Deighton is well thought of, but I have never been able to finish the few of his I've tried. His lead or narrator characters all seem to have some major assumption which they never specify, but which informs their every decision and movement. I couldn't read, or watch the movie of, Mary McCarthy's The Group for the same reason.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (omVj0)
212
I don't know how old you are, but I don't remember there being gifted and talented classes. Of course, I went to a small county school in southern Ohio, so maybe things were different there than in the cities.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (OX9vb)
About 80k pop when I was in school, over a quarter mil now. In central valley CA in the 70s.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 10:26 AM (OX9vb)
About 80k pop when I was in school, over a quarter mil now. In central valley CA in the 70s.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (0eaVi)
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (MwtZ5)
214
I am going to be downsizing my library. We stopped into a used and antiquarian bookstore yesterday to inquire about them taking some of them off my hands. We're not talking junk either, but stuff like the complete novels of Balzac and Morison's history of the US Navy in World War II. His lack of interest in anything was palpable.
I am going to be downsizing my library. We stopped into a used and antiquarian bookstore yesterday to inquire about them taking some of them off my hands. We're not talking junk either, but stuff like the complete novels of Balzac and Morison's history of the US Navy in World War II. His lack of interest in anything was palpable.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (EsZUh)
215
Speaking of delightfully creepy -- E. F. Benson's "Caterpillars." Ran across that during my early paperback buying days in an anthology called Ghosts and Things. Think it's included in the big Modern Library Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural. Long overdue for a Halloween revisit to that one too.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:01 AM (q3u5l)
216
I haven't looked at Salem's Lot since I was a teen in the late 70's, early 80's. I loved Stephen King's early stuff. I somehow lost my interest in him even before politics became a factor. I really should take another look at Salem's Lot, though.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (eQjft)
There are parts of Salem's Lot that still give me the shivers.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (eQjft)
There are parts of Salem's Lot that still give me the shivers.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:02 AM (g8Ew8)
217
So it was you! I went and acquired M.R. James last year on your recommendation. I just checked on it and it's still in bookcase #2, still unopened in its plastic wrapper. I'll have to read that one next.
I haven't looked at Salem's Lot since I was a teen in the late 70's, early 80's. I loved Stephen King's early stuff. I somehow lost my interest in him even before politics became a factor. I really should take another look at Salem's Lot, though.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024
***
Katie, "Oh, Whistle" is probably the best of the James stories I've read. "Casting the Runes," the basis for the famous Curse of the Demon movie, is almost as good.
Salem's Lot is a classic for a good reason. The vampires are familiar. They are not some exotic Eastern Euro counts with cloaks and odd accents. They are your neighbors and friends and family. You've watched them die and be buried . . . and then two nights later they are floating outside your second floor window, scratching at the glass, and whispering, "Let me in . . ."
Pet Sematary is a grand one too.
I haven't looked at Salem's Lot since I was a teen in the late 70's, early 80's. I loved Stephen King's early stuff. I somehow lost my interest in him even before politics became a factor. I really should take another look at Salem's Lot, though.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024
***
Katie, "Oh, Whistle" is probably the best of the James stories I've read. "Casting the Runes," the basis for the famous Curse of the Demon movie, is almost as good.
Salem's Lot is a classic for a good reason. The vampires are familiar. They are not some exotic Eastern Euro counts with cloaks and odd accents. They are your neighbors and friends and family. You've watched them die and be buried . . . and then two nights later they are floating outside your second floor window, scratching at the glass, and whispering, "Let me in . . ."
Pet Sematary is a grand one too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:03 AM (omVj0)
218
STOP: One of the ten most important words to be learned in any language.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:29 AM (g8Ew
Seems to be everywhere, now. Saw a YT vid about someplace I can't recall overseas that had a STOP sign. I thought non-English speaking countries had the same shape, but said HALT or something in their own language.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 10:29 AM (g8Ew
Seems to be everywhere, now. Saw a YT vid about someplace I can't recall overseas that had a STOP sign. I thought non-English speaking countries had the same shape, but said HALT or something in their own language.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:03 AM (0eaVi)
219
Saw a YT vid about someplace I can't recall overseas that had a STOP sign. I thought non-English speaking countries had the same shape, but said HALT or something in their own language.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:03 AM (0eaVi)
I spent three years in Germany. It was always STOP signs. Even in Yugoslavia.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:03 AM (0eaVi)
I spent three years in Germany. It was always STOP signs. Even in Yugoslavia.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
220
And he is a pipe smoker like Lewis, Tolkien, Sherlock Holmes, myself and other notables.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (yTvNw)
=====
I love you, JTB (and Mrs JTB), and this is one of the reasons why.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 09:31 AM (yTvNw)
=====
I love you, JTB (and Mrs JTB), and this is one of the reasons why.
Posted by: mustbequantum at October 20, 2024 11:05 AM (RxnYx)
221
Get off my lawn! This was in Spanish AP.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 10:30 AM (RIvkX)
I was in French. The furthest we got was reading copies of Paris Match. Never discussed anything about what we read.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 20, 2024 10:30 AM (RIvkX)
I was in French. The furthest we got was reading copies of Paris Match. Never discussed anything about what we read.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:05 AM (0eaVi)
222
"Trump" wishes Kamala a happy 60th birthday:
https://is.gd/iIGDkC
Posted by: Civic Classifier
Old enough to be a great-grandmother in the pioneer days, or the hood today.
/// even great-great-grandmother
https://is.gd/iIGDkC
Posted by: Civic Classifier
Old enough to be a great-grandmother in the pioneer days, or the hood today.
/// even great-great-grandmother
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at October 20, 2024 11:05 AM (/lPRQ)
223
Speaking of delightfully creepy -- E. F. Benson's "Caterpillars." Ran across that during my early paperback buying days in an anthology called Ghosts and Things. Think it's included in the big Modern Library Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural. Long overdue for a Halloween revisit to that one too.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I keep meaning to read some Benson ghost stories.
There is also a small classic short called "The Cocoon" by John B.L. Goodwin. I read it in daylight at age eleven and it creeped me out -- and it still does. And a short by a Jane Rice from the 1940s called "The Idol of the Flies." Both of these appeared in those great "Hitchcock" anthologies of the early Sixties. Those volumes shaped my taste in reading as much as Burroughs, Fleming, Stout, and Queen did.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024
***
I keep meaning to read some Benson ghost stories.
There is also a small classic short called "The Cocoon" by John B.L. Goodwin. I read it in daylight at age eleven and it creeped me out -- and it still does. And a short by a Jane Rice from the 1940s called "The Idol of the Flies." Both of these appeared in those great "Hitchcock" anthologies of the early Sixties. Those volumes shaped my taste in reading as much as Burroughs, Fleming, Stout, and Queen did.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:07 AM (omVj0)
224
I thought the 'recommended' reading in high school in the late 60s was bad. Catcher in the Rye, Camus' The Stranger, and similar crap. And this was in an AP class. Where was the Kipling or Poe or Alexander Pope? Hell, where was the Mark Twain? (At least Maya Angelou wasn't writing back then.) My own reading choices were far better.
I shudder to think what horrors are being foisted on kids these days.
I shudder to think what horrors are being foisted on kids these days.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 11:07 AM (yTvNw)
225
"Trump" wishes Kamala a happy 60th birthday:
https://is.gd/iIGDkC
Posted by: Civic Classifier
Trump is in trouble again. First he said pussy. Now he says Kamala is a "shit vice president."
https://is.gd/VdaKDd
https://is.gd/iIGDkC
Posted by: Civic Classifier
Trump is in trouble again. First he said pussy. Now he says Kamala is a "shit vice president."
https://is.gd/VdaKDd
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, I've Been Through the Desert On a Horse With No Shame at October 20, 2024 11:07 AM (L/fGl)
226
My sons learned to read using phonics. We borrowed the Hooked on Phonics set, then were able to enroll them in a conservative charter school which used phonics. They both read actual books, unlike some of their friends.
they were also taught real math, not that gibberish found in public schools now.
they were also taught real math, not that gibberish found in public schools now.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:07 AM (Ad8y9)
227
Was it Benson who had that short story with the great spooky title, "Negotium Perambulans"? The full phrase in the story is Negotium perambulans in tenebris, which I believe to mean roughly "It moves about and does its work in darkness."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:09 AM (omVj0)
228
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
It would be nice if there was a way to learn what individual students were interested in, then use it as a basis for a reading list.
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
It would be nice if there was a way to learn what individual students were interested in, then use it as a basis for a reading list.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:10 AM (EsZUh)
229
I shudder to think what horrors are being foisted on kids these days.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
***
If a school ever gave me the chance to helm a junior high or high school English/reading class, I'd have the kids read Sweet Thursday by Steinbeck, The Haunting of Hill House and some short stories (other than "The Lottery") by Shirley Jackson, and Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford. Funny and chilling by turns, and clearly written.
Oh, and maybe The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024
***
If a school ever gave me the chance to helm a junior high or high school English/reading class, I'd have the kids read Sweet Thursday by Steinbeck, The Haunting of Hill House and some short stories (other than "The Lottery") by Shirley Jackson, and Red Sky at Morning by Richard Bradford. Funny and chilling by turns, and clearly written.
Oh, and maybe The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddons.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:12 AM (omVj0)
230
Early King was a delight. (And for creep-inducing, if you've never read it, try The Shining late at night and get to the Room 217 sequence around midnight -- it'll do the job.) Politics poisons his more recent novels, I think, but at shorter lengths where he doesn't have room to go off on long Republicans-are-evil tangents he's still got it.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:14 AM (q3u5l)
231
My daughter's freshman English class reading assignments included Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime." Fortunately, she's the most red-pilled teenager I know and she was constantly calling out all the bullshit he spouted. We look at public education as a form of inoculation against the woke mind-virus. Rather than being insulated from poison, she's getting a tolerable dose while we're still present to administer the antidote.
Posted by: PabloD at October 20, 2024 11:15 AM (/zi6l)
232
About 80k pop when I was in school, over a quarter mil now. In central valley CA in the 70s.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (0eaVi)
Ah. About 400 pop in my town, fewer than 1,000 students in my school, k-12. Lots different.
Seems like back then, California was kind of ahead with those kinds of programs in schools.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 10:59 AM (0eaVi)
Ah. About 400 pop in my town, fewer than 1,000 students in my school, k-12. Lots different.
Seems like back then, California was kind of ahead with those kinds of programs in schools.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 11:15 AM (OX9vb)
233
'Witches believe in the alchemy of democracy and that every vote is magical. In 2020, I voted dressed as a witch.'
----------
And people say Americans don't take their right to vote seriously.
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And people say Americans don't take their right to vote seriously.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 20, 2024 11:15 AM (kbyy+)
234
I am going to be downsizing my library. We stopped into a used and antiquarian bookstore yesterday to inquire about them taking some of them off my hands. We're not talking junk either, but stuff like the complete novels of Balzac and Morison's history of the US Navy in World War II. His lack of interest in anything was palpable.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (EsZUh)
Try selling them on e-bay or FB or some other marketplace. I've noticed most used booksellers don't want to pay you, just give you books. Not much use if you're downsizing.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (EsZUh)
Try selling them on e-bay or FB or some other marketplace. I've noticed most used booksellers don't want to pay you, just give you books. Not much use if you're downsizing.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (0eaVi)
235
Thanks twice over for "A treasure-trove of rare books!" video. First, I enjoyed that fellow and the tour of the trove, and second, it motivated me to add a browser extension to boost the volume, which I've been meaning to do since getting the new computer!
Posted by: mindful webworker - needs a good reading spot at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (OGsvs)
236
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
I hated having to read that too. 'Green Mansions' was another wtf required reading. One Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice' - which if not for a daily explanation of each chapter I would have hated.
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
I hated having to read that too. 'Green Mansions' was another wtf required reading. One Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice' - which if not for a daily explanation of each chapter I would have hated.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 11:17 AM (MwtZ5)
237
Netflix has a new adaptation of "Interview With a Vampire." People who weren't around then probably don't realize how revolutionary Rice's books were, because everyone has copied her since.
They were great reads, but now seem to be summarized as "vampires are gay."
The thing is, this adaptation bills itself as the most faithful of adaptations. I guess people thought the movie with Cruise and Pitt was too gay, or something?
Anyhoo, this one starts out with a race swap, and emphasizes that Louis... is gay!
Oh FFS. I watched 1 1/2 episodes, just to try to give it a chance, but no. Please people, no more Don Lemon lookalikes in your "updated" versions of these books. What a pile of shite.
They were great reads, but now seem to be summarized as "vampires are gay."
The thing is, this adaptation bills itself as the most faithful of adaptations. I guess people thought the movie with Cruise and Pitt was too gay, or something?
Anyhoo, this one starts out with a race swap, and emphasizes that Louis... is gay!
Oh FFS. I watched 1 1/2 episodes, just to try to give it a chance, but no. Please people, no more Don Lemon lookalikes in your "updated" versions of these books. What a pile of shite.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:17 AM (L0M+p)
238
Speaking of delightfully creepy -- E. F. Benson's "Caterpillars." Ran across that during my early paperback buying days in an anthology called Ghosts and Things. Think it's included in the big Modern Library Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural. Long overdue for a Halloween revisit to that one too.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:01 AM (q3u5l)
Thanks to Bennett Cerf, that imprint exists. He bought it from Alfred Knopf. Said it was the best deal he ever made. Practically stole it from Knopf.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:01 AM (q3u5l)
Thanks to Bennett Cerf, that imprint exists. He bought it from Alfred Knopf. Said it was the best deal he ever made. Practically stole it from Knopf.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:18 AM (0eaVi)
239
>>>>Try selling them on e-bay or FB or some other marketplace. I've noticed most used booksellers don't want to pay you, just give you books. Not much use if you're downsizing.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (0eaVi)
******
IIRC, the Thriftbooks webpage has a link to selling your books. I don’t know anything about it though.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (0eaVi)
******
IIRC, the Thriftbooks webpage has a link to selling your books. I don’t know anything about it though.
Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at October 20, 2024 11:19 AM (tJ28a)
240
8
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
It would be nice if there was a way to learn what individual students were interested in, then use it as a basis for a reading list.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:10 AM (EsZUh)
It's the reason I never liked the so-called classics. The breakdown of a good book into an analysis of the minutiae burned me out on so many authors (except Poe).
I hated every single book that was required in English class. The very name Siddhartha makes me want to woof.
It would be nice if there was a way to learn what individual students were interested in, then use it as a basis for a reading list.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:10 AM (EsZUh)
It's the reason I never liked the so-called classics. The breakdown of a good book into an analysis of the minutiae burned me out on so many authors (except Poe).
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:19 AM (g8Ew8)
241
Wolfus --
"Negotium Perambulans" is a Benson. Don't think I've ever gotten around to that one, but it's in a collection somewhere here in either the physical or digital shelves at Casa Some Guy.
You can check Benson's listing at isfdb.org to get a list of the collections that include it. That site is a godsend for tracking down authors, titles, and anthology appearances.
"Negotium Perambulans" is a Benson. Don't think I've ever gotten around to that one, but it's in a collection somewhere here in either the physical or digital shelves at Casa Some Guy.
You can check Benson's listing at isfdb.org to get a list of the collections that include it. That site is a godsend for tracking down authors, titles, and anthology appearances.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:20 AM (q3u5l)
242
Try selling them on e-bay or FB or some other marketplace. I've noticed most used booksellers don't want to pay you, just give you books. Not much use if you're downsizing.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (0eaVi)
The world is divided, between the people who want to sell the shit they no longer want, and those who want to get rid of the shit they no longer want.
I'm definitely in the get rid of category. It would "cost" me more time and effort to put stuff up for sale. I just want it gone.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:16 AM (0eaVi)
The world is divided, between the people who want to sell the shit they no longer want, and those who want to get rid of the shit they no longer want.
I'm definitely in the get rid of category. It would "cost" me more time and effort to put stuff up for sale. I just want it gone.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:21 AM (L0M+p)
243
There are parts of Salem's Lot that still give me the shivers.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:02 AM (g8Ew
OMG. The vampire hovering outside of the second-story window...it's a wonder I ever slept again.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:02 AM (g8Ew
OMG. The vampire hovering outside of the second-story window...it's a wonder I ever slept again.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 11:22 AM (OX9vb)
244
I spent three years in Germany. It was always STOP signs. Even in Yugoslavia.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:23 AM (0eaVi)
245
Related to learning to read; Writing. Many students these days have no idea on how to construct a story, a logical argument, technical writing, or even a well built business letter (or email). You know, 1) Opening, 2) Discussion/presentation, 3) Call for action/Conclusion, 4) Closing.
When I was working, many times I'd receive an email and, upon completing it, had no idea what the writer was trying to convey - whether that be transfer of information or to ask for something.
When I was working, many times I'd receive an email and, upon completing it, had no idea what the writer was trying to convey - whether that be transfer of information or to ask for something.
Posted by: Tonypete at October 20, 2024 11:24 AM (WXNFJ)
246
Some books should be banned from public libraries
Posted by: Paul at October 20, 2024 11:24 AM (Pzd7t)
247
MP4, what's the name of your website? I'd go there if I knew how to find it.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024 11:24 AM (+ViXu)
248
By the way, that Wikipedia description bothers me. Maybe mentioned upthread, but... permission of God?
That's a mighty strange way to describe it. Everything we do down here, if you want to look at it that way, has God's permission. If it didn't, we couldn't do it.
The basic theological question is whether God intervenes or not. Do we have free will. If we have free will, then God allows. He doesn't give us permission. That implies He is a participant.
What a silly way to describe it.
That's a mighty strange way to describe it. Everything we do down here, if you want to look at it that way, has God's permission. If it didn't, we couldn't do it.
The basic theological question is whether God intervenes or not. Do we have free will. If we have free will, then God allows. He doesn't give us permission. That implies He is a participant.
What a silly way to describe it.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:24 AM (L0M+p)
249
"by the time students arrive in college, they no longer have the desire to read or to become lifelong readers."
I was in 8th grade when first introduced to "New Math." As I told the teacher, I grasp what they want us to do here, I understand the approach, but only because I have a grounding in traditional math education.
What "new and improved" educational methods instituted in the last sixty years have actually been better? It all seems to be poor change for change's sake, when it's not intentional dumbing-down.
I was in 8th grade when first introduced to "New Math." As I told the teacher, I grasp what they want us to do here, I understand the approach, but only because I have a grounding in traditional math education.
What "new and improved" educational methods instituted in the last sixty years have actually been better? It all seems to be poor change for change's sake, when it's not intentional dumbing-down.
Posted by: mindful webworker - book? book? what is book? at October 20, 2024 11:25 AM (OGsvs)
250
I spent three years in Germany. It was always STOP signs. Even in Yugoslavia.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: OrangeEnt
Nine!
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: OrangeEnt
Nine!
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at October 20, 2024 11:26 AM (/lPRQ)
251
156 @5 Not sure I trust a book written in Latin
Descartes, Spinoza, Linnaeus and Newton, poof. Gone.
Of course, there are early and late Principia Mathematica...
Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (zdLoL)
Dude. Duuuude.
Descartes, Spinoza, Linnaeus and Newton, poof. Gone.
Of course, there are early and late Principia Mathematica...
Posted by: Way,Way Downriver at October 20, 2024 10:25 AM (zdLoL)
Dude. Duuuude.
Posted by: St Jerome at October 20, 2024 11:27 AM (PiwSw)
252
I spent three years in Germany. It was always STOP signs. Even in Yugoslavia.
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:23 AM (0eaVi)
Germans probably feel the same way with "schwansschtucker".
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Balding American at October 20, 2024 11:04 AM (Ad8y9)
Another one of those internationalist's plots!!!!
(shakes fist)
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:23 AM (0eaVi)
Germans probably feel the same way with "schwansschtucker".
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:28 AM (g8Ew8)
253
JFK was a fan of Robert Frost poetry and it was pushed on us even in grade school. (My home town had a Kennedy connection and he and Jackie were married in a local church.) Except for a few poems I was never a fan. Just wondering if others had that stuff pushed because of the Camelot hysteria.
Posted by: JTB at October 20, 2024 11:29 AM (yTvNw)
254
Seems like back then, California was kind of ahead with those kinds of programs in schools.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 11:15 AM (OX9vb)
I wouldn't be surprised if they gutted them in the interests of "fairness."
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! Catz for Trump! at October 20, 2024 11:15 AM (OX9vb)
I wouldn't be surprised if they gutted them in the interests of "fairness."
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:30 AM (0eaVi)
255
What "new and improved" educational methods instituted in the last sixty years have actually been better? It all seems to be poor change for change's sake, when it's not intentional dumbing-down.
Posted by: mindful webworker
'Instruction' in ebonics comes to mind instantly.
Posted by: mindful webworker
'Instruction' in ebonics comes to mind instantly.
Posted by: Tonypete at October 20, 2024 11:31 AM (WXNFJ)
256
What "new and improved" educational methods instituted in the last sixty years have actually been better? It all seems to be poor change for change's sake, when it's not intentional dumbing-down.
Posted by: mindful webworker - book? book? what is book? at October 20, 2024 11:25 AM (OGsvs)
My grandfather taught college math when New Math was being rolled out, and my mom was taking those courses at that time. the original goal was to allow broader understanding of mathematics than rote memorization and learning could do, and to have it taught earlier since it was noted that the best mathematicians in history were generally quite young, and they had an idiosyncratic understanding of maths.
It has turned into a bag of tricks to allow a student to use a rote memorized processes to do computations without having to actually understand what they are doing, which unfortunately for people like me, does not allow back checking the process.
Posted by: mindful webworker - book? book? what is book? at October 20, 2024 11:25 AM (OGsvs)
My grandfather taught college math when New Math was being rolled out, and my mom was taking those courses at that time. the original goal was to allow broader understanding of mathematics than rote memorization and learning could do, and to have it taught earlier since it was noted that the best mathematicians in history were generally quite young, and they had an idiosyncratic understanding of maths.
It has turned into a bag of tricks to allow a student to use a rote memorized processes to do computations without having to actually understand what they are doing, which unfortunately for people like me, does not allow back checking the process.
Posted by: Kindltot at October 20, 2024 11:32 AM (D7oie)
257
In my more lunatic days, I tried collecting every US printing of the books of Fritz Leiber and Harlan Ellison. Was pretty close, too -- I could have counted the missing volumes on my fingers. But the specialty press printings starting around the time of Ellison's Stalking the Nightmare priced me out of that, and I finally sold most of 'em off so that I'd never be tempted to bankrupt us by filling in the gaps.
A few collectible items are still on the shelves here and I suppose some day I'll find a specialty dealer to sell them to, except for those the offspring would like; the rest of the books not claimed by the offspring will probably go to area libraries, the local senior center, or the second hand shops in Joplin in exchange for credit that we may never use.
A few collectible items are still on the shelves here and I suppose some day I'll find a specialty dealer to sell them to, except for those the offspring would like; the rest of the books not claimed by the offspring will probably go to area libraries, the local senior center, or the second hand shops in Joplin in exchange for credit that we may never use.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:32 AM (q3u5l)
258
One Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice' - which if not for a daily explanation of each chapter I would have hated.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 11:17 AM (MwtZ5)
I thought Rickles was called "The Merchant of Venom?"
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 11:17 AM (MwtZ5)
I thought Rickles was called "The Merchant of Venom?"
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:33 AM (0eaVi)
259
Netflix has a new adaptation of "Interview With a Vampire." People who weren't around then probably don't realize how revolutionary Rice's books were, because everyone has copied her since.
They were great reads, but now seem to be summarized as "vampires are gay." . . .
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024
***
Probably why I didn't like Interview when it was new. That, and this constant attitude of "Look how well I'm writing!"
The only one of Rice's works I loved was her Lolita-like suspense/romance called Belinda. It's not really like Lolita; the title character is a worldly seventeen and the male lead is not as old as Humbert (and not creepy either), and theirs is a true love story. But the backgrounds of both (Belinda's remains a mystery for a good part of the book), the settings of New Orleans and San Francisco in the late '70s or early '80s, and the overall flavor you're left with once you close the book, make it good stuff. None of her others have grabbed me at all.
They were great reads, but now seem to be summarized as "vampires are gay." . . .
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024
***
Probably why I didn't like Interview when it was new. That, and this constant attitude of "Look how well I'm writing!"
The only one of Rice's works I loved was her Lolita-like suspense/romance called Belinda. It's not really like Lolita; the title character is a worldly seventeen and the male lead is not as old as Humbert (and not creepy either), and theirs is a true love story. But the backgrounds of both (Belinda's remains a mystery for a good part of the book), the settings of New Orleans and San Francisco in the late '70s or early '80s, and the overall flavor you're left with once you close the book, make it good stuff. None of her others have grabbed me at all.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:35 AM (omVj0)
260
Book related - there are these nice Japanese youth had selling a book at Trump rallies:
Trump Shall Never Die by Ryuho Okawa
I was curious so I looked it up on Amazon. From the blurb:
Using his spiritual abilities, author and spiritual leader Ryuho Okawa conducted a spiritual interview with the guardian spirit (the subconscious mind) of the former U.S. President Donald Trump and unveiled his true thoughts never reported by the media. The topics include the "madness" found in GAFA and the mainstream media, Mr. Trump's views on the coronavirus vaccine and global warming, and the true aim of "Make America Great Again."
So wacky lol
Trump Shall Never Die by Ryuho Okawa
I was curious so I looked it up on Amazon. From the blurb:
Using his spiritual abilities, author and spiritual leader Ryuho Okawa conducted a spiritual interview with the guardian spirit (the subconscious mind) of the former U.S. President Donald Trump and unveiled his true thoughts never reported by the media. The topics include the "madness" found in GAFA and the mainstream media, Mr. Trump's views on the coronavirus vaccine and global warming, and the true aim of "Make America Great Again."
So wacky lol
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 20, 2024 11:36 AM (dE3DB)
261
Robert Frost reminds me of Doris Egan's discussion of teaching "The Road Less Traveled": Begin the discussion of the poem by discussion of the elements of the decision made by the protagonist, exploring what the other roads might lead to, and conclude class discussion by leading the class to the conclusion that the path taken by the protagonist was the only acceptable one.
Posted by: Kindltot at October 20, 2024 11:36 AM (D7oie)
262
The world is divided, between the people who want to sell the shit they no longer want, and those who want to get rid of the shit they no longer want.
I'm definitely in the get rid of category. It would "cost" me more time and effort to put stuff up for sale. I just want it gone.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:21 AM (L0M+p)
So, recycle bin, or regular trash? What would you do with books?
I've only recycled one book in my life. "Record of Accomplishment" by W.
I'm definitely in the get rid of category. It would "cost" me more time and effort to put stuff up for sale. I just want it gone.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:21 AM (L0M+p)
So, recycle bin, or regular trash? What would you do with books?
I've only recycled one book in my life. "Record of Accomplishment" by W.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:37 AM (0eaVi)
263
It's the reason I never liked the so-called classics. The breakdown of a good book into an analysis of the minutiae burned me out on so many authors (except Poe).
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:19 AM
The fact that I was spared all that over-analysis is probably why I was able to enjoy the classics. I went to a small all-girl Catholic high school and the nuns were more concerned with making us into well rounded, educated young women. It wasn't until my first semester at UMass Boston that I was subjected to "symbolism" and all the over thinking and conjecture. I agree that it sucked all the pleasure out of reading but by that point I knew it didn't have to be that way. I didn't appreciate those nuns at the time but looking back they prepared us well.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 11:19 AM
The fact that I was spared all that over-analysis is probably why I was able to enjoy the classics. I went to a small all-girl Catholic high school and the nuns were more concerned with making us into well rounded, educated young women. It wasn't until my first semester at UMass Boston that I was subjected to "symbolism" and all the over thinking and conjecture. I agree that it sucked all the pleasure out of reading but by that point I knew it didn't have to be that way. I didn't appreciate those nuns at the time but looking back they prepared us well.
Posted by: KatieFloyd at October 20, 2024 11:38 AM (tFYDl)
264
The latest and 'greatest' ways to teach math are awful. People have been doing math (and some very advanced math) since Babylon and it's always been taught by memorization of the basic arithmetic. And here we are in the 21st century and some moron in ed school thinks we've been wrong for the last 4 thousand years and comes up with a 'better' way. Puh-leeze. I've seen some of the new methods they use for teaching and I use some of them myself, but they only work because I have all the basic arithmetic memorized. If you start with them, you'll end up with people who can't do any math, let alone basic math. As is shown in test scores across the country.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024 11:38 AM (+ViXu)
265
I suspect that a lot of the "teachers" of new math or whatever it's devolved into now (and ditto some of the reading instruction methods) don't understand most of it themselves. They can't dazzle the students with brilliance, so they baffle 'em with, well, you know.
Who was it said that if our education system had been imposed on us by a foreign country, we'd be justified in calling it an act of war?
To which the colleges of education said, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
Who was it said that if our education system had been imposed on us by a foreign country, we'd be justified in calling it an act of war?
To which the colleges of education said, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:39 AM (q3u5l)
266
Some books should be banned from public libraries
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:41 AM (0eaVi)
267
Thanks to Bennett Cerf, that imprint exists. He bought it from Alfred Knopf. Said it was the best deal he ever made. Practically stole it from Knopf.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024
***
Modern Library was (is?) a great imprint. They were willing to include some of the best of the detective/crime story in their offerings. I have Haycraft's Fourteen Great Detective Stories, ranging from Poe to Rex Stout and Cornell Woolrich, and the triple collection Three Famous Murder Novels w/ Before the Fact by Francis Iles (the basis for the Hitchcock movie Suspicion. I ran across them both when I was fourteen, and saved up to buy a copy of each at my local bookstore the next year.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024
***
Modern Library was (is?) a great imprint. They were willing to include some of the best of the detective/crime story in their offerings. I have Haycraft's Fourteen Great Detective Stories, ranging from Poe to Rex Stout and Cornell Woolrich, and the triple collection Three Famous Murder Novels w/ Before the Fact by Francis Iles (the basis for the Hitchcock movie Suspicion. I ran across them both when I was fourteen, and saved up to buy a copy of each at my local bookstore the next year.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:41 AM (omVj0)
268
So, recycle bin, or regular trash? What would you do with books?
I've only recycled one book in my life. "Record of Accomplishment" by W.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:37 AM (0eaVi)
Books go to whatever thrift store will take them. I'm going to drop them off, you do with them what you will. I know most thrift stores are not thrilled to get books, they probably can't sell most of them, but you can try. It's your business.
My business is to have less clutter in my life.
I've only recycled one book in my life. "Record of Accomplishment" by W.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:37 AM (0eaVi)
Books go to whatever thrift store will take them. I'm going to drop them off, you do with them what you will. I know most thrift stores are not thrilled to get books, they probably can't sell most of them, but you can try. It's your business.
My business is to have less clutter in my life.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:42 AM (KB50+)
269
I was fortunate that Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth not Merchant of Venice were the required reading.
Posted by: runner at October 20, 2024 11:42 AM (V13WU)
270
Some books should be banned from public libraries
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024
***
So my "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" would not be too far off the mark. . . .
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024
***
So my "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" would not be too far off the mark. . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:42 AM (omVj0)
271
Probably why I didn't like Interview when it was new. That, and this constant attitude of "Look how well I'm writing!"
The only one of Rice's works I loved was her Lolita-like suspense/romance called Belinda. It's not really like Lolita; the title character is a worldly seventeen and the male lead is not as old as Humbert (and not creepy either), and theirs is a true love story. But the backgrounds of both (Belinda's remains a mystery for a good part of the book), the settings of New Orleans and San Francisco in the late '70s or early '80s, and the overall flavor you're left with once you close the book, make it good stuff. None of her others have grabbed me at all.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:35 AM (omVj0)
I read the trilogy, then read one of her witch books, I can't remember the name, and I think I started one other, and gave up.
The gay got to be too much. I didn't think the Lestat books were as gay as everyone now believes. They're vampires, they do whatever the F they want, including bang other dudes.
I didn't have a problem with her writing style, I don't recall it getting in the way of the stories, but that was years ago.
The only one of Rice's works I loved was her Lolita-like suspense/romance called Belinda. It's not really like Lolita; the title character is a worldly seventeen and the male lead is not as old as Humbert (and not creepy either), and theirs is a true love story. But the backgrounds of both (Belinda's remains a mystery for a good part of the book), the settings of New Orleans and San Francisco in the late '70s or early '80s, and the overall flavor you're left with once you close the book, make it good stuff. None of her others have grabbed me at all.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:35 AM (omVj0)
I read the trilogy, then read one of her witch books, I can't remember the name, and I think I started one other, and gave up.
The gay got to be too much. I didn't think the Lestat books were as gay as everyone now believes. They're vampires, they do whatever the F they want, including bang other dudes.
I didn't have a problem with her writing style, I don't recall it getting in the way of the stories, but that was years ago.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:45 AM (KB50+)
272
Reading instruction following the latest ed school fad is just as bad as math. Wisconsin is going back to phonics but it took action by the state legislature to do it.
Posted by: who knew at October 20, 2024 11:46 AM (+ViXu)
273
New Math seems to have been implemented by people not so good at math who asked those that were good at math solve certain problems by hand so quickly... And come up with generic algorithms for various techniques, methods, and tricks used to short-cut long additon/multiplication/division for all problems rather than the narrow set the trick was used for.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at October 20, 2024 11:46 AM (/lPRQ)
274
My wife is a former English teacher who now works in education tech and has kept up on all the latest research on teaching kids to read, all the way up to using MRI and brain scans to see which parts of the brain light up as kids learn. Phonics are no longer out of vogue, she says. They’re not a singular focus, though, but rather one piece of the puzzle. Accelerated Reading, she says, is a reward program and not really an instructional one., and sort of a red herring in this conversation.
Her take is that the attention span reduction from smartphones is real. Also, childhood poverty levels are up (and likely tied to immigration rates) which also significantly affect children’s’ willingness and ability to read.. But the biggest factor is that parents don’t push their kids to read for fun (because most parents don’t read books for enjoyment either, and this has been true for decades).
Don’t get hung up on making them read “important” or “difficult” texts, let them read something they enjoy, even graphic novels; they’ll gravitate to text-only soon enough. We did this with our children and they both read well above grade level, for fun.
Her take is that the attention span reduction from smartphones is real. Also, childhood poverty levels are up (and likely tied to immigration rates) which also significantly affect children’s’ willingness and ability to read.. But the biggest factor is that parents don’t push their kids to read for fun (because most parents don’t read books for enjoyment either, and this has been true for decades).
Don’t get hung up on making them read “important” or “difficult” texts, let them read something they enjoy, even graphic novels; they’ll gravitate to text-only soon enough. We did this with our children and they both read well above grade level, for fun.
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (JuIXZ)
275
Puh-leeze. I've seen some of the new methods they use for teaching and I use some of them myself, but they only work because I have all the basic arithmetic memorized. If you start with them, you'll end up with people who can't do any math, let alone basic math. As is shown in test scores across the country.
=====
Even as a silly BritLitTwit, it makes me wild that arithmetic is not a primary focus for math instruction. Geniuses can adapt, just like early readers, and build on the foundation. I do not want bridges and buildings built on estimates.
Drill, Baby, drill.
=====
Even as a silly BritLitTwit, it makes me wild that arithmetic is not a primary focus for math instruction. Geniuses can adapt, just like early readers, and build on the foundation. I do not want bridges and buildings built on estimates.
Drill, Baby, drill.
Posted by: mustbequantum at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (RxnYx)
276
I wished I'd been shown the reasons for the manipulations we were supposed to do in algebra. By the time I took stats in college, I could see what the formulas did, and enough of why that I knew what formula to use for which word problem. But Algebra I just seemed confusing.
A friend of mine labeled his notebook for that class "Algerbia," as if it were a foreign country with its embassy at our school. He was more right than he knew.
A friend of mine labeled his notebook for that class "Algerbia," as if it were a foreign country with its embassy at our school. He was more right than he knew.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (omVj0)
277
Wolfus, Modern Library is still an active imprint.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:48 AM (0eaVi)
278
I hated having to read that too. 'Green Mansions' was another wtf required reading. One Shakespeare, 'The Merchant of Venice' - which if not for a daily explanation of each chapter I would have hated.
Posted by: Civic Classifier
In addition to the HenryV biography I'm slowly going through Judi Dench's remembrances of all the Shakespeare roles she played. She absolutely hated doing The Merchant of Venice. Dislikes the play and the characters immensely.
Posted by: Civic Classifier
In addition to the HenryV biography I'm slowly going through Judi Dench's remembrances of all the Shakespeare roles she played. She absolutely hated doing The Merchant of Venice. Dislikes the play and the characters immensely.
Posted by: Tuna at October 20, 2024 11:48 AM (oaGWv)
279
Don’t get hung up on making them read “important” or “difficult” texts, let them read something they enjoy, even graphic novels; they’ll gravitate to text-only soon enough. We did this with our children and they both read well above grade level, for fun.
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024
***
Yes; I moved on from the "Superman Family" of comic books when I was ready, about age ten or eleven. Of course I'd been reading young people's adventure novels, the Whitman novels based on TV Western series, for years by that time, too.
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024
***
Yes; I moved on from the "Superman Family" of comic books when I was ready, about age ten or eleven. Of course I'd been reading young people's adventure novels, the Whitman novels based on TV Western series, for years by that time, too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:50 AM (omVj0)
280
So my "Dick and Jane Discover Mom's Sex Toys" would not be too far off the mark. . . .
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:42 AM (omVj0)
Probably not. Pawl probably stashed it in his dresser at home.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:42 AM (omVj0)
Probably not. Pawl probably stashed it in his dresser at home.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:51 AM (0eaVi)
281
This is Day 2 of Paisley's Big Adventure.
Posted by: Northernlurker , wondering where his phone is at October 20, 2024 11:52 AM (ZftBm)
282
Some books should be banned from public libraries
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:41 AM (0eaVi)
Most of us have seen/heard excerpts from some of these books. I'm wondering if we're getting some kind of distorted view. The books that feature instruction on how to perform oral and anal sex... is there something we're missing here?
The ones that feature adult/adolescent sex... is there context? Any context?
If not, then I'd say we're in witchcraft territory (as described above). Without God's permission.
Yes, titles like, "How to suck off your football "coach," and "My family sells their bodies for money," and of course, "How to profit by child sex rings," by the Democrat Party....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:41 AM (0eaVi)
Most of us have seen/heard excerpts from some of these books. I'm wondering if we're getting some kind of distorted view. The books that feature instruction on how to perform oral and anal sex... is there something we're missing here?
The ones that feature adult/adolescent sex... is there context? Any context?
If not, then I'd say we're in witchcraft territory (as described above). Without God's permission.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:53 AM (KB50+)
283
Four grandchildren. The two older ones are in college, majoring in psych and the other in astro-chemistry. (Who knew). Both read well. The younger two (13 and 15) are home schooled and have both read The Iliad and other bits and bobs of literature. Pretty proud of them.
Posted by: Diogenes at October 20, 2024 11:53 AM (W/lyH)
284
Started college as a math major and switched over to English in the middle of sophomore year; just wasn't enjoying math any more and stopped applying myself to it -- washed out at integral calc. Worked in libraries and bookstores and finally programming -- even as a programmer I can't recall having to make much use of anything over basic algebra (and not an awful lot of that).
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:53 AM (q3u5l)
285
At the wonderful Arlene’s Kountry Kitchen in Corsicana. Yesterday, Mrs. Splunge had catfish, perfectly fried, and apple pie, both superb. I had excellent red means and sausage and rice. Today, there is an expanded Sunday menu. She’s having beef tips over rice, and I’m having chitterlings.
Posted by: Splunge at October 20, 2024 11:54 AM (WEiXt)
286
I didn't have a problem with her writing style, I don't recall it getting in the way of the stories, but that was years ago.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024
***
The Witching Hour was actually pretty good until the end, when she failed to wrap up or even take a half-hitch in the story strands. It was as if she said, "Oh, I know you'll read the next book, so I'll just leave this here." Pffft.
And her main vampire, Lestat, in later books seemed a whiny git who needed a good Twelve-Step program. "I want to be human! Oh, now that I'm human, I have a cold and I hate it!", etc.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024
***
The Witching Hour was actually pretty good until the end, when she failed to wrap up or even take a half-hitch in the story strands. It was as if she said, "Oh, I know you'll read the next book, so I'll just leave this here." Pffft.
And her main vampire, Lestat, in later books seemed a whiny git who needed a good Twelve-Step program. "I want to be human! Oh, now that I'm human, I have a cold and I hate it!", etc.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:54 AM (omVj0)
287
I wound up reading Andre Norton books in Jr highschool. The whole free trader thing was fascinating. This was never quality literature, but it was entertaining enough.
When I was a kid, I got Humpty Dumpty magazine, and it had the Tintin graphic novels published serially. Those got my attention, they were exciting enough to keep me plowing through the text to figure out what was going on.
When I was a kid, I got Humpty Dumpty magazine, and it had the Tintin graphic novels published serially. Those got my attention, they were exciting enough to keep me plowing through the text to figure out what was going on.
Posted by: Kindltot at October 20, 2024 11:55 AM (D7oie)
288
Don’t get hung up on making them read “important” or “difficult” texts, let them read something they enjoy, even graphic novels; they’ll gravitate to text-only soon enough. We did this with our children and they both read well above grade level, for fun.
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (JuIXZ)
And speaking of witchcraft, I wonder if anyone has made a study of how the Harry Potter books influenced kids' reading habits.
I know some parents shied away from them, for obvious reasons, but I would think the net effect was more kids wanting to read more things.
Posted by: Caiwyn at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (JuIXZ)
And speaking of witchcraft, I wonder if anyone has made a study of how the Harry Potter books influenced kids' reading habits.
I know some parents shied away from them, for obvious reasons, but I would think the net effect was more kids wanting to read more things.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:55 AM (KB50+)
289
From the comments, it sounds like I should be happy I never read past Anne Rice's first book.
And now, assorted elements of the real world are clamoring for attention. So...
Thanks for the thread, Perfessor.
Have a good one, gang.
And now, assorted elements of the real world are clamoring for attention. So...
Thanks for the thread, Perfessor.
Have a good one, gang.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at October 20, 2024 11:56 AM (q3u5l)
290
Most of us have seen/heard excerpts from some of these books. I'm wondering if we're getting some kind of distorted view. The books that feature instruction on how to perform oral and anal sex... is there something we're missing here?
The ones that feature adult/adolescent sex... is there context? Any context?
If not, then I'd say we're in witchcraft territory (as described above). Without God's permission.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:53 AM (KB50+)
No kid needs to know how to perform any type of sex. It's grooming. No other explanation. Now, the source is open to surmise.
The ones that feature adult/adolescent sex... is there context? Any context?
If not, then I'd say we're in witchcraft territory (as described above). Without God's permission.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:53 AM (KB50+)
No kid needs to know how to perform any type of sex. It's grooming. No other explanation. Now, the source is open to surmise.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:57 AM (0eaVi)
291
EARLY NOOD
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2024 11:57 AM (fwDg9)
Posted by: Dr. Bone at October 20, 2024 11:58 AM (bxmU0)
293
And her main vampire, Lestat, in later books seemed a whiny git who needed a good Twelve-Step program. "I want to be human! Oh, now that I'm human, I have a cold and I hate it!", etc.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:54 AM (omVj0)
Yikes! Almost like taking the Joker and making him sing with Lady Gaga.
At the time I thought her ability to create an origin story for vampires was magnificent. Deep and rich, and like nothing I'd ever seen before.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:54 AM (omVj0)
Yikes! Almost like taking the Joker and making him sing with Lady Gaga.
At the time I thought her ability to create an origin story for vampires was magnificent. Deep and rich, and like nothing I'd ever seen before.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 11:58 AM (KB50+)
294
Have to post another shout to to author Ed Nelson.
He writes simple.alternate history stories that are interesting, fun, and strangely informative. And he does two things that always get my attention. He introduces characters with names we all recognize, but they are just people in his books. Also, he drops the "fourth wall" and talks to the reader. Its a nifty technique.
He writes simple.alternate history stories that are interesting, fun, and strangely informative. And he does two things that always get my attention. He introduces characters with names we all recognize, but they are just people in his books. Also, he drops the "fourth wall" and talks to the reader. Its a nifty technique.
Posted by: Diogenes at October 20, 2024 11:58 AM (W/lyH)
295
Off to do chores! Thanks, Perfessor, and all who joined in today!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 12:00 PM (omVj0)
296
No kid needs to know how to perform any type of sex. It's grooming. No other explanation. Now, the source is open to surmise.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:57 AM (0eaVi)
I just don't want to dismiss these people as pure evil, if there's something they believe, however misguided, but I haven't heard the arguments for their side.
With abortion for example, I think it's simple: Is that clump of cells a human life, with a soul and a purpose, or isn't it. No matter how wrong I think you are about it, I can at least wrap my head around the argument.
But this stuff? Nah, just evil. Unless I'm missing something.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 11:57 AM (0eaVi)
I just don't want to dismiss these people as pure evil, if there's something they believe, however misguided, but I haven't heard the arguments for their side.
With abortion for example, I think it's simple: Is that clump of cells a human life, with a soul and a purpose, or isn't it. No matter how wrong I think you are about it, I can at least wrap my head around the argument.
But this stuff? Nah, just evil. Unless I'm missing something.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 12:00 PM (KB50+)
297
Shoot! The end of the Book Thread again! The end of the book thread always gets me down.... Rainy days or not.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 12:01 PM (0eaVi)
298
Speaking of rare books, Samuel Clemons wrote a short farce entiled "160?." I cannot remember the last number. It was in the UCSD Central Univ. Library (Now called the Geisel Library.)
I read it in 1973. Queen Elizabeth I and her gentlemen are sitting around a table farting and cracking wise.
I read it in 1973. Queen Elizabeth I and her gentlemen are sitting around a table farting and cracking wise.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 20, 2024 12:02 PM (+H2BX)
299
My daughter home schools/schooled. I mentioned to her once the importance of reading dystopian novels and I mentioned a few examples. She then added half a dozen more titles and then said, "Yes, we've read them all."
The SAT scores of her students earned them all scholarships.
My daughter home schools/schooled. I mentioned to her once the importance of reading dystopian novels and I mentioned a few examples. She then added half a dozen more titles and then said, "Yes, we've read them all."
The SAT scores of her students earned them all scholarships.
Posted by: Civic Classifier at October 20, 2024 12:02 PM (MwtZ5)
300
I wished I'd been shown the reasons for the manipulations we were supposed to do in algebra. By the time I took stats in college, I could see what the formulas did, and enough of why that I knew what formula to use for which word problem. But Algebra I just seemed confusing.
A friend of mine labeled his notebook for that class "Algerbia," as if it were a foreign country with its embassy at our school. He was more right than he knew.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (omVj0)
Math is just a manipulation of numbers and symbols to fit an agenda.
A friend of mine labeled his notebook for that class "Algerbia," as if it were a foreign country with its embassy at our school. He was more right than he knew.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at October 20, 2024 11:47 AM (omVj0)
Math is just a manipulation of numbers and symbols to fit an agenda.
Posted by: Dr Pork Chops & Bacons at October 20, 2024 12:02 PM (g8Ew8)
301
But this stuff? Nah, just evil. Unless I'm missing something.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 12:00 PM (KB50+)
No, I don't think we are missing something. These people mean to corrupt children because they want to have sex with them. Whether from evil spiritual urging, or our own nature is the open question.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2024 12:00 PM (KB50+)
No, I don't think we are missing something. These people mean to corrupt children because they want to have sex with them. Whether from evil spiritual urging, or our own nature is the open question.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at October 20, 2024 12:02 PM (0eaVi)
302
I recall that it was published by the U.S. Naval Academy Press. But I could be mis-remembering it.
Posted by: no one of any consequence at October 20, 2024 12:03 PM (+H2BX)
303
I'd hate to have to define the "best" book or books I've ever read, my reading tastes are too eclectic. A pair that DO pop up are Mackinley Kantor's Andersonville and King's The Stand, though. Both just made outstanding impressions.
Posted by: IRONGRAMPA at October 20, 2024 12:10 PM (hKoQL)
304
malleus malleficarum was the book responsible for the witch terror craze that swepped through Europe post reform. hundreds of thousands if deaths. up there with the protocols of zion, the manifesto, and mein kampf. then as now people can't tell what reality is
Posted by: azhar at October 20, 2024 12:12 PM (hJ98U)
305
The business of Catholics burning heretics and witches at the stake was greatly emphasized by Protestant propagandists, particularly in England to justify their own horrific acts against Catholic dissidents.
--
I just borrowed
Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark, who I think is an agnostic, or at least was when he wrote it
--
I just borrowed
Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark, who I think is an agnostic, or at least was when he wrote it
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at October 20, 2024 12:35 PM (J5RCE)
306
My must read Halloween book is A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny.
Posted by: 13times at October 20, 2024 12:37 PM (X2ujo)
307
We stopped into a used and antiquarian bookstore yesterday to inquire about them taking some of them off my hands. We're not talking junk either, but stuff like the complete novels of Balzac and Morison's history of the US Navy in World War II. His lack of interest in anything was palpable.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (EsZUh)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
It's tough (for me anyway) when people bring in really worthwhile books to sell me. I might really want them but I've only got so much shelf space and already not enough time to inventory and photograph them for my online store plus any other locations I list at. I mean those 75 boxes of books still in my store room aren't making me any money yet.
Plus some people get offended when I as a store tell them what I can afford to pay them, since I need to then resell them and make a profit plus pay my expenses.
Now, as a reader, I'm much quicker at buying books. Do I have that book yet? maybe... Ok, pick it up. Will I read that book? possibly, it looks interesting. OK, buy it.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 20, 2024 11:00 AM (EsZUh)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
It's tough (for me anyway) when people bring in really worthwhile books to sell me. I might really want them but I've only got so much shelf space and already not enough time to inventory and photograph them for my online store plus any other locations I list at. I mean those 75 boxes of books still in my store room aren't making me any money yet.
Plus some people get offended when I as a store tell them what I can afford to pay them, since I need to then resell them and make a profit plus pay my expenses.
Now, as a reader, I'm much quicker at buying books. Do I have that book yet? maybe... Ok, pick it up. Will I read that book? possibly, it looks interesting. OK, buy it.
Posted by: Ronald Kornblow at October 20, 2024 12:39 PM (pXRYM)
308
Oh, Twain's book has a much more interesting history. Secretary of State John Hay and the director of the US Military Academy arranged to print up an edition of Twain's borderline-obscene (for the time) novel on the West Point school printing press after hours, and then sent copies to a select group of friends. All of which was not-at-all-technically illegal.
Posted by: Trimegistus at October 20, 2024 12:59 PM (78a2H)
309
I seem to recall that one of the advertisers in the early days of The Rush Limbaugh Show was "Hooked on Phonics!" It was marketed towards parents who were either supplementing the crappy Public Skool education their kids were enduring, or those who were Home Schooling. Of course the left hated Limbaugh and all things associated with him, especially his advertisers. Thus, in a reactive tantrum, phonics were banished from education. Didn't matter that it was the most effective way to learn to read, no, political purity was the paramount concern...
Posted by: Brewingfrog at October 20, 2024 02:12 PM (9erEt)
310
The business of Catholics burning heretics and witches at the stake was greatly emphasized by Protestant propagandists, particularly in England to justify their own horrific acts against Catholic dissidents.
the whitch hunts were almost exclusively a protestant phenomenon. and it was driven by the civilian authorities not by the church. the inquisition burning witches is later enlightenment anti church propaganda. the inquisition was ruthless against political enemies etc.but many times they released the "witches" through the back door. they knew some poor peasant women were not witches. they were the educated elites of the day. at some point the king of France issued and edict that which craft does not exist to put an end to the whole business
the whitch hunts were almost exclusively a protestant phenomenon. and it was driven by the civilian authorities not by the church. the inquisition burning witches is later enlightenment anti church propaganda. the inquisition was ruthless against political enemies etc.but many times they released the "witches" through the back door. they knew some poor peasant women were not witches. they were the educated elites of the day. at some point the king of France issued and edict that which craft does not exist to put an end to the whole business
Posted by: azhar at October 20, 2024 07:49 PM (hJ98U)
311
tge whitch hunts was mass psychosis similar to the cultural revolution, the French revolution etc. malleus maleficarum was widely read and believed. the price to pay for the printing press, which was the then equivalent of today's social media. society was not prepared to have a conversation about whether whichcraft exists or not.
Posted by: azhar at October 20, 2024 07:54 PM (hJ98U)
312
If the DFW area didn't have such nice bookstores, I would say to either finish the roads or nuke the place.
Posted by: Weak Geek lost hours to "ramp closed" signs but got to hear the Chiefs win at October 20, 2024 08:24 PM (19Z2O)
313
Thanks Perfessor for another fantastic post. Always grateful I went to elementary school in the 60s in Queens NYC and learned how to read by the phonics method. Northern NJ was the wilderness by comparison, but one HS teacher assigned The Martian Chronicles and opened my eyes. Read somewhere that teachers admit phonics is the best way but despise it because it's too much work! Perhaps another way in which unions ruined the country.
Posted by: Yumanbean58 at October 20, 2024 09:31 PM (c9a9O)
314
There is another major consideration that must be added to why people can't read at a college level: When I was in junior high and high school, the books that were assigned were ridiculously uninteresting to me. It wasn't until I found "The Once and Future King" by TH White in the school library that I wanted to read something. This lead me to look for more Artherian legend books which lead me to greek mythology. The Mythology lore brought me to the different mythologies by culture (various gods/goddesses) and their stories. But I still wasn't into reading yet. I went to a store (not even a bookstore) and found "The Wishsong of Shananara" by Terry Brooks. For the first time, I found a book I couldn't put down. I went looking for more and found the SF/Fantasy sections and started reading voraciously at that point and have ever since.
Book selections for learning to read should be fun for the kids and not for the teacher. Every teacher inflicts their tastes onto those poor kids and there's nothing they can do about it. But the one thing it does for certain, is turn off any interest in reading in general.
Book selections for learning to read should be fun for the kids and not for the teacher. Every teacher inflicts their tastes onto those poor kids and there's nothing they can do about it. But the one thing it does for certain, is turn off any interest in reading in general.
Posted by: myoda176 at October 20, 2024 10:05 PM (3vOV3)
315
I have always been passionate about helping children to learn to love reading. Public schools for several decades have made it their mission to squash the innate curiosity of children and to take all the joy out of reading and learning. What is a parent to do? First, talk to your children from the time they are babies. Children whose parents talk with them and read with them develop a much larger vocabulary than those whose parents do not. Vocabulary is the building block of literature. Second, fight against the electronic monster -tv, smart phones, tablets, computers-for as long as possible and limit these severely to less than two hours per day, including so-called educational electronic toys, shows, and games. Children who spend more than two hours/day plugged into electronics start school with a vocabulary that is 2 YEARS behind their peers who have spent less than 2 hours/day on them--AND THEY NEVER CAN CATCH UP. Again, vocabulary level determines ability to read, and the ability to read determines academic achievement. Finally, let your kids see you reading and read to your kids. Take them to the library and let them pick out books they find interesting.
Posted by: Annie Rose at October 20, 2024 11:54 PM (NzF2S)
316
I can't believe that our college students across this country don't read books.... can't read books... not interested in reading books.... I became a voracious reader in junior high and 40+ years later I read about 2-5 books a week depending on my schedule. I have written 2 books and have 4 more in the process.
Reading books is one of the most wonderful things you can do for your mind. You learn, you imagine, you travel, you feel! Reading expands your imagination and your vocabulary. Reading hones your emotional IQ. You feel the story, you feel the emotions, you feel the empathy of the characters. I can never stop talking about books or reading books!!! Read everyone!! Its one of the best things you can do for yourself! Great topic!!!
Reading books is one of the most wonderful things you can do for your mind. You learn, you imagine, you travel, you feel! Reading expands your imagination and your vocabulary. Reading hones your emotional IQ. You feel the story, you feel the emotions, you feel the empathy of the characters. I can never stop talking about books or reading books!!! Read everyone!! Its one of the best things you can do for yourself! Great topic!!!
Posted by: Cathymv at October 21, 2024 09:58 AM (LPyx5)
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