Ace of Spades HQ

October 07, 2012

Sunday Morning Book Thread 10-07-2012: The Great Debate [OregonMuse]
— Open Blogger

The Results of the Debate

(stolen from Bill Whittle on facebook)

Good morning morons and moronettes and welcome to the cantankerous, querulous, and hotly debated Sunday Morning Book Thread.

Nothing To Debate

Certainly not about the outcome. I haven't seen a drubbing like this since-- well, since the first Reagan-Mondale debate in 1984. It wasn't that Mondale was so masterful, but Reagan was clearly off his game. Reagan looked like the liberal caricature of Reagan: a confused, doddering old man, out of his depth and ignorant of everything. I was dismayed by this, but fortunately, he bounced back and did very well in the rematch. Ultimately, it didn't matter, because Reagan's victory over Mondale was so total and complete that today it's Mondale who is most remembered as a hapless boob.

Fun fact: Maybe some of you didn't know this, but as the famous Kennedy-Nixon debate was broadcast on both television and radio, those who saw the debate on television thought Kennedy won, but to those who listened to it on the radio, Nixon won. It's all in the power of the visual image.

Also, my estimation of debate moderator Jim Lehrer went up after I read his comments quoted in an earlier thread defending his "laissez-faire" (so to speak) approach to managing this week's debate. He's moderated so many of these debates that he's written a book about them. Also, according to his mini-bio on Amazon, Lehrer has written twenty novels, two memoirs, and three plays. I never knew this. I thought he was just a journalist. Has anyone ever read a novel or seen a play authored by Jim Lehrer?

Here's another book about the presidential debates.

What I'm Currently Reading

Run for it! by Tom Bender is a thriller that has two teenaged witness what appears to be a gangland slaying in the suburbs of Chicago in 1939. They are forced to run for their lives across the country to the East coast. It's a fast-paced, fun read. And the Kindle edition is only 99 cents, which makes it even better.

I've just completed Louis L'Amour's Last of the Breed. What a fine, well-written book, good to the very end. It's on my list of books that should have been made into movies, but haven't. Also, the last paragraph of the book suggests that L'Amour was anticipating a sequel, but unfortunately, there isn't one.

I finished Caliphate by Tom Kratman, an ePub freebie from Baen Books. It was OK, nothing really great.

I'm also working on Memoirs of Bernal Diaz del Castillo, which is a first-hand account of the Spanish conquest of Mexico and Central America as told by a soldier in Cortez' army. Several morons recommended it on earlier book threads, and it reads sort of like an adventure story. It's available for free in various eBook formats.

Books By Morons For Morons

Sometime moron commenter "John the Baptist" wants us all to know that his book has just been published: "Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Georgia History", which he thinks would go down well with the AoSHQ crowd. I am inclined to agree:

The lives of notorious bad guys, perpetrators of mischief, visionary--if misunderstood--thinkers, and other colorful antiheroes, jerks, and evil doers from history all get their due in the short essays featured in these enlightening, informative, books. Speaking Ill of the Dead: Jerks in Georgia History features 15 short biographies of nefarious characters, from wicked pirate Edward Teach to John Gatewood, a ruthless Confederate guerilla fighter during the Civil War.

Sounds like fun. History is full of jerks. In fact, JtB probably should have named it "Jerks, Douchebags and Ass Clowns", but I'm guessing the publisher probably wouldn't go for it.

As always, book thread tips may be sent to aoshqbookthread@gmail.com

This book thread is brought to you by:

So what have you all been reading this week?

Posted by: Open Blogger at 07:02 AM | Comments (131)
Post contains 662 words, total size 5 kb.

1 Read most of Â“woolÂ” yesterday after downloading books 1 Â– 5 in a Daily Deal. It started out good but by the time it got to book 5 it bogged down and became repetitive and depressing. Everyone else seemed to like Wool so I guess I am an outlier. I tend to like post apocalyptic stories but I like them in an upbeat manner where people overcome the adversity and begin to recover. I donÂ’t read SF novels to become more depressed. I have Obama for that.

Other than that, am rereading a lot of old stuff, some of which I have downloaded for the Kindle instead of struggling with small print paperbacks.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:05 AM (YdQQY)

2 "I haven't seen a drubbing like this since-- well, since the first Reagan-Mondale debate in 1984" I don't remember whether it was Fred Barnes or Michael Barone who made this point last week, but it was an excellent Winston Wolf-type reminder on the perils of gloating.

Posted by: JPS at October 07, 2012 07:07 AM (AAu8Q)

3 I've just completed Louis L'Amour's Last of the Breed.

He was probably the best writer of westerns who ever lived. I have every one of his books and have even download a few of my favorites that I had in paperback so I could read them on the Kindle.

Those include the original three Sackett books, Flint, and Reilly's Luck. But those are just a few of my favorites by him.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:09 AM (YdQQY)

4 I finished Into the Fire by Dakota Meyers.
Not bad. A little jumpy in the beginning. I bought it for the description of the Battle of Ganjigal and because one of the main heroes is the nephew of a friend of mine. Local guy as hero. Winner of Naval Cross.
Plus, I want to support a Medal of Honor winner.

Posted by: Pecos at October 07, 2012 07:10 AM (2Gb0y)

5 I am reading china meivilles rail sea, sort of a post apocalyptic take off of moby dick only with trains on a vast sea of dirt crisscross we by train tacks and full of moles and digging creatures hunted for fat and fur. I thought it started off really well, but now meivilles writerly pretensions and his admiration for his own cleverness are starting to irritate me and bog down the story. Soi took a break to start joe Abercrombie second first law novel, before they are hanged. This is a great series IMO.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:11 AM (q7Aum)

6 Ahem. Actually the old Nixon/JFK radio/TV line is a myth that's gained conventional wisdom status. The 'radio' poll this was based on was in a heavy GOP area and not scientific. At the time, the well-nigh universal opinion was JFK trounced Nixon.

Posted by: Shawn at October 07, 2012 07:11 AM (/lltO)

7 Ugh, sick and on an iPhone does not make for precise typing.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:12 AM (q7Aum)

8 LOL, jerks in GA History. John McKay used to post on here and I have read a couple of his books. He is good.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:13 AM (YdQQY)

9 I've just started reading NASA's online history of Project Gemini.

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4203/toc.htm

Pretty good so far.

NASA has an absolute shit-ton of historical/technical material on the web.

Posted by: Waterhouse at October 07, 2012 07:14 AM (7ekbr)

10 I've just completed Louis L'Amour's Last of the Breed.

Reading his autobiographical The Education of a Wandering Man. I've already told my wife that I am dropping it on her desk when I finish it.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 07:15 AM (z9HTb)

11 Finished No Easy Day via Kindle in a couple of days earlier this week.

Great narrative, quick read, compelling subject matter - pretty much as expected. No earth-shattering revelations but some pretty funny moments.

Posted by: goy at October 07, 2012 07:15 AM (QsFws)

12 I also recommend Brave Men In Desperate Times by him.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:16 AM (YdQQY)

13 Reading stuff is highly overrated. Trust me on that.

Posted by: Nancy Pelosi at October 07, 2012 07:17 AM (VNFBf)

14 I'm reading the Sword of Truth series, as was recommended here a few times. I'm liking it so well that I downloaded the Legend of the Seeker TV series based on the books. I'm on book 2 and episode 3 of the videos - they're not really very true to the books.
I also saw that Joe Abercrombie has a new one coming out - I did enjoy those First Law books.

Posted by: Tunafish at October 07, 2012 07:17 AM (pgGli)

15 Hubby just finished reading "John Dies at the End" and "This Book if Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It" and raved about both of them. Author is David Wong. Got to love them for the titles if nothing else.

Posted by: natasha at October 07, 2012 07:18 AM (pyYXJ)

16 Posted by: Tunafish at October 07, 2012 11:17 AM (pgGli) I've seen sword of truth recommended on here a few times. Who writes them? I guess I could go look it up.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:20 AM (q7Aum)

17 I'm liking it so well that I downloaded the Legend of the Seeker TV series based on the books.

You will be very disappointed in the TV series. The only thing they have in common is the names of the characters. The TV series is swords and tits meet magic.

It is just a rehash of the Xena series with different name.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:21 AM (YdQQY)

18 Oh yeah, terry goodkind. I read wizards first rule back in the day. Have to admit I was unimpressed, but I guess enough people were.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:22 AM (q7Aum)

19 Who writes them? I guess I could go look it up.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 11:20 AM (q7Aum)

Terry Goodkind.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:22 AM (YdQQY)

20 You will be very disappointed in the TV series. The only thing they have in common is the names of the characters. The TV series is swords and tits meet magic.

It is just a rehash of the Xena series with different name.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 11:21 AM (YdQQY)

And lacking Bruce Campbell.

Posted by: buzzion - Free Kratos at October 07, 2012 07:22 AM (GULKT)

21 Obama was bad, Romney was himself. I thought it was close 55 RR - 45 BO. Romney could have been far better though - as Obama is very vulnerable on so many different levels that it boggles the mind! Obama's basic problem is that his record is completely undefendable. He is a closet Marxist, he is obviously seething with a primal racial hatred for white people, and he generally loathes capitalism, western civilization and all who created it. That Romney did little more than spell his own name correctly and got points for it was a blessing. We have a badminton player when we need a bomb thrower! Let us pray for God's mercy again next time, Magna Est Veritas Et Praevalebit.

Posted by: 7HEAVENS at October 07, 2012 07:23 AM (tuCVl)

22 The TV series is swords and tits meet magic. Vic at October 07, 2012 11:21 AM (YdQQY)

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Posted by: Tunafish at October 07, 2012 07:23 AM (pgGli)

23 You say that like it's a bad thing.

Posted by: Tunafish at October 07, 2012 11:23 AM (pgGli)

Well, if I had wanted to watch Xena I would have. If I want to look at tits I'll go to the 'net where I can see ALL of the tits and not just ones in a pushup bra with extra tape.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:25 AM (YdQQY)

24 "Wizard's First Rule" and its sequel are basically Goodkind trying to be the CS Lewis for Objectivism. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - much like Lewis himself, come to that.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 07:26 AM (QTHTd)

I started "Not Taco Bell Material" by Adam Corolla and I have LOLed several times since starting. I am listening to Richard Miniter's book on Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in the car. He just started discussing Jose Padilla and mentioned that Padilla did work for Taco Bell at one point, so Adam Corolla, not Taco Bell material; convicted terrorist/wanna-be/consorter with terrorists, definitely Taco Bell material.

I am reading Andrew McCarthy's book, "Spring Fever" on my Kindle, all about the Arab Spring, and it's very background-y and informative. I have decided to immerse myself in the Muslim Brotherhood and that is what I spent a lot of money on in last week's book binge before swearing off buying more, so I'm ready.

And I have some fun stuff around, like starting the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series which I hear is quite entertaining. Got some garden books and a dog book or two from the library, and some other bits of miscellany. It doesn't count as "buying" if I have overdue fines.

Posted by: Tonestaple at October 07, 2012 07:26 AM (gvVlx)

26 Best summary of the debate (from redstate) Romney - 1 Obama - Present

Posted by: I'm the Honey Badger, BITCH! at October 07, 2012 07:27 AM (rD4Vf)

27 "Wizard's First Rule" and its sequel are basically Goodkind trying to be the CS Lewis for Objectivism

The book that best shows his "objectivism" is Faith of The Fallen.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:28 AM (YdQQY)

28 >>>"...the famous Kennedy-Nixon debate was broadcast on both television and radio, those who saw the debate on television thought Kennedy won, but to those who listened to it on the radio, Nixon won."

I've heard this for years, but Michael Barone has said it's most likely an urban myth. He cites the fact that the sample size of that poll was extremely small and weighed heavily towards Republicans.

I tend to trust Barone -- when it comes to political demographics and whatall, he knows his onions.

Posted by: Torch-Wielding Villager at October 07, 2012 07:28 AM (sTS/8)

29 I've been reading Pournelle / Niven, "The Mote in God's Eye". Starts out as interstellar naval SF, with much owed to Heinlein. There's also a running joke about ships' engineers affecting fake Scottish brogues - which gets less funny the more I see it.

I hear the book gets better though, so I'm still plodding.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 07:28 AM (QTHTd)

30 Fun fact: Maybe some of you didn't know this, but as the famous Kennedy-Nixon debate was broadcast on both television and radio, those who saw the debate on television thought Kennedy won, but to those who listened to it on the radio, Nixon won. It's all in the power of the visual image.
The problem with this analysis is that it's all based on the Chicago Tribune's story, and its a bit... sketchy. Joseph Campbell has tackled it several times, and in essence they mentioned "polls" without saying which ones, and the only poll he can find is a ridiculously tiny sample (a few hundred) and statistically worthless.
http://tinyurl.com/92pgj4a
It might still be true, but there's no evidence to back it up, just conventional wisdom and one newspaper's insistence.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at October 07, 2012 07:32 AM (r4wIV)

31 I vaguely recall reading "The Mote in God's Eye" and wondering what all the fuss was about. As comparison, I distinctly remember reading "Lucifer's Hammer" and all of Heinlein's stuff, even the drek. I remember reading "Mote" but I don't remember a single solitary thing about it.

Posted by: Tonestaple at October 07, 2012 07:32 AM (gvVlx)

32 Been going through the audio book of Mockingjay and getting ready to check it out from the Amazon library (Gotta love that Prime membership).

While I was on a cruise, I read I Can't Believe I'm Sitting Next to a Republican and No Matter What...They'll Call This Book Racist by Harry Stein. Both good reads, but I liked the second book better.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 07, 2012 07:32 AM (S3Fp+)

33 The book that best shows his "objectivism" is Faith of The Fallen.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 11:28 AM (YdQQY)

He even says that on his website - it's book 6 so I'll get to it in a couple of weeks.

I read J. K. Rowling's new book, her first book for adults. It was just kinda "meh". Very British. Slow.

Posted by: Tunafish at October 07, 2012 07:33 AM (pgGli)

34 Factoids from this fabulous piece of non-fiction I am currently reading, "Krakatoa" by Simon Winchester. The Dutch East Indies Company was the first corporation with a corporate logo. The Wallace Line (1863), a determination by Alfred Russell Wallace, in his West Indies study of zoology and evolution, occurs to the east of Borneo and generally runs NE to SW. Australian fauna (cockatoos, kangaroos) exist to the east, and Indo-European thrushes, monkeys, and deer are extant to its west. The line played a significant part in the much newer theory of plate tectonics, the evolution of the earth. Oh, and the Christian traders, the Portuguese first, then the English, and lastly the Dutch, found that the Muslims in the Spice Islands, circa 1600 and Muslims for over 200 years, hated them.

Posted by: The littl shyning man at October 07, 2012 07:33 AM (PH+2B)

35 Biden will sober up and Get Straight for the Debate--but Ryan knows this.

Biden is a drunk and a fool, but clever and can be ruthless when it benefits him. He won't be a buffoon in the debate, but will either try to out-argue Ryan ( which will produce a lot of clutter and be declared 'a tie ), or sit back and let Ryan wonk with numbers, then try to cherrypick what he thinks are Targets of Opportunity

My guess is that Biden will try to argue point by point, talking fast, spewing out lies and factoids and lame zingers--which the MFM will spin into 'feisty Joe' narrative and declare it a tie.

Posted by: Isaac Davis White at October 07, 2012 07:39 AM (Dll6b)

36 Yeah, Biden will be a buffoon, but it will be declared a "tie" at worst unless Biden has a nervous breakdown or something.
The big difference between the Obama/Romney debate and this one is that despite all the "low expecations" stories, the press really did think Obama was a god that walks among us and were stunned to see him bleed.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at October 07, 2012 07:41 AM (r4wIV)

Evanovich is fun but it gets old fast, in my opinion. Try Lisa Lutz "The Spellman Files" series: very funny and characters move on, get older, change, leave. Laugh out loud, too.

Carolla's first book, in the front end, had me weeping with laughter quite often. I may try Taco Bell, too. The title alone is so funny.

Posted by: Bingo at October 07, 2012 07:41 AM (YrSL3)

38 Oh, and the Christian traders, the Portuguese first, then the English, and lastly the Dutch, found that the Muslims in the Spice Islands, circa 1600 and Muslims for over 200 years, hated them.

They were still seething over their first encounter with a Western sailor, Capt. George Bush.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 07:43 AM (z9HTb)

39 18 Yeah, i felt his style in that one was rather clumsy, and sometimes he was heavy-handed in trying to make his points. The writing improves dramatically in the second book (haven't read any further in the Sword of Truth series), and Goodkind just really does get and dramatize some big truths. He seems to me like someone who has gone through a lot of counseling--if you've gone through much counseling yourself, a lot of stuff in his books hits you a new/deeper way.

Posted by: Occam's Safety Razor at October 07, 2012 07:43 AM (8Mgrk)

40 Goodkind has some great themes of tremendous importance in his books, but they get lost in the story and his books got way out of control. A lot of writers suffer from too early success.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at October 07, 2012 07:44 AM (r4wIV)

41 Finished Breitbart's Righteous Indignation. Found the histiry of the Frankfort School to be very enlightening and his explanations of the ACORN and Wiener events were amusing and helped me know more about some of the people I follow/ see a lot on Twitter. Still working on O'Rourke's synopsis of Wealth of Nations. Both hilarious and very informative. Started The Long Way Home by 'Ette writer (?) Chase.

Posted by: Polliwogette, Teahada hobbit who wants some R&R at October 07, 2012 07:44 AM (XM34t)

42 Reagan came back strong in the second debate, yo. That's what O will try to do somehow, but Obama ain't Reagan and the economy isn't roaring back for the past 2/ 12 years like it was in 1984

Posted by: Isaac Davis White at October 07, 2012 07:44 AM (Dll6b)

43 Vic, if you haven't gotten to the "books" in Wool with the main character Juliet, keep reading. (Because the character Juliet is kick-ass I kept visualizing her as our own Baldilocks, which was an added bonus). The first section is depressing, I agree, but Wool as a whole is not.

Currently reading Caliban's War, sequel to Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey. Really good space opera with a noir flavor. Plus rampaging alien biotech and planet wars! Much fun.

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at October 07, 2012 07:44 AM (wfSF5)

44 Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 11:26 AM (QTHTd) That's interesting. now I'm glad I never read the rest

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:46 AM (q7Aum)

45 Oh I got to Juliet and all the way to book 5.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:46 AM (YdQQY)

46 Oh - and Salman Rushdie wrote a memoir. "Joseph Anton". That book is gripping. (I was in the UK when the "The Satanic Verses" controversy hit.)

What always fascinated me was how the dividing lines went right through the Left and the Right.

On the Left, and Rushdie saw himself as on the Left at the time (he was on the Right in high school, as we find out) Susan Sontag led the charge to defend Rushdie, often calling up waverers over the phone. a San Francisco bookstore was bombed for carrying the book - and they've kept the burned area as a tourist attraction ever since. But John le Carre did NOT help. Jack Straw didn't either.

On the Right, Margaret Thatcher and especially Geoffery Howe disowned the book and called it "offensive" - in public, but in private their Government did successfully hide him. Paul Johnson said "[Rushdie is] an unrepentant multimillionaire who is still greedy for more".

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 07:47 AM (QTHTd)

47 Started The Long Way Home by 'Ette writer (?) Chase.

What is the author's meat space name? Lotsa Kindle books with that title.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 07:47 AM (z9HTb)

48 Started The Long Way Home by 'Ette writer (?) Chase.

Try post 43

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:50 AM (YdQQY)

49 43 There you are!

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 07:50 AM (z9HTb)

50 The writing improves dramatically in the second book (haven't read any further in the Sword of Truth series), and Goodkind just really does get and dramatize some big truths. He seems to me like someone who has gone through a lot of counseling--if you've gone through much counseling yourself, a lot of stuff in his books hits you a new/deeper way. Oh man, now I might have to give it a second shot. The counseling stuff explains a lot about the first book.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 07:50 AM (q7Aum)

51 fluffy,
See comment 43...

Posted by: ChrisP at October 07, 2012 07:51 AM (t0yc8)

52 47 Just remembered. It's *Sabrina* Chase. Knew it was something pretty that started with an S, but couldn't chech at the time for fear of losing the comment.

Posted by: Polliwogette, Teahada hobbit who wants some R&R at October 07, 2012 07:52 AM (XM34t)

53 This thread could make an interesting detective puzzle.

Who refreshed their browser in what order?

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 07:52 AM (z9HTb)

54 She actually put that book up for free for a while just for the Morons.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:53 AM (YdQQY)

55 What is the author's meat space name? Lotsa Kindle books with that title.

====
Her name is Sabrina Chase.

Posted by: Retread at October 07, 2012 07:53 AM (zxitI)

56 Can we haz pointed elbow football thread?

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at October 07, 2012 07:53 AM (wR+pz)

57 oops, MAY we haz pointed elbow football thread.

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at October 07, 2012 07:53 AM (wR+pz)

58 Gots to remember its only 11:00 am in TX now.

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 07:56 AM (YdQQY)

59 Sabrina Chase, Fluffy.

Posted by: Tonestaple at October 07, 2012 07:56 AM (gvVlx)

60 Meh, cold and rainy today. Feels like March. Time to get out the Xmas lights.

He won't be a buffoon in the debate, but will either try to
out-argue Ryan ( which will produce a lot of clutter and be declared 'a
tie ), or sit back and let Ryan wonk with numbers, then try to
cherrypick what he thinks are Targets of Opportunity

I still think Medved's analysis is correct. Biden won't engage Ryan at all. He'll treat him like an empty chair and talk directly to the audience or the moderator, because he knows to engage Ryan on facts is to lose.

Oh, 1/3rd of the way through Brothers Karamazov. Typical Russian writing so far.

Posted by: pep at October 07, 2012 07:56 AM (6TB1Z)

61 Elizabethe, I'd say they're probably worth another look, though Christopher Taylor's comment at 40 should always be kept in mind. Goodkind also goes kind of nuts in the second book (in my opinion) threatening very unpleasant things to the heroine. If you're on the sensitive side about such matters, you may be better off passing on the series.

Posted by: Occam's Safety Razor at October 07, 2012 07:57 AM (8Mgrk)

Ok. Joke of the day. I hadn't heard this one before...maybe you all have...

While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75 year old rancher, whose hand had been caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.

Eventually the topic got around to Obama and his role as our president. The old rancher said, "Well, ya know, Obama is a 'post turtle'."

Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was...

The old rancher said, "When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle."

The old rancher saw the puzzled look on the doctors face so he continued to explain:

"You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there to begin with."

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin at October 07, 2012 07:57 AM (jFGbG)

63 Reading Ian Tregillis' Bitter Seeds, the first novel of the Milkweed Triptych. It is a well written fantasy novel about an alternate history WWII where the Nazis were were able to engineer actual super-powered soldiers and the British fought back with warlocks.

Posted by: BornLib at October 07, 2012 07:59 AM (zpNwC)

64 And just FYI for those searching Amazon, the Sabrina Chase with the book "HIV in the inner city" is not me and more importantly that book is not SF and hasn't a single spaceship in it. (Not only is my book title common but so is my name, sigh). I think spaceships improve everything, myself.

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at October 07, 2012 07:59 AM (wfSF5)

65 Currently reading Caliban's War, sequel to Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey.

I got Leviathan Wakes on Kindle. I paused on the reading of it. I'll pick it up again soon.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 08:00 AM (QTHTd)

66 LOL love it Wisconsin

Posted by: BitterClingy&Buried at October 07, 2012 08:02 AM (QQcJv)

67 Oh, and i'm currently reading Fiesta (The Sun Also Rises). First encounter with Hemingway beyond very short stories like "Hills Like White Elephants." Good. Frustratingly good. His style doesn't seem like it should work or make for pleasant reading, but it does.

Posted by: Occam's Safety Razor at October 07, 2012 08:04 AM (8Mgrk)

68 "I'm About to Let One" probably not the book cover to look at when one is in church where loud giggling is frowned upon. Now I remember there's a whole website of those things. Still working on the second reading of Catching Fire also the Game of Thrones audiobook masterfully read by Roy Dotrice.

Posted by: Sinalco at October 07, 2012 08:04 AM (fdnD9)

69 I agree with everyone's take of hair plugs. He will treat Ryan like his son in law. The nice kid who just got started and really doesn't know much. Ole Joe, I been around before this kid was born.

Also you know ole plagiarizing Joe is the smartest guy in the room, right? Just axe him.

I think Ryan is more than up to the task and Joe knows it. Ryan has nothing to lose, Joe does. Fear of loss makes you defensive.

I expect an epic slap down. Unfortunately Joe is so fucking slow he won't know he was bitch slapped until someone tells him later. Neither will the media.

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at October 07, 2012 08:04 AM (wR+pz)

70 Wow. Wassermann-Shultz on Fox looking like she got caught in the Mount St. Helens eruption and then bathed in the pyroclastic flow.

Posted by: HtP at October 07, 2012 08:08 AM (jx2j9)

71 Jerks in Georgia History (assuming it's the state only) should include Bob Barr. BTW, what's up with that Rep. Cloun clown? A guy who takes the Bible literally, believes the Earth is 9,000 years old, thinks a lot of scientific disciplines are the Devil's work, and he's on the science & tech committee? WTF?

Posted by: SFGoth at October 07, 2012 08:10 AM (gdJ6c)

72 probably not the book cover to look at when one is in church where loud giggling is frowned upon.

You're reading the HQ during the sermon? I doff my hat to you.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™, Crankypants Extraordinaire at October 07, 2012 08:10 AM (hO8IJ)

73 Elbows Elbows Elbows

Posted by: Billy Bob, the guy who drinks in SC at October 07, 2012 08:10 AM (wR+pz)

74 70 Yep, she is not aging well.

Posted by: Infidel at October 07, 2012 08:11 AM (CVAqO)

75 We had a book out here last year, "Famous Jerks in Colorado History". Amazingly FrÃ©mont was considered a jerk here - lost lots of men when he was exploring these mountains. I was surprised since FrÃ©mont is elsewhere known as a free-soil hero who helped found the Republican Party.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 08:12 AM (QTHTd)

76 Forgot to mention that I saw Brad Thor tweet about a charity called Books For Soldiers and I've kind of been going wild on their website filling requests. You Morons should check it out.

Posted by: BornLib at October 07, 2012 08:12 AM (zpNwC)

77 Good zombie book: The Remaining by DJ Molles Also, Sundered by Shannon Mayer Good Scifi: The Old Man and the Wasteland

Posted by: eman at October 07, 2012 08:12 AM (Wp4rQ)

Millionaires and billionaires are more evil then I had imagined. Fortunately we have trusted, honest brokers like Wasserman-Shultz to show us how incredibly evil the rich Satan-spawn truly are. We should kill them.

Posted by: HtP at October 07, 2012 08:13 AM (jx2j9)

79 SFGoth- I didn't know he was on that committee. He needs to get off it.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 08:14 AM (QTHTd)

At school I saw one of my students (a sixth grade girl) reading No Easy Day. I was so impressed.

And let me second the commenter on Krakatoa. A great history. Read it on an airplane and couldn't put it down.

Posted by: Lee (in KY) at October 07, 2012 08:15 AM (jgXna)

81 Millionaires and billionaires are more evil then I had imagined.

That was why I quit reading Leviathan Wakes. OHNOEZ AN EVIL CORPORATION IS SPREADING A SUPERVIRUS. Tired of that shit, I am.

I might delete it from Kindle in fact.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 08:16 AM (QTHTd)

82 I think spaceships improve everything, myself.

If you had said 'trebuchet', I would agree. One should attempt to solve every problem with a trebuchet.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 08:16 AM (z9HTb)

83 I expect an epic slap down. Unfortunately Joe is so fucking slow he won't know he was bitch slapped until someone tells him later. Neither will the media.

The problem here is that Slow Joe has a secret weapon: making shit up.

Ryan can be as well-prepared as he can be, but he can't know every possible "fact" Joe is going to pull out of his ass. This is what kept Mr. Sippy Cup in the debate against Sarah Palin, he just made shit up on the fly. That kind of unadulterated, full-throttle bullshit is hard to combat.

Posted by: OregonMuse at October 07, 2012 08:17 AM (gfPwZ)

84 >>>Wassermann-Shultz on Fox looking like she got caught in the Mount St. Helens eruption and then bathed in the pyroclastic flow.

The host may have shed the parasite, but the parasite survived the dust bath.

Posted by: Fritz at October 07, 2012 08:17 AM (vm7ot)

85 Paging Dave from Texas.

Please pick up the red courtesy phone and insert pointed elbowed cheerleader in it.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at October 07, 2012 08:18 AM (wR+pz)

86 I'm just hoping that Biden says "Osama Bin Laden is alive and GM is dead".

Posted by: Adam at October 07, 2012 08:19 AM (/YJYi)

87 @83

True dat.

Posted by: Billy Bob, pseudo intellectual at October 07, 2012 08:19 AM (wR+pz)

88 Paul Ryan and Joe Biden - Two Catholic men with Irish heritage.

This will be fun.

Posted by: mrp at October 07, 2012 08:20 AM (HjPtV)

89 So, this week we have:
"The River War" by Winston Churchill - basically, Britain vs. the jihadis in the late 19th Century
And again after many years, "Uncle Remus" by Joel Chandler Harris.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at October 07, 2012 08:20 AM (0Db2g)

90 The problem here is that Slow Joe has a secret weapon: making shit up.

Ah, but the secret to a successful liar is that he's smart enough to keep the lies straight. Ryan would undoubtedly catch him in a contradiction, and confront him. "You said x, but then you said y, and both can't be true. Why are you lying to the American people?"

Biden would dissolve in a puddle of urine. That's why he won't engage. Or rather, he will be told he will not engage, or he'll be resigning after the election due to health reasons.

Posted by: pep at October 07, 2012 08:20 AM (6TB1Z)

91 This is what kept Mr. Sippy Cup in the debate against Sarah Palin, he just made shit up on the fly

This.

I was watching that debate. Biden came off better, and apparently "won", but the "victory" was then not celebrated by the media. That's because Biden's bullshit had been systematically refuted on the Right's blogs. It was "advantage Palin", long term, and the MSM could not have that at all.

I don't think Ryan will let Biden get away with it in real-time.

Posted by: Boulder Hobo at October 07, 2012 08:21 AM (QTHTd)

92 I'm wondering if any modern writers have considered using the Legend of Prester John as the basis for fantasy/history books.

Posted by: eman at October 07, 2012 08:21 AM (Wp4rQ)

93 That kind of unadulterated, full-throttle bullshit is hard to combat.

"Can you give us an example, Mr VP?"

Also, he has to stay completely outside of Ryan's knowledge.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 08:22 AM (z9HTb)

94 I'm going to the Hoover Dam today! All part of my pebate drep.

Posted by: Joe Biden at October 07, 2012 08:23 AM (wIgpo)

95
If you had said 'trebuchet', I would agree. One should attempt to solve every problem with a trebuchet.

Heh. Used properly, a trebuchet would solve most problems.

Posted by: Retread at October 07, 2012 08:24 AM (zxitI)

96 93 easy to do if you make shit up

Posted by: Beto at October 07, 2012 08:24 AM (BAnPT)

97 Or rather, he will be told he will not engage, or he'll be resigning after the election due to health reasons.

Furthermore, Barry Owin engaged and got his ass handed to him. His ego can't take the risk that Biden would outperform him by not losing as badly.

In any case, I think Obama would rather lose the election than have Biden outdo him. He would undergo a psychotic break.

Posted by: pep at October 07, 2012 08:24 AM (6TB1Z)

98 The Sword of Truth is a reminder to me, like the Golden Compass and yes, Narnia, of why allegory doesn't work. The attempt to force ideology into a plot results in either the muddling of the message or a plot of ass-pulls.

There's a difference between symbolism and similarities and the force-feeding of ideology into plot necessary for allegory.

None of those series have ever done anything for me. If you want a good current epic fantasy series, I'd suggest The Malazan Book of the Fallen. After that, Daniel Abraham's Dagger & Coin series.

But for me, The Dresden Files is the best read you can find right now. Not heavy literature, perhaps. But great characters and everything that's right about Urban Fantasy.

Posted by: Shawn at October 07, 2012 08:25 AM (/lltO)

99 Heh. Used properly, a trebuchet would solve most problems.

Very true. I can't figure how to use one to wash the windows, but I should still give it a try.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 08:25 AM (z9HTb)

100 Posted by: eman at October 07, 2012 12:21 PM (Wp4rQ) Tad Williams had a king in his dragon bone chair named prester John or some derivative. Not sure if he drew from the legend. The book follows a different character.

Posted by: Elizabethe mostly lurks iPhone edition at October 07, 2012 08:26 AM (q7Aum)

101 99 fill it with wet sponges

Posted by: Beto at October 07, 2012 08:26 AM (BAnPT)

102 easy to do if you make shit up

No, it isn't. Palin did not have a wealth of facts at her command. Ryan does, and he will deploy them for effect. Biden will either answer him, or be revealed as the ludicrous know-nothing he is.

His schtick only works when he's throwing red meat to crowds of the faithful.

Posted by: pep at October 07, 2012 08:27 AM (6TB1Z)

103 Very true. I can't figure how to use one to wash the windows, but I should still give it a try.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 12:25 PM (z9HTb)

Water balloons filled with soapy water. Then sponges. Then water balloons filled with clean water.

Posted by: buzzion - Free Kratos at October 07, 2012 08:28 AM (GULKT)

104 Silva's latest, I just caught up with it, was very good, there's a bit of a mcguffin, in it, akin to what Gertz found in that Free Beacon piece, as to what their ultimate plan is. That's James Corey's you were mentioning, consider it skipped.

Posted by: archie goodwin at October 07, 2012 08:29 AM (ctjsq)

105 Water balloons filled with soapy water. Then sponges. Then water balloons filled with clean water.

Brilliant! Now I just need permission to park it on someone's lawn over on the next block.

Posted by: fluffy at October 07, 2012 08:31 AM (z9HTb)

106 Biden will be evasive, misleading, dishonest, and as slippery as an eel.

Posted by: eman at October 07, 2012 08:31 AM (Wp4rQ)

107 Shawn-- Thanks for the recommendations.

Posted by: Occam's Safety Razor at October 07, 2012 08:32 AM (8Mgrk)

108 Brilliant! Now I just need permission to park it on someone's lawn over on the next block.

Offer to do their windows from your lawn.

Posted by: Retread at October 07, 2012 08:32 AM (zxitI)

109 Viva Max! Screenplay by Jim lender. Peter Ustinov, Jonathan Winters, great comedy especially if you're from Texas, like Lehrer is.

Posted by: tom servo at October 07, 2012 08:34 AM (bxpf3)

110 Biden will either be drunk, sober, or somewhere in between. In any condition, Ryan should easily destroy him. Sober, he is likely to be seeing snakes and spiders.

Posted by: Buck Ofama at October 07, 2012 08:35 AM (4Imfk)

111 new thread up full of elbows

Posted by: Vic at October 07, 2012 08:37 AM (YdQQY)

112 The Hour between Dog and Wolf

Posted by: BarryS at October 07, 2012 08:38 AM (4Vm9V)

113 Just received the hard copy of Last Mage Guardian (Sabrina Chase). Haven't read it yet, but the book came out really well. How cool is that to be able to format and publish your own book?

Posted by: ThroughtheRavenglass at October 07, 2012 08:43 AM (Z0YZC)

114 I'm reading The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, if I don't get too scared to read to the end.

BTW saw Iron Lady on DVD last night. Totally, totally insulting to Thatcher. Hatchet job.

Posted by: PJ at October 07, 2012 08:45 AM (DQHjw)

115

Given some potential for a change in U.S. foreign and defense policies, I would recommend this recent read:

'Americas Startegy in World Politics' by Nocholas J. Spykman.

Originally published in1942 and available again since 2007.

Though there have been significant changes with regard to the relative distribution of strategic resources, aerial refueling, at-sea replenishment, satellite reconnaissance, and nukes, the analysis in the book seems highly relevant for our day.

Posted by: RioBravo at October 07, 2012 08:48 AM (B604e)

116 115 Nicholas J. Spykman

Posted by: RioBravo at October 07, 2012 08:48 AM (B604e)

117 113 ThroughtheRavenglass, I was astonished at how easy it was to set up the print version (and free!) A friend really wanted a paper version or I wouldn't have done it -- never done any print layout in my life. Thought I'd have to save up the $800 to have someone do it for me. Amazon has created some seriously nifty tools for authors.

Posted by: Sabrina Chase at October 07, 2012 08:57 AM (wfSF5)

118 There are a bunch of Philip K. Dick books as the Kindle Daily Deal today.

Posted by: sinalco at October 07, 2012 09:23 AM (zDJDu)

119 Last of the Breed was an excellent novel. I need to dig out my copy and read it again. I miss Louis L'Amour.

Posted by: Steve Poling at October 07, 2012 09:26 AM (db5YN)

120 Finished Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' which was a very enjoyable though long read. There are no wars or other dramatic events going on just people looking for happiness; Anna by leaving her husband for a lover which doesn't work out too well. Considering she's the title character I was surprised not to admire or like Anna at all though she seems to be a realistically human character caught in bad circumstances. Pretty good tale. Tolstoy is a very good storyteller though uses an awful lot of words to do it.

Posted by: waelse1 at October 07, 2012 09:40 AM (3L5MH)

121 My daughter finally got her book written, Children of Hephaestus : A laboratory deep into the development of true artificial intelligence is plagued by a series of murders threatening their main project, the Olympian's Children. So if you are into Sci-Fi Horror Mystery give it a read http://liliy.net/brokenpocket/books.php

Posted by: Fredlike at October 07, 2012 09:46 AM (ztMxN)

122 Have always liked Breakfast at Tiffany's the movie, but had never read the Novella by Truman Capote. Book is pretty good not too different from the movie, except Paul is only a broke writer not a gigolo in the book and no happy ending.

Posted by: Fredlike at October 07, 2012 09:50 AM (ztMxN)

123 Update on "Not Taco Bell Material." Occasional LOLing ceased when I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe and my forehead cramped. Highly recommended.

Posted by: Tonestaple at October 07, 2012 10:15 AM (gvVlx)

124 Regarding Jerks in Georgia--I could certainly understand why the leaders of Georgia (and those who think they are) would think visionaries were jerks, and thus misunderstand them--because when you have historically lead and outperformed the nation in so many ways as the Peach State has (to mention nothing of the world), I 'spect it would get annoying to have guys come along with something they thought was better.

Posted by: A. at October 07, 2012 10:27 AM (961J8)

125 I mean, historically, the only states with greater justification to misunderstand visionaries would be Alabama and Mississippi...

Posted by: A. at October 07, 2012 10:31 AM (961J8)

126 Oh, and IIRC those "spice islands" of the Dutch West Indies number some fourteen thousand, of which Krakatoa, about 85 miles from Jakarta, was one. Was, but after the explosion, wasn't. It took from 1883 until sometime in the late 1920s for the cone to build its way up again to the surface of the sea. I think it grows by about five inches per week.

Posted by: The littl shyning man at October 07, 2012 10:45 AM (PH+2B)

127 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at October 07, 2012 11:23 AM (6o4Fb)

128 I've been reading "Currency Wars" by James Rickard. It is about the periodic devaluation of currency by soverign nations in order to increase exports (and appease unions). We are in the third one, starting with TARP and the QE's. The four possibile results are not Happy Fun. 1. Another basket of reserve currencies to replace the dollar, 2. U.N. Special Drawing Rights (SDR's are not backed by anything except good will), 3. Gold or 4. Chaos. Written in 2011, so it's current.

Posted by: Mr. Dave in SPI at October 07, 2012 11:37 AM (OBDWE)

129 Thank you most kindly for the mention, OregonMuse, and for the kind words, Vic! Jerks in Georgia History (assuming it's the state only) should include... I was limited to people & events before 1940, this is part of a multi-state series, and the publisher was afraid of lawsuits, justifiably in this climate. I got special dispensation from the attorneys to include John Wallace, the "Murder in Coweta County" figure, but only because he was already so notorious and had a book (and TV movie) out about him. I'm sorta expecting some pushback about the second guy in the book, John Wesley, who bush-bonded from the Georgia colony under a cloud of religious and civil litigation issues. Blazing Saddles taught me what company the Methodists are included within!

Posted by: John the Baptist at October 07, 2012 12:54 PM (/97ti)

130 There was not much time for me to read this week, so Corneille's play, "The Cid," was a quick getaway that led to some interesting questions about social customs and law.

Posted by: derit at October 07, 2012 01:41 PM (I88Jc)

131 I get to be the moron to provide a brief review of a Jim Lehrer novel. It is, of course, politically themed (write what you know; Lehrer follows the axiom). Good bit of intrigue. Dialogue is fluid. Not a long read - around 200 pages. Made for a good read on a two-legged flight back from DC.

Posted by: Kevin In ABQ at October 07, 2012 06:25 PM (q1qCt)

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