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I gotta tell you, my knee jerk reaction is that those things must be weird as hell.
QUOTE(Ben @ Mar 24 2006, 08:03 PM) [snapback]49772[/snapback]
I gotta tell you, my knee jerk reaction is that those things must be weird as hell.
To quote Jeremy Irons in Reversal of Fortune, "You have no idea."
Check out Robert Anton Wilson's website for some idea of where he's coming from. Here's his latest "Thought of the Month:"
QUOTE
IN DEFENSE OF PAT ROBERTSON
1 Artemis 83 p.s.U.
Nothing is true. All is permitted.
Hasan i Sabbah
Just as a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, even a Christian Fundamentalist gets a savvy notion every now and then. I think rev. Robertson had a good idea when he suggested replacing war with assassination in one case, on economic grounds. He merely didn’t carry the concept far enough.
I suggest that we should abolish war utterly and replace it entirely with selective assassination. Think about the savings this would mean, in this age when even our “little” wars cost billions of dollars a year, and rememer the cogent observation of the late Senator Dirkson: “A billion here, a billion there – pretty soon you’re talking about REAL Money.” We’ve already gotten our national debt so high that our posterity “unto the seventh generation” will never pay it off; do we really need to enslave the whole future to the international bankers?
On the moral side, killing a few dozen foreigners a year instead of a few hundred thousand should seem less messy, to say the least of it, especially when you consider the collatarel damage to our own side. How much blood and death do we need?
Reversing a sentimental error of the ‘60s, the new anti-war slogan should be MAKE ASSASSINATIONS, NOT WARS.
And, best of all, if this idea catches on internationally we can expect at least 50 contracts on George Bush the first week.
1 Artemis 83 p.s.U.
Nothing is true. All is permitted.
Hasan i Sabbah
Just as a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day, even a Christian Fundamentalist gets a savvy notion every now and then. I think rev. Robertson had a good idea when he suggested replacing war with assassination in one case, on economic grounds. He merely didn’t carry the concept far enough.
I suggest that we should abolish war utterly and replace it entirely with selective assassination. Think about the savings this would mean, in this age when even our “little” wars cost billions of dollars a year, and rememer the cogent observation of the late Senator Dirkson: “A billion here, a billion there – pretty soon you’re talking about REAL Money.” We’ve already gotten our national debt so high that our posterity “unto the seventh generation” will never pay it off; do we really need to enslave the whole future to the international bankers?
On the moral side, killing a few dozen foreigners a year instead of a few hundred thousand should seem less messy, to say the least of it, especially when you consider the collatarel damage to our own side. How much blood and death do we need?
Reversing a sentimental error of the ‘60s, the new anti-war slogan should be MAKE ASSASSINATIONS, NOT WARS.
And, best of all, if this idea catches on internationally we can expect at least 50 contracts on George Bush the first week.
Right now I'm reading "Jim Cramer's Real Money". it is a good read, and I've discovered alot that I would not have found out on my own. some of the stuff is pretty tricky and when trying it out (fantasy fund right now) I guess I'm not doing it right. there is alot of shit to take into account but its a good read none the less. hopefully it helps.
All of a sudden, I'm backed up with things to read. I knocked out Beneath the Banner of Heaven while lounging on a Mexico beach two weeks ago. I hate to knock religions, but Mormonism is pretty out there...
To my surprise, Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air was left behind by a former guest, so I tore threw that in two days as well. Compelling read, but I was surprised to feel after reading the grisly account of the expedition, that if someone would say to me, "Let's go climb Everest," I would consider it.
I just started Big Wheel and am backed up with a couple of early birthday gifts, 33 1/3 - Unknown Pleasures and Rip it up and start again
Of course, I also have a friend's biography of Ray Bradbury, The Bradbury Chronicles.
To my surprise, Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air was left behind by a former guest, so I tore threw that in two days as well. Compelling read, but I was surprised to feel after reading the grisly account of the expedition, that if someone would say to me, "Let's go climb Everest," I would consider it.
I just started Big Wheel and am backed up with a couple of early birthday gifts, 33 1/3 - Unknown Pleasures and Rip it up and start again
Of course, I also have a friend's biography of Ray Bradbury, The Bradbury Chronicles.
QUOTE(Em0r @ Mar 30 2006, 08:07 AM) [snapback]52713[/snapback]
To my surprise, Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air was left behind by a former guest, so I tore threw that in two days as well. Compelling read, but I was surprised to feel after reading the grisly account of the expedition, that if someone would say to me, "Let's go climb Everest," I would consider it.
if you're still interested in that stuff, check out joe simpson's "Touching The Void". amazing story.
QUOTE(Em0r @ Mar 30 2006, 08:07 AM) [snapback]52713[/snapback]
To my surprise, Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air was left behind by a former guest, so I tore threw that in two days as well. Compelling read, but I was surprised to feel after reading the grisly account of the expedition, that if someone would say to me, "Let's go climb Everest," I would consider it.
That book stunned me the first time I read it. I can't understand the climbing mentality, but I have a lot of respect for people who need to push themselves.
QUOTE
if you're still interested in that stuff, check out joe simpson's "Touching The Void". amazing story.
True, dat. I would also add The Second Death of George Mallory, which is about the the Everest climbing exploits of George Mallory, who died on the mountain back during an expedition in the 1920's. High-altitude alpine climbing was in its infancy then-- men still used ropes of hemp, and the oxygen equipment was either non-existant or incredibly primative and heavy. Pretty incredible stuff.
QUOTE(without_opinion @ Mar 30 2006, 08:54 AM) [snapback]52743[/snapback]
if you're still interested in that stuff, check out joe simpson's "Touching The Void". amazing story.
The doc/movie ain't too shabby either.
People that climb mountains are nuts. There was a good New Yorker article last year about "extreme skiiers," if this is your sort of thing.
"33 1/3: OK Computer"
The most frustrating entry in this series that I've read so far. I really wanted to like it but the author is an anal retentive scientist more than a music fan.
The most frustrating entry in this series that I've read so far. I really wanted to like it but the author is an anal retentive scientist more than a music fan.
scientist?
1001 albums you must hear before you die
picked it up last night. While I don't agree on all the selections it's still fun to read and use as refrence for albums I'd like to check out when time and money permits
picked it up last night. While I don't agree on all the selections it's still fun to read and use as refrence for albums I'd like to check out when time and money permits
This is the first book I have to read for school that I am having trouble reading. I understand everything, for the most part, but it is so boring that I can't force myself to actually read it.
I finally found my way to this one. I'm familiar with almost all of it from the NYer, but it's been nice to revist. Must-read stuff for anyone interested in America's military response to 9/11.
QUOTE(geoneb @ Apr 2 2006, 10:20 AM) [snapback]54446[/snapback]
This is the first book I have to read for school that I am having trouble reading. I understand everything, for the most part, but it is so boring that I can't force myself to actually read it.
I was never able to read Willa Cather, I'd fall asleep within 5 minutes of cracking the covers. Luckily I never had to read her for school.
QUOTE(Ben @ Mar 31 2006, 06:32 AM) [snapback]53410[/snapback]
People that climb mountains are nuts. There was a good New Yorker article last year about "extreme skiiers," if this is your sort of thing.
gotta disagree with you here. my older bro is a mountain climber and he's one of the most sane people i've ever known.
starting up this by the end of the week -- Heir to the Glimmering World
Oh, Lord. Willa Cather. I had that stuff crammed down my throat when I was a kid. Wanted to score big points with the English teacher? Read Willa Cather. That, and Marie Sandoz. Ouch. Too snoozifiying for words.
I liked both My Antonia and Song of the Lark. I think SG was quite taken by "Paul's Case" not all that long ago.
That boring huh? I had a professor who was really into it, so maybe I had an easier time than most.
That boring huh? I had a professor who was really into it, so maybe I had an easier time than most.
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 3 2006, 03:08 PM) [snapback]55333[/snapback]
I liked both My Antonia and Song of the Lark. I think SG was quite taken by "Paul's Case" not all that long ago.
That boring huh? I had a professor who was really into it, so maybe I had an easier time than most.
Paul's Case! Read that like sophmore year of high school.
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 3 2006, 04:08 PM) [snapback]55333[/snapback]
I liked both My Antonia and Song of the Lark. I think SG was quite taken by "Paul's Case" not all that long ago.
That boring huh? I had a professor who was really into it, so maybe I had an easier time than most.
Yeah. We had a pre-writing assignment where we were asked what would we do if we found out we were moving to rural Nebraska at the end of the year, and by the end of chapter II (Part I) I was ready to change my answer to "kill myself."
It's the first year it's being taught, replacing Gatsby in the curriculum. Everyone already agrees with me that it's boring, but we'll see...
QUOTE(geoneb @ Apr 3 2006, 06:07 PM) [snapback]55445[/snapback]
Yeah. We had a pre-writing assignment where we were asked what would we do if we found out we were moving to rural Nebraska at the end of the year, and by the end of chapter II (Part I) I was ready to change my answer to "kill myself."
I grew up in Western Nebraska. It's not the country that's boring.
My car's from Nebraska
I just finished...
...which was a decent, if not terribly exciting book. Let's face it, no matter how much drama they drudged up between Stuart and Isobel, this isn't exactly the band that rock bio writers dream of. But the discography and TV appearances info in the back is pretty thourough.
And I began....
...which I've been stoked to read for ages. Not very far into it, but I'm really digging Reynolds' writing style so far. I've never read any of his books before, just columns and short form stuff.
...which was a decent, if not terribly exciting book. Let's face it, no matter how much drama they drudged up between Stuart and Isobel, this isn't exactly the band that rock bio writers dream of. But the discography and TV appearances info in the back is pretty thourough.
And I began....
...which I've been stoked to read for ages. Not very far into it, but I'm really digging Reynolds' writing style so far. I've never read any of his books before, just columns and short form stuff.
QUOTE(AlkalineDrown @ Apr 3 2006, 05:57 PM) [snapback]55475[/snapback]
...which I've been stoked to read for ages. Not very far into it, but I'm really digging Reynolds' writing style so far. I've never read any of his books before, just columns and short form stuff.
Great book. Just finished it the other day...
Now here's a Chicago book.
I'm looking foward to the new Reynolds myself. The Times book reviewer, while generally pleased, had good fun taking the piss out of Simon's feverish bouts of taxonomy.
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 3 2006, 02:08 PM) [snapback]55333[/snapback]
I liked both My Antonia and Song of the Lark. I think SG was quite taken by "Paul's Case" not all that long ago.
That boring huh? I had a professor who was really into it, so maybe I had an easier time than most.
Maybe the fact I was living on 2-3 hours sleep a night and less on weekeknds had something to do with it, but I just wasn't taken with her writing style.
I'm tired of my hit & miss/emotional approach to reading. I wanna read a bunch of books I won't regret. Everybody tell me your favorite book ever. Please no Melville or Hawthorne.
Go!
Go!
QUOTE(velocity @ Apr 5 2006, 01:13 AM) [snapback]56625[/snapback]
I'm tired of my hit & miss/emotional approach to reading. I wanna read a bunch of books I won't regret. Everybody tell me your favorite book ever. Please no Melville or Hawthorne.
steinbeck allowed? east of eden.
but "once a runner" by john l. parker is my favorite, i read it every year. captures the mind of the competitive runner perfectly, but i doubt any of youz would have interest in it.
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart
Lest Darkness Fall, L. Sprague de Camp
The Fifties, The Best and the Brightest, The Powers that Be, Summer of '49 David Halberstam
March of Folly, Barbara Tuchman
Eiger Dreams, Into Thin Air, Into the Wild Jon Krackauer
The Gateless Barrier, translated by Robert Aitken
Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain (get the Norton Critical edition-- the annotations are fantastic)
The Rough Guide To London, the Rough Guide staff (invaulable if you travel, but the mini history of London is excellent reading)
Early Autumn, Robert B. Parker
Any of the Sherlock Holmes collections, but I don't dig on the novels too much
Lest Darkness Fall, L. Sprague de Camp
The Fifties, The Best and the Brightest, The Powers that Be, Summer of '49 David Halberstam
March of Folly, Barbara Tuchman
Eiger Dreams, Into Thin Air, Into the Wild Jon Krackauer
The Gateless Barrier, translated by Robert Aitken
Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain (get the Norton Critical edition-- the annotations are fantastic)
The Rough Guide To London, the Rough Guide staff (invaulable if you travel, but the mini history of London is excellent reading)
Early Autumn, Robert B. Parker
Any of the Sherlock Holmes collections, but I don't dig on the novels too much
Lolita of course. Pale Fire thrown for good measure
Then there are the titans that are supposed to be really good and actually are...Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov (or Demons).
Then there are the titans that are supposed to be really good and actually are...Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov (or Demons).
and
on the plus side of this, i am taking two classes where we are reading one book only, and the negative, they are both pretty intimidating.
I am now reading this:
QUOTE(velocity @ Apr 5 2006, 12:13 AM) [snapback]56625[/snapback]
I'm tired of my hit & miss/emotional approach to reading. I wanna read a bunch of books I won't regret. Everybody tell me your favorite book ever. Please no Melville or Hawthorne.
Go!
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
F&L 72 is real hit and miss, but there are some big hits. i liked it. tell me what you think.
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 6 2006, 08:20 PM) [snapback]58324[/snapback]
F&L 72 is real hit and miss, but there are some big hits. i liked it. tell me what you think.
I still owe you my thoughts on The Fountainhead.
A big miss on F&L 72 is when he misses his deadline and goes straight to his notebook. Otherwise I don't have any complaints. It's a pretty quick read following the monolith that was The Fountainhead.
So, you gonna dig even deeper for Atlas Shrugged? It's the same thing, but two or three times as long. And with a creepy sex scene.
Is reading Thompson any different now that the dude has offed himself?
Is reading Thompson any different now that the dude has offed himself?
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 6 2006, 11:34 PM) [snapback]58465[/snapback]
Is reading Thompson any different now that the dude has offed himself?
Not really. It doesn't have any effect on the way I'm reading it.
I wanted to get "Hell's Angels" but the last copy was stolen from the bookstore.
Is it worth seeking out?
I liked "Fountainhead" and I plan to read "Atlas" at some point.
I've never read Hell's Angels, but I've heard good things. I'm sure someone here (Aftershock?) must be able to inform both of us.
Did I show you the online dating Web site for Ayn Rand fans? Hilarious.
Did I show you the online dating Web site for Ayn Rand fans? Hilarious.
QUOTE(Ben @ Apr 7 2006, 10:32 AM) [snapback]58753[/snapback]
I've never read Hell's Angels, but I've heard good things. I'm sure someone here (Aftershock?) must be able to inform both of us.
I just finished Hell's Angels. I could give a shit about biker gangs and found it more interesting that these psychos allowed a guy like HST to hang around and let him take in their scene.
For the same reason I found F&L 72 to be such an outstanding book. Much harder to believe politicians would give a reporter like HST that kind of access today. I mean, the guy was drugged out of his mind the entire time and was at a breakfast buffet with McGovern shooting the shit. When he has someone type out his thoughts for a large chunk of F&L 72 (I think he had a seizure?) is when I was laughing out loud.
Yeah, it's a weird book, but political campaigns really still are that bizarre. In a way, the locked down Ziegler approach that HST villifies has become more of the standard, but John McCain's 2000 bid was reportedly pretty wacky and open. Have you seen Journeys with George? The Bus is a wild place to be, man. I think everybody loses their mind by November.
QUOTE(without_opinion @ Apr 5 2006, 05:51 AM) [snapback]56678[/snapback]
QUOTE(velocity @ Apr 5 2006, 01:13 AM) [snapback]56625[/snapback]
I'm tired of my hit & miss/emotional approach to reading. I wanna read a bunch of books I won't regret. Everybody tell me your favorite book ever. Please no Melville or Hawthorne.
steinbeck allowed? east of eden.
but "once a runner" by john l. parker is my favorite, i read it every year. captures the mind of the competitive runner perfectly, but i doubt any of youz would have interest in it.
Steinbeck's fine--thanks!
QUOTE(NumberTenOx @ Apr 6 2006, 12:25 PM) [snapback]58006[/snapback]
Bridge of Birds, Barry Hughart
Lest Darkness Fall, L. Sprague de Camp
The Fifties, The Best and the Brightest, The Powers that Be, Summer of '49 David Halberstam
March of Folly, Barbara Tuchman
Eiger Dreams, Into Thin Air, Into the Wild Jon Krackauer
The Gateless Barrier, translated by Robert Aitken
Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain (get the Norton Critical edition-- the annotations are fantastic)
The Rough Guide To London, the Rough Guide staff (invaulable if you travel, but the mini history of London is excellent reading)
Early Autumn, Robert B. Parker
Any of the Sherlock Holmes collections, but I don't dig on the novels too much
Lots of favorites--thanks!
I've read most of The Annotated Sherlock Holmes, actually--good stuff. And the Huck Finn I read wasn't annotated, so that sounds OK too.
QUOTE(Tony @ Apr 6 2006, 01:02 PM) [snapback]58032[/snapback]
Lolita of course. Pale Fire thrown for good measure
Then there are the titans that are supposed to be really good and actually are...Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov (or Demons).
OK, thanks (except for Moby Dick, sorry, been there & done that. Reading should not be a tedious chore, and Melville's stilted style of writing makes it so. Same w/ Flaubert & Madame Bovary...which is why "the classics" are such a crapshoot.).
QUOTE(Em0r @ Apr 6 2006, 06:00 PM) [snapback]58308[/snapback]
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Swell, thanks!
[quote name='Tony' post='58032' date='Apr 6 2006, 01:02 PM']
Lolita of course. Pale Fire thrown for good measure
Then there are the titans that are supposed to be really good and actually are...Moby Dick, War and Peace, The Brothers Karamazov (or Demons).
[/quote]
OK, thanks (except for Moby Dick, sorry, been there & done that. Reading should not be a tedious chore, and Melville's stilted style of writing makes it so. Same w/ Flaubert & Madame Bovary...which is why "the classics" are such a crapshoot.).
[/quote]
Melvile's prose is soaring and poetic. Not to mention the fact that MD is often hilariously funny. What part did you find boring? I was upset when it ended. Is there anything like the majesty of the descrription of the final battle with the whale? With Flaubert maybe you had a bad translation because that's finely wrought as prose gets...not a single extra word.
Favorite book? Brothers K. But if you don't have the time, Notes from the Underground.
edit: if you choose to read these, pick up the newer pevear/volokhonsky translations. Don't bother saving money and buying a raggedy copy at a used bookstore. Outdated translations can turn gold into dust.
The Hidden War: Crime and the Tragedy of Public Housing in Chicago
Susan J. Popkin, Victoria E. Gwiasda, Lynn M. Olson, Dennis P. Rosenbaum
Very sad and interesting. It's mostly research and stories from 3 differnt housing projects in the city and all the crazy shit that goes on their.
Susan J. Popkin, Victoria E. Gwiasda, Lynn M. Olson, Dennis P. Rosenbaum
Very sad and interesting. It's mostly research and stories from 3 differnt housing projects in the city and all the crazy shit that goes on their.
Here's another question for book enthusiasts: what was the first book that you fell in love with? That led you to find other great books out there?
Mine was The World According to Garp. Read it in High School, freshman year. After that I never read any books assigned to me in class. I found my own literature to read.
Tricky. I've been reading ever since I was >so< high. I think I was turned on to the idea of learning and escaping more than anything else.
QUOTE(Tony @ Apr 9 2006, 05:26 PM) [snapback]60519[/snapback]
Melvile's prose is soaring and poetic. Not to mention the fact that MD is often hilariously funny. What part did you find boring? I was upset when it ended. Is there anything like the majesty of the descrription of the final battle with the whale? With Flaubert maybe you had a bad translation because that's finely wrought as prose gets...not a single extra word.
Hm, "soaring & poetic...?" I dunno--I read it to my son, who is dyslexic. Pretty much the entire book made me want to dip my head in hydrochloric acid. Same with Billy Budd. Those (and Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter) are the only books I've completely loathed.
QUOTE(avatar_ackbar @ Apr 9 2006, 06:05 PM) [snapback]60545[/snapback]
Here's another question for book enthusiasts: what was the first book that you fell in love with? That led you to find other great books out there?
As a kid, one of E. Nesbit's lesser works, The Book of Dragons. It was my first exposure to an author who broke the proscenium and I found that (being taken into her confidence, vs merely narrated/condescended to) delightful. I immediately read her entire catalog (or as much of it as my library owned).
QUOTE(velocity @ Apr 10 2006, 03:03 PM) [snapback]61448[/snapback]
QUOTE(Tony @ Apr 9 2006, 05:26 PM) [snapback]60519[/snapback]
Melvile's prose is soaring and poetic. Not to mention the fact that MD is often hilariously funny. What part did you find boring? I was upset when it ended. Is there anything like the majesty of the descrription of the final battle with the whale? With Flaubert maybe you had a bad translation because that's finely wrought as prose gets...not a single extra word.
Hm, "soaring & poetic...?" I dunno--I read it to my son, who is dyslexic. Pretty much the entire book made me want to dip my head in hydrochloric acid. Same with Billy Budd. Those (and Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter) are the only books I've completely loathed.
Billy Budd is a completely different story. It coudln't be less simmilair to Moby Dick in style or substance.
How old is your son? You didn't say what it was you didn't like. I did mention what I liked. I'll mention more....the Inn scene with Queeqeg in bed and the narrator trying to decide how to approach their sleeping arrangements. Ahab's fantastic speeches, which are in Iambic Pentameter. The dinner scene where even picking up a spoon is seen as a primally important gesture. The 'Shaking of the Hand' chapter, the Sermon, the aforementioned final battle split in to three days (and imitated by Kurosawa in Seven Samurai). MD is the closest the 19th century came to Shakespeare or Milton.
QUOTE(avatar_ackbar @ Apr 9 2006, 06:05 PM) [snapback]60545[/snapback]
Here's another question for book enthusiasts: what was the first book that you fell in love with? That led you to find other great books out there?
The Hobbit. I think I fell in love with it when I was 4 or 5, my Dad read me part of it and showed me a frontspiece picture of a Hobbit. I probably read it myself when I was 7.
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