Sunday Morning Book Thread - 09-01-2024 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]

Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...

So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?

PIC NOTE

One of the books I read this past week (see below) has a significant section take place in the year A.D. 793 around the island of Lindisfarne off the Scottish coast. As is usual with such books, I fired up Google Maps to see what the island looks like today. As I'm looking around the map of the island, I spotted a marker for "Book by the Sea Holy Island Library." Zooming in, I discovered it was a charming little free-book-swap library location that's part of the Little Free Library network. We live in an amazing world.

"QUANTUM" GRAMMAR

Courtesy of RedMindBlueState, we have this little gem from last week's comment section:

Looking at the article on punctuation, I'm reminded of possibly one of the most insane things I've run into: Quantum Grammar, created by noted nut job David Wynn-Miller. Pour yourself a large drink before reading:

David Wynn Miller

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at August 25, 2024 10:04 AM (stKIu)

RedMindBlueState was not exaggerating about the crazy. I highly recommend reading the article linked above. What is it about people thinking that inserting the word "quantum" in front of another word automatically makes it "cool?" Clearly, this man has more than one screw loose. This website tries to explain it, but it's not very successful and it's clear that the author doesn't fully understand it.

Benefits of Quantum Grammar

Quantum grammar has many benefits that can help improve your writing. First, it can help you write more concisely and accurately. By taking advantage of the energy of words, quantum grammar can help you create more precise and effective written communication.

Second, quantum grammar can help you become a better communicator. By understanding the subtle nuances of the language, you can craft more effective sentences that are easier for your readers to understand.

Finally, quantum grammar can help you think more critically about language. By understanding the nuances of quantum grammar, you can become a more precise and articulate writer.

Here's a video from the lunatic himself trying to explain this new language of law.

Based on this video, it's obvious that I will have to redo my grammar quizzes for my students. I'll need to rebuild my entire curriculum from scratch to embrace "quantum grammar." All my students are in STEM fields, so that should not be a hard sell. The English and Technical Communication department may not approve, but they are in service to the grammar cabal that enforces heretical ideas on the rules of syntax and grammar. And yes, I'm being sarcastic.

MORON RECOMMENDATIONS

Took time off from reading The Life of Lenin to quickly read Spy Secrets That Can Save Your Life. The book's author, Jason Hanson, is a former CIA officer and president of Spy Escape and Evasion. However, the company's website redirects you to this landing page at UltimateSpyWeek.com:

https://tinyurl.com/yyss2bry

Not only that but the book's official website URL, SpySecretsBook.com seems to have been snatched up by someone else. Don't bother linking there.

Anyhoo, the book is very basic, truly for beginners. There are chapters on situational awareness, organizing minimal survival kits and materials, escaping zip ties, rope, duct tape and handcuffs, home and travel safety, and minimal defensive maneuvers and techniques.

I'm a beginner. While I already own some of the essential materials which Jason recommends keeping on hand (I even have a tactical pen - but I forget where I placed it), I did order a few things which the book recommend. Thank goodness the planes with my Amazon orders are still sneaking in under Hizballah's radar!

The book is an excellent "For Dummies" kind of book (I am a fan of Dummies publications when I know very little on a subject). If you're interested in this subject but are past the introductory stage, skip this book.

There is also a chapter on body language detection. Again, it's basic. If you want to read a good book on this subject, I highly recommend What Every Body Is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Speed-Reading People, by former FBI agent Joe Navarro. I'm convinced that if anyone trains themself thoroughly using this book as a guide, he/she will be much more alert when observing family, friends or strangers. Just be careful what you wish for!

And now... off to my afternoon swim, hopefully siren-free!

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at August 25, 2024 09:13 AM (bboj0)

Comment: Spy craft is an interesting subject. I've watched a number of YouTube videos from people who have been involved in clandestine work. Much of what we see in movies and television is grossly inaccurate, though sometimes they throw in actual examples of real-world applications of knowledge and skills, if only to show off that the writers have done their research. These days, with the government breathing down everyone's neck, it might not be such a bad idea to learn a few basic tips and tricks, if only so that your opponents underestimate you.

I splurged on a second copy of Mariner by Malcolm Guite. It is an exploration of Coleridge's life, the influences that led to his poetry and philosophy, the historical and cultural aspects of the time, and how it is pertinent today. Love this stuff., I got the second copy to highlight all the passages, and there are a LOT of them, worth exploring further. At some point I will go through the highlights and follow the rabbit holes they open up but want to do so at a relaxed pace instead of letting it distract me from everything else.

Posted by: JTB at August 25, 2024 09:36 AM (zudum)

Comment: Sometimes it's worth it to have an extra copy of a book you really enjoy, especially if you are the sort of person to mark it up with notes and annotations. Or maybe you want a "reading copy" and a "display copy" so you buy a really nice edition of the book in addition to the one you enjoy reading for pleasure.

I read Hillbilly Elegy this last week.

It was a very good read. JD will represent Americans with humility and loyalty given the chance. What an impressive young man.

Posted by: nurse ratched, certified weirdo at August 25, 2024 10:53 AM (k05yp)

Comment: This book has been mentioned quite a bit around here. Sounds like Vance has led an interesting and inspiring life. I wonder how the book sales have done since he's been nominated as the VP candidate. As of this writing, it's listed on Amazon as #1 in Sociology of Class, #2 in U.S. State & Local History, and #2 in Memoirs (Books).

More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (1000+ Moron-recommended books!)

WHAT I'VE ACQUIRED THIS PAST WEEK:

I found out there are a few more Sandman Slim books so I bought the rest of them:

• The Kill Society (Book 9)
• Hollywood Dead (Book 10)
• Ballistic Kiss (Book 11)
• King Bullet (Book 12)

These books have been rated "R" for containing hellfire, gun fire, and all manner of ass-kicking action.

WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:

After reviewing some of OregonMuse's old Book Threads, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Instead of just listing WHAT I'm reading, I'll include commentary as well. Unless otherwise specified, you can interpret this as an implied recommendation, though as always your mileage may vary.

Sandman Slim Book 7 - Killing Pretty by Richard Kadrey

The Angel of Death shows up on James Stark's doorstep while sporting a gaping wound in his chest. Someone has stolen Death's heart in an attempt to *become* the new Death, one that is not burdened by pesky details like morality or ethics. Death was just minding his own business, going about the tasks he'd been assigned by God. By all accounts, a decent anthropomorphic personification. Now Stark has to delve into underground Nazi cults to figure out why someone would want to replace Death.

As with all of the Sandman Slim books, there is a lot of weird occultism and bizarre societies lurking just under the surface of the "real" world. Also quite a bit of black comedy because of Stark's assholish nature. He's a stubborn bastard that doesn't like doing what he's told, under any circumstances. This quirk tends to get him into a lot of trouble in each book.

Interstellar Medic Book 1 - The Long Run by Patrick Chiles

I thoroughly enjoyed Moron Author Patrick Chiles' other books, Frozen Orbit and Escape Orbit, which are relatively hard science fiction. This one explores first contact between a human female EMT from Earth and the galactic society that recruits her to be an EMT for the galaxy at large. Apparently, few species are too keen on rendering medical aid to non-members of their species, even though they do get along quite well as a galactic civilization on other issues. We get to experience the wonder and majesty of a much larger galaxy through the eyes of the main character as she's initiated into this strange, new world (for her).

There's a fair amount of exposition as the aliens who recruited Melanie explain everything to her. She has to learn a whole new set of rules of society. Lots of standard science fiction tropes are used throughout the story, such as translator microbes, faster-than-light travel (using Alcubierre warp drives), and more. The first novel is setting us up for more adventures in the future (I hope!).

Time's Tapestry Book 2 - Conqueror by Stephen Baxter

Conqueror is the second in a series of alternate history novels focused around key events within European history. Every book revolves around a mysterious prophecy spoken by characters in languages that they would have no way of knowing, setting up the next book in the series. An enigmatic "Weaver" (also the name of the last book in the series) seems to be steering humanity towards a particular event in the present (or recent past) that will allow him to dominate the world. Hints of who might be behind this manipulation of the time stream are given in this novel as the prophecy speaks of establishing a ten-thousand-year empire ruled by Aryans.

Each book is mostly a series of small vignettes covering key characters within short spans of time that are separated by decades or centuries as the prophecy plays out. Conqueror, for instance, begins in AD 607 and ends in AD 1066 when a certain Norman invader conquers Britain. It's a fascinating examination of how mere words can shape destinies and fortunes many centuries into the future.

Time's Tapestry Book 3 - Navigator by Stephen Baxter

In this third entry in the Time's Tapestry series, we pick up shortly after the Norman conquest of England. Orm and his son Robert have been sent on a quest to find the fallen priest Sihtric to stop him from implementing an unknown plan. Again, the mysterious Weaver of the future is still meddling in the past to achieve a desired outcome. We also discover that more than one faction is meddling in the past...This book ends in AD 1492 when a certain explorer travels west and discovers a new world (that was already somewhat explored in Conqueror.

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Tips, suggestions, recommendations, etc., can all be directed to perfessor -dot- squirrel -at- gmail -dot- com.

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