I didn't say I believed him, or thought that Paine was an accredited Biblical scholar...
Sorry, I never meant to imply anything about YOU. I was only reacting to "Common Sense". Or even more specifically, to the small portion of it that I had just read.
(I mean, I had HEARD about the work in history class, but never read any of it until today. I had no idea that it drew so much from the Bible.)
No prob.
It doesn't really. Probably only 5 pages out of 60-something.
Drawing from The Bible was really more popular during the English Civil War than in the 18th-century, but Anglo- and/or American radicalism tended to look back to Cromwell (and the Glorious Revolution) for obvious reasons:
"For the fate of Charles the First hath only made kings more subtle--not more just."
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No prob.
It doesn't really. Probably only 5 pages out of 60-something.
Drawing from The Bible was really more popular during the English Civil War than in the 18th-century, but Anglo- and/or American radicalism tended to look back to Cromwell (and the Glorious Revolution) for obvious reasons:
"For the fate of Charles the First hath only made kings more subtle--not more just."
Ha! I remember when my wife and I were vacationing in Scotland, and learned a lot about the House of Stuart. Mary, Queen of Scots, of course, was fascinating, and my wife had a favorable impression of James I of England and VI of Scotland. But then, she saw the picture of Charles I, and immediately responded, "Ugh! Oh, no!"
I have butterflied from Stephen King's new opus over to Supervolcano:Eruption. By Harry Turtledove. When I saw the Discovery Channel program I had thought it would be a good premise for a book. I guess I wasn't the only one. So far Typical Turtledovian prose, but I'm interested to see how he works the impact of Yellowstone exploding into the stratosphere
i know last month i was on a mission to complete the WOT series before the final book comes out, but i pulled out a book that i really enjoyed from a few years back, Old Man's War by John Scalzi.
Awesome read! Being a veteran soldier myself, i can fully appreciate the military side of combat, although some does hit a little close to home for me. The adventure is fast paced, the SCIFI techy stuff is dabbled in in a believable manner, all in all, a good easy read.
Its just under 300 pages, but you can easily blow through it within 4 hours.
Scalzi did write some more novels for the setting, the ghost brigade, the last colony and Zoe's tale. i own all but Zoe's tale.
Must finish the following books by the end of the year:
The Eyes of the Overworld by Jack Vance
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond
and, must finish by the 28th, and, of course, haven't even started it yet:
Measure for Measure by Billy the Bard.
Got When the Great Days Come by Gardiner Dozois for Yule. The man is a consummate editor and anthologist who ran Issac Asimov's Magazine for close to 25 years. He doesn't produce much by way of original stories, but the ones he does are crafted with an economy of prose and a rhythm of language that is superb. In a world of throwaway fiction, his stories stay with you.
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Measure for Measure by Billy the Bard.
Started reading this got halfway through the first Act and realized it seemed awful familiar. Checked on wikipedia, and, yep, I remember reading this when I worked at Logan.
Yay! I feared that I wouldn't, in fact, have lived up to the only goal that I've actually set myself in the last five years. O ye of little faith--My name is Doodlebug Anklebiter, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.
I might've read that once.
You want to hear about the books I got for Christmas?
Tough--I'm going to tell you anyway!
So, I don't do too much new-book-shopping, but I had to get my mother some Sudoku books for the Xmas, so I went to Barnes & Noble. While there, I splurged and picked up The Dragon's Path by Daniel Abraham and The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. The latter I had scoured for in used bookstore after bookstore throughout the southern New Hampshire area. So guess what I find the next day? One of three copies? In hardback? For $5? Grrrrrr!!!
So, then, Christmas comes and I get the three-volume Conan stories set published by Del Rey! Yay Santa! I am very excited about this! I am planning a long project where I read all the Howard stories and all the deCamp/Carter stories, but I probably won't start until the spring. I also get a gift card to B&N, so I take my copy of The Satanic Verses and trade it in for: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes, Eric Foner's The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery and Allen Ginsberg's Collected Poems, 1947-1997. I am particularly happy about that last one, because I was looking through my books and I was horrified to discover that I have lost my copy of the old (red) edition of his works! I bet I left a joint in there!
And the best part? I've already read all these books! But they'll look so pretty on my shelf...
I recently finished the third Twenty Palaces novel by Harry Connolly.
Very, very good.
They're modern, with powerful, but little known magic, that always has dangerous consequence.
Looks like there's a #0 novel available on Nook. (That I'll be getting.)
Now, I'm re-reading Zodiac by Neal Stephensen.
How can I pass up a really good novelist (his Snowcrash is on the list of 100 best english language novels) who's named Niel?
Just finished Clifford Simak's The Road of Eternity, concurrently with the screamingly hilarious Five Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin in the Mouth, by the Oatmeal.
Next up is Roger Zelazny's The Dead Man's Brother, an early pulp espionage thriller from a manuscript his son found in the attic somewhere, and probably Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I've been meaning to get to for a while now. Franklin's autobiography -- which I meant to read in Boston and didn't quite get around to -- will just have to wait a little longer.
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Next ...and probably Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel, which I've been meaning to get to for a while now. Franklin's autobiography -- which I meant to read in Boston and didn't quite get around to -- will just have to wait a little longer.
I'll go find my funny story about Guns, Germs and Steel which I posted a while back;
[EDIT: Here]
am currently reading Collapse--the synergistic weirdiosity, man!
Franklin's auto? Blechh! In the Who's Reading the Cooler Founding Father smackdown of 2011, it is I, Doodlebug Anklebiter who reign supreme! When were you in Boston?!?
I'll go find my funny story about Guns, Germs and Steel which I posted a while back...
When were you in Boston?!?
Haha -- nice one!
I was last in Boston sometime in the beginning of November -- I could probably dig a more accurate date out of my befogged brain, except that too much of the weekend was spent at the Black Rose and at the bars in various restaurants (which reminds me, I never realized how hard it could be to get someone to take my money until I tried ordering a pint at the Union Oyster House -- I practically had to threaten the barman at gunpoint just to get him to look at me).
I was last in Boston sometime in the beginning of November --
Next time, give a holler. I always need an excuse to go hang out in Boston.
Downtown on a weekend--forget about it! You need a local to show you around the neighborhoods. Same quality as downtown, half the price!
You need a local to show you around the neighborhoods.
Thankfully, my cousin was able to drive in and meet us one day -- her mother (my aunt) had just gotten back from Ireland and gave us an earful about her family back there.
If you are looking for free reads of books in the public domain, I suggest Project Gutenberg. They also need volunteer scan scrubbers and editors to keep going, so you can read some really funky texts and clean them in a good cause.
I read the first chapter of "The Descent" and found it entirely engrossing. I need a library card.
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I'm currently reading Snow Queen's Shadow by Jim C Hines. His books are quite good I've enjoyed the entire Princess series thus far. Next on the agenda is Death's Heretic.
I just finished "The Wise Man's Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss. It is the second book in the Kingkiller Chronicles. So far I have enjoyed both books immensely.
I've also recently finished Wise Man's Fear. While I'm deciding what to pick up next I've been passing time by rereading The Complete Collected Poems and Tales of Edgar Allan Poe. I'm not a fan of most of his poetry- which is more or less listing of his many failed romantic conquests- but remember rather liking the majority of his short stories. Not having read it since I was in high school, I'm noticing things I've missed before (or have forgotten sine my last browsing) about his work; such as his tendency to characterize many of his more villainous antagonists as "fat and oily."
After seeing the trailer of The Hobbit i am reading the book again (I´ve read 11 times already)
After seeing the trailer of The Hobbit i am reading the book again (I´ve read 11 times already)
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i just reread "the hobbit," although the movie had nothing to do with it.<br>
will reread "lord of the rings" next.
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and i'm contemplating the "malazan" series...
I am enjoying Jack Vance's The Eyes of the Overworld even more than The Dying Earth. The stories are still ripped from old magazines, but the inclusion of a central character, Cugel the Clever, makes them even better, imho.
Also, Cugel the Clever has quickly leaped to the top of the shortlist of my favorite amoral, fantasy anti-heroes, along with Conan and Huillaim d'Averc! If he abandons one more hawt chick to death or slavery, I'm going to chuckle!
Also, Cugel the Clever has quickly leaped to the top of the shortlist of my favorite amoral, fantasy anti-heroes, along with Conan and Huillaim d'Averc! If he abandons one more hawt chick to death or slavery, I'm going to chuckle!
It gets even better when you read the later stories complied under the unfortunate title of "Cugel's Saga."
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It gets even better when you read the later stories complied under the unfortunate title of "Cugel's Saga."
I'm definitely going to put in an Amazon order soon for the rest of the series and the two Gord the Rogue books I'm missing.
In fact, I am going to reward my finishing all of Shakespeare by devoting January to reading nothing but Greyhawk novels and comic books!
I'm definitely going to put in an Amazon order soon for the two Gord the Rogue books I'm missing.
I'd skip Dance of Demons. None of the series is particularly well-written, but that last book was just horrible, as I recall. Then again, I read it maybe 22 years ago.
Not precisely a book, since it's on-line, but I'm reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. It's fan-fic by a writer enormously better-educated than J. K. Rowling. It applies scientific thinking to the Potterverse and fixes many of the more egregious examples of Fridge Logic in the novels, while pitting a genre-savvy Harry against a Voldemort who... but that would be giving it away, wouldn't it? Read it for yourself and see.
I'm definitely going to put in an Amazon order soon for the two Gord the Rogue books I'm missing.I'd skip Dance of Demons. None of the series is particularly well-written, but that last book was just horrible, as I recall. Then again, I read it maybe 22 years ago.
[Covers ears]
Nyah nyah nyah I can't hear you!
I've also got the Roses Estes books!
Not precisely a book, since it's on-line, but I'm reading Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. It's fan-fic by a writer enormously better-educated than J. K. Rowling. It applies scientific thinking to the Potterverse and fixes many of the more egregious examples of Fridge Logic in the novels, while pitting a genre-savvy Harry against a Voldemort who... but that would be giving it away, wouldn't it? Read it for yourself and see.
Hmm. I like the idea of this and Harry Potter fanfic would definitely fit into my planned January gluttony on popcorn.
While home for the hols, I raced through Ursula K. Le Guin's Visions, Margaret Atwood's Oryx and Crake, and Andrew McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.
Now that I'm back, I finally finished the prose version of the Kalevala. Hello, Iku-Turso! Also, I will never eat lingonberries again! I enjoyed it enough to be willing to commit to reading one of the poetry versions (some run 400 pages, so... not my first choice for an introduction). Anyway, if you enjoy mythology (or are homesick for snow), read it, then watch Jade Warrior.
I enjoyed it enough to be willing to commit to reading one of the poetry versions (some run 400 pages, so... not my first choice for an introduction).
I love the poetic versions -- something about the meter and tempo really do it for me, even in translation.
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Currently reading Thanquol's Doom by C.L. Werner as I'm a big fan of the Warhammer fantasy world, and especially the many characters from the Gotrek & Felix series and it's spin off titles.
In the To-Read pile are:
Blood of Aenarion by William King
Master of Devils by Dave Gross
Tales from the Cobra Wars anthology by IDW Press
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Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.
If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
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Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
Is this sarcasm? Irony?
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Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
Yeah! And then we can rename The Declaration of Independence, I Like to F!~& My Slaves and the Principia Mathematica, I Was a Big Douchebag!
You really sure you want to do this in here?
Sorry, I'm just a little touchy on this issue because I modelled my relationship with my sugar daddy on Marx and Engels. Except that I don't sit around in the British Musuem taking notes on Ricardo and Adam Smith, I just flip through D&D bestiaries. And my little Friedreich doesn't pay my rent, he just has all the Paizo subscriptions.
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Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
Yeah! And then we can rename The Declaration of Independence, I Like to F!+$ My Slaves and the Principia Mathematica, I Was a Big Douchebag!
You really sure you want to do this in here?
I second the renaming of the Declaration of Independence. :-)
And, while we're at it, we can rename War and Peace "Damn, Russian Winters Are Boring as Hell And I Had Nothing Better To Do Than Bore The Crap Out Of Lit Majors Of The Future".
It's like Literal Videos: The Book Edition!
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Is this sarcasm? Irony?Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
Nope, a history lesson.
Sorry, I'm just a little touchy on this issue because I modelled my relationship with my sugar daddy on Marx and Engels. Except that I don't sit around in the British Musuem taking notes on Ricardo and Adam Smith, I just flip through D&D bestiaries. And my little Friedreich doesn't pay my rent, he just has all the Paizo subscriptions.
Just read the Morgaine Cycle by C.J.Cheryrh will you? You'll love it... :)
WHATEVER, TOZ!!
Just read Snow Crash and you'll totally enjoy the story :)
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Guess you haven't read it.Nope, a history lesson.Is this sarcasm? Irony?Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
I've read it. I guess you know nothing of the man beyond that book. And I'm going to assume you're in college, or young, because you assume someone can't read it and just be overwhelmed by his "brilliance".
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I've read it. I guess you know nothing of the man beyond that book. And I'm going to assume you're in college, or young, because you assume someone can't read it and just be overwhelmed by his "brilliance".Guess you haven't read it.Nope, a history lesson.Is this sarcasm? Irony?Picked up The Communist Manifesto. I do believe more people should read it so they would actually know what communism is.If Marx were true to himself, he would have titled it "How To Live Off Your Buddy's Family's Money (Generated In All Sorts of Capitalistic Ways) Because You Can't Be Bothered To Actually Support Yourself And Your Large Family (Seven Kids, Really?) While Whining About How Unfair Life Is".
Just sayin'.
I think the implication was that your description of a title for the Communist Manifesto doesn't make any sense. The Communist Manifesto gives a historical analysis to class struggle and describes how a revolutionary society might approach class struggle. It also points out the problems of capitalism instead of blue printing a communist society. Furthermore, understanding it in the context of 1848 - it was basically an extreme reaction to centralized power structures that were cropping up in industrial countries and abusing their positions over the working class.
Your "title" was just a long ad hominem attack that I would expect to see on Fox News. A history lesson would include facts in context, not spin. I would like to note that I am not a communist.