Whatcha reading redux.

Everything cultural, pop or otherwise. Books, movies, music, comics, poetry, random cultural geekery.
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Darrell
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Darrell »

I finally finished the first four of the Game of Thrones books--what a maddening, frustrating read. I'll probably read the fifth/newest one, but wait until it comes out in paperback. Martin is harder on his characters than Stephen R. Donaldson.

White Devil, by Stephen Brumwell, is probably next on the list.
Eppur si muove--Galileo
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MiddleAgedKen
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by MiddleAgedKen »

Just finished A Clash of Kings (along with World War Z). Just hit up the liberry for A Storm of Swords; by the time the hold comes in, I should have some of the academic reading out of the way.
Shop at Traitor Joe's: Just 10% to the Big Guy gets you the whole store and everything in it!
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SeekHer
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by SeekHer »

Just got two more replacement reference works:
The Archaeology of Weapons by R. Ewart Oakeshott and the monumental work
A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times by George Cameron Stone - w/over 4,500 illustrations
There is a certain type of mentality that thinks if you make certain inanimate objects illegal their criminal misuse will disappear!

Damn the TSA and Down with the BATF(u)E!
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Jericho941
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Jericho941 »

Just finished The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey. It really is a fascinating read. I hadn't realized just what a convoluted mess the political and corporate factors in trying to kill it or keep it alive had been, or that a major factor for the Marines fighting so hard for it was to avoid the whole branch getting absorbed into the Army.
Greg
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Greg »

Recently read Redshirts. Currently midway through Code by Charles Petzold.
Maybe we're just jaded, but your villainy is not particularly impressive. -Ennesby

If you know what you're doing, you're not learning anything. -Unknown
Sanity is the process by which you continually adjust your beliefs so they are predictively sound. -esr
Greg
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Greg »

CByrneIV wrote:
Darrell wrote:I finally finished the first four of the Game of Thrones books--what a maddening, frustrating read. I'll probably read the fifth/newest one, but wait until it comes out in paperback. Martin is harder on his characters than Stephen R. Donaldson.
It'll be out in PB on August 28th, though it's only a couple bucks discount over hardcover from amazon. I think it's a $4 diff right now?

Oh and the only one worse on important characters than GRR Martin is Joss Whedon.
2012-05-28.jpg
Wesley's dead. I'm feeling grief for him. I can't seem to control it. I wish to do more violence.
Maybe we're just jaded, but your villainy is not particularly impressive. -Ennesby

If you know what you're doing, you're not learning anything. -Unknown
Sanity is the process by which you continually adjust your beliefs so they are predictively sound. -esr
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MiddleAgedKen
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by MiddleAgedKen »

Darrell wrote:I'm about halfway or so through the third Game of Thrones book and OMFG! THEY KILLED EVERYBODY!!! JFC! WHAT THE HELL?!!! What's left for the last book and a half??? :( :shock: :shock: :cry: Wait, don't tell me!
Nice day for a Red Wedding? ;)
Shop at Traitor Joe's: Just 10% to the Big Guy gets you the whole store and everything in it!
Rich Jordan
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Rich Jordan »

SeekHer wrote:Just got two more replacement reference works:
The Archaeology of Weapons by R. Ewart Oakeshott and the monumental work
A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times by George Cameron Stone - w/over 4,500 illustrations
I never bought the Oakeshott book but my Dad had the original hardcover George Cameron Stone book while we were growing up. Awesome, and it got me through so very many class projects, essays, and 'nothing to do' downtime. Now i have that book and a softcover that I use to save wear and tear on the heirloom.
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308Mike
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by 308Mike »

I'm currently reading "The Bravest Man", about Richard O'Kane (Medal of Honor recipient) and the adventures of the USS Tang (and Wahoo):

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Award citation:
O'KANE, RICHARD HETHERINGTON

Rank and organization:
Commander, U.S. Navy, commanding U.S.S. Tang. Place and date: Vicinity Philippine Islands, 23 and 24 October 1944. Entered service at: New Hampshire. Born: 2 February 1911, Dover, New Hampshire.

Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Tang operating against 2 enemy Japanese convoys on 23 and 24 October 1944, during her fifth and last war patrol.

Boldly maneuvering on the surface into the midst of a heavily escorted convoy, Commander O'Kane stood in the fusillade of bullets and shells from all directions to launch smashing hits on 3 tankers, coolly swung his ship to fire at a freighter and, in a split-second decision, shot out of the path of an onrushing transport, missing it by inches. Boxed in by blazing tankers, a freighter, transport, and several destroyers, he blasted 2 of the tagets with his remaining torpedoes and, with pyrotechnics bursting on all sides, cleared the area.

Twenty-four hours later, he again made contact with a heavily escorted convoy steaming to support the Leyte campaign with reinforcements and supplies and with crated planes piled high on each unit. In defiance of the enemy's relentless fire, he closed the concentration of ship and in quick succession sent 2 torpedoes each into the first and second transports and an adjacent tanker, finding his mark with each torpedo in a series of violent explosions at less than l,000-yard range. With ships bearing down from all sides, he charged the enemy at high speed, exploding the tanker in a burst of flame, smashing the transport dead in the water, and blasting the destroyer with a mighty roar which rocked the Tang from stem to stern. Expending his last 2 torpedoes into the remnants of a once powerful convoy before his own ship went down, Comdr. O'Kane, aided by his gallant command, achieved an illustrious record of heroism in combat, enhancing the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
I'm almost 1/2 way through it and I heartily recommend it for those who like to read about our subs in the Pacific during WWII, even if some of the material refreshes some of the stuff I've already read in other books. I'm also rereading the Six Silent Men series, regarding US Army's 101st LRRPs during Vietnam:

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POLITICIANS & DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN AND FOR THE SAME REASON

A person properly schooled in right and wrong is safe with any weapon. A person with no idea of good and evil is unsafe with a knitting needle, or the cap from a ballpoint pen.

I remain pessimistic given the way BATF and the anti gun crowd have become tape worms in the guts of the Republic. - toad
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Jericho941
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Re: Whatcha reading redux.

Post by Jericho941 »

Jericho941 wrote:Just finished The Dream Machine: The Untold History of the Notorious V-22 Osprey. It really is a fascinating read. I hadn't realized just what a convoluted mess the political and corporate factors in trying to kill it or keep it alive had been, or that a major factor for the Marines fighting so hard for it was to avoid the whole branch getting absorbed into the Army.
And have moved on to Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex. In contrast to The Dream Machine, it's far more exposé than neutral history, but the difference in corporate mentality between Lockheed and Bell is fascinating. And a little disturbing.
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