CountryPlans Forum

I am a big reader with varied interests. I don't buy very many books though. I am a regular user of my local public library. Their catalog is online searchable, making it easy to order a book. They email back when it's available for pickup.

Anyhow I found this book, Bunion Derby (http://www.amazon.com/Bunion-Derby-Footrace-Across-America/dp/0826343015/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197437572&sr=8-1), on the new books shelf. It's about a cross country race, Los Angeles to New York City in 1928. A footrace! I'd never heard of the race before. I'm up to the run across the mojave. I simply can't imagine doing that. Anyhow, an interesting read so far. Maybe someone will find it interesting as well.

Feel free to contribute your own book ideas/thoughts.

Oprah's got nothing on us.

Don, I've been meaning to post a reply for a few days, but just haven't gotten around to it.  My most recent read other than a bag of Capper's that my grandma sent up with my mom was Living on a Few Acres.  I found it on a shelf at Grandma's house a while back and asked if I could borrow it, and she told me just to take it and keep it.  I used to read a lot more than I do now, but with the kids keeping me running I don't get to read as much as usual.  I'm also halfway through Homebirth (timely matter.)  Bunion Derby sounds interesting... I read a book about a trip across Africa a few years ago (at the moment I can't remember the title) that was really entertaining as well as enlightening.  I laughed out loud several times and would have to reread passages out loud to my husband.  After going to India a few summers ago, I could really empathize with the guys in the book and their misadventures and the culture shock.

One of my recent reads has been A Year in the Maine Woods, by Bernd Heinrich.  Great book on solo cabin living, written by a professor at U of Vermont. Lots of technical detail and drawings as well. He also raised a raven which lived and traveled with him.

Another good one which I read a while back is God's Debris by Scott Adams. He also writes the Dilbert comics.

I love to read!   Just read Tess of the D'Urbervilles sad story - Glenn & I were at a lady's house looking at some remodeling work she had - I was admiring her collection of books - she said she had just read that & offered to let me read it.  It's by Thomas Hardy.

I also read God & Gov't by Chuck Colson, The Oath by Peretti, The Apocalypse Code by Hank Hannegraaf, & right now have 2 books going Heaven & Dominion both by Randy Alcorn.  Oh, also read Circle of Intrigue by Texe Marrs
So between reading books & stuff on the internet, you are probably wondering if I have a life  c*  I manage to get a few things done once-in-awhile   :)

Quote from: Sassy on December 13, 2007, 10:59:31 PM
Just read Tess of the D'Urbervilles sad story - .....  Thomas Hardy.

I haven't read any Hardy since probably High School. I know I read Tess but haven't the foggiest recollection.  :-[

Last book I read was the John Deere Repair Manual.

Sassy, I used to listen to Hank on the radio in Oklahoma pretty often.  He came on during the drive home from work, and later when I was staying at home, during the time I was cooking dinner.   I like him and Alcorn.  I also went through a big Peretti phase in college...  for a while there I read everything he wrote and then I bought the Oath when it came out, but I never finished it.  I don't know why.  Probably because each semester there at the last I had 15-20 books for required reading each semester.  Anyway, I put it down and never got around to finishing it.  Every now and then I'll go on a Jane Austen thing where I'll read Pride and Prejudice or something cover to cover for a few days, but generally I don't read much fiction at all anymore, other than kids' books. 
A while back, I read Joan Dye Gussow's This Organic Life, which I really enjoyed.  I don't think I've ever both laughed and cried reading a gardening book before that.  Also within the last 6 months to a year I read Phillip Yancey's What's so Amazing about Grace and Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped my Faith Survive the Church.  Both were very good reads.  I finished both of them within just a couple of days. 

Latest book...

The Myth of a Christian Nation, by Gregory A. Boyd, published by Zondervan.

This is a wonderful book that examines the "It's a Nation founded on the teachings of God" myth. A good read for anyone, Christian or Pagan.

Statement of the book : The path through politics is NOT the path to God......Food for thought.

Quote from: glenn kangiser on December 13, 2007, 11:18:47 PM
Last book I read was the John Deere Repair Manual.

I am lmao. That is the funniest deadpan remark I've seen in a long time. Tears running down my face.....and still laughing!!!!   Sparks .....

Sorry Sparks, that was true.  Last book before that was The 1999 Dodge Repair manual. -- I even have it on CD -- searchable --printable. :)

Williet -- I don't know what they have to say but I bet I'll agree with it.

These hypocrites claiming they are being guided by god are doing nothing but soiling his reputation.  Hopefully they will get theirs.

Re shop manuals...  Those are important books, costly too if you buy the real McCoy, not the diluted down to nothing Hayne's, etc. . Seems to me I paid $80 or so for my Cherokee shop manual. About as bad as buying a building codes book.  I don't know if I'd call it a reading book tho'.  ???   ;D

Yup - around $80 or 90 - Nothing like the real thing.  That is how I became head mechanic at Dodge -- I'd just read the book and go do it.  When the original head mechanic quit I was it -- 18 years old --.

Most of the Haynes books are not too good.  Chilton a little better but now printed by Haynes.

It's gotta be reading a book -- isn't it? hmm

I don't read novels anymore because I can't see spending my time reading things that didn't really happen.  so...I guess I'm an article kind of guy.

I don't read much fiction/novels. I like history, true stories, and the like.

I like a mix. All work and no play................
I can only read so much technical material and then I need to be entertained. So I usually have a little of both going somewhere.

Oh, this is fun. :D

I'll have to post some of my favorites.

Right now I'm (finally) finishing Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". I'm on page 1012 and she is finally getting around to the guiding philosophy that is the important heritage of this book from the early 50's that STILL sells 400,000 copies a year.

(I had to find out why.)

Haven't read the book but the name, Atlas Shrugged always reminds me of

God Shuffled His Feet  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNzCiZwk28)

Quote from: John Raabe on December 15, 2007, 06:25:25 PM
Oh, this is fun. :D

I'll have to post some of my favorites.

Right now I'm (finally) finishing Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged". I'm on page 1012 and she is finally getting around to the guiding philosophy that is the important heritage of this book from the early 50's that STILL sells 400,000 copies a year.

(I had to find out why.)

You have passed me up John. I would like to find a copy of the Fountainhead and read that again as well.

I finished Bunion Derby. The tortoise won. One of the guys who ran steady unspectacular day runs for the most part. Others ( the rabbits) who made remarkable daily runs for a day or two here and there, put themselves out of the game with injuries and plain wearing themselves out prematurely. The winner got $25K (1928 dollars). Some 3400 miles in 84 days.

Quote from: glenn kangiser on December 16, 2007, 02:07:19 AM
Haven't read the book but the name, Atlas Shrugged always reminds me of

God Shuffled His Feet  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzNzCiZwk28)

Neat video... at the end it goes into a very interesting interactive menu of linked YouTube music and game videos. I hadn't seen that before.

Yeah - it just started doing that when you watch full screen.  A bit frustrating to me sometimes but I keep trying.

I really like the Crash Test Dummies.

New book started tonight. Country Matters by Michael Korda. "The pleasures and tribulations of moving from a big city (NYC) to an old country farmhouse (90 N. of NYC)."

It's a mostly amusing tale of the acquisition of an 1800's farm house. Whereas some folks go read fiction/novels for some escape, this is the sort of true life story I prefer. Nothing too deep, nothing that needs interpreting. Just fun. There are some flaws but so far enjoyable. Like I said not a great literary work, but better than TV and a lot of "popular culture". Up to page 85 out of 300 or so.

I started this book a couple days ago.

Trapped by Karen Tintori, the grand-daughter of one of the surviving miners in a 1909 coal mine fire disaster in Cherry, Illinois. Makes me glad I wasn't a coal miner back then. Or now. In it's day it was rated as probably the safest mine in the country. Over 200 died, 20 were rescued from the mine a week after the initial fire.

I've made more headway in reading Homebirth by Shiela Kitzinger... however, the thing that somewhat perplexes me is how she keeps talking about the decision to have your baby at home as if it were a political decision rather than just because it is what you think is best for the baby. She keeps talking about how men have dominated obstetrics because they want to control women, and I just don't think that is the case at all... most doctors aren't in the business to control/dominate/intimidate anyone, I don't think.  They're either doing it because it is what they love or for the money, but I seriously doubt a power trip is anyone's main motivation, male or female.  The doctor who delivered both of my girls (a woman OB) was good-hearted even if she did intervene when I don't think it was necessary.  If I were to have this baby at home, it would be because I want to avoid unnecessary interventions that are potentially harmful and because I would be more comfortable, not because I want to spite anyone.  Anyway, the reason for reading it is because I feel like I'd best be prepared to deliver by myself just in case we do move before my due date and I can't find a doctor in time. I feel like she kind of paints men with one big, hostile brush, and have a hard time reconciling how she could so hate male doctors and at the same time think it is OK for men to attend the birth of their kids.  Weird.  I like men even if I wouldn't feel very comfortable with one delivering my baby, and wouldn't trade the experience of having my husband there during the births of our kids. 

I believe that people become doctors because they want to help people. The fact that they might make some good money sometime down the road... after all the schooling, after the terrible hours as an intern, after paying back all the money most will have as loans, etc. That nonsense about power trips and all is a load of BS. Sounds like the author has an agenda regarding male doctors. OMMV

I hope you don't have to experience the birth on your own, but in any case we'll say a prayer as well as offer hope. Speaking as a Dad who was there for our son's birth, emergency C-section and all, it's good to have hospitals available. You never know what may happen. We, including the OB/GYN, thought it would be a normal delivery. It wasn't.

We'll at least big government is interested in the plight of women.

http://www.jibjab.com/view/95416

JibJab's got lots of cool animated videos as well. Fun place to explore.

Been reading through the Laura Ingalls Wilder books with my girls in the evenings.  We finished Little House in the Big Woods and are about halfway through Little House on the Prairie.  My oldest was really upset when we read the part about killing a calf for the rennet to make cheese... she was ready to swear off eating cheese forever for a little while (that lasted until lunch the next day.)  They were fascinated with why the wolves would follow Pa and the horse home without hurting them and with what a prairie chicken looks like, and so forth... sometimes I spend more time explaining than I do reading.  I remember my mom reading through all those books with me the year before I was in kindergarten.  The next year, I wanted her to read through them all again with me, but she said if I wanted to read them, I had to do it myself, so I did, and every year after all through grade school.  Parts of them I know so well I don't even really have to look at the page when I'm reading them to the kids. 

Interesting that this topic popped up as some nurse friends and I have been having a discussion of a film that is coming out-The business of Being Born. This subject of birth is suddenly a hot topic.
Having been a labor and delivery RN for 28 years I have seen many physicians over the years.  While I agree that most get in because they feel they have something to offer, they are no different from any other profession. If their territory is threatened, they can attack. The Midwifery issue has always been political and you have to read the Kitzinger book with an awareness of the time it was written, a time when midwives were under attack by the medical community. While it may now seem dated and overly harsh, if it weren't for her and others of that time, there would probably be no midwives delivering babies at home.  So while you have chosen to read her book for birth information, no book on midwifery or homebirth can be complete without a discussion of the political aspects.  Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. :)  She has wonderful information to impart.

"the thing that somewhat perplexes me is how she keeps talking about the decision to have your baby at home as if it were a political decision rather than just because it is what you think is best for the baby."  And that's what most midwives want to provide-what's best for the baby and mom and family. And while most physicians want what's best for baby and mom, they want it during daylight hours and preferably before 5pm and please not during pony lessons, or the kids school play or shopping or the movie, or, or, or.  (Believe me, in 28years I've heard them all). Having a midwife assisted birth at home is illegal in several states, so just the act of having a homebirth makes a political statement.  It has always been physicians who have pushed to have direct-entry midwifery outlawed even tho statistics show that midwife attended birth is at least as safe as having a hospital assisted birth.  However, if you choose a homebirth but have some difficulty requiring a trip to the hospital you will most likely be treated like a pariah, and shamed for putting your baby's health at risk.

It sounds as if you might plan on having your baby by yourself.  I hope I misunderstood that.  While I think you should be able to choose the birth that is best for you, I would never encourage anyone to have an unattended birth.

Another interesting read on this subject is Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care.

All the best to you during this exciting time,
Judy

Judy, I would hope not to have a completely unattended birth (certainly at least two little girls will be around!!) but the hospital that I am supposed to deliver at is over an hour away, and my first daughter, start to finish, was about two or three hours tops getting here.  After terrible hospital experiences, I'd really like to give birth at home, but my husband is a little freaked out by the thought, so I will most likely have a hospital birth again, even though I dread that part.  My second daughter was induced three weeks early for no other reason than I woke up sick at my stomach that morning and my doc assumed that I was in labor, broke my water (even though the baby showed no signs of stress and I wasn't dilated that much.)  I spent twelve very agonizing hours in labor with the pitocin being cranked up every half hour, no pain meds, and with a whole class of med students coming in wanting to check my cervix  (I was so mad I think it slowed down the progression of labor because I was under extreme stress and really had some murderous thoughts toward the whole hospital staff during that time.)  To top it off, about halfway through my labor, Mary, the labor nurse with my first daughter came in and announced she would be "managing" my labor.  She was so horrible and hateful with my first labor that I had nothing but dread of her being on shift (though to give her credit, she was much nicer the second time through... the first she was incredibly discouraging, rude, and kept pushing pain meds which I'd told her I didn't want or need.)  When I didn't have the baby "on schedule", the doctor came in and told me if I didn't have her by 2:30 AM, she was going to do a c-section.  This was at 2:00 AM.  My daughter came out with three pushes at 2:21 AM, less than ten minutes from when they planned to roll me down to the OR.  I'd love to have a homebirth attended by a midwife... I strongly believe that pregnancy and childbirth are a human condition, not necessarily a medical condition.  However, because of the harsh labor with my second, it took about six months to feel like a human being again... it was at least that long before I wasn't in constant pain, but I was too humiliated to say anything about it.  
 I don't totally disregard Kitzinger's book, but like I said, I don't agree with her on everything, either.  There's good information to be had, but I just get frustrated because my reasons for wanting to have a baby at home are not political (though I'm sure that they could be construed as such.)  If we move before my due date (which I fervently hope we will!!!) I will be back in a place where it is much easier to find a midwife who'll deliver at home... that would be ideal.  Around here, they must operate somewhat covertly because I couldn't find any even though our insurance would actually pay for a midwife to deliver a baby.  I am due in mid-May, and from the feel of this baby, he/she is more like my first... the baby feels long and tall already like my first, "rocket-baby".  Even if we are still in WI when the baby arrives, I am determined that I will not go to the hospital until labor is father along so they won't have as much opportunity to leave keloid scars with needles and there won't be time for multiple electronic monitors.  Or for a whole class of med students to come in and want to stick their hands where they don't belong.  One way or another, there is no way I'll put up with the crap I went through for the first two... (Did I mention that the doctor induced the first one because of snow?  The real reason is that she didn't want to have to come in on Christmas Day, but as it turned out, she was born on Christmas Eve.)  I will fight induction with everything in me.  I'm sure that pitocin has legitimate medical uses, but using it to speed up a labor that will progress just fine on its own is not one of them.  I'll check to see if our local library has the second book you mention... if not, I'm sure they can get it for me.
 

Another thing that has bugged me so far about the doctor I am seeing during this pregnancy (well, not so much her as her nurses) is that I started this pregnancy somewhat overweight... I am not huge, but I'm not skinny either.  I am 20 weeks pregnant and so far have only gained 2 pounds total.  Even though my belly is getting bigger, my face and arms are looking thinner, so it is almost like the weight is being redistributed.  When I went in for my last appointment, the nurse weighed me and bellowed, "Well!  You're obviously eating!  You gained two pounds!!"  First of all, she announced it like it was a huge amount IN THE HALLWAY as if to shame me for gaining any weight, and as if I'd gained that much since the previous appointment, but that was my over all weight gain for the whole pregnancy, even given that Thanksgiving happened right before that appointment and MOST people put on a pound or two during the holidays, not to mention that I was wearing a double layer of clothing and snow boots when I was weighed and the last time I had had on jeans and a t-shirt.  To me, it seems as if a lot of the medical profession deals with people like this.... several years ago when I was still in college, I suddenly gained around 30 pounds.  I went to the doctor because it was so sudden and I was really active... I was afraid that I had a thyroid problem because half my family does.  Come to find out it was because I was eating a lot of soy products, and when I laid off soy, my weight stabilized and has never shot up that fast since.  I mean, I played racketball 4-5 days a week, and every Friday night I played basketball until it was too dark to see the hoop, and I walked everywhere I went, how could I gain weight like that?  When I asked the doctor if he could test my thyroid because several members in my family have thyroid issues, he laughed and said, "Heh-heh, all fat people like to think they have thyroid problems!"  I was furious and humiliated at the same time... told him, "Well, I wasn't fat just one month ago." and walked out.  Haven't had a lot of use for the medical profession ever since then.

I can see myself going on from soapbox to soapbox here, so I'd best quit before I end up writing all day.  Besides, I have tile to grout and kids to teach and a lot of other stuff that needs done!

As for babies, I think that in general, they will come out when they are ready to come out.  Doctors many times have the God complex and can't be wrong.  Stick to your guns and educate yourself so you will know what's up.

Thank you Glenn, I intend to!  I told my husband that I'm not going to the hospital this time until at least my water breaks on it's own or the baby's head is right there... I just really don't want a bunch of people hanging around acting like I have some sort of pathological disease and I'm their guinea pig to try new stuff on.  I don't want to give them time to intervene too much.  I don't mind so much staying in the hospital for the day after the baby's born simply because it means that I don't have to cook and can take it easy for a day or so because heaven knows when I go back home I have to go back to my normal busy schedule, and with a newborn wanting to nurse every little bit, it's a little tricky to balance everything.  But, if I had my way, I'd be home for the whole thing and just have a friend or relative come over and help with the kids and cooking, etc. 

Glenn, you blaspheme!  [shocked] And now that I've read that post I'm sure my eyes will be cursed!

HGT, I sent you a PM.

Here's a joke:
A doctor dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates and checks him in. After he's registered, St. Peter says to him, "Look at the time: you must be hungry! Heaven Cafeteria is serving lunch, why don't you get yourself something to eat?"

The doctor goes to the cafeteria and notices the long line. He immediately cuts in at the front, only to hear loud protests. "I'm a doctor" he says, "I'm a busy man, I don't have time to wait in line."

The others say, "You're in heaven now, we're all the same here, get to the back of the line and wait your turn!"

A few weeks later, waiting patiently on line for lunch, the doctor notices a man come dashing in wearing scrubs and a lab coat, stethoscope around his neck. He butts in at the head of the line and no one utters a peep. "Hey," he says to the guy in front of him, "Who does that guy think he is?"

"Oh, that's God," says the guy, "He likes to play doctor."

Judy

There you go, Judy.

I flew my plane loaded with doctors, nurses and support people to Mexico many times to a clinic.  I got to know a lot of them pretty well.  Most were pretty decent -- some were unbearable.  I would occasionally have to drag one back who was lost flying around somewhere over the continent.

The last time Sassy and I went was when one Doctor god took a half full taxi with him and about three of his girls to the motel and made us wait about 2 hours for the next one.

Being married to a nurse, I know that many times a good nurse will suggest things to the doctor that he may have missed or not recognized.

Sorry for the blasphemy...is it too late? ???

I started a new book, Property and Freedom by Richard Pipes. ..."private property has long been essential not only for economic development but for the very existence of liberty and democracy."

Private property as we understand it developed with the ancient Greeks. Plato was a communist, in that he believed all property was to be shared by all, and that private ownership led to rivalries and unrest. Aristotle on the other hand recognized that property held by all was not looked after by any.

I wonder what Aristotle would think now? We have a government that hires three people to do one persons job and pays top dollar to boot.
I kind of like private property.

It will have to end -- there are not enough people left working for a good wage to pay the taxes.

Judy, I sent you a reply a few days ago.

For the record, I think the end of the book is the best part... she records three or four moms' stories about having their babies at home... they were interesting stories, and I could've handled a whole book of such.  Still don't think that a male OBGYN is just on a power trip, though, even if I wouldn't personally go to one. 

I've also started reading the field guide to insects to my daughter.  It was her birthday present... she's not old enough to read most of it herself, but she loves to have me read it to her.  I'm learning more about bugs than I ever wanted to know.  :)

Hmmmm, Ron Paul is a GYN/OB doc... and he's running for president...  I still like him  ;D

Quote from: Sassy on January 04, 2008, 05:09:14 PM
Hmmmm, Ron Paul is a GYN/OB doc... and he's running for president...  I still like him  ;D

Liking him and having him deliver my kid are two entirely different things, lol. 

My old OB in Oklahoma was married to a general practitioner who also delivered babies... I liked the husband way better than the wife, but the wife delivered my kids and he came with her to the hospital to check the babies out because he was their doctor.  He was honestly friendlier and more down-to-earth.  Together, they'd raised 6 kids, but while she was always very professional and clinical, I remember him telling me at DD's one week check-up that if I had to get more sleep, I could feed her a little rice cereal  and it honestly wouldn't kill her because they did that with their own kids.  My oldest was constantly starving and it seemed like she was constantly nursing up to six months, and was grabbing food off the table by three months, and when I admitted that I'd let her try table food, he just laughed and said that if she was able to grab it  and get it into her mouth, then more power to her.

My oldest son was eating solid food very early.  It was the only way we could fill him up.

My oldest son was 7 wks old when I started feeding him rice cereal - I would make a huge bowl full - if I didn't spoon it out to him fast enough, he had a fit! 

I think it just depends on the kid... our oldest acted like she was starving to death from the day she was born, and to her credit, she looked the part, skinny little thing.  She's still a great eater and skinny as a pencil.  I didn't take the doc's advice until she was about 6 weeks old, and she liked the cereal OK, but didn't seem to go nuts on it.  When she was about two months old, she grabbed a fried apple off my plate and got it in her mouth before I could get it away, and boy did she throw a fit for more!  She later did the same thing with whole pickled garlic, steamed broccoli, watermelon, you name it.  She didn't do 'baby' food.  We threw whatever veggies we were having (or meats, sometimes) in the blender long enough to make them easier to chew but not so long that they were mushy, and she was happy.  The little one only wanted breastmilk, and finally we had to start forcing her to eat some cereals and stuff at 5-6 months.  She would've been content to nurse exclusively forever.  Once we moved to veggies, though, she went nuts on them and never really looked back.  The only thing she didn't like was garbanzo beans.  I love the fact that they aren't picky.

I have a copy of "The Wilderness World of John Muir" waiting for me whenever I finish Atlas Shrugged. I kind of got bogged down at the end and I have been busy.
Anyway John Muir lived from 1836 to 1914 and traveled most of America on foot and kept journals of his travels. Back then the wild country was still wild and usettled. I have hopes it will be interesting. John Muir was the President of the "militant" Sierra Club since it's formation in 1892. I don't like the Sierra Club but I will give them some equal time just for curiosity's sake. Muir is credited as being the person who convinced Theodore Roosevelt of the need for conservation at the Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest here in AZ. All this from the back cover of the book. More will be revealed I am sure.

He was big around Yosemite also.

People generally see Muir as the first conservationist, but he should be seen as a preservationist. If he, and the Sierra club (to this day) had their way i would be totally impossible to cut a tree, build in the forests and even visiting the forests would be limited to those able to walk on foot. Pardon me, horses would be allowed as they are 'natural'. The entire dang west would be declared official Wilderness (with a capital W).

Gifford Pinchot was a contemporary of Muirs. They had a falling out when Pinchot declared he was for the sustainable use of the forests. He saw the rich natural resources and was for regulated use. In my book Pinchot was a conservationist, not Muir.

I'm not a fan of the Sierra Club either. Not when they have counted the likes of David Foreman on there Board of Directors. Foreman founded the radical Earth First! movement as well as The Wildlands Project. And right close to home he was co-founder of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance. I have traded 'opinions' with him at various Forest Service meetings over the years. I don't think he likes me. I don't like him.

I hope it's an interesting read, desdawg. The descriptions of how he traveled and what he saw should be interesting. I've not read any of his own books. I've read a lot about John Wesley Powell though.

I'm still reading Property and freedom, but a post on another thread reminded me of a book I read a while before I started this topic. The book; The Skeptical Environmentalist: Measuring the Real State of the World by Bjorn Lomborg. It was published in 2001 but he makes a lot of sense. He has a more recent book on similar theme, Cool It: The Skeptical Environmentalist's Guide to Global Warming. I'm waiting for it at the library.

His writing looks at more than most alarmist books on the subject. Well worth a read IMO.

Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste
By burning away all the pesky carbon and other impurities, coal power plants produce heaps of radiation

http://styrohomenews.blogspot.com

Anyone read Everything I Want to do is Illegal?  I love the title.   ;D  Sounds like something I could relate to... so, I'm hoping to get a copy fairly soon and read it.  I'm reading a book my neighbor loaned me about food allergies right now... not because I have that many that I know about, but it was something that we got to talking about one day.

Everything I Want to do is Illegal.... looks like an interesting/good book.

Drawing upon 40 years' experience as an ecological farmer and marketer, Joel Salatin explains with humor and passion why Americans do not have the freedom to choose the food they purchase and eat. From child labor regulations to food inspection, bureaucrats provide themselves sole discretion over what food is available in the local marketplace. Their system favors industrial, global corporate food systems and discourages community-based food commerce, resulting in homogenized selection, mediocre quality, and exposure to non-organic farming practices. Salatin's expert insight explains why local food is expensive and difficult to find and will illuminate for the reader a deeper understanding of the industrial food complex.

Available at amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Want-Do-Illegal-Stories/dp/0963810952/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201500059&sr=8-1)


Has anyone read Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth? It's a novel he wrote almost 20 years ago and I enjoyed it greatly back then. I am nearly finished the sequel World without End which came out in late '07. It's over 1000 pages; Pillars of the Earth is just under that.

The story in Pillars of the Earth revolves around the building of a Gothic Cathedral in an English town. World without End takes over after Pillars of the Earth, but the books can be enjoyed in any order. These are good stories as are the rest of Follett's work. I think over the decades he's written about 17 novels; I've read 'em all.

I halfway figured Drew had read it because I think he mentioned the other day about going to hear Joel Salatin speak... I've read a few articles by him and would like to read more.  I like his sense of humor even when he's talking about something serious...

I'm still trying to read all of Countryplans.Com.

Everytime I get close to done somebody adds something to it.  [frus]

Leviathan, by Eric Jay Dolin.
The History of Whaling in America

An interesting 300 year story of whaling in America beginning with the retrieval of beached whales in New England. Then advancing to "shore whaling" where land based crews would row out to kill and tow whales they had sighted back to the beach. And finally building ocean going ships that traversed every ocean of the world in search of whales. The ships were outfitted with rendering vats to extract the oil on site and then continue the hunt. These ocean trips often ended up spanning a period of up to 4 years.

At the highpoint of world whaling (circa 1850) the US had over 700 ships prowling the oceans for whales, more than the rest of the worlds fleets combined. The discovery of oil in Titusville, PA virtually overnight finished off the whaling trade.

There were three main products of whaling; Baleen [from the mouth, used in corsets], whalebone [assorted ues] and whale oil. Whale oil encompassed 2 types, regular whale oil from the blubber and sperm oil from the heads of sperm whales. Sperm oil was for years the best oil for lighting and for making spermaceti candles, the brightest, longest burning, cleanest candles ever made. It was also the best lubricating oil up to that point having great resistance to heat. Whale oil was the oil that lubricated the industrial revolution. Kerosene from coal and then petroleum oil was so cheap and plentiful it quickly supplanted whale oil as the oil of choice.

So the discovery of petroleum [technology] undoubtedly helped prevent the otherwise likely total extinction of whales. OMMV

if we did not severly overfish the worlds oceans there would be a population explosion with whales as most of the world has stopped hunting them and the countries that do hunt them only take a few....Native inuit still harpoon a few... but the whale has rebounded and will thrive  mostly because they have no natural preditors

Except for HAARP & other facilities like it around the world that sends out high frequency electromagnetic waves that confuse the whales & cause them to beach themselves...  http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/faq.html

I am currently reading Fatal Shore, The Epic of Australia's Founding. 112 of 600 some pages so far.

Trivia:   The American Revolution is indirectly responsible for the founding of Australia by whites. Up to the Revolutionary War England shipped convicts to America to be used as slave labor. With independence the American government forbade that. England muddled along for a few years with bursting prisons until they hatched the idea of sending convicts off to Australia. At that point there had been little interest in AU by any of the powers at that time; the British, the French and the Dutch.

I'm reading a book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn.  If you've ever wondered what heaven will be like, he takes you through the Scriptures & explains it wonderfully, like I've never read before.  Comforting when you lose a love one.  I've also read some of his novels.   

I read forums.

speaking of:


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/business/worldbusiness/29swiss.html?ei=5065&en=be96c778a5f8828a&ex=1207368000&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

I just read The Swiss Account, by Paul Erdman It's about our efforts to stop Nazi Germany's efforts to build the A bomb. They were really close I guess, any way it took place in Switzerland and it talks about the Swiss collaboration, at least the bankers they got away with a lot of looted gold for sure. It's a novel but many of the characters are real. It's one of the books that tells you what happened to the real people at the end. Interesting. We have a paperback library at work to fund something 3 books for a $1 so I read at breaks and lunch or I would have never read this.
Mike

I just started reading Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I've listened to her on the radio before and thought it would probably be a pretty good read.  Only a few chapters deep thus far.  Of course it might take a while to finish it with all my copious spare reading time!  Most of my reading these days consists of lessons with the kids and I'm reading Treasure Island to my 5-year-old, who thought the cover looked exciting.  So far, she's pretty interested, but I don't think she likes it as well as the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.  My little one likes the Little House books, too... I got tickled listening to her playing the other day and she was talking about how Daddy was Pa, Mama was Ma, Sissy was Mary, she was Laura, and the baby is going to be baby Carrie.  Oh, and Grover the dog is Jack. 

My newest read is Desperate Passage, The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West, by Ethan Rarick.

It's a new book, copyright 2008. I knew the basic premise of the Donner Party, getting stuck in the snow in the Sierrs'a, the cannibalism, but that was about it. They were an unlucky group. There were many bad decisions made by the group from a late start at the jump off point of Independence, Missouri to trying an unproven route. They had the option of correcting the "bad moves" but always made the "wrong" decision. Ninety-five out of 250 so far. Lots of footnotes, references, which I like to see in a history.

I have actually finished far more of the book above than I would've thought by now.  Maybe about 3/4 through it?  Would be a good study book for a group. 

Also decided to finally read Fast Food Nation.  Have wanted to read it for a while and found it at a thrift store for 50 cents, so it's been sitting on the shelf (or in moving boxes) for a while.  So, should start it today.

Piece of trivia... from Desperate Passage...

The first life insurance company in the US was formed in 1843. The policies they wrote did not cover you if you went west of the Mississippi. It was too dangerous and the likelihood of the insurance company having to pay out too great. It wasn't until the CA 1849 gold rush that the, by then, many insurance companies would underwrite someone heading west. The premiums were higher than for those who stayed east.




also, the Donner Party missed getting over the last range by one day. And they had wasted many days along the journey. 

I have read several books on this and will probably read this one at some time. I do recall that at least some of the group missed by one day. Weren't they kind of spread out at different camps by then or did it come later. That book said it snowed 7 ' in a storm starting that night. I also remember there incredible bad luck . And  also poor judgement at times. I also remember them cutting a road only and making about 1/4 mile a day for a long time?

mike

You're right mvk, some of the group missed by one day. There was another splinter group another day behind them.

The route they took through the Wasatch Mtns of UT forced them to cut trees through dense  forest on steep ground. Their progress was so slow that during that time they didn't even move camp several times for a few days. It was easier to walk the short distance to where they had left off clearing, than to move the campsite. That's slow progress.

It's an incredible story.

My latest book read is another by Jon Krakauer. Krakauer wrote Into The Wild, the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who set off to live in the wilds of Alaska where he unfortunately perished. Krakauer also wrote Into Thin Air, a first-hand account of a catastrophic expedition up Mount Everest. Krakauer is a mountaineer and has one other book on the subject of mountaineering and adventure, Eiger Dreams. I greatly enjoyed all three of those books, so when I noticed that Krakauer also had penned a book that centers on the FLDS church I had to get and read it. The library notified me last Friday that Under The Banner of Heaven was ready for me to pickup.

In Under The Banner of Heaven Krakauer examines the extremes of religious belief as held by the FLDS church. Specifically, he focuses on  the practice of polygamy among fundamentalist Mormons and the issue of absolute obedience required of women to their husband. Marriages are always arranged by the leaders; the leader assigns brides as he sees fit.

The theme that the book begins and ends with is the story of the Lafferty brothers, who in 1984 murdered the young wife and daughter of one of their brothers in the name of their fundamentalist faith.

Krakauer takes the reader through a history of the Mormon church, beginning with the youth of the founder Joseph Smith, through the time of Smith's revelations from the angel Moroni, which led him to publish the Book of Mormon and found the Mormon faith. We learn what led up to Smith's shooting and death, the selection of Brigham Young as the next leader and Young's efforts to safely bring the membership west to the Great Basin area. We're told that polygamy was not a part of the Mormon culture in the beginning. Polygamy evolved as Smith had more revelations. In 1890 as the Utah Territory was seeking statehood, the LDS Church renounced polygamy as a tenet of their faith. That was a condition required for statehood. That rejection of polygamy was the catalyst for the formation of the FLDS and some other splinter groups.

Also mentioned is the aspect of welfare fraud being perpetrated today by the FLDS in AZ and UT, as well as in the spinoff settlement in Bountiful, BC, Canada. For example the "spiritual wives" (#'s  2, 3, 4, etc....) are not recognized by the state governments. The FLDS have wisely not attempted to register them as legal marriages. That allows those wives to apply for various federal and state aid programs as single mothers. The county where Colorado City, AZ (a FLDS stronghold) is located has a rate of food stamp, medical and other public assistance benefits that is 8 times greater than that of the rest of the state. Included are several personal histories related to Krakauer by women, who escaped from the control of the FLDS church. There's too much to go into a chapter by chapter review.

To be fair, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS) has objected, declaring "This book is not history, and Krakauer is no historian. He is a storyteller who cuts corners to make the story sound good." However a brief checking on some of the references in the book, as well as some of my previous reading does confirm some of the aspects of Krakauers account.

All in all, I've found much food for thought.

Krakauer's new book, The Hero, will be released on October 14, 2008. The Hero will be about former NFL football player Pat Tillman, who enlisted in the US Army after 9/11 to become an Army Ranger and was eventually killed in action under suspicious circumstances in Afghanistan. In addition to performing research in Afghanistan, Krakauer was able to interview members of Tillman's family and read Tillman's diaries and letters, to prepare for writing the book. That promises to be a good book as well.

Available at amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/Under-Banner-Heaven-Story-Violent/dp/1400032806/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209499331&sr=1-2) where there are hundreds of more detailed reader reviews as well.

Quote from: Homegrown Tomatoes on April 16, 2008, 04:10:33 PM

Also decided to finally read Fast Food Nation. 

I added that to my library request list today... have to find room for it...   ;D

This book is too funny!!

Delete This at Your Peril: One Man's Hilarious Exchanges with Internet Spammers by Bob Servant

at amazon.om
http://www.amazon.com/Delete-This-Your-Peril-Hilarious/dp/1602392757/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210042003&sr=8-1

Excerpt:

From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: Delete This At Your Peril
FROM HIS ROYAL HIGHNEST, JACK THOMPSON
Dear sir,
Permit me to inform you of my desire of going into business. I got
your name and contact from the chamber of commerce and
industry. I am JACK THOMPSON, the only son of late King Arawi of
tribal land. My father was a very wealthy traditional ruler, poisoned
to death by his rivals in the traditional tussle about royalties and
related matters.
Before his death here in Togo he called me on his sick bed and
told me of a trunk box containing $75m kept in a security company
where i amin the city of Sokode. It was because of the wealth he was
poisoned by his rivals. I now seek a foreign partner where I will
transfer the proceeds for investment as you may advise. I am willing
to offer you 20% of the sum as a compensation for your effort/
input and 5% for any expenses that may occour.
Anticipating to hear from you soon.
Thanks and God bless
JACK THOMPSON


From: Bob Servant
To: Jack Thompson
Subject: Greetings
Good morning your Majesty,
I want 30%, and not a penny less,
Your Servant,
Bob Servant


From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: I will speak to the bank
Hello Bob,
See these percentages was arranged by the bank and not me. If
you insist on getting 30% of the money i have to call the bank.
DELETE THIS AT YOUR PERIL
Pls send your
FULL NAME.
CONTACT PHONE NUMBER.
ACCOUNT NUMBER.
COUNTRY/STATE:
I will be expecting those details.thanks.
JACK THOMPSON.


From: Bob Servant
To: Jack Thompson
Subject: Good luck with the bank
Your Majesty,
Let me know what the bank says. Tomorrow's a bank holiday here, I
don't know if you have the same ones? My full name is BOB
GODZILLA SERVANT.
Yours,
Bob


From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: Hello
Hello Bob,
I went to my bank. If you are now requesting 30% we have to go
back to the high court to change things. I and my family members
has added some amount upon your money provided you are going to
be serious and trustwordy. We have agreed to give you 25%. Pls i
think that is all we can do.
We need your telephone number, country, state, city and account
number before we can go further.
Jack Thompson


From: Bob Servant
To: Jack Thompson
Subject: Let's try the court
Good Morning Your Highness,
DELETE THIS AT YOUR PERIL
Please go to the High Court and request the 30%, I think it is a fair
figure Jacky-O.
Bob


From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: YOUR URGENT RESPONSE NEEDED
Dear Mr Bob,
In order not to waste more time I have agreed the 30% and have
notified the court and my family accordingly. Within these few days
now, I have developed that confidence in you and believe that you
will be of great assistance in perfecting this transaction.
We have to go ahead immediately. Please email me -
1. Your address
2. Private Telephone and Fax Numbers
3. Banking details to enable transfer of the money to you.
I await your immediate response,
Jack Thompson


From: Bob Servant
To: Jack Thompson
Subject: Hold Tight...
Your Highness,
I have been looking at the sums again, and I have decided that I
want 40%.
And not a penny less.
Bob


From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: URGENT FROM MR JACK THOMPSON
Dear Bob,
Please let us PROCEDE. I am not greedy. I will offer you the 40%
instead of delaying the transaction. I want it done, no matter how
little it will change my life. Send your details now. Like I told you I
DELETE THIS AT YOUR PERIL
need to meet with the security company immediately,
I await an urgent response,
Jack


From: Bob Servant
To: Jack Thompson
Subject: Taxman
Jack,
40% sounds about right. However, I do not want the money in cash,
as there is no way I could hide it. The taxman tried to turn me over
back in '89 when I was coining it in from the cheeseburger vans, and
those bastards always come back.
Can I have my share in diamonds and gold? I can shift it
gradually through pawnshops in Lochee.
Bob


From: Jack Thompson
To: Bob Servant
Subject: URGENT
Hello Bob,
I received your mail and I guess I understand it. As for the diamond
and gold, I think I have access to raw gold. You will get your share in
some amount of cash and some valuable quantity of gold. Look Bob
you are wasting some time in forwarding your details that I need
urgently. So now that we have come to an agreement can I have the
details now please,
Thanks,
Jack

This goes on for pages and pages.  rofl rofl rofl

I've read some of the exchanges in the past and think they're absolutely hilarious. It's amazing that the spammer went on and one with it as long as he did. 

Here's one I did.





> From: lindamorgan@gerfinerbk.com
> Subject: Re: Glenn Kangiser - (Reply Requested) glenn-k
> To: glenn-k
> Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:06:17 -0700
>
> To: Glenn Kangiser
> Po Box
> Mariposa CA 95338
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear Glenn Kangiser,
>
> I am Linda Morgan the credit manager of Gerfiner Bank Cayman Islands. I have a proposal to discuss about a late family member Mr. A. Kangiser's Fixed account in Gerfiner Bank, Please contact me through email or call if you are interested to know more.
>
> I am currently on a 6 months banking course in the United Kingdom so you can call me on +44-120-223-3866
>
> Regards,
> Mrs Linda Morgan
> TEL:+ 44-120-223-3866
> FAX:+ 44-709-287-9730

RE: Glenn Kangiser - (Reply Requested) glenn-k‏
From:    glenn kangiser (glenn-k
Sent:    Sun 7/01/07 12:15 AM
To:    lindamorgan00@yahoo.no

Sorry, Linda-- Possibly only a distant relative.

> From: lindamorgan@gerfinerbk.com
> Subject: More Details For Glenn Kangiser
> To: Glenn-k
> Date: Thu, 5 Jul 2007 03:59:13 -0700
>
> Dear Glenn Kangiser,
>
> I know this means of communication may not be morally right to you as a person but i also have had a great thought about it and i have come to this conclusion which i am about to share with you.
>
> As i earlier introduced myself to you i am the credit manager of Gerfiner Bank Cayman Islands and in one way or the other was hoping you will cooperate with me in this endeavor i am about to undertake.
>
> I stumbled upon the account of a deceased client of this bank and i figured out that since you share a common name with him Kangiser, i believe you are related,i decided to contact you with this privileged information regarding his account, he goes by the name of Albert L Kangiser
>
> I also hired a private investigator who got me your contact and said your family or you as the case maybe has a high chance of being one way or another either close or very distance a relation to him being that he was traced to you through the surname similarity, now my proposal to you is that i want you to cooperate with me in seeing that these funds of the Late Mr Albert L Kangiser does not go down the drain.
>
> HOW ?
>
> Let me explain.
>
> At the end of a five year depository mandate of any bonded depository account, if such an account is not claimed or renewed to commence another tenure of 5 additional years, a 6 months period of grace is granted to the account holder or its designated beneficiary, a probate order of Mandamus is then issued to provide such a beneficiary whereby failure to do so at the end of its expiration the funds will be quarantined and shared amongst the directors of the bank at the end of that fiscal year.
>
> This is about to happen to the said funds of the late Mr Kangiser and the amount involved is $7.8 Million US Dollars (Seven Million Eight hundred thousand US Dollars), this i feel may not be to upright from both my end and also the end of the directors of the bank but i think it would rather be more beneficial to you and i who at the end of the day will use the funds to affect the lives of other people as well as close family members and well wishers.
>
> Now what i intend for you to do is to facilitate me with all your basic details such as:
>
> FULL NAMES
> HOME MAILING ADDRESS
> TEL/FAX NUMBERS
> OCCUPATION
> AGE
>
> These information will be used by an attorney which i will hire to facilitate all the
> relevant change of ownership documents apart from the basic documents which i have in my posses ion, as all copies of such documents will be provided to you as well for your records.
>
> Once this has been actualized the attorney will present the claims documents to the appropriate quarters in the bank and once they have all necessary details you will be contacted by the bank within 48hrs.
>
> I want you to please look at this opportunity as a good cause and please remove every form of guilt from your mind because at the end of the day it's either the bank officials get the funds or we get the funds one way or another someone gets to gain, i also want you to know that the whole process is 100% safe and you are guaranteed of your safety.
>
> If this is OK by you i will kindly indulge you to provide me with these basid details for confirmation
> of which after doing so i will furnish you with the claim form and i will also direct you on a step by step basis as to how you will approach this matter and secure the funds effortlessly.
>
> I await your response so that we can commence this project as soon as possible.
>
> Regards,
> Mrs Linda Morgan
> TEL:+ 44-120-223-3866
> FAX:+ 44-709-287-9730
>

...and --- my reply which unfortunately ended the communication...

RE: More Details For Glenn Kangiser‏
From:    glenn kangiser (glenn-k
Sent:    Thu 7/05/07 11:55 PM
To:    lindamorgan01@yahoo.no


Sorry Linda,

The memories are still too strong for me -- It's as if it was yesterday and now you are making me relive it all over again.

Poor Albert thrashing around in the water yelling -- help me, HELP ME .  I can't swim.  We threw our oars to him out in the water to help him float but he couldn't reach them.  One -- two--- three times he went under -- screaming all the way.  I can still hear his muffled screams from under the water as he went unwillingly to the bottom of the deep.

Hopelessly sucked out to the sea by the riptide at the end of the Salmon River, we no longer had control of the boat -- we had thrown the  oars to Albert.  After drifting hopelessly at sea for 7 days, we were finally rescued by a Russian trawler whereupon after taking us to their infirmary and rendering first aid, they returned us to Portland.  The only port large enough to accommodate their ship.

I'm sorry to bore you with the gruesome details.  It is much too close to my heart.  I feel no good could come from his money.  While unwillingly and beyond our control, we did let him die.  It's a bad omen.  Perhaps his children....

Sorry.

 rofl rofl rofl

That's great!  Too bad she didn't reply... it would have been fun if you could've dragged it out even more.

I thought it was a bit humorous. [rofl2]

By the way, I got Everything I Want to do is Illegal  in the mail today and am enjoying it greatly.  I'm also about 1/3 of the way through Fast Food Nation...also a book on house framing, but got tired just looking at the pictures in it right now.

Read about a third of Everything I want to do is Illegal yesterday and had a hard time putting it down.  Joel Salatin is very entertaining in his story-telling, but I think that a lot of folks (ie. people who eat...) who should read this book will probably never hear of it, let alone read it.  My favorite story thus far is how the USDA accused him of selling processed meat (after having the meat butchered at a local meat locker with the halves and quarters labelled for the individuals they were intended for...)  After a week or two at an impass, he asked the USDA inspectors what THEY would do, and one suggested that he put a price per head of cattle and then make up the carcass weight price and call it "shipping and handling".  So, he charged $1 for a whole beef, $0.50 for a half, and a quarter for a fourth.  Then he charged $2/lb. carcass weight for the "shipping and handling" and the USDA cheated the government out of thousands of dollars in sales tax revenue by their own suggestion!  I got a good laugh out of it.  One of the reviews on Amazon was very unfavorable, but unless something drastically changes in the book, I think it's great so far and the person who wrote the review obviously had a score to settle with Salatin over something.  I'd love to sell copies of it at the local farmers market.  Americans should be insulted that the US government thinks they are too dumb to make their own choices about what they will and will not eat.  My mom had a friend who made goat cheeses and sold goat milk products from her home (which, of course, is illegal because she doesn't have the thousands of dollars invested in commercial kitchens and permits and inspections... so, mom worked out a deal with her where she traded Avon products for the cheese, so no money was changing hands.  Other people have worked out deals to mow her lawn or do other odd jobs for her.)  We had a neighbor with dairy goats when I was growing up and she used to help us fix fence and give us milk in exchange for hay.   She couldn't sell her milk of course, but she could "give" it away.  We just traded other stuff instead of dollars for it.

Getting close to the end of Salatin's book.  Really an enjoyable read, though it does get your hackles up.  I think there are more restrictions on farmers where he is than here, but yet there are too many even here.  I remember an Ag professor of mine in college who admitted that he would not feed his family his commercially grown stuff, and they used organic practices in their own garden, but didn't sell any of it because of all the hurdles to making it a viable business.  That's one of the reasons I changed majors in college... everything was driven by commercial agriculture and production at the price of quality... I just couldn't stand it anymore.  Majoring in Ag was kind of a dream-killer for me...I couldn't reconcile with the unsustainability of it all even though I wanted nothing more than a small family farm; when I would bring up sustainable agriculture, I'd nearly get laughed out of the classroom.

Read another book by Taylor Caldwell  Testimony of Two Men as always, she writes a good book - always gets into world politics & the international bankers behind the scenes...  this was placed during 1890's through 1920's, industrial revolution, WWI, income tax etc.

Another book I read was A Man Called Peter by Christy Marshall on her husband Peter Marsall.  He was the chaplain to the Senate in the 40's...  in some of his sermons/prayers, he sounds like he is talking to us today, warning about the wars, economy etc.  Wouldn't be PC for some of the radical right wing "christians" of today... 

Finished a book by Irving Stone  Lust for Life  on Vincent Van Gogh...  interesting, what a crazy life he led. 

Just discovered the 2nd hand store at the dump - it's to raise money for the SPCA.  You can buy a stack of books for nothing!  I plan on making a trek there every-so-often  :)   

I have just discovered the Erast Fandorin mysteries, by Boris Akunin. I get them as audiobooks from my public library. The first one I listened to was Murder on the Leviathan, and I just started The Winter Queen, which is the first in the chronological sequence and also I think the first one written.

I also just picked up SketchUp for Dummies at the library. I finally found the site for older versions of SketchUp and have downloaded the right version for my computer. Maybe a bit of 3-D modeling will help me figure out the construction of those panelized cabins I find so fascinating, and to do preliminary design of the straw bale house I want to build.

Quote from: Sassy on May 10, 2008, 01:46:00 PM
Read another book by Taylor Caldwell  Testimony of Two Men as always, she writes a good book - always gets into world politics & the international bankers behind the scenes...  this was placed during 1890's through 1920's, industrial revolution, WWI, income tax etc.

Another book I read was A Man Called Peter by Christy Marshall on her husband Peter Marsall.  He was the chaplain to the Senate in the 40's...  in some of his sermons/prayers, he sounds like he is talking to us today, warning about the wars, economy etc.  Wouldn't be PC for some of the radical right wing "christians" of today... 

Finished a book by Irving Stone  Lust for Life  on Vincent Van Gogh...  interesting, what a crazy life he led. 

Just discovered the 2nd hand store at the dump - it's to raise money for the SPCA.  You can buy a stack of books for nothing!  I plan on making a trek there every-so-often  :)   

I like Taylor Caldwell as well.  I think I also bought A Man Called Peter at a yard sale and have it around somewhere, but I've not read it yet.  Salatin's book was both supremely entertaining and frustrating.... I'm still not through Fast Food Nation because I've left it in the truck as my "waiting" book to read when I'm sitting around waiting on something or someone, and I figured that way I had something good with me to read when I do finally end up in the hospital.  I noticed that people kind of look at you funny when you're reading a book titled Everything I Want to do is Illegal in public.  :) 

I'm still waiting on two books I ordered from the homeschool convention to be delivered.  They were supposed to have gone out last Tuesday, but we haven't gotten them yet.  One is The Second Mayflower and I forget the title of the other.  They ran out at the convention... guess they were more popular than they realized.  The other one was from the HSLDA.  Also reading a bee keeping book and a dairying book from the homeschool convention that really don't have much to do with homeschooling but just sounded interesting.  Guess this is what you do when you don't have a garden to tend. 

"I noticed that people kind of look at you funny when you're reading a book titled Everything I Want to do is Illegal in public."   :)    rofl rofl  Especially being ready to "pop"!  That would be funny, just to carry around the book to see people's expressions - they couldn't think you are too much of a threat at your stage of pregnancy but are probably really surprised that someone like you would be reading a book like that!   ;D

I told DH they probably are thinking I'm some kind of terrorist carrying a "pregnancy" bomb. ;)

I just started reading "White Fang" by Jack London - read it in grade school, found it at the SPCA 2nd hand store, so decided to read it again - still good reading  :)

Read "Lust for Life", biography of Vincent Van Gogh & "The President's Wife" a biography of Pres. Andrew Jackson's wife - both by Oliver Stone - found a book at the SPCA that had 3 biographies in it - right now I'm reading "The Agony & the Ecstasy" biography of Michael Angelo, along with "White Fang". 

It is amazing the lives of the Impressionist painters...  that style of painting was not popular at all while they were painting, they lived some hard, desperate, poverty stricken lives in most cases - it wasn't until most of them died that their paintings became popular.

Andrew Jackson's wife had been married before she married Jackson.  Her 1st husband had a mistress (one of the slave girls) & left her several times, had a violent temper & sent her back to her family - he was highly jealous, didn't want anyone else to have her, started all sorts of rumors about her.  Divorce was unheard of then & only men could divorce their wives...  divorce isn't great, but the suffering that she went through, the gossip & false rumors about her reputation that her ex spread...  it was very difficult for her - she actually died of a heart attack right before Jackson took office as president of the USA probably due to all the stress.  She seemed like a wonderful, very loving & hardworking person with high morals, but due to that unfortunate choice when she was very young, she suffered for the rest of her life.   

I finished Fast Food Nation yesterday.  The copy I had was a more recent paperback edition with an additional epilogue added since the original publication of the book.  I can verify much of what he said about the meatpacking industry to be true.  In college, I had to tour and Excell plant and an IBP plant as part of a meat science course I took.  I couldn't eat beef for weeks after either tour.   :(  (And for the record, we also toured a small local packer, Ralph's, and it was clean enough and humane enough that the whole class sampled their different smoked meats and jerky and so forth AFTER the tour.)  While I think it is a very well-written book, I don't agree that expanding the beauraucracy is the solution at all.  He spent a good deal of time in the last chapters outlining what Congress should do, but regardless of what they should/shouldn't do, we all know Congress is highly ineffective at dealing with that kind of change, plus too many fast food execs and meat packers are in bed with the politicians in the first place...  It is simplistic to think that passing a few more prohibitive laws will change the way business is done.  What is needed instead, IMO, is a grass  roots uprising.  People need to start refusing to buy feedlot beef, and refusing to eat fast food unless the food is clean and the animals and people making it are treated fairly.  If people quit eating at McDonald's unless they raised their standards for the way that their suppliers handle the food (as well as the way that they treat their employees and safety issues) I can guarantee that change would happen.  But, in spite of a growing movement in that direction, I think it may be too little too late.  I went to get milk last night and as I passed Taco Bell and McDonald's and Arby's there were long lines in the drive through and several cars in the parking lot... and that was at 8:00 at night.  In the epilogue, Schlosser commented that much of the original criticism of the first edition of his book was about how hard he was on the Republican party, and he was, deservedly so.  I think he could have found just as much to be hard on in the Democratic party, if he himself wasn't in favor of the Democrats' way of "fixing" things... (ie. spend more money, make a committee to oversee it, let the government fix it, etc.)  And he starts with the false assumption that it is the government's responsibility to ensure that our food is safe... ultimately, isn't that each individual's responsibility??  Overall, though, a very good read, and I may have to go veggie for a while after reading it though I know I'll always go back to eating steaks sooner or later... some of the chapters on meatpacking were enough to make a carnivore look longingly in the direction of a salad... kind of like reading Upton Sinclair when I was in high school. ;D

I have to agree, we don't need any "food police". More bureaucracy is not the answer. And I honestly don't know what the answer is. I/we don't like most fast food anyways; but we did have a pizza from a local Pizzeria when we arrived back from the mountains Thursday.  :) 

As for being turned off by the abattoir stories, it bothered me a little, but not enough to turn me away from eating meat. We don't eat much beef anyways; only good to excellent cuts of steak every so often. And only if I/we cook it ourselves. It's not worth eating if it's tough, is my motto.

In general I don't think people will uprise and turn against feedlot practices, fast food places, etc. They are too well ensconced in their daily life.

The exiting bureaucracy is not effective anyway so right -- we don't need more.

I did some welding and remodeling in a slaughtering plant where they butchered wild horses to sell for food overseas.

The USDA inspector was hardly ever on the job but the horses just kept going through- no matter. [crz]

I read a few books in the time away in the mountains. One of the most thought provoking was Escape by Carolyn Jessop. The surmane Jessop may rin g a bell to anyone who has been following the ups and downs of the Eldorado, TX child custody case.

Carolyn Jessop was married to a Merrill Jessop, a powerful man in the FLDS. (Notice, I refrained from using the cult word. But that's what I mean.) She was born into the FLDS in a multi generational FLDS family. As a child she was mistreated by her own mother and father. She was married to Merrill at age 18; his fourth wife. She had 8 children by him by the time she had enough of the physical, verbal and emotional abuse. Carolyn escaped after enduring 15 years in a family and community relationship that is hard to believe exists by the rest of us.

Unlike a few other women who had escaped life in the FLDS, Carolyn escaped with all 8 of her children. Most often a woman leaving had to abandon her children to the father. Even so her eldest two fought her tooth and nail all the way. They had been indoctrinated to believe the outside world was evil and that they would be damned to hell for all eternity should they leave.

Carolyn had the assistance of others who had left the FLDS once she reached Salt lake City. Without that help she and her children would have been rounded up like so many cattle and returned to Colorado City, AZ, the FLDS stronghold of the time.

Warren Jeffs was the leader at the time of her defection, the same Warren Jeffs who was arrested, convicted and emprisoned in 2006. The same Warren Jeffs who from prison still controlled the daily lives of the people when the were building their compound in Eldorado, TX.

I believe this to be a must read book. It left me with no doubts that the FLDS is evil and that all who live within the FLDS community are either victims of abuse or abusers. Sometimes they are both; abused as youngsters and then abusers as adults. However, under the guise of a church thay are allowed to continue.

Quote from: MountainDon on June 06, 2008, 09:40:19 PM
I have to agree, we don't need any "food police". More bureaucracy is not the answer. And I honestly don't know what the answer is. I/we don't like most fast food anyways; but we did have a pizza from a local Pizzeria when we arrived back from the mountains Thursday.  :) 

As for being turned off by the abattoir stories, it bothered me a little, but not enough to turn me away from eating meat. We don't eat much beef anyways; only good to excellent cuts of steak every so often. And only if I/we cook it ourselves. It's not worth eating if it's tough, is my motto.

In general I don't think people will uprise and turn against feedlot practices, fast food places, etc. They are too well ensconced in their daily life.

I don't think the book would totally turn me off meats if I didn't know that the chapters on meat packing were so accurate.  Touring IBP and Excell (and they didn't let us on the kill floors, period) was enough to do it in college though.  However, the little local meatpacker was very clean and they worked at a slow enough pace to do a good job.  I'd eat anything that came from Ralph's, and that's why I'll pay twice the price to buy their meat, too.  And Don, I tend to be a bit of a cynic about things changing, too... after all, even with the gas prices near $4 a gallon, I don't see people running around less in their cars or walking/biking more.  I think people are firmly entrenched in their consumerist habits.

Given all that is going on with the economy I decided to read "A Random Walk Down Wall Street" by Burton Malkiel. Seems kind of timely for me even though it has been around for a while. There is some interesting history contained in that book and some insight into the psychology that moves the market.

I'm almost finished with Homeschooling: the Right Choice by Christopher Klicka of the HSLDA.  He was one of the keynote speakers at the home school conference this year.  While I think he should fire his editors for neglecting their duties, the book is well-researched and full of numbers and statistics and overall an interesting read.  In the first segment of the book, the grammar, syntax, and structural errors drove me nuts to the point I almost didn't want to finish reading it unless I could do it with a red pen in hand.  The middle section is written better and has fewer errors missed by the editors.  If it didn't take on the tone of superiority, I think it would be convincing enough to talk fans of the public schools into homeschooling... It feels like reading prescriptive advice rather than being drawn in and persuaded.  Good thing I'm already persuaded to homeschool.  There were a few chapters that were very well-written and very persuasive, though.  His writing style is cumbersome (after all, he's a lawyer used to legalese) but the information is good, and there are a few exceptional chapters.

I've been reading The Family Cow by Dirk Van Loon.  Some of it is a little dry, but I thought the following was really funny:
  If cows are out of water or food or they're late being milked, they let the world know it with an insistent mooing.  (I have read that Brahmans don't moo-- that they grunt.  This has me wondering if a Brangus munts or groos.)

It's nice when writers enjoy their subject enough to have a sense of humor about it, particularly when it is something like a book about livestock or gardening, etc.  This should be a quick read.

I've read a bunch so far this summer. It's what I do in the evenings up in the mountains. I haven't kept a list of everything, but some that linger in my memory include:

Citizen Soldiers by Stephen E Ambrose. The book takes the reader from D-Day through to the surrender of Germany with the focus being stories about the experiences of both American and German soldiers. This is more about the men than the battles although the terror of war comes through clear.

What If?, a collection of articles and esaays by many military historians wondering, speculating on "what if..." this or that did or did not happen... how would that have possibly affected history. One section was about the American Revolution, noting 13 different events that could have had the War going either direction. It sure wasn't a sure thing. I was reminded that many folks don't realize that America declared it's Independence in 1776, however the War of Independence actually began in 1775 and lasted until 1782. January 1783, depending on who you read. I wonder of today's Liberal Left would have the stomach to continue the battle that long?

Wars of Blood and Faith by Ralph Peters. A couple/few points he makes/opines... Too many Americans refuse to take our enemies seriously... those enemies will use nuclear weapons if allowed to possess them.... religious wars are impossible to prevent because our enemies desire them... the Middle east is headed for greater chaos...

Trail Riding for Half a Century. A pictorial of my 4 wheel drive club, the New Mexico 4 Wheelers.  ;D It's been in continual existence since August 1958; not too many clubs of any kind can make that statement. The equipment sure has changed, but the landscape remains more or less the same. Just had to toss this in to see if anyone reads this.

"I was reminded that many folks don't realize that America declared it's Independence in 1776, however the War of Independence actually began in 1775 and lasted until 1782. January 1783, depending on who you read. I wonder of today's Liberal Left would have the stomach to continue the battle that long?"

I don't consider myself anywhere near the liberal left - am on the ultra conservative side for the Republic & the Constitution.  I would support a war for freedom - but not pre-emptive strikes, policing the world etc (that sounds like a quote from Ron Paul).  I think the biggest "terrorist" threat we have right now is our own gov't & the Nazi state they are turning our country into... 

Does anyone know about the honor Bush was given by the Israelis this past January?
http://www.templeinstitute.org/megillat-bush.htm  Pretty interesting...  hmmm  Check out Gog & Magog in the Bible, also check out the readings in the Talmud & what those that follow the Talmud think of the Goyim...  Also check out Great Britain's  Guildhall - http://www2.arts.gla.ac.uk/SESLL/Stella/STARN/prose/GALT/GOG/gog.htm which house statues of Gog & Magog. 

Also check out this website on The Scroll of Bush http://www.texemarrs.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=catalog&Product_Code=pop_1308

I've read several books - mostly novels this summer - also some books on different aspects of Christianity.  Read the Street Lawyer by John Grisham - don't think I've ever read any of his books before - I was pleasantly surprised.  Just some light reading, also re-read White Fang, also fun reading, just completing a trilogy by Robin Hardy - midaevil fantasy reading with a Christian twist...  re-reading TheHalliburton Agenda, & also reding Jesus, God by Nature.  Sometimes I'm so into a book that I don't get on CountryPlans or I'm at work & too busy...  I get a lot of books from the SPCA "yard sale" for next to nothing, stop by there every so often - so glad I finally went over there!  Instead of buying books - don't ever get around to going to the library - I should, but they don't have a lot of the books I'd like to read. 

I need to re-read House of Bush, House of Saud... 

Yes, Don, I, for one, read this topic  ;)

I've read a number of Grisham's novels, but nothing for the last few years. He does write an engaging tale as a rule.

White Fang! Jack London; that's an oldie, must over a hundred years old by now. I read it in high school, as a requirement. Than I got turned on to his other books. I recall liking The Call of the Wild and The Sea-Wolf

I use our public library a lot; on occasion they've even taken a suggestion of mine for books to add to the collection.  :o 

So much to read so little time. No wonder people watch TV. You can get the essence of a story in 1-1/2 hours that takes days to read.

I always liked Jack London, too.  The girls found my copy of Call of the Wild the other day and put it on their bedtime reading list after we finish the rest of The Story Girl and Robinson Crusoe.  Sometimes I think they aren't listening, but they'll still bring up parts of the story of Treasure Island, which I thought they were really too young for.  Still their favorites are the Little House books, though.

It's funny.  Since Sylvia was born, I've read at least four books.  I don't think I was ever able to read that much when the big girls were little.  In part, it is because the girls don't care now what I'm reading, as long as I read it out loud.  I figure they learn a little from it as well, so while they're playing in the bathtub, I'm reading books about livestock or homeschooling or whatever, and they don't care.  And... I get to read.   ;)  Of course, I don't think I've read the newspaper since around the beginning of MIL's visit.  Oh well, maybe by the time I dig the coupons out they won't be expired! :-\

My mom used to read to my sister & me every night.  I loved it!  She was a reader & I guess I picked that up at an early age...  I remember Black Beauty especially - funny I can't recall any other books but she read to us every night until I was in Jr High, I think. 

I read every dog book I could find when in school - and equipment repair manuals.  Now I try to keep up with Countryplans and article reading.

I've read a lot of Tom Clancey books and various histrory books, mostly about the railroads and WW2. This may explain why I'm so mixed up.

I think you may have read some history before the current versions were re-written. d*

Reminds me of the time I told my 12 year old daughter that Columbus did not discover America. She promptly told her teacher that she was wrong and the book was full of lies (repeating what I told her). I wasn't to popular at the next teachers meeting.

Unpopular but right.  That's gotta be worth something.

Quote from: ScottA on July 21, 2008, 09:17:44 PM
Reminds me of the time I told my 12 year old daughter that Columbus did not discover America. She promptly told her teacher that she was wrong and the book was full of lies (repeating what I told her). I wasn't to popular at the next teachers meeting.

rofl

You think that's funny you should have been there when I asked them if they still taught reading in school because it seemed like the only one teaching the kids was me.

There's a lot of interesting reading about the early reailroads and about WW2; both European and Pacific.

Just finished my cow book... DD walked in the other day when I was reading and nursing the baby.  She looked at the book and read the title and then asked excitedly, "Mom, why are you reading farming books?  Did our house in Wisconsin sell???!!!"  It was a fun and informative read... had cheese-making recipes and the like, which was pretty interesting.

Started reading Light Force by Brother Andrew last night.  Looks like it will also be a good read.  So far we have folks meeting with reps of Islamic Jihad and Hamas.  Sounds like it could be enlightening.

I read Light Force when it 1st came out - excellent book - really gives you a whole new outlook on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.  I'll have to read it again - so many books I've read in the past, I find that I'm reading them again now.  Did you ever read God's Smuggler by Bro Andrew?  I read that years ago, need to read it again, too.  Right now I'm reading a book by Robt Ludlum Apocalypse Watch, pretty good - never read any books by him before.  Just finished another book by John Grisham - can't recall the name  ??? (read it last week) about a young journalist who became the owner of a small town newspaper in Mississippi - very good. 

Sassy, I read God's Smuggler a long time ago.  And I bought this book at least a couple of years ago...it's been sitting on the shelf this long, which is really pitiful.  I think I bought it on my first trip back to Oklahoma after we moved to Wisconsin... I thought I'd get right to it, but somehow that didn't happen, so I've hauled it over half the country and back and am finally starting to read it.  When we moved to Wisconsin, it seemed like every spare moment was spent working on that house, so I mainly read whatever stories the kids wanted to read as bedtime story books.  Thankfully Sylvia isn't as picky about what I read to her/with her.  And, since she's been on a week long feeding frenzy where she is up at night again, I've been getting a lot of reading done.

I finally got a copy of "Life at the Bottom" by Theodore Dalrymple. It's a study of the underclass as viewed by a British physician........fascinating!  Happy Birthday to me!!

Also doing a re-read on "The Demon in the Freezer".......that book will make your skin crawl.

Here's an older book, but still with relevant information...

Lethal Laws by Jay Simkin, Aaron S. Zelman and Alan M. Rice

Lethal Laws shows that Communist Russia and Nazi Germany, had previous "gun control" laws, allowing them to disarm the population and murder them later.

Disarming citizens before killing or oppressing them is a time-honored American tradition. After the Civil War, the first act of the Ku Klux Klan (like the Khmer Rouge) was to round up all the guns in the hands of ex-slaves. Only then did other oppressions begin.

Hitler looked with admiration at how the United States government had cleared the continent of Indians, and he used the U.S. government's 19th-century policies as a model for his own 20th-century policies of clearing Lebensraum for the German people.

I just read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I would suggest this as a good read.  It was written in 1932. The novel takes place in London around...2500.  It is about a dystopia society...well, depending on your point of view...concerning the role technology will play in "the future".  There are so many things in this novel that are an amazingly accurate depiction of our world today and it really will make you wonder about your spot in this world and what it means.

I recently read Molon Labe' by Boston T. Party. Really enjoyed this tale of outsmarting the establishment powers-that-be and making a place for liberty to thrive.

I'm about 60 pages into A Short History of the United States by Robert V. Remini. I really like it. It's a recent book. It begins with the land bridge over the Bering Sea and goes right on up to 2008 and Iran and it's nuclear ambitions. I'm up to 1796 when John Adams was elected President.

There's not a lot of small detail of course, but I love the book. It hits all the important things that occurred while the country was being founded, the arguments and disagreements that had to be resolved. I find it fascinating.

Recently completed and enjoyed:

The Forsaken: An American Tragedy in Stalin's Russia by Tim Tzouliades.

In the depression of 1930's America, thousands of Americans were so desperate for work, so disappointed in what was happening or not happening in the USA they emigrated to Russia. The Russian government advertised for workers to work in Stalin's first five year plan to prosperity.

Most of these down on their luck Americans had their passports confiscated and were refused exit from Russia. Most perished in the Time of Terror, some shot outright for supposed crimes against Russia, others sent to the mines where they were worked to death.


If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy -From the Revolution to the War of 1812 by George Daughan.

This covers the Navy's first forty years with authority, clarity, and detail. If By Sea reveals the tangled and contested origins of American naval power. It took forty years for a national consensus emerge that preparing for war was the best way of avoiding one—a lesson that remains worth remembering.


And I'm working on Ted Nugent's latest, Ted, White and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto.

This is a most politically incorrect book. It came out part way through the political season of 2008. Nugent puts together an "If I were president" list that includes eliminating welfare except for military personnel, making prisoners plant trees, forcing people in New Orleans live on higher ground and executing child molesters. He may be off the wall and arrogant at times, but Ted obviously believes in freedom, the Constitution, and old fashioned morals. His manifesto is replete with "full bluntal nugity".

I have recently read "The Gatekeepers" by Graham (fiction), Zappa (biography), and am currently re-reading "Patriots" by Rawles. All highly recommended!

From Ted, White and Blue...

(https://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q75/djmillerbucket/oddsnends2/nuge.jpg)

Maybe I'm nuts but it brings a smile to my face.   :)

You're not nuts, Don, or else I am too. Ted's one of a kind, but he's a refreshing counterpoint to some of  the other celebrities like George Clooney and Rosie O'duncel. Arrogant and off the wall or not, he's ok in my book!

I look at the family above and see nothing to fear unless I was a criminal or politician.  Oh - but then I repeat myself.



"Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress; but I repeat myself."

Mark Twain

I very seldom read.  Mostly the directions after it doesn't go together correctly but yesterday was an exception.  The book was "Man of the Mountain".  It was a story of Eldridge McComb a local farmer and mountain man.  Mr. McComb died last year but his life was told by his family and friends.

He lived in a remote part of the county on his farm which did not have an electricity.  He raised 4 children.  His life was simple and most thought he was behind the times.  But in reality he was ahead of his time.  He raised all his food organicly, fruit trees and vegtables were from seeds he saved from his childhood of all varieties.  He had even developed a "bread & butter" sweet corn which he had cross polinated himself.  No hybrid varieties for him.  He said that nothing went on his garden that didn't come out of the barn. 

His children recall that their entertainment was to listen to his childhood stories and the wealth of knowledge they contained. 

He raised all his own meet and what nature would hand him.  He was proud that he had even trained his hogs not to rush the feed trough but to wait until he was done slopping and he said it was ok. 

In his childhood he lived near the Watoga State Park which is the largest in WV and was built by the CCC. He picked up on traded to building and built his own house by watching and helping them construct the many log cabins in the park.  The land surrounding his house was owned by a timber company of some 21,000 acres and there were 10 lumber camps. 

Later in life he worked for the soil conservation finding property springs and advising on good farming practices.  His weather was how he seen it with the signs.  He would say that they would never put a roof on in the full moon sign as the wood would heave.  In the dark of the moon the wood would always stay flat.  He used alot of split rail fence on the farm and that was the opposite. Fence built in the dark of the moon would settle to the ground and rot.  Fence built in the full moon would never settle and not rot.  He might have something because he has fence still standing solid that was built in 1915 of split rail stacked.

While working in the woods one day he said it was going to rain.  So he took off his clothes and pushed them into a hollow log.  It did rain and afterwards he pulled them out and put them back on.  Everyone else walked home in wet clothes but not Eldridge.

His farm is still worked by his son which I know personally and to me he was a little strange.  But after reading about his dad maybe not so much. 

There is another book written by Dr. Roland Sharp who is 100 this year.  He tells of his life story of being a country doctor and farmer in  Pocahontas County. In fact he still farms.  Maybe I will start reading again.

Great, it's always interesting to read about local histories.   :)

i too love my local library, and my youngest was practially raised in it!

since she was tiny, we've been making weeky trips

i too don't actually buy too many books

this might have been posted prior as i haven't read all 7 pages, but do you know
the government spent more on one battleship than the entire public library system??

i saw that on a poster in the computer room the other day

anyway, i recently read a very interesting book on thomas jefferson

and i'm in the middle of the audacity of hope by barack obama

don't get much time to read these days, what with everything else going on, but i do try
to read enough that my children actually SEE me read

its hard to preach how important reading is if you don't practice it

i grew up watching my mother read almost every day

she's very elderly now, and her sight isn't what it used to be, but when i was younger,
she always had her nose in a book

tesa