Zach
Pro Member
If you can't send money, send tobacco.
Posts: 4,358
First Name: Zach
Favorite Pipe: Too many currently, bound to change
Favorite Tobacco: Haunted Bookshop, Big 'N' Burley, Pegasus, Habana Daydream, OJK, Rum Twist, FVF, Escudo, Orlik Golden Sliced, Kendal Flake, Ennerdale
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Post by Zach on Feb 21, 2022 21:04:29 GMT -5
Just finished C.J. Sansom's Dominion.An alternate history set in 1952. The Fascists prevailed in Britain in 1940 and the Germans occupied the UK. Churchill is the leader of The Resistance movement. Sansom was a Historian before turning to the Law. He was a practicing Solicitor for many years. He also produced the "Shardlake" series of Tudor Detective novels featuring the great hunchback, detective, and lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. Dominion turns into quite a page burner for a 700 page, or so, book. Once the plot really takes off, it is hard to put the book down. Sounds interesting. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 21, 2022 21:28:24 GMT -5
What don't you like about it? I was thinking about reading it. It's just not very well written. Early on, I described it as being like reading a Wikipedia article with personal interjections added. That's pretty much how it stayed. And the personal interjections aren't particularly interesting or enlightening or entertaining. It reads like this guy won the drawing to get one of the very few bison permits in Alaska, went on his hunt, decided he should write a book and make some bank off his good fortune, ran into trouble when he discovered he didn't actually have much to say about it, so just shoveled in a lot of random filler about bison and the Buffalo nickel and bison ranching. There's some moderately interesting stuff about how the bison population was restored over the years, but not much. There's some mildly interesting stuff about his hunt, but Jack O'Connor he is not. The rest is, well, filler. With the help of a very good editor, he might have enough material for an okay magazine article. Gotcha. I'll pass, thanks. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 21, 2022 21:33:54 GMT -5
Finished Stephen Hunter's "G-Man". Started the next Bpb Lee Swagger novel: "Game of Snipers". I enjoyed Hunter's novels from years back. Particularly his story of Ed McGivern, Audy Murphy and Elmer Keith "liberating" Angola Farm or was it Parchmen Farm? Parchman. Good book, much better than I expected. In the Brandon Sanderson series "Stormlight Archives", the planets enslaved natives are called Parchman. |
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Post by urbino on Feb 22, 2022 0:22:43 GMT -5
Just finished C.J. Sansom's Dominion.An alternate history set in 1952. The Fascists prevailed in Britain in 1940 and the Germans occupied the UK. Churchill is the leader of The Resistance movement. Sansom was a Historian before turning to the Law. He was a practicing Solicitor for many years. He also produced the "Shardlake" series of Tudor Detective novels featuring the great hunchback, detective, and lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. Dominion turns into quite a page burner for a 700 page, or so, book. Once the plot really takes off, it is hard to put the book down. You might also like Owen Sheers' Resistance. It starts from the same premise, but it's set in rural Wales and focuses more on the local, "ordinary" folk than it sounds like Sansom's book might. No Churchill or the like. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Feb 22, 2022 8:42:26 GMT -5
Just finished C.J. Sansom's Dominion.An alternate history set in 1952. The Fascists prevailed in Britain in 1940 and the Germans occupied the UK. Churchill is the leader of The Resistance movement. Sansom was a Historian before turning to the Law. He was a practicing Solicitor for many years. He also produced the "Shardlake" series of Tudor Detective novels featuring the great hunchback, detective, and lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. Dominion turns into quite a page burner for a 700 page, or so, book. Once the plot really takes off, it is hard to put the book down. This is on my list. I've read several of his Shardlake novels. Nice to hear a positive comment about this one. |
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Post by exbenedict on Feb 24, 2022 10:08:32 GMT -5
Quantitative Analytics in Debt Valuation and Management, Quantitative Investment Analysis
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Post by toshtego on Feb 24, 2022 14:21:13 GMT -5
Westbound, Warbound. Authored by some Limey veteran of WWII.
It is 1939 and the 8,000 ton freighter "PollyAna" is cruising the south Atlantice when, low and behold, up comes the Graf Spee.
An interesting accompaniment to the history of The Battle of the River Plate. One of the Royal Navy's proudest moments and they sure have a heap O' them back then.
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Post by sperrytops on Feb 24, 2022 14:44:44 GMT -5
I wonder when the first book will come out on Vlad the Impaler's invasion of the Ukraine.
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Post by toshtego on Feb 24, 2022 19:31:25 GMT -5
I wonder when the first book will come out on Vlad the Impaler's invasion of the Ukraine. Stephen Hunter will write it, though. |
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Post by trailboss on Feb 24, 2022 22:18:14 GMT -5
Read the first chapter of Little Britches by Ralph Moody, subtitled (father and I were ranchers) to my granddaughter. A great series of books that captivate the young mind, transported off to a different time, but hard times indeed came Ralph’s way.
Good character enforcement books and entertaining to young and old.
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Post by Ronv69 on Feb 25, 2022 0:02:11 GMT -5
I read this on this day every year.
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World:
Fellow citizens & compatriots—I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch—The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.
William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. comdt
P.S. The Lord is on our side—When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn—We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels & got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.
Travis
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Post by don on Feb 25, 2022 1:47:56 GMT -5
“With the Old Breed” by E B Sledge.
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henry
Junior Member
Posts: 108
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Post by henry on Mar 2, 2022 14:40:00 GMT -5
How about a film?
The Tobacconist, a superb 2020 German movie. A Freudian--literally--coming of age tale where an Austrian tobacco shop is a microcosm of the world. Rich in symbolism and the best movie I've seen in at least a couple of years.
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Post by urbino on Mar 6, 2022 2:58:19 GMT -5
Forgot to mention it, but I recently started a book about Lisbon during WWII. It's called, of all things, Lisbon.
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Post by toshtego on Mar 6, 2022 14:31:26 GMT -5
Reading the book Longitude by Dava Sobel. How the most complex scientific problem of the ages was finally solved.
I was not familiar with Sobel before this one. She is an amazingly detailed and well written author. This book is an enjoyable read and containing more interesting facts than one might imagine. Quite a cast of historical figures and characters.
The problem of determining correct longitude position plagued navigators and mariners form many hundreds of years. Many ships lost and mariners killed through navigational error; starvation, scurvy, running aground and drowning. Latitude measurement was not as difficult a problem to solve, although a good instrument for measuring angles of heavenly bodies was critical. Longitude baffled many longer.
THis book covers various attempts which did not work and the one which did.
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Post by urbino on Mar 6, 2022 16:19:13 GMT -5
Reading the book Longitude by Dava Sobel. How the most complex scientific problem of the ages was finally solved. I was not familiar with Sobel before this one. She is an amazingly detailed and well written author. This book is an enjoyable read and containing more interesting facts than one might imagine. Quite a cast of historical figures and characters. The problem of determining correct longitude position plagued navigators and mariners form many hundreds of years. Many ships lost and mariners killed through navigational error; starvation, scurvy, running aground and drowning. Latitude measurement was not as difficult a problem to solve, although a good instrument for measuring angles of heavenly bodies was critical. Longitude baffled many longer. THis book covers various attempts which did not work and the one which did. Yup, that's a good one. That story is one reason I say the mechanical watch (or clock, in this case) is about as good as mankind has ever done with gears and levers. It's an astonishing machine. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 6, 2022 18:57:20 GMT -5
Reading the book Longitude by Dava Sobel. How the most complex scientific problem of the ages was finally solved. I was not familiar with Sobel before this one. She is an amazingly detailed and well written author. This book is an enjoyable read and containing more interesting facts than one might imagine. Quite a cast of historical figures and characters. The problem of determining correct longitude position plagued navigators and mariners form many hundreds of years. Many ships lost and mariners killed through navigational error; starvation, scurvy, running aground and drowning. Latitude measurement was not as difficult a problem to solve, although a good instrument for measuring angles of heavenly bodies was critical. Longitude baffled many longer. THis book covers various attempts which did not work and the one which did. Yup, that's a good one. That story is one reason I say the mechanical watch (or clock, in this case) is about as good as mankind has ever done with gears and levers. It's an astonishing machine. I have two Chelsea "Ships Bells" type chronometers. They are somewhat old but not ancient. Amazingly accurate. However a $25 quartz watch is probably just as accurate. That is technology for you! |
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Post by urbino on Mar 6, 2022 19:27:05 GMT -5
Yup, that's a good one. That story is one reason I say the mechanical watch (or clock, in this case) is about as good as mankind has ever done with gears and levers. It's an astonishing machine. I have two Chelsea "Ships Bells" type chronometers. They are somewhat old but not ancient. Amazingly accurate. However a $25 quartz watch is probably just as accurate. That is technology for you! Oh, a quartz watch is far more accurate. But it's not levers and gears doing the timekeeping in it. It's an electronic circuit. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 6, 2022 19:50:45 GMT -5
Yup, that's a good one. That story is one reason I say the mechanical watch (or clock, in this case) is about as good as mankind has ever done with gears and levers. It's an astonishing machine. I have two Chelsea "Ships Bells" type chronometers. They are somewhat old but not ancient. Amazingly accurate. However a $25 quartz watch is probably just as accurate. That is technology for you! Until your battery dies in the middle of the Pacific ocean. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 7, 2022 18:15:48 GMT -5
I have two Chelsea "Ships Bells" type chronometers. They are somewhat old but not ancient. Amazingly accurate. However a $25 quartz watch is probably just as accurate. That is technology for you! Until your battery dies in the middle of the Pacific ocean. I would not depend upon a quartz watch from Walmart if I were navigating across the Pacific. Just making an observation about how technology changes. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 7, 2022 21:01:32 GMT -5
Until your battery dies in the middle of the Pacific ocean. I would not depend upon a quartz watch from Walmart if I were navigating across the Pacific. Just making an observation about how technology changes. My Edox chronometer gains about a second a day when I wear it. I think that's enough to keep me on course with only weekly sun sittings. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Mar 9, 2022 6:29:03 GMT -5
I just started Hidden History of American Healthcare, Thom Hartmann (2021).
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Post by toshtego on Mar 9, 2022 8:35:11 GMT -5
I just started Hidden History of American Healthcare, Thom Hartmann (2021). Does that ever seem grim!! Could be a tale of profiteering, exploitation, and all the venality of humans mixed in with selfless devotion to the Hippocratic Oath and good intentions. Please report on this when finished. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Mar 9, 2022 13:10:38 GMT -5
I just started Hidden History of American Healthcare, Thom Hartmann (2021). Does that ever seem grim!! Could be a tale of profiteering, exploitation, and all the venality of humans mixed in with selfless devotion to the Hippocratic Oath and good intentions. Please report on this when finished. Will do. So far it's all those things with a lot of political corruption and a sprinkling of racism. It can all be reduced to venality obliterating good intentions. Grim, indeed. |
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Post by trailboss on Mar 9, 2022 22:01:02 GMT -5
I just started Hidden History of American Healthcare, Thom Hartmann (2021). Sad to see where healthcare has become politicized, the idiots that say “follow the science” refuse to entertain real science and the mainstream media regurgitates what the “wise” have t say about it. I have a first row seat to it all, sad…the poorest bear the brunt of the nonsense. |
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Post by sperrytops on Mar 10, 2022 0:27:49 GMT -5
Until your battery dies in the middle of the Pacific ocean. I would not depend upon a quartz watch from Walmart if I were navigating across the Pacific. Just making an observation about how technology changes. I think the best endorsement of quartz, or digital, watches comes from divers. Their primary measurement device is a dive computer - digital and battery powered. Their backup device is overwhelmingly a Casio quartz dive watch. They haven’t used mechanicals since the 60’s. Or maybe the 70s if I want to be generous. Mechanical watches have a certain style. But would you ever wear a $10,000 Rolex dive watch in the water? |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 10, 2022 2:20:17 GMT -5
I would not depend upon a quartz watch from Walmart if I were navigating across the Pacific. Just making an observation about how technology changes. I think the best endorsement of quartz, or digital, watches comes from divers. Their primary measurement device is a dive computer - digital and battery powered. Their backup device is overwhelmingly a Casio quartz dive watch. They haven’t used mechanicals since the 60’s. Or maybe the 70s if I want to be generous. Mechanical watches have a certain style. But would you ever wear a $10,000 Rolex dive watch in the water? Well, the watches only have to work for a few hours at a time. Change the battery every year. The opening of the case eventually degrades the works and seals. Half of my watches are quartz and not working. The other half are automatics that are more or less keeping accurate time. Then there is the solar powered Casio. It's just boring! 😁 🤠 |
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Post by sperrytops on Mar 10, 2022 11:51:06 GMT -5
I think the best endorsement of quartz, or digital, watches comes from divers. Their primary measurement device is a dive computer - digital and battery powered. Their backup device is overwhelmingly a Casio quartz dive watch. They haven’t used mechanicals since the 60’s. Or maybe the 70s if I want to be generous. Mechanical watches have a certain style. But would you ever wear a $10,000 Rolex dive watch in the water? Well, the watches only have to work for a few hours at a time. Change the battery every year. The opening of the case eventually degrades the works and seals. Half of my watches are quartz and not working. The other half are automatics that are more or less keeping accurate time. Then there is the solar powered Casio. It's just boring! 😁 🤠 Valid points. I’ve got a couple quartz and a couple mechanical. These days though I just don’t bother wearing a watch. Easier to check time on my iPhone which I always have on me anyway. |
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Post by toshtego on Mar 10, 2022 12:21:29 GMT -5
Well, the watches only have to work for a few hours at a time. Change the battery every year. The opening of the case eventually degrades the works and seals. Half of my watches are quartz and not working. The other half are automatics that are more or less keeping accurate time. Then there is the solar powered Casio. It's just boring! 😁 🤠 Valid points. I’ve got a couple quartz and a couple mechanical. These days though I just don’t bother wearing a watch. Easier to check time on my iPhone which I always have on me anyway. I used to reply on the phone for time until too many calls and too many outages. Phone is often in a drawer where it belongs! I wear a wrist watch and like it. Now wearing a Nivada Grenchen Depth-O-Matic from the early 1960s. While the depth bubble is gone and not needed since I stay above water as much as possible  , I like the dial face. Easy to read. |
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Post by Ronv69 on Mar 10, 2022 12:29:07 GMT -5
Well, the watches only have to work for a few hours at a time. Change the battery every year. The opening of the case eventually degrades the works and seals. Half of my watches are quartz and not working. The other half are automatics that are more or less keeping accurate time. Then there is the solar powered Casio. It's just boring! 😁 🤠 Valid points. I’ve got a couple quartz and a couple mechanical. These days though I just don’t bother wearing a watch. Easier to check time on my iPhone which I always have on me anyway. I wear a sleep and exercise tracker. My watches don't come out unless we're going to an event, which rarely happens these days. |
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, I like the dial face. Easy to read.