Richardderus thread 10 for 2012

Our dogwoods are blooming!

From India:

So is conservative idiocy!

My 2012 NEW books ticker:




Previous reviews:

1. Under the Dome...thread two.
2. The Night Circus...thread three.
3. The God Engines...thread three.
4. A More Perfect Heaven...thread four.
5. Everybody Says Hello...thread five.
6. 11/22/63...thread five.
7. Under Your Skin...thread six.
8. The Emperor of Lies...thread six,
9. The Coroner's Lunch...thread six.
10. A Wrinkle in Time...thread six.
11. Brother's Keeper, a novella...thread seven.
12. Thirty-Three Teeth...thread seven.
Lucky 13! Comet in Moominland...thread seven.
14. Masquerade (Kindle Single)...thread seven.
15. A Shot in the Bark...thread seven.
16. THIS IS YOUR HEART IN LOVEThis is Your Heart in Love...thread seven.
17. Burial to Follow...thread seven.
18. Disco for the Departed...thread seven.
19. STRONGBOX...thread seven.
20. Sending Rupert Home...thread seven.
21. Burritos and Gasoline...thread seven.
22. Palo Alto: Stories...thread seven.
23. Racing the Devil...thread seven.
24. Best Mets...thread seven.
25. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead...thread eight.
26. The Zona...thread eight.
27. The Song of Achilles...thread eight.
28. Accomplished in Detection...thread eight.
29. The Technologists...thread eight.
30. The DVD Murders...thread eight.
31. Miss Peregine's Home for Peculiar Children...thread eight.
32. A Tale of 3 Witches...thread nine.
33. M-G-M: Hollywood's Greatest Backlot...thread nine.
34. Anarchy and Old Dogs...thread nine.

My 2012 ORPHANED books ticker:




Books are reviewed in post:

35. Simon Said...#95.

36. Last Days...#227.

Hello Richard!
Love your pics as usual, and hoping for gold medal and a rousing rendition of God Defend New Zealand for first visit! ;)

Two New Zealanders in a row - is that a record?

Hello Richard:) Just keeping up with you.

Hello there, Richard! Wishing you well while having the opposite effect by my posting here, I suspect. *Puts on a battle helmet and pillages Richard's fridge*

Checking in.... nothing much to say.. feeling a bit grumpy...

Passing through ****Waves**** Hope your day is filled with wonderful exciting reading. :)

Hi RD- You had me worried there for a moment on your latest Dr. Siri book and then I saw the 4 stars and exhaled. I'm behind on the series and hope to get to book 3 next month.
Hope all is well with you, sir.

I'm not even hunting down your last thread - this was on the top of the list, so I'll just spread out my blanket hear and plop down for the afternoon. Cheers, sir!

Just dropping by before I lose an entire thread again....

Your dogwoods are beautiful!

Go, dogwoods! Shut up, Jabba!

Hope it's a good one for you today, Richard.

>4 Howdy do, Megan! Here's Hayley Westenra singing it at the 2011 Rugby Cup.

>5 In my thread, prolly not, but I'm delighted to see you Cushla!

>6 Heya, calm, are you doing well?

>7 Hi Stephen! I always feel a little happier when you visit.

Hallo RD! So in the interests of turn-about-is-fair-play, have you read Major Pettigrew's Last Stand?

Purty dogwoods, too.

>8 Whom shall I whammy into misery and abjectitude?

>9 Hi Monica! *waves back*

>10 Crummy Colin has joined Lousy Louise in the "don't pork around with my fictional homes, biatch" doghouse.

>11 Crypto...you...you mean...you don't read every post in every thread I create...? *sob*

>12 Hi Mary! Good to see you!

>13 So far, just fine, thanks Joe.

ETA >15 I tried. We didn't get on. Pearl Ruled at about 40. *nyah*

*smooch*

Hi Richard
What a lovely photo of your dogwoods!

I'm stopping by and waving hi. I haven't had a lot of time to post lately. The end of semester details are consuming.

Hugs to you..and Claudia

A new thread...ho hum...what else is new?

dear Richard
I love the flowers, dogwood is not common here, and Jabba... well the only person we ever nicknamed that was a female....

here, some tulips for you to enjoy

>19 Hiya Berly! Hey, I'm only on thread 10...what's Paul up to now, 23 or something?

>20 How do, Anita, and thanks for the tulips!

so many threats... my head spins.
eta
I meant threads of course

>14 *cry cry* Oh Richard, a rousing rendition indeed, Im sure you must know the lass singing is from my fair city. And did you hear, we went on to win the Rugby World Cup. Ah, the memories. I believe I was reading The Catcher in the Rye at the time the final whistle blew. I just about tore my eyes from the pages to watch....

>18 Thanks, Linda, although those aren't our dogwoods, they're from some Canuckistani university in some outlandish place called York or some darn thing. *I don't know where this sentence went in post #21*

>22 I hope that's a typo and you mean "threads."

>23 I chose it for those reasons! Knowing how much rugby enthralls you and all. *snicker* Srsly, Hayley Westenra has one of the loveliest voices I've ever heard, and it is a moving rendition of a tune that's pretty dire in less talented hands.

yep.. threads..

bad day :P I will fix it..

LOLOL

ROFL

LMAO

ok, I snorted when I read this, seriously snorted

*snorkels again*

*adds a snort*

Definitely snortable....as well as #24 Canuckastani placed called York...double snort

It's okay, considering the placement most people aren't going to be focusing on spelling anyway.

Good evening, my Friend!

>27, 28 Me too!

>29 Isn't there someplace called York up there somewhere, with a university and stuff?

>30 Never occurred to me, where it was.

>31 Heya TLo!

#32 There is York Uni in Toronto...a little far from me in Nova Scotia...Ontario is in the middle ;-)

Ha! for #26

star for the thread :)

I never was a fan of Subway.. it is at the bottom of my list of take out foods..

Hope today is a good one for you !

Love that bluebird picture for sheer pretty, but I suspect shenanigans. It reminds me of composite cattle stampedes and the like.

Well, this might explain why certain conservatives are against gay marriage, among other things.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21428590.200-political-divides-begin-in-th...

>36 It's never my first choice. The billboard won't change that, I confess.

>37 Shenanigans or not, it's gorgeous!

>38 FASCINATING!! "Most recently, and controversially, focus has shifted to differences in brain structures and functions. In one experiment, conservatives on average had a larger right amygdala, a region of the brain that processes responses to fear and threat. Liberals, in contrast, had more grey matter in the anterior cingulate cortex, an error-detecting region that is thought to be involved in causing us to stop repeated patterns of behaviour and change course."

And, later in the article, studies show that identical twins are far more likely to be similar in political views, as well as other social matters. C'mon liberals we need to breed!

Drive by snuggles and snorts at that tattoo... oh dearie me...

*smooch* I know, it make me snort every time I see it! Ah stupidity, you best pal of the human species.

Here is a photographer who deserves some sort of medal.

And a really really really long hot shower.

Love the dogwood. xo

> 26 adds snort laughter ......

The song of Achilles turned up in my mailbox today as we'll .........

xo

How is today looking from your corner of the world?

>43 Dogwood is one of the more delightful flowering trees. Next to eastern redbud, my favorite. The five redbuds across the street have finally joined the party too!

>44 Oh dearie me, Alex is gonna be gone for a while....

>45 *smooch* In pain, in bad mood, in-a-gadda-da-vida....

York was a municipality of its own which got eaten up by Toronto. Which is in Ontario up here in Canuckistan. A Canuckistani would be me.

That tattoo--oh the poetry!

Love #47

>48 Toronto is big, is it? I had visions of, oh I don't know, five or six thousand people. Of Canuckistan's million or so. I figure someone in the Murrikin gummint knows how many of y'all there are, since eventually everyplace except Nunavut and Quebec will be states.

>49 One must have one's priorities properly oriented.

I do love this one.

Me, too. Reminds me of "Only boring people are bored".

I always love coming on over for a visit - whaleshit, biology-is-political-destiny, sex and Subway - never a dull moment.

Sorry for the pain, hope other things are good for you today, RD.

*smooches* from Horrible

>50: The GTA (greater Toronto area) has about 5.5 million people. And no, I don't see Canada being part of the U.S. any time soon. Them is actually fighting words for a lot of us.

>52 I remember that as one of Mama's maxims. Still pretty much agree with it.

>53 *smooch* back to Horrible

>54 Really? Why ever?

> 47: sorry you are in pain and bad mood, wish I could make the pain go away...
and love > 51 :-)

How is dear Stella doing?

Whale shit, is that photo for real? I guess they have to do it too, although its not often showcased on the nature programmes!

>56 Stella sends a transAtlantic woof to say she's in fine fettle!

>57 It is...revoltingly enough!

I've reviewed an old friend, The Summer Isles, which is an alternative history novel about the England of 1940 after the British defeat in the Great War (aka WWI). It's over in my thread...post #171.

you were SO right about Montana 1948! :)

YAY!! Is your review up yet?

nope.....
have 20 some more pages to go
but you were right
I have melted into this book
I want to meet these people
It is so easy to read, if you know what I mean

I do, and I am so delighted that you're having this experience. It's one of the best books I've ever read in my whole life.

I'm reading a library book but I will be buying my own :)
I can't wait to see what happens at the end but then again I don't want it to end :)

oh, I did love that book.

Have a visit to my review sometime, Judy.

Hello Hello! Behind again, tres surprise!
Your dogwoods are very pretty.

This is big fun!

Saucy knotty-pated maggot-pie.

Mmmm, pie. Never had *maggot* pie before, but it's probably a delicacy somewhere. France, probably.

Hmmmm no fair I don't have a fancy middle name ..........

I'm a Mangled common-kissing canker-blossom. Fair I guess :) Thank goodness I married out of being a bum-bailey!

popping in to say I hope it is a good day for you
xo

Droning folly-fallen foot-licker

Before marriage it would have been Droning folly-fallen flax-wench... not bad, but won't give up husband for that ;-)

And you Richard Dear, what is between Mangled and baggage?

knotty-pated clay-brained

I got Alex's fancy middle name, too.

Oh my, I'm a fawning fat-kidneyed maggot-pie. This guy is good!

Bootless rump-fed foot licker. Pretty bad, but far from the worst name I've been called...

Ok, I'll fess up: I'm a vain knotty-pated foot-licker.

Could someone please tell me what a knotty-pated person looks like? Is it like knotty pine paneling in a dark, damp basement?

I'm a Forward boil-brained Harpy - no surprises there.

frothy sheep-bitting canker blosson

(I assure you I don't actually bite sheep!)

Saucy rump-fed horn-beast. I thought it was supposed to insult me...

Hah! LOL.

I can't figure "knotty-pated" out either. My pate is bare, or nearly, and if there are knots, they are the temporary sort from whackin' my pate into cabinets that sweetienubbins refuses to learn to close.

One day I'm going to smack his head on a cabinet door and wait for comprehension to dawn.

Ahem.

But the insult generator is a blast, ain't it?

vain knotty pated foot licker

dinna agree. not vain. lol.....

A Fawning, common-kissing, flirt gill...am I!!!!

Oh, I do loveth Shakesperean insults.......they make today's profanity seem so....tame.....and pale....

;-}

I'm either a Vain pox-marked varlot (married name initials) or a vain knotty-pated boar-pig (birth name initials).

Boo, flunk. I'd rather be a Bawdy common-kissing baggage. 'Course my initials would have to be FAD, which they aren't.

:)

Happy day, RD!

Kath, we are twins, or sisters, at minimum. Have you figured out what a knotty pated somethingorother is?

I'm a Dankish rump fed common-kissing maggot pie...LOL!

It occurred to me to check Wordnik, which is a site I'm quite fond of, and here's what they say about "knotty-pated":

"A doubtful term, either genuine and meaning ‘having a knotty or lumpy pate,’ or, simply, ‘having a hard (wooden) pate,’ or a mistake for not-pated (which is also used by Shakspere)."

Oops - my sis turns out a churlish swag-bellied harpy. Maybe I don't call the hormonal pregnant lady that...

Yes indeed, Bekka, I'd keep my yap shut about that one.

OK, it is a lumpy noggin and with all my hair... how would you know? OK. I'm finished here.

Roguish Common-Kissing Flirt-Gill.

Yep.

Well I guess it is out that I am a puny, common kissing harpy. And this confirmation just when I was getting down on meself.

Frothy flap-mouthed flax wench,,,,I'm sure Mr. Tutu would agree!

Review: 35 of seventy-five

Title: SIMON SAID

Author: SARAH R. SHABER

Rating: 3.5* of five

The Book Report: First of the Dr. Simon Shaw, forensic historian, series set in 1990s Raleigh, North Carolina. Simon Shaw's not having a good end of spring semester, 1996. His wife has left him, sending him into a deep depression. His colleagues are concerned, one of them to the point of using his depression as a lever to pry Simon out of small Kenan College's last tenured history professorship, in an academic-politics war that could end a career.

But it's the corpse in the college's historical home-cum-museum that's causing most of the trouble for Simon. In fact, it's about to get him killed, despite being seventy years dead. You see, Anne Bloodworth, the rightful heiress of the property, disappeared one April night in 1926, never to be seen or heard from again. Until a body is discovered in a routine excavation of the old house's vanished outdoor kitchen site.

Simon is called to the scene, told the probable timing of the death, and using clues such as a quilt in which the gun-shot corpse was wrapped, the jewelry the corpse still wore, and the lore of the house, gives Raleigh Police detective Otis Gates and Police Department counsel Julia McGloughlan an ID for the vic...so what, the killer's dead by now, can't prosecute a dead person, and let's all go on with life.

Simon can't just go on with life, and besides he's been depressed about his life since his wife left, so he latches on to the case. His investigation takes him into the world of upper-crust Raleigh before Jim Crow was tamed, into dusty library stacks, into microfiche readers and card catalogs, and requires him to survive murder attempts that make no sense in a case this old.

Until they do, in a moment of revelation that had me squirming in acute discomfort, and fanning pages to find out what was going to happen next.

My Review: Metaphorically speaking, that is, since one can't fan pages on a Kindle. Bella Rosa Books, a small press with the specific mission of rescuing out-of-print series mysteries for new fans to find, reprinted this 1997 St. Martin's Press Malice Domestic contest winner in 2011, and a Kindle version was made at the same time. Very wisely, the first book in the five-book series was free on Kindle for a few weeks, and even now is free for Prime members to read. It's whetted my appetite for the others, so their decision to forego immediate revenue for future sales is proving to be effective in at least one case.

This is not to say there are no issues with the Kindle edition. In several places, too many to be overlooked and forgiven, words or dates are missing (eg, David Morgan has all the Rolling Stone issues printed since . SINCE WHEN?!). Some flaws, such as Simon and Julia's attraction for each other being glued on to the plot, and the underuse of a perfectly delightful red herring suspect, are too minor to register as more than niggles.

In the end, it's the atmospherics of the book, the evocation of a vanished moment—and good riddance to it—that make the book fun. Simon is an entertaining sleuth, his pleasantly hang-dog ways and his sharp mind (if conveniently distractable eye) making him less a Holmes figure than a Maigret one. He's relatable and still plausible. And the book is good fun. Kindlers of the world, spend that $2.99 with no fear of wasting your money!

Oh, that looks like fun - onto the Kindle it goes.

*fist pump* I have FINALLY convinced someone to read a book!

::-*

Ah, Maigret, huh? Well, that's an endorsement. As soon as I get my tbr down below a million, I'll look it up.

Waht a marvelous ride...er, read your thread is this a.m.

I am, now, a reeky common-kissing baggage; this is up slightly from the original reeky common-kissing harpy.

How did he know?

*sadly shakes head in wonder*

Now to look for Simon Said.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to break down and get me one of them cheapo Kindles since they keep having diffurnt specials than my NOOK.. I know I can read it on the pooter on my Kindle for PC, but I hate being glued to the big screen....

Gee just what I need....another series. Richard my dear, thou art evil.

>98 Really, don't sprain anything, Judy, but if you and your Kindle are in an airport sometime....

>99 *smooch* to dearest Gail...be by for some rhubarb pie this evening!

>100 I know there are advantages to each, and actually I'd like to have a Nook Color one day, but I can honestly pimp the Kindle as a good device.

*polishes horn* Evil? Moi?

Saucy Roguish Common-kissing Clay-brained Foot-licker
I would have to challenge him to a duel. I have NEVER been a Foot-licker. I don't think I have common kissed either. The rest can stand.

>102 Well, Tui, they *are* insults after all....

*smooch*

*smooch*

After a trying day spent arguing with people who think "English ivy" = "poison ivy," I offer this:

Yes, indeed, I do.

Frequently.

>102: we knows, preciousssss but we WANTS a duel!

Love the Shakespeare insults! Im going to start throwing some of these in with my usual every-day insults, they should go down a treat.

Still have to get to Montana 1948 but may have to bite the bullet and just purchase....

>107 My money's on you, Tui!

>108 It is genuinely worth the purchase, I promise. I don't have my copy any more, sweetienubbins absconded with it last week, or I'd send it to you.

> 105 - Delurking to say you have made my entire weekend - no, my entire month so far - with that saying! Consider it shelved away for future use. Thank you!

>110 Shelve away, Lori!



heh.



heh!



Heh!

Frothy Sheep-Biting Footlicker here; dropping by for a giggle and a smooch.

Too bad I married out of being a Frothy Strumpet. I have a reputation to maintain.

Montana 1948 just went onto my wishlist. *sigh* I will never catch up.

Have a lovely week, free from pain and loud eye-rolling.

I've always known that I was a churlish, bat-fowling, bugbear.

What I like about the first one in 111 is that it looks like someone went in and fixed the contraction after the fact. Bravo, masked proofreader.

I am totally stealing the roll my eyes gif!
That is a huge failing of mine. I have no control at all over it..
I think that pretty much every job I had in my life, I was told about it.. :P
To me it is like breathing. I don't think about it, it just happens.
I should have it tattooed on the palm of my hand... then I could flash it when needed.

>112 O Frothy Strumpet, you will not regret the read!

>113 Bat-fowling bugbear, yes, but churlish? I quibble.

>114 I so agree!

>115 I figured you'd like that one.

And now another:

Oh yeah, spoil the fun, why doncha?

>116: If you ever find something in "cheesecake," it's okay not to mention it.

LOL @ 118

CAKE!! Oh wait, I suppose that was obvious...

>112 Too bad I married out of being a Frothy Strumpet. I have a reputation to maintain.
LOL

>114 yes! I see no, I thought it was a blip on the gif (if you know what I mean)

Hail Richard, King of Cute Quotes!

Frothy Strumpet....
Still gets me, every time. Ok this is only the second time, but hey, its FUNNY

Montana 1948....small somethin' somethin' on my thread.

pre marriage: Vain sheep-biting canker-blosson (now that last part just sounds plain nasty)

post marriage: Vain sheep-biting harpy! I'll take it!

Oh, I give up. Fawning, beetle-headed clodpole.

Jim is a fawning, beetle-headed varlet.

I guess we were meant for each other.

'Morning, RD!

Smooches and hugs to you from your own Horrible

NOW they tell me....

"14-year old Kenneth Weishuhn, Jr., who died by suicide this weekend after being mercilessly bullied by classmates, was receiving death threats on his cell phone and was the subject of a Facebook hate group."

To the parents of the bullies: Your neglect of your child's ethical education, or your own effed-up example, has cost a child his life, and two parents their child. You are guilty of a heinous crime. Your children should be taken from you, forever out of your reach, so you cannot harm society any more than you already have.

I can't get this story from The New Civil Rights Movement out of my mind. A child takes his own life because, being a child, he can't see that this, too, shall pass; life will always be the same to a kid, being a grown-up won't ever come.

And for him, it won't. It breaks my heart. His father isn't heard from, but unless he's dead, he's in horrible agony now; his mother and sister are never, ever going to be the same people they were before; and all because it's okay to give the bullies a warning to stop it and then ignore the problem, all the while never notifying the bullied child's mother of what was going on. NO it's not his sister's job to tell her mom; and the boy himself? How is he supposed to trust anyone, anyone at all, when the friends he thought he had turned on him?

This is horrible, and horrifying, and to each and every one of you who has ever laughed at someone else: Be grateful it didn't end up like these bullies' behavior did.

I know I am.

Right about now I'm immensely grateful that my bullying days were pre-social networking. And I'm scared for my kids.

You are very right Richard - this is truly horrific.

You know, my wife has said the same thing about pre-social network bullying. That was bad enough, but the way this goes now is horrifying and terrifying. Our kids are old enough that they missed this, and boy do we feel fortunate about that.

There's a lot more attention being paid to the bullying problem now (including that new movie that just came out), so that's a positive, but we still have tragedies like Kenneth's and it's still a huge problem. We need to address it from both ends: discourage and decrease bullying, and somehow get through to the Kenneths that, as you say, this, too, shall pass. You can see why so many parents are going the home schooling route, or moving their children to other schools.

because, being a child, he can't see that this, too, shall pass; life will always be the same to a kid,

So true :( I remember those days. I admit that there are some days even now that
seem pretty bad. As do so many things, it boils down to bad parenting, bad example, and sadly hate.

I don't know what to do to help with this. Men don't have women's permission to interact with THEIR kids, as I've found out in trying to use the YA parts of the library. OBVIOUSLY a man talking to a kid is a sexual predator. So what can I do? I don't know.

Good question. Hard to answer though

I think all we can do is keep speaking out against it, making it anathema the way we now view drinking and driving. I feel so sad for this beautiful young boy that he felt so stripped of hope and the joy of his own life.

Me too, Tui.

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx infinity times

That ought to catch me up a bit

*smooch* to the local scholar...congratulations again!



LOLOL

My dogwoods are only just budding now! I love dogwoods! And I love that picture of the blue birds from India.

............just managed to catch up on your thread ..... *tired and need to go nap now*

xo glad you're around!

> 128: horrible indeed....
Peter Pohl wrote a YA book about this issue the Dutch title is We noemen hem Anna, We call him Anna, sadly I see no English translation... oh I cried my eyes out at the end of that book, as I have been near that point more than once...

>128 That's a horrible story, Richard. I suspect that there are far more cases that we never learn about, because the reasons for the suicide are never learned, or because the bullied person suffers in silence, and fear.

I am so sorry to hear of this young person's suicide. I want to hug each of the people here who care.

I think if, for whatever reason, it is impossible to be involved directly with youngsters, then letters to the school boards, to the major's offices, to any and all local governmental agencies which might have some resources to apply to these problems would be excellent to write and send. I know it might feel futile, and maybe like pissing into the wind, but having worked with public agencies and children, I know that "letters to the editor" (especially written well and heartfelt) do have impact!

Very sad. Another young life destroyed by meanness and hatred. I'm sure folks here know about the "it gets better" project. Because, as most of us with grey hair (a lot or a little) know, it DOES get better.

Damn.

"my bullying days were pre-social networking"
I feel for kids thee days, the format available for remote bullying is so so easy. Id take my kid out of school, move town even country to give them a bully-free zone.

That's such a sad story Richard!
I am so glad that I was a geek before the days of facebook. It was hard enough being a geek from 8-330, but to go home and have people pick on you over the computer would make life 100 times harder.

(Ps love the beware of the dog and cat picture! I need one of those!)

Levon Helm, one of The Band's founding members, has died of cancer.

Safe journey home, and thanks for all you did, Levon. Come back soon, we miss you.

Life is a series of takings away, and it always has been. Usually something is gained from our losses throughout life; if nothing else, the simple brute fact of personal survival is cause for most of us to stanch the flow of tears at our losses.

I don't feel that way today. Life feels like it's run by christian republicans on a more horrifying than usual nastiness bender, with thundering noes and horrible vicious cruelties inflicted all around. Tomorrow some poor kid whose parents rejected him for being gay or some good and kind person who looks different from the bigoted idiots of the world will suffer the last straw, will break, and will end their life.

It's never the bigots, is it? They're too sure they're RIGHT to kill themselves, more's the pity. It's never the enablers of the bigots, the ones who spout hate and call it love and acceptance, more's the pity. It's the ones they've convinced are bad or broken or unworthy or not good enough exactly as they are, too weak to put one more foot in front of the other, just can not go on.

And here I am, filled with cantankerous rage at the hypocrisy and the injustice and the sheer wrongness of those people, and I can't give any of the armor plating this gives me to those who need it the most. I don't know how. I want to know how. How can I give my sense of the good fight to someone who needs it?

Sitting here watching Glee while browsing the threads, Richard. Now there is a show that gives kids alternative models. How about Chris Colfer telling kids at the Golden Globes that there IS life after high school? They are doing transgender on the show as I speak.

I spent time every week going into classrooms to talk about bullying, how to recognize it, and how to counter it. The program was Bullyproofing your Elementary School. Is it perfect? No. And I used to think that because my students were poor and many didn't have computers, that they were somewhat protected--but I have so many for Facebook friends now that I realize I was somewhat naive. The biggest issue is the lack of perspective that young people have--they do not realize that you survive and get past the crisis point and have a pretty decent life. There is no easy answer, but I lost no opportunity to promote empathy. And it was there, in almost every child, to tap. We can only model and encourage. Sometimes it isn't enough; sometimes it is.

I don't know if I believe in a personal God or not--well, usually not--but I do believe that if anything survives us, it is the soul we create through our living. Those bigots have hard little kernels of souls, nothing that will transition beyond. Live large, my Dere, and grow your soul, as you do every day.

Anne Lamott got the title of her book Bird by Bird from a childhood event. Her brother had procrastinated and not done a report on a bunch of birds. Their dad was helping him get the report done, and as he wailed his frustration "how will I ever do this?" Dad said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Bird by bird."

I live near a college. A ridiculously young guy who goes there comes over to help me with stuff I'm no longer able to accomplish on my own. I was angry and upset this evening, and when he asked why, I told him.

"I didn't know there were people like you, who cared so much, until I met you, and that makes me feel like I'm not as weird and stupid as I felt like before. You helped me. It may not be much to you but it is to me."

I feel a lot better. It may not be much to the world's supply of suffering, but I did it.

Think global act local.
Its all you can do, and its a lot.
See? and it working already as your college guy said!

(injustice gets my blood boiling the most out of any issue going)

Glad it was a good evening my friend...

OH Richard, I took time to go through your thread today... Have some commentary:

#105 -- This happens almost every day I work. Sigh
#111 LOL (Bank) / HAHA/ Eye Rolling -- I am ROFL
#116 I know this is true however this depressed me :(
#124 - How true for me anyway, love learning new things every day
#127 LMAO
#128 - So sad that these kinds of things happen to our youth, wish we all knew how to stop it or prevent it. :(
#137 - HAHAH - Actually in my house you need to worry about my CAT more than my Dog.. LOL

>149 It can get so overwhelming, Megan, and local never feels like enough. It's all we can do, though.

>150 *smooch*

>151 Heh. Your list is comprehensive, Monica!

What a lot of thoughtful commentary here. 'Tis better to light one candle than to curse the darkness---and I think you've lit at least one, Richard.

Where did you get the news that Levon Helm had died, Richard? His website and FB page both say he is "in the final stages of cancer" and I can't find anything further.

It was an FB status update from Deb Trist, the Dead Air lady...her show's mostly Grateful Dead stuff...that sent me off.

Hugs for your cantankerous rage, my dear. It's justified.

We live our lives as best we can, and we never know the good we're doing. It's my guess you do an unimaginable amount of good without your being aware. You're a good man, Richard. You do good.

ML, you're a dear to say so. I hope you're right!

#146: Seems to me we have bigots on both sides, not just the Christian Republican one, Richard. I do not understand bigots and never have, no matter what the stripe. I grew up with a very mean one.

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx for today

Stas is right.......sadly

I m sleepy

So ' night

>157 *smooch*

>158 Sleep well!

#146, 153, 154 Now it's time to mourn Levon Helm.

Sorry to hear about Levon Helm. I'm a big fan of The Band and he was such an important part. Sad to see him go.

Dunno The Band. I asked the hubster who Levon Helm was and he tried singing me bits of theirs songs ... hmm...not very useful since he didn't remember most of the words and is somewhat tone deaf. ;-) *off to youtube them*

RD bummer about Levon Helm - much underestimated combo The Band with a great moniker.

'Morning, RD!

Have a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious day.

Sorry about Levon Helm.. I have no idea who he is, or who The Band is.. but still..

How is rd today?

Good Morning to you

The Band was Bob Dylan's back up band before they struck out on their own. Great music! Ah, those were the daze...

Oh, I see... thanks Karen :)

Does this fall under the "if you remember the 70s, you weren't alive then" cliche?

I admit to having some issues when it comes to remembering the 70's...
but that is because I married in 71 @ age 18, and by 77 had 4 kids by age 25.
I was way too busy to have a life.

( and don't tell anyone but Bob Dylan was always sort of "meh" to me )

My problem with Bob Dylan was that I literally could not understand 95% of the words. I think he wrote some great literature and if I'd been reading it rather than trying to understand it between tokes I might have understood more. But I did like some of the music.

yeah... that was my problem, too :)

>160 Poor guy.

>161 Me too.

>162 The Band was amazing!

>163 They made some mighty fine music, Paul.

>164 Too late. xo for the thought.

>166 *smooch* Linda!

Bob Dylan: I never want to hear his mush-mouthed croak again. If other people sing his stuff, I think it's good; his "voice" causes me acute pain.

Nasty day pain-wise.

Me, too, pain! Sorry Richard. Sorry Karen. Maybe as the day progresses it will lift a little bit.

*smooch* for owwie Karen44

Soothing, healing thoughts headed your way, Rdear. You should not have to suffer this affliction.

*smooch* and *hand pats*

Thanks, Gail, that's very kind. The heating pad is helping a bit.

That's exactly how I felt about Dylan, Richard. I disliked his voice intensely. But I loved The Band. All Canadians except for Levon Helm.

ETA: whatever makes you feel better, please do it!

Sorry to hear you are hurting Richard. Hope you get some relief soon.

sorry for another bad day. I hope the heating pad and whatever else is available gives you some relief.

>171 I think he wrote some great literature and if I'd been reading it rather than trying to understand it between tokes I might have understood more
lol! I am with you there on the part about him writing great poetry, social commentary, literature....but couldnt possibly comment on the rest, as was but a babe in the 70's....the 90's however....well that's a different story!

>174 If other people sing his stuff, I think it's good
Im on board with that RD. I absolutely love Patti Smith singing Changing of the Guards, it is such a great song when sung by her. What a writing talent he is.

Sorry for your pain day. Where's your list of things to do to help make it feel not as bad? Go get it and keep trying them til one works. If that is possible Im sure you already have, but wanted to offer something....

Ironic, isn't it...now that you never liked Bob Dylan...his voice/whatever

people are 'falling in line" with you

just saying.....

We have one album of Bob Dylan: Desire
I love Hurricane and Mozambique....

I am sorry you have a bad day Richard dear.

Richard, my dear, you have been having a bad patch lately, haven't you? Sorry about the pain; that doesn't make it any easier to feel resilient in the face of meanness, loss, and disheartening politics.

Maybe it helps to know that we all love you. xo

>179 The Band was so completely other from Dylan it was always hard for me to keep clear that they were once his back-ups.

Sadly, the only thing that makes me feel better is sacrificing christian babies and kittens to Moloch, and that's frowned upon in modern society.

>180 Me too, calm, and thanks!

>181 They come rather often lately. Ugh!

>182 I mentioned my list just above. I don't think I'll be able to convince the cops it's theraputic, not just all serial-killer-y.

>183 Wait long enough, every fashion has its outs.

>184 Thank you, Anita!

>185 Thank you, Ellen, it's so sweet of you to say so! *smooch*

pssst... rd...... Yankees won today at Fenway Park's 100th anniversary no less. The Highlanders (as the Yankees were known back then) played against the Red Sox exactly 100 years ago and lost ... we've revenged ourselves. Thought you'd want to know .... *sniggers and runs away*

Oh goody good, the Yank-mes have finally won a game. The joy. The rapture. I am beside myself with bliss.

>186: the Band played in Toronto a lot before they were really famous, so got a lot of air time on local Ontario radio stations. That's how I found out about them, rather than from backing Dylan--I still have most of their records. As a lyricist, I thought Dylan was superb but the only song of his that I liked him singing was Lay Lady Lay. It was almost considered heresy to say anything against him back in the day (I used to be a chirp in a folk group and people said his name in almost hushed tones amongst the folkies--until he went electric and they all got mad at him) so I kind of lit up when you said you hadn't liked his singing voice either.

Are you able to read when you are a hurtin' unit?

((Hugs)) and xx smooches xx for today

Richard hope the pain is subsiding but I am sure that even pain free you will continue in your enjoyably acerbic way cutting a swathe through the threads, ruffling feathers and placing smiles in equal measure.

Dylan's voice complemented his early music and made his later stuff anti-music. Heard that too much smoking destroyed what little singing ability he had. After his motor-cycle accident in 1967 he cut out the smokes for a while and returned in 1969 with Nashville Skyline (Lay Lady Lay and I Threw It All Away amongst other songs) on which he is nearly crooning. Would agree that anything post 1980's is unlistenable.

This is for you, my friend. If you ever have the chance to see "The Book of Mormon," take it.

http://feelingsforsteve.blogspot.com/2012/03/strange-feelings-for-steve.html

>190 Not much reading, it hurts too much to hold the book and turn the pages and the Kindle only has 1500 books on it so I couldn't find anything to read.

>191 *smooches* right back!

>192 I'd say anything after 1950 is unlistenable, and "Serve Somebody" is a human rights violation.

>193 I shall follow the link ASAP. xoxoxo

only 1500 your poor soul ......... perhaps the Audio book could tempt you on these days

Hi, Richard ~ Just wanted to stop by and thank you profusely for turning me on to Dr. Siri. Fantabulous mystery series that I can't wait to read more of. So, thank you thank you thank you, my newest book mentor! *smooches*

TLo OMG ROFL!!

I am stealing that for FB immediately.

Sorry you are still ailing rd :(

xo

>193: thanks for that one, Terri.

>193, 197, 198 That was HILARIOUS!! Thanks, TLo!

>195 Poor widdle me...only got 1500 Kindlebooks. *sniff*

>196 You are most welcome, Mary! I love these books, too.

Nah, no bitch, won't do Richard dear ;-)

>194, 200--LMAO!

P.S. Follow up to #193--no visuals (sad face) but the audio does just fine!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-7_To7EiAE&feature=fvst

Richard, I 100% agree with you re. Bob Dylan. I never found his "music" to be something I could embrace. Joni Mitchell...now that is a different story..a poet and an incredible musician.

Hallo, RD! Thinking about you and hope you're doing better than you have been recently.

>201 Too kind, Anita. Far kinder than I have earned.

>202 I found the song depressing...I must be in A Mood.

>203 Joni Mitchell's music is gorgeous, and all who disagree with us on this are mere Philistines possessed of the spiritual development of gnats.

>204 No, sadly Horrible, worse.

LOL

More serious, but true. The annoying part of this is, *individuals* practice exactly what this advocates, and yet the entire class "religion" does not, has not, and doesn't look likely to start.

RD- I have to admit I'm a big Bob Dylan fan. The guy is a genius. I know, along with the fact that I like Dickens, I may never see you on my thread again. I do love The Band though, those 1st 2 or 3 albums are incredible, along with the Basement Tapes, which may be Dylan's songs but The Band is outstanding on every track.

I agree about his genius, Mark, he's a genius *songwriter* and a completely useless "singer." As a guitarist, middle of the pack at best.

...you have a thread...?

(-:

Pop music and religion? Ewwww, and you say MY thread is bad.

Damn Yankees.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
NYY 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 7 15 16 0
BOS 2 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 9 15 1

>209 *smooch*

>210 Each to his own nasty offensiveness. xo

>211 It's all AL nonsense. Call me when they start playin' baseball.

You MUST be in A Mood...

:(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

I deleted it because I thought you might be too sore for this kind of silliness...but then you laughed! so I'm putting it back.

>194 Kindle only has 1500 books on it so I couldn't find anything to read.
lol

"Jesus take the wheel"- lol, lol, yes that's right, I laughed out loud. Well, chuckled out loud anyway.

>211 what do all those numbers mean? Is it some sport stuff? ;)

>213 I fear so.

>214 :-)

>215 LOLOL Funny as all get-out!

>216 Yes, love, sport stuff...baseball, the GOOD sport.

rolling through to say hello.....no way can I get through over 100 posts for 5 days. Although I will second what Darryl said - DAMN Yankees....

Methinks the BOSOX are going down the old flusher if they can't get the pitching to work reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel soon.
XOXOXOXO

Really, Tina - hasn't the season just started?

Barb Jungr is a British pop cabaret singer who has cornered the market on singing Bob Dylan songs the way they
re supposed to be sung.

She's in town with her new show "Man in the Long Black Coat"also the name of a CD. The lady can sing and the lady understands Dylan

Before commenting on Dylans ability to sing, perhaps we should defer decision until we listen to the current English torture sent down under : New Direction .......

No ???

Hoping that today finds you feeling better and more ready to be up and at 'em :)

Hello all, not worse today and that counts as a victory. I suspect that the most painful spots are even a little less hurty! I can move the fingers on my left hand without shrieking or begging gawd for a swift and merciful death.

>218 I think you're right, Tina, and that would be a shame. Anything that keeps the Yank-mes from a possible shellacking is a bad thing.

>219 Early trends are seldom, statistically speaking, overcome.

>220 *off to YouTube Barb Jungr* I love his songs, so long as he isn't croaking them.

>221 *ignorant vacant stare* Whut?

>222 Marginally, and we take our victories where we find them.

Morning RD- Yeah, I have a thread. It's kind of a mopey, boring one. You should think about picking up that Winterson memoir. It's excellent and she's one brassy tough as nails gal.
Enjoy your day, sir.

Did you get yourself a way to do the things and see the people?

diyahuh?

Morning, Love. Hope that the new week will bring a surcease of pain and a surfeit of pleasure. And many thanks for your comments over on my thread.

Review: 36 of seventy-five

Title: LAST DAYS

Author: BRIAN EVENSON

Rating: four horrfied, repulsed, goosepimply stars of five

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: The following occasional visitors to this thread shouLd NOT READ THIS REVIEW or even the rest of the thread in case someone discusses this book! Everything about this book and the review will horrify and offend Linda L,. Kathleen, Stasia, Tina, Terri F., Cheli, Tui, Angela, Stasia (again, for emphasis), Tamara, Mary Lou, Kimmers, Stasia (see how serious I am? Three times!), and probably Megan...skippidy skip, now, y'all, don't go one scintilla beyond the end of this sentence!

SPACE LEFT SO SENSITIVE SOULS CAN LEAVE NOW

A LITTLE MORE SPACE

The Book Report: Kline is a PI who doesn't need clients to hire him so he can live. This is because he stole money from a man who was trying to murder him. To make sure the man couldn't murder him, Kline bought time by lopping off his own hand before killing the murder-minded malefactor.

All of this takes place before we meet Kline, and is the very least awful, least repulsive, and most understandable stuff that happens in the entire 201pp of this book. Still interested? Then on we go.

The book is two connected novellas, “The Brotherhood of Mutilation” and “Last Days,” comprising the adventures of Kline in the weirdest subculture that christian imagination has yet to throw up: the mutilates. These are two sects of people who amputate parts of their bodies to align themselves with scripture: “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire...” Mark 9:47 First and smallest of my anti-xian rants here commenceth: Srsly y'all can any sane person in possession of even modest decoding skills think this crap is meant literally? And if so, how can that morally defective person claim this horrifying religion is a force for love and peace after reading just this one passage?

Back to the book. Borchert, leader of the mutilates and a twelve (number of body parts amputated), has Kline kidnapped and forces him to investigate the death of Aline, the leader and founder of the mutilates (a seventeen, as we horrifyingly and disgustingly learn later in the story), despite handicapping Kline by refusing to let him, a mere one (the hand that's gone), meet with any witnesses or ask any questions or see any evidence. Now old hands in the groves of noir know that this is a set-up so classic that one wonders if those blinking neon signs are visible from the parkway. Kline certainly knows the danger he's in, and has in fact been boringly repetitious in his demands to be let go, let out, left alone. And then evil, evil Borchert gives Kline just enough to compel him, as a PI, to address the itch of curiousness. (Bonus points for following that reference back to its origin.)

All ends in tears, as Kline oversteps the rope he's been given to hang himself in a nefarious plot to rid the world of a bad “holy” man; the body count mounts; and Kline doesn't escape without losing yet more body parts to the Brotherhood of Mutilation. Escape, however, he does; and then we launch into “Last Days.”

Oh my heck. Kline wakes up in the hospital, missing an entire arm now, to find a blond man with no right hand (go look that Biblical quotation up again) determined to kidnap him again, this time taking him to meet Paul, leader of a schismatic amputee group called “The Pauls” because they're all blond men with amputated right hands. Paul, the leader, wants Kline to go finish the job he thought was done, ie killing the unholy holy man.

Which, not to belabor the point, Kline doesn't want to do but does, in the process meeting an old friend, killing an old enemy, and causing a degree of mayhem only describable as Biblical. Kline is seen as the Mutilate Messiah, the burning brand that will cleanse the filth and degradation of error from the mutilate community.

I have to stop now, or I will vomit.

My Review: This part will be short. It took me three weeks to read this book because I couldn't do much at a time. It is grim, grisly, and gruesome; it is horrifying and horrible; it is strong, strong stuff for even seasoned veterans of de Sade's revolting works.

Brian Evenson was raised as a Mormon; he was told by the Mormon Church that he would have to stop writing if he wanted to continue being a Mormon. I don't know what happened after that, but I know there are more books by Evenson to be read. And, I cannot believe I'm typing this sentence, I will be reading them.

One day.

Evenson's vicious critique of christian religion is spot-on with my observations of the religion's effects on the world over the past two millennia. A more potent force for evil has never been unleashed. From the christian thugs burning the Library of Alexandria to the Westboro Baptist thugs condemning fags to burn in hell because their narrow-minded bigot of a gawd hates them, this religion should, in a properly run world, be closely monitored as a hate group and membership in it should deny a person all civil rights.

Only recommended for the reader who seeks out the dark side.

Yikes. And you say that I'm the one who's known for reading four-hankies-and-a-pistol books? I proclaim this a four-pistols-and-a-hanky book, and I think I'll opt for something lighter, like Thus Spoke Zarathrustra or Fear and Trembling (Kierkegaard, not Nothomb).

*cautiously thumbs review*

>228 ...this from the reviewer of Panther Baby, his most devil-may-care jeu d'esprit of 2012....

>229 You're mistaken, sir. That applies to the book I reviewed after Panther Baby, Natural Birth by Toi Derricotte.

OK RD.....since you've banned the entire world from reading your review, Why the hell did you post it? Hope whatever it was, you got it out of your system!!!!

Well, my name wasn't on the list so I read the review.... not one I'll be picking up. I just finished the joyful My family and other animals which is probably as far as you can get from the Evenson book.

Good morning RD. (well, its morning here anyway) Mega review up there, will have to pop back later and actually read it, just flying by at present, doing 10 things at once.

> 227: Only recommended for the reader who seeks out the dark side
Enough dark side in myself for the moment... no need to add, DO like your review :-)

hugs

Too much blood and dark side for me. Thanks for suffering for us all - and aint that a biblical reference?

So, of course I read the review.....and think I will pass.

>230 *mental note: No Toi Derricottery*

>231 Some can still read it...I just don't want y'all who're really really really not gonna enjoy it to waste eyeblinks, is all.

>232 Not a Kerry sort of title, no...

>233 Ooo, maybe this a skippiddy skipper for you, Megan...

>234 Not necessary for your future happiness, no, Anita.

>235 If the phrase, "wow...good bible..." means anything to you, yes.

>236 You *really* shouldn't have read it!

Richard, your ability to continue reading and reviewing books, and thinking all your interesting, and sometimes amusing, thoughts impresses. I hope you are feeling a bit better.

My sore hands and wrists only last the mornings and by afternoon, evening, I am more able to carry on. Made some soup for company this evening. I think I can spend some time reading now. Am reading Massacred for Gold: The Chinese in Hells Canyon which is just a little romp in the racist history of the gold rush, settling the last of the West, and the like. Interesting book.

>239 Too kind by far, dear Karen44. I jot down some musings, hope they make more rather than less sense, and warn off those I'd rather didn't have to put thoughts unhappys into their brains.

The gouty left hand is still so hot that the perennially freezing Divine Miss comes in to have me warm her up with it. I feel cooler, she feels warmer, we're both happier.

Massacred for Gold has to go on my liberry list. I'm finishing The Teapot Dome Scandal, which is revolting, and Behind the Beautiful Forevers, which is appalling, so quite soon I'll need further proof that the Universe is run by an ill-tempered hateful old bully.

RD- All I can say is OH MY GOD! I started your review and it was like passing a nasty car accident, I couldn't look away. I'm not sure I'm ready for something this disturbing. It reminds me a bit of Crash or the disturbing film adaptation by Cronenberg, although this sounds worse.
Like Darryl said, Yikes!

>241 I suspect it wouldn't slide down easy as an oyster, Mark. I still find images from its more gruesome parts flashing forth into my brain. It's not pleasant.

*Thumb* and *Intrigued*

You, young Stephen, along with Jude and Dr. Depresso, are the target audience for this marvy! Srsly spend your gas money on it b/c your liberry will no way in Satan have it, but it's completely *you*.

Hmmm I wonder if that was nice of me...

Your review was great and, I suspect, much easier to read than the book itself. Just reading about Savonarola right now, and it's sick-making.

What ever happened to "live and let live"? Don't understand any mindset that says all others not closely following rules interpreted by, er, odd folks, must die and will got to hell immediately. They just don't get that *they* are the ones who make hell unnecessary for many, as they cheerfully create it right here on earth, by golly.

It at the very least says you KNOW me, which is definitely a compliment.

Richard, what was the other URL for free Kindle books, besides the Pixel-of-Ink family? I know it's somewhere back in your thread, but that means sorting through hundreds of messages! Please?

So glad you are feeling a bit better.

>227 I merely skimmed enough to know I would not be among the audience for that book, either. Based on what little I read, however, I can confidently say that your review successfully interested the right readers and made clear to those readers that it was not for them. :)

(I considered myself mentioned in the space for sensitive souls and only read a little bit of the "book review" portion... aaaaaand now I'll go back to watching hockey because baseball season's not happening for me, nope, not watching anymore 9-run-lead-blown games).

I'm glad that my name wasn't on that list!
Only recommended for the reader who seeks out the dark side. that's me!

217 - I don't actually follow it, but I love going to baseball games. Love it.

xo

>245 Thanks, Gail! I suspect that self-knowledge isn't high on this demographic's list of qualities. Not to mention the completely non-Biblical invention of Hell, a place of eternal torment, not mentioned by the founder and not present in the old Jewish bible, either.

>246 This is true. *smooch*

>247 Roni, there are many and various, so I will PM you with some.

>248 Very very good plan, Mary...skip merrily on by and forget you ever saw the title.

9 run leads blown = life as a Mets fan, so I feel little sympathy for you BoSoxers.

>249 Chelle, this book will make even you grimace, but I fully expect Evenson's talent will win you over for good.

>250 It's always a blast. I even stopped resenting the $10 hot dogs that taste like cardboard, because it's part of the team's income.

and probably Megan
Hmph *offended you think I'd be offended*

I know you well enough to not be offended by anything you say! Even when you threatened to kidnap my kids I wasnt offended....or when you lambasted me for my taste in (awesome) authors like Franzen, and Dickens....hehe

Book sounds, ah, inter-genre, for sure, Ill check the religious-slasher-self mutilation section of the library and see if they have it!

227: "Srsly y'all can any sane person in possession of even modest decoding skills think any of this crap is meant literally?"

I suppose it depends on your definitions of "sane" and "skills," but check out Matthew 19:12 and the biography of the church father Origen before saying "No way."

As for me. ... "Last Days" goes in the "Hm, maybe someday" pile.

>253 More thinking of the slashery aspects, Megan, I've not seen a lot of spatterpunk pass your gaze. Offended? Oh no, just...well, I expected you to be turned off by the violence.

>254 I don't know what I'm meant to take away from the bible quote, Steve, since I've pretty categorically denied the bible divine authorship and any slightest hint of legitimate moral authority. That others deem either of those things to be true is an example of how very poorly educated these people would have to be in logic and ethics.

Origen's orchiectomy is known to me, as is the existence of looney Russians written about in The People's Act of Love, detailing the self-orchiectomy cult that flourished there. Insane.

I expected you to be turned off by the violence
Oh, Ok *un-offended*

You're really are a thoughtful gent aren't you!?

One does one's poor best. *smooch*

Well, I sort of read the review. You didn't offend me, and you didn't predict that you would.

Re: baseball. I'm a Mariners fan (duh). Yesterday some pipsqueak White Sox pitcher threw a perfect game against the Ms in Safeco Field. It was only his twelfth major league start and only the twenty-first perfect game ever thrown in the history of the game. I hate to admit it, but once the loss was a foregone conclusion, even I was rooting for him. The Ms are clearly heading for another disappointing year (why do I even bother to write that?), but I love the game anyway. :-)

I hope your pain is getting better.

#227 Sounds fascinating. Haven't read any book to compare with this one, but it does remind me of Cannibal Holocaust.

Padre, the italian sausages at Camden yards aren't bad. ;) And neither are the hotdogs at Baysox field (our closest minor team).

258 - I've never been to a winning game for "my" team (Orioles), so I get just rooting for good baseball!

I seriously find it hard to think of anything more boring than watching baseball..
although watching fishing and golf are fairly equal imo..

But that's just me, and sports are just not my thing. I might have been the only one
in the area who is not in a decline over the Penguins loss.. lol

Golf's the worst, baseball is close although as a teenager I loved watching the LA Dodgers and scoring the games. I still have some of my old scoring books.

Watching fishing is just depressing because it's not me out there casting the line.

Good review, RD. I appreciate your honesty and relate to your feelings about Christianity.

240: Glad that Teapot Dome is not forgotten - it was an amazing scandal in its day and the wheeler dealer's and the money men who were behind it are still out there to this very day

>255: Well, you're one up on me, Richard, since I was not aware of the Russian loonies. "The People's Act of Love" sounds intriguing.

I'm afraid that I've come very close to your position vis-a-vis Biblical interpretation: what once was clear and true to me became clear but false, and then a bit murky. Now it's just "What was I thinking?" And that's just my journey from a relatively mainstream evangelicalism.

For groups further on the fringe like snake handlers or the Westboro cult or, apparently, Russian loonies, all I've learned is that there is no claim so extreme that it cannot generate an apologetic.

9 run leads blown = life as a Mets fan, so I feel little sympathy for you BoSoxers.

Hm, well, I'll give you that one. :) I once met someone who was a Cubs and Detroit Lions fan. On the one hand, I felt very sorry for him, but on the other I couldn't help but wonder if he was just a glutton for punishment....

#227 Y'now I'm actually kinda tempted - just thinking it might offset the pain of Clarissa with a different sort of uck.

And yes, before you say it, I know I am choosing to torture myself with Clarissa and that its idiotic... bah...

Hi all, pain is significantly better today! I only barfed once. Have driven the weekenders to the station, gone to the liberry, and stopped for a fast-food cheeseburger meal to make up for two days of barely nibbling on raisin bran.

Predictable results. What the hell. Enjoy the pre-suffering!

>258 Oh dear, the Mariners versus a perfect game...I fear I'd have to go with the pipsqueak, too. But really, it's sort of a hollow victory, since it's all faux baseball. (I draw your attention to the idiotic designated hitter rule, after the 1973 adoption of which there has only been one league playing actual baseball, and it isn't the American.)

>259 It's a beautifully written book, Piyush, and might give you a lot of good pleasure in the reading.

>260 When has an Italian sausage ever been bad, Crypto? I ask you that: When, in the course of human events, has the possession and consumption of an Italian sausage failed to make the world a brighter, better place?

>261 Sportsophobia would militate against enjoyment of baseball, 'tis true. As a celebritophobe, I find your interest in the tabloid TV shows completely incomprehensible, because I just don't care about the celebrities. Except the hawt mens when they got no clothes on. But, to be frank (or barbra, depending on the day), I don't care if hawt nekkid mens is celebrities or not.

>262 If golf it must be, come to the club bar to find me. Otherwise, nuh uh. I thought you might appreciate that factor, but I'd discourage you picking up this splatterfest of a book. I think it wouldn't go over well.

>263 I can't believe how little is known about this horrific scandal, even among people whose avocation is politics! Reading the book reignites my sense of outrage ~every third page.

I'm game for the dark side of the moon, but Brian Evenson's book sounds like too much for me, Richard. Thumbtastic review of it, though.

>264 Quite a journey to accomplish, Steve. For some real fun, spend some time with the Bogomils!

>265 OMG I would say so! Not even heroin could dull those twin pains!

>266 I need make no further comment, Bekka "Clarissa Girl" Jo, as you have admitted your faults and made a firm purpose of amendment.

ETA >269 Wise choice, Joe, it would go poorly with running the cafe for one thing.

I mentioned this to Richard...on Goodreads...

I suggest reading Skin by Kathe Koja....as an hors d'oeuvre to Mr Evenson's rather grisly repast!

Bon Appetit.......

;-}

>267 I only barfed once.
Really? That's not good. Is that really what goes along with the pain? *worried about you*

Miniature golf is way better than, errr, the 'regular' variety. Obviously there needs to be televised miniature golf tournaments. Now. Someone get that done. Seriously.

>271 I suspect I'll get around to Skin in 2023 or so. *shivers off into a corner to suck his thumb*

>272 The pain does cause digestive upsets, via the medication I must take: colchicine. It's awful for the tum, and I've been taking it for over 30 years. Boo. Hiss.

>273 You have a career ahead of you at the White Trash TV network. I think it's officially called Spike or something.

Sorry, Sweetie..i do love the Dark Side of Lit.....and Kathe Koja did that walk very well

Suck whatever you like, doll...she is good

'-)

Oh, makes sense, but is a hideous thought. Nausea is torture. *throws a pitying look across the way in your general direction*

Obviously, i am not one of the Fan Club

pity, that

I'll survive

;-}

274: Ah, well, they need to get demolition derbies televised too, then. Those things are awesome. If I have any redneck in me at all, it's loving those things...

Richard, carry on. Your pain shall be lessened all day today! I say so!

My pain, too, is lessened today!

Good reading, friend.

Remember...Cuppycake

>275 I don't think I'm ready for more dark, grim, and scary just now, thenewveddymahch, but no need to apologize ever for recommending books to me! I am always on the hunt for things I'd never hear of otherwise. And you read a lot of stuff I'd never know about otherwise, o adventurous one.

>276 I am pleased to report a dramatic lessening of nausea and also of pain as of this morning. I can do more than cripple around from john to bed to TV to bed to dog-walking to bed. I can even sit in front of the TV for almost an entire program! (Treasure Quest on Planet Green. Fascinating.)

>277 ...whut? I fear your elliptical reference escapes me...

>278 ...said the man who likes zombie/horror/plague reading...

>279 It worked, Karen44, so thank you and *smooches*

>280 Oh! Hello there! We have a new face around here. Please, feel free to introduce yourself. What kind of cupcakes did you bring? I love cupcakes!

Glad you're having a less painful day.

Awful to be so martyred to nasty crystals and and your own body chemistry. BOOOOOOOOO.

Hi Judy! Yeah, if they weren't dead, I'd slap my stupid parents for marrying fellow gout sufferers. Mama had terrible gout. Dad's wasn't ever a big problem for him, only flared twice that I know of, but go fight the odds when BOTH parents have it. One of my two sisters has it, too.

Read only the first bit of the review, RD---I'm not opposed to dark, but this one sounds way too graphic and I will take the hint and avoid it.

#264 there is no claim so extreme that it cannot generate an apologetic. Great observation. Must try to remember that line next time my Mum gets riled up over someone's scary fanatic (or even mainstream) religious views. "How can people BELIEVE that stuff?!?" she rants.

As for the sports discussion, I won't even mention my passion for watching professional bowling in this crowd. (Please don't ban me...please.)

Linda3rd...professional WHAT?!? No, srsly, you are totally makin' that sport up. No. C'mon now, a goof's a goof, but...no!

Sounds like Mum and me make a good pair! xo

#285 No, no...I have been physically present at one professional bowling tournament. Got autographs and everything. And I do my best to watch every televised event. I do not apologize for this. You would all do it if you understood how beautiful it is.

I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better today.

This may be the year I follow the Mets more than the Phiilies, given my split NYC/Philly area upbringing. No matter how badly they do, I will never cross over to the dark side and support the Yankees.

::disbelief::

Google agrees with you...there *is* such a, well, a, oooh it hurts to type it, a sport.

Just...wow.

Somewhere in my deep dark past, I watched professional bowling. I can't imagine what excited me - well, we did bowl as a family when I was young, but still --. Haven't seen it in years.

On the other hand, I occasionally watch GOLF, and I've never even played golf. I think I watch it because the commentators make it sound suspenseful, and then sometimes the players make it so. This was even before Tiger Woods made it showy.

But usually, I don't watch any sports. Sports need company, and Jim isn't much of a sports watcher. If my friend Jayne were in NY, I'd watch baseball with her - she loves it and would teach me what to look for. However, she's still on the left coast.

#288 I KNOW!!! Makes you feel better about the world, doesn't it?

>289 I always feel inhibited when I watch sports with other people. I can't get comfies shouting at the TV and cursing the players' mental capacities and ancestries with onlookers. It's just me, I know.

>290 Ummmmmmmmm

So, new thread time!

Please... no one tell Dan.....