User Tag List

Page 4 of 7 FirstFirst 1234567 LastLast
Results 61 to 80 of 123

Thread: Books You've Read in 2020

  1. #61
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    1,946
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    I knew you'd have interesting stuff.

    And, funny, I fancy myself above the celebrity fray, but two or three years ago the fam was on a trip to Las Vegas, which is a good meeting spot for all of us Eastern people to get some sunshine and for my western people to rendezvous. Uncle Jim lives there. Anyway, we're out sightseeing and a black Maserati convertible pulls up next to us at a stop light not far from a tiki bar called Frankie's - I think it's closer to the Fremont Street part of town. My wife is driving and I'm in the passenger seat. Windows are down. We look over and a guy is smiling at us. My mom or someone in the backseat says "he's got a face tattoo!" I look and it's Mike Tyson! I lost my sh!t like a teen girl in the 60s seeing a member of the Monkees. Everybody waved and he smiled at us and sped off. Saw him again later that night doing the same thing. He was driving around mugging at people to promote his speaking show. Anyway, I grew up on boxing and (more honestly, the Rocky movies & playing Mike Tyson's punchout on Nintendo). Iron Mike was truly one of the greatest athletes who ever athleted. It was fun.
    Last edited by deano; 01-26-2020 at 01:18 PM.

  2. #62
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Tucson AZ
    Posts
    2,567
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    3 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    I just finished Volume Control by David Owen. It's a very wide-ranging overview -- which occasionally borders on exposé -- about hearing, hearing impairment(s), technology companies who make tools for the hearing impaired, and how/why ear health & safety are underrepresented and overlooked.

  3. #63
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Middle GA
    Posts
    7,287
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    20 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Ross View Post
    I just finished Volume Control by David Owen. It's a very wide-ranging overview -- which occasionally borders on exposé -- about hearing, hearing impairment(s), technology companies who make tools for the hearing impaired, and how/why ear health & safety are underrepresented and overlooked.
    A buddy I met through MTBing runs a genetic lab at whatever they're now calling the Medical College of Georgia (it's changed names a few times over the years). He gets his funding from the VA. They use zebra danios, a fish you an buy at any place that sells tropical fish. They use fish because, compared to rats, they reproduce much faster, they can get several generations in the time it takes mamals to reproduce once. And their physiology is closer to us than you think - give them lipitor, their colesterol goes down.

    So hearing works by very fine hairs in your ear picking up vibration and sending a signal l to your brain through your nerves. Really loud sounds (gunfire, explosions, etc) can kill the hairs - but they will grow back. Unfortunately when they grow back, they don't reconnect w/the nerve, so the signal doesn't get sent to your brain.

    Zebra danios can reconnect the nerve. He's trying to figure out how to make it so people can do that too.

    Another fun story about David - he was MTBing with some friends, crashed, hit his head pretty hard. Hard enough he stopped to throw up a time or two on the way back to his car. His buddies took him to get checked out, they ended up finding an aneurysm that hadn't ruptured yet. They gave him a few weeks to heal up from the concussion, then did surgery to fix it before it killed him. That concussion saved his life!
    Dustin Gaddis
    www.MiddleGaEpic.com
    Why do people feel the need to list all of their bikes in their signature?

  4. #64
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Middle GA
    Posts
    7,287
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    20 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    “Dune”, by Frank Herbert

    Published in 1966 Dune is a sci-fi classic. It takes place on the desert planet Arrakis, and tells the story of a royal family feud and a boy’s rise to power. The planet is so dry that moisture is essentially sacred, the people who live there only venture out into the open while wearing ‘stillsuits’ designed your reclaim nearly all moisture they give off through sweat or breathing (how they recover water from peeing and pooping isn’t really ever discussed....). It’s sort of a sci-fi Game of Thrones, with different houses fighting and vying for power, and lots of characters. There’s different religions, politics, battles, and giant sand worms. If you’re into sci-fi, it’s a good read. “Greatness is a transitory experience.”

    Up next for me :: finishing "Dichotomy of Leadership".

    Dustin Gaddis
    www.MiddleGaEpic.com
    Why do people feel the need to list all of their bikes in their signature?

  5. #65
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    no shore, mass
    Posts
    15,149
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    29 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Just finished The Zimmerman Telegram by Barbara Tuchman.
    Interesting book about WW-1 and the entry of the USA into that war.

    The Germans tried to start a war between Mexico/Japan and the USA in order to keep the US from
    joining the Allies in Europe. Wilson fought hard to keep the US out of the war but this letter was one of the last straws.
    The other was unrestricted sub attacks on US shipping.
    Many Germans felt at the time that Germany would lose the ground war if the US entered on the Allied side..
    which, in fact, happened.

  6. #66
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Clemson SC
    Posts
    2,670
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    got about halfway through this issue this morning. one of my favorite non-university journals. always full of strong work.

    83846669_10163016341505068_3220553971043139584_o.jpg

    and of course I'll pitch that you read this. get the advance sales discount.
    Shape the Bent Straight / Robert Lee Kendrick | Main Street Rag

    CvrShapeBentStraight_Ad.jpg

  7. #67
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    33
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Had a recommendation to read The Rosie Project recently. Downloaded the audiobook and forgot about it until I boarded a flight from India back to the UK last week. Started listening to it as we took off and couldn't stop for 7.5hrs until I had done cover to cover. I was in tears laughing for most of it. Very, very funny and sensitive in equal measure. The author obviously has an intimate knowledge of his subject.
    Richard Wesley

  8. #68
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Falls Church, VA
    Posts
    6,786
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Bought this at the airport last night and am halfway done.
    Easy read. Nothing deep, but worthwhile.
    If nothing else, it'll spur me to go see my doctor for a long overdue regular checkup soon...

    Denali by Ben Moon: 978143133612 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

    my name is Matt

  9. #69
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Tucson AZ
    Posts
    2,567
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    3 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    And now I just finished Peter Godfrey-Smith's Other Minds: The Octopus, The Sea, and The Deep Origins of Consciousness

    Wonderful book that offers supremely well-reasoned conjecture and peer-supported theory side-by-side with genuinely unabashed wonder at the notion that of all the beings with complex nervous systems and some semblance of intelligence on this planet, all of them developed along one very ancient branch in the tree of life ...save one.

  10. #70
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Los Angeles, California
    Posts
    162
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Into the Jungle by Erica Ferencik . Sorta like Into the Wild but it takes place in Amazonian Bolivia . The principal character is forced to deal with extreme jungle life forces, poachers, indigenous tribes and her own issues.

  11. #71
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Paint me back home in Wyoming
    Posts
    836
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Quote Originally Posted by zambenini View Post
    I knew you'd have interesting stuff.

    And, funny, I fancy myself above the celebrity fray, but two or three years ago the fam was on a trip to Las Vegas, which is a good meeting spot for all of us Eastern people to get some sunshine and for my western people to rendezvous. Uncle Jim lives there. Anyway, we're out sightseeing and a black Maserati convertible pulls up next to us at a stop light not far from a tiki bar called Frankie's - I think it's closer to the Fremont Street part of town. My wife is driving and I'm in the passenger seat. Windows are down. We look over and a guy is smiling at us. My mom or someone in the backseat says "he's got a face tattoo!" I look and it's Mike Tyson! I lost my sh!t like a teen girl in the 60s seeing a member of the Monkees. Everybody waved and he smiled at us and sped off. Saw him again later that night doing the same thing. He was driving around mugging at people to promote his speaking show. Anyway, I grew up on boxing and (more honestly, the Rocky movies & playing Mike Tyson's punchout on Nintendo). Iron Mike was truly one of the greatest athletes who ever athleted. It was fun.
    Totally OT but I think you might appreciate this.

    In 1988 I was a member of the Marine Detachment at the American Embassy, Moscow USSR. One of the guys came back from leave in Helsinki and he had met Howard Hesseman (Dr Johnny Fever of WKRP) in the airport in Moscow. He had talked to him for a bit and Howard told him where he was staying. We called him the next day and invited him over to the Marine House. He didn't show that night but some others did.....the show Head of the Class was in Moscow to film two episodes. At that time Mike was married to Robin Givens and she was an actress in the show. Mike had come along with the group and he came over to the House quite often; even though it was the USSR the Russians knew who he was and he couldn't go anywhere without being swamped by people, so coming to the House (which had controlled access) was his escape. They were there for about two weeks and it was a common event during that time to walk into the living room and find Mike crashed out on the couch. One of the guys even gave him a haircut. Howard did show up at the House a couple of times and on their last Saturday in Moscow we threw a party for the entire cast and crew.
    Eat one live toad first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you all day.

  12. #72
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    1,946
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    11 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    That's a great story! And what a cool experience and time you must have had then, too.

  13. #73
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Falls Church, VA
    Posts
    6,786
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Just finished the Uninhabitable Earth and it is fucking terrifying. I don’t even know what to think anymore.

    Now reading the Billionaires Wilderness about inequality in Jackson WY and it’s worth a read.

  14. #74
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    1,230
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Tim Moore - Frost on my moustache.

    He's got a whole series, some hits and misses, but this one's pretty good. Glad to have found him. Travel books, some by bicycle.
    Colin Mclelland

  15. #75
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Meriden CT
    Posts
    1,663
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    "Texas Flood, the Inside Story of Stevie Ray Vaughn". Killer guitarist. Tragic career.

  16. #76
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Hillsdale NY
    Posts
    25,449
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    74 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    My wife reads more than I do because she is always up between the hours of 4 & 6 AM. She recommends The Makioka Sisters by Junichiro Tanizaki. Pre-WWII Japan family saga. Lots of historical interest.

  17. #77
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Posts
    1,230
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    The Mirror Visitor, by Christelle Dabos. It's a trilogy, but the third book is not available in English yet. Gets released in September. If you can read French you are in luck and you can probably get that now.

    I think they are meant for kids, but if you let one read them first I promise you'll be hurrying them up as they read the second book. Both my wife and my son had serious WTF moments when they discovered they'd have to wait the best part of a year to get their mits on the third book. Really, really good.

    I've also just ripped through the Ink trilogy by Cornelia Funke. Again, ostensibly aimed at children. We bought them for our eldest son for Christmas. I've read them, my wife has just started. Also really good, but you don't neglect the outside world to quite the same extent as you do with the Mirror Visitor.
    Colin Mclelland

  18. #78
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Hillsdale NY
    Posts
    25,449
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    74 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    I think I am going to read this book.

    Stacey Abrams Has a Message for You: Get Involved - The New York Times

    Quite a few conversations about Stacey Abrams I’ve been party to have begun with the qualification “I don’t know too much about her...” including from me, so while this isn’t a biography, her ideas are potentially more valuable to understand.

    If anyone else here reads it, maybe we can start a thread and compare notes.

  19. #79
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Boston, Massachusetts, United States
    Posts
    9,903
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    42 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Quote Originally Posted by j44ke View Post
    I think I am going to read this book.

    Stacey Abrams Has a Message for You: Get Involved - The New York Times

    Quite a few conversations about Stacey Abrams I’ve been party to have begun with the qualification “I don’t know too much about her...” including from me, so while this isn’t a biography, her ideas are potentially more valuable to understand.

    If anyone else here reads it, maybe we can start a thread and compare notes.
    I got to hear her talk to a small group of activists on Zoom a few weeks ago. Articulate, personable and prepared.

    While I've got concerns about her national-level experience, I think she could be the just the ticket needed for the ticket.
    GO!

  20. #80
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    6,893
    Post Thanks / Like
    Mentioned
    1 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Default Re: Books You've Read in 2020

    Just finished The Mirror and the Light. It's too long, as every reviewer says, but Hilary Mantel didn't do any injustice to her trilogy by slowing up at the end. I'm tempted to pick up Wolf Hall again but there are too many books I haven't read.

Page 4 of 7 FirstFirst 1234567 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Caroline Kennedy --- 2020
    By ron l edmiston in forum The OT
    Replies: 503
    Last Post: 08-11-2020, 04:26 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •