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Old 05-14-2012, 06:51 PM   #1301
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I am almost never fascinated enough to buy a newly published book but the 60 minutes interview with Hank Crumpton is sorely tempting: Hank Crumpton: Life As A Spy | digtriad.com

The book is available now: Amazon.com: The Art of Intelligence: Lessons from a Life in the CIA's Clandestine Service eBook: Henry A. Crumpton: Kindle Store

This could be my first Kindle (for the Fire) book purchase.
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Old 05-14-2012, 07:58 PM   #1302
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I'm not done with it yet, but I'm re-reading "Shop Class as Soul Craft." If you're a tinkerer, a weekend mechanic, someone who enjoys a tool in your hand, but work in an office or are a "professional" I highly recommend it. Not an easy read though. Extols the virtue of connecting with the stuff we use every day. (Hey, I'm one of the people that bemoans the fact I can no longer work on my cars other the simplest of tasks). Actually has some fairly deep philosophy in it.

It's inspiring me, after 35 years as an engineer manager, to maybe go work as an apprentice in sailboat or auto restoration shop. Heck, I'd do it for nothing if it was the right kind of work.
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Old 05-14-2012, 08:17 PM   #1303
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Wow H20 dude, what a coincidence! I've got that one on my list to pick up at the library! Hoping DH will like it too.
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Old 05-14-2012, 08:47 PM   #1304
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Last week I read "Beautiful Boy " by David Sheff . It is the heartbreaking story of his son's addiction. A few parts were slow but the rest was a great read .
I read this a while ago and recommend you also read his son's version "tweak" by_nic_sheff. It was very interesting to read the two versions of the same time span.
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Old 05-15-2012, 08:24 AM   #1305
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Sophie's Choice by Styron. Lots of sexuality, no doubt risque back when it was published. Good read. Styron sounds like Dostoevsky a lot.
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Old 05-16-2012, 08:28 PM   #1306
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H2ODude - "Shop Class as Soul Craft" looks like a great read - could be my next. Right now I'm looking at/reading "Illustrated Guide to Wood Strip Canoe Building". I'd like to build a wood strip canoe or boat someday.
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Old 05-16-2012, 09:15 PM   #1307
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Just finished Grisham's The Litigators. Excellent. Grisham may be the world's best story teller.
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Old 05-17-2012, 10:17 AM   #1308
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Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow. Set in the future, possible life is detected on a distant planet and a mission of scientists and Jesuits set out to investigate. Great science fiction--a real page turner with an interwoven double plot--and deep themes about good, evil, God's providence, and intelligent life on other planets. Russell is a very versatile author: I'm now reading A Thread of Grace (about a northern Italian town that harbored Jews during the Holocaust) and Doc (about Doc Holiday and the OK Corral fight).
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Old 05-17-2012, 08:02 PM   #1309
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Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow. Set in the future, possible life is detected on a distant planet and a mission of scientists and Jesuits set out to investigate. Great science fiction--a real page turner with an interwoven double plot--and deep themes about good, evil, God's providence, and intelligent life on other planets. Russell is a very versatile author: I'm now reading A Thread of Grace (about a northern Italian town that harbored Jews during the Holocaust) and Doc (about Doc Holiday and the OK Corral fight).
The Sparrow is one of my all time favorites. I love books that manage to be uplifting and devastating at once.
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Old 05-18-2012, 04:01 PM   #1310
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Just finished Grisham's The Litigators. Excellent. Grisham may be the world's best story teller.
I'll second that. Wish there was more of him to read. I think I have read everything.
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Old 05-18-2012, 04:35 PM   #1311
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A Thread of Grace (about a northern Italian town that harbored Jews during the Holocaust)...
That sounds like an excellent book. I'm going to look for it the next time I'm at the library. Who's the author?

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Old 05-18-2012, 06:42 PM   #1312
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That sounds like an excellent book. I'm going to look for it the next time I'm at the library. Who's the author?

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Mary doria russell
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Old 05-22-2012, 01:24 PM   #1313
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Physics of the Future: how science will shape human destiny
by Dr. Michio Kaku

if you watch much Discovery channel, Dr. Kaku will be familiar. He's a theoretical physicist who makes even the most complicated subjects simple.

His book is about predictions in the near term (next 20 year), mid term (20 - 50 years) and long term (50 - 100). The subject areas are medicine, computing, transportation, energy, and several others.

The book is an easy read and is fascinating.

For example, one of the near term medical inventions is expected to be a mirror that you can breathe on that will detect early stage cancer. The breath contains traces of proteins that malignant cells produce. The mirror will have a detection device and give a reading if the concentration of proteins indicates cancer.

The book also explains why so many futurist's predictions have been wrong (remember the 'paperless office'?) Seems that many predictions have been based purely on science rather than taking human nature into account. Dr. Kaku's predictions are based on sound science, but includes the human response as well.
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Old 05-23-2012, 08:52 AM   #1314
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Since retiring, I've tried to read more classics...one good reason, they're cheap. I really made a mistake with Ulyssus tho. I couldn't make it thru the first 3 scenes. I will try again after another Jane Austin, this time Lady Susan.
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Old 05-23-2012, 09:05 AM   #1315
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Just finished (interesting look at international politics in the 10-15 years ahead, one "expert" view)

Currently reading
\
On the wait list for

and
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Old 05-23-2012, 12:23 PM   #1316
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Just finished Steve Jobs biography - DH gave it to me for Mother's Day. Very well written and interesting. Quite balanced between Jobs the genius and Jobs the a**hole.
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Old 05-24-2012, 08:35 AM   #1317
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I'm reading this:

Amazon.com: Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me: Howie Mandel, Josh Young: Books

I had thought the germaphobe/OCD thing of his was just a recent invention of his, but it turns out he has a real problem and always has. Also, he has always done weird pranks.

Here's early Howie Mandel:

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Old 05-24-2012, 08:46 AM   #1318
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Sophie's Choice by Styron. Lots of sexuality, no doubt risque back when it was published. Good read. Styron sounds like Dostoevsky a lot.
This is a very good book, and the movie with Meryl Streep is also excellent. Another wonderful book with some period and other resemblances to Sophie's Choice is Enemies, A Love
Story by Isaac Bashevis Singer, probably my all time favorite author. The move of the same name with a perfectly cast Lena Olin is also wonderful.

Ha
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Old 05-24-2012, 02:18 PM   #1319
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Also, he has always done weird pranks
Like calling contractors to come onsite to measure his high school for building additions.
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Old 05-24-2012, 04:53 PM   #1320
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Like calling contractors to come onsite to measure his high school for building additions.
The worst one, one he regrets, is that he convinced his best friend and opening act that he had to dress up as a woman to get a spouse discount on the plane, or he wouldn't be able to go on the tour. Lots of people, including the stewardesses, were in on it. He flew from LA to Philadelphia that way. Here's a picture:

howie.jpg
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