Artist: The Beach Boys
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Saturday, December 23, 2017
Friday, December 22, 2017
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Wednesday, December 20, 2017
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Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Monday, December 18, 2017
Island of the Blue Foxes: Disaster and Triumph on the World's Greatest Scientific Expedition by Stephen R. Bown
3 Stars
"During the Age of Sail scurvy was indirectly responsible for more deaths at sea than storms, combat, shipwreck, and all other diseases combined and was in fact the cause of shipwrecks when men who were too ill and weakened to haul ropes or climb the rigging allowed a ship to be driven on the rocks or flounder and be swamped by mighty waves."
Reasons I read this book:
1) Feral blue foxes attack!
2) Kamchatka, my prior knowledge only consisted of the need to acquire and hold it in order to win Risk, the game that never ends.
3) Boats, boats... BOATS
Honestly, there was so much stupidity, bad judgment, and poor leadership that a good portion of the participants deserved to die. Driven by the capricious punishments meted out by the various emperors/empresses that oversaw the Great Expedition an atmosphere of caution blossomed. This affected all persons in power, but ultimately the greatest responsibility lay with Captain Bering, the expedition leader. The need to placate the multitude of subgroups during the arduous land journey labeled the Captain as overly cautious and the other naval officers began to lose confidence even before they built the ships, let alone set sail. This was a monumental endeavor that was poorly planned and like all things depended on supply chain management to succeed, which they had none of. Essentially, the politicians and academics in the cozy city of Moscow had zero understanding of the existing conditions and how ridiculous their expectations were. Nonetheless, as the responsible party, Bering's life was on the line, not just fortune, but he also stood a good chance of being imprisoned if he failed.
What did we get from the Great Expedition? Outrageous debt and provinces that were driven into the ground trying to "host" the multi-thousand person process, opening of the east in a Wild West atmosphere of the tens of thousands of exiled malcontents from Moscow that led to indigenous abuses, and extinctions of animals that only exist in Stellar's records but were abundant when they visited.
And the promise of knowledge that would prove Russia as enlightened, Peter the Great's vision, was stifled so that economic factors could be exploited before a mad rush would ensue.
The story was a bit slow, but excellent documentation, if limited sources, provided by the quotes taken from personal logs. This is well suited to someone coming to it with no knowledge. The first fifty pages was basic Russian history explaining Peter the Great and the impetus for the expedition itself. Other czars/czarinas are mentioned in terms of the court atmosphere and how the changes affected the expedition and its participants, mostly notably, at the onset foreigners were welcomed and fulfilled many positions with the Academy, but by the end most had been turned out.
It was interesting, but the foxes didn't start until page 170 :/
Yes, I am the kind of person that makes Donner Party jokes.
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Friday, December 15, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Monday, December 11, 2017
Sunday, December 10, 2017
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Friday, December 8, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
NO IS NOT ENOUGH: RESISTING TRUMP'S SHOCK POLITICS AND WINNING THE WORLD WE NEED by Naomi Klein
3.5 Stars
My Key Takeaway: Advocate what you are for, not what you're against. Voice it.
This is such a contentious issue that I don't think most people will read it. I was a bit hesitant, but I have to say that while this is a progressive, left-leaning book, Klein does an excellent job supporting her position, whether you agree with it or not.
This is more interested in framing the problems that led to where the US, and the world, stands in regards to governance. The decisions we make as populations by our choice of leadership and the consequences. And Klein proposes a radical counterstrategy, don't try to regain just what's been lost, go for it all.
Trump is a symptom of a huge problem. A really ugly symptom, like a an oozing pus-filled wound, but he's not the origin. He merely took advantage of it and now he's actively deconstructing the government, gutting it, to benefit profiteers.
He's running a really loud show. It's drowning out EVERYTHING but him.
Worst part?
Only through intersectionality will we overcome the challenges--yeah, I'm not that optimistic. We are so fucked.
This book is not me. I am a centrist. According to Klein, I'm part of the problem. That's fine. I prefer chipping away and rebuilding to the violence of upheaval--others may feel differently.
Little ad lib: One of the best things I ever learned regarding customer service complaints, and government is customer service, is that you have to state the problem and tell the company/government/service provider what they can do to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. It has to be something realistically possible. I have always been either satisfied with a company's response or taken my business elsewhere, but engaging with the other party to seek resolution is a key component.
My Key Takeaway: Advocate what you are for, not what you're against. Voice it.
This is such a contentious issue that I don't think most people will read it. I was a bit hesitant, but I have to say that while this is a progressive, left-leaning book, Klein does an excellent job supporting her position, whether you agree with it or not.
This is more interested in framing the problems that led to where the US, and the world, stands in regards to governance. The decisions we make as populations by our choice of leadership and the consequences. And Klein proposes a radical counterstrategy, don't try to regain just what's been lost, go for it all.
Trump is a symptom of a huge problem. A really ugly symptom, like a an oozing pus-filled wound, but he's not the origin. He merely took advantage of it and now he's actively deconstructing the government, gutting it, to benefit profiteers.
He's running a really loud show. It's drowning out EVERYTHING but him.
Worst part?
Only through intersectionality will we overcome the challenges--yeah, I'm not that optimistic. We are so fucked.
This book is not me. I am a centrist. According to Klein, I'm part of the problem. That's fine. I prefer chipping away and rebuilding to the violence of upheaval--others may feel differently.
Little ad lib: One of the best things I ever learned regarding customer service complaints, and government is customer service, is that you have to state the problem and tell the company/government/service provider what they can do to resolve the situation to your satisfaction. It has to be something realistically possible. I have always been either satisfied with a company's response or taken my business elsewhere, but engaging with the other party to seek resolution is a key component.
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Monday, December 4, 2017
Musical Calendar Countdown - Dec. 4
MERRY CHRISTMAS, KISS MY ASS
Artist: All Time Low
Album: Dirty Work
Artist: All Time Low
Album: Dirty Work
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Musical Calendar Countdown - Dec. 3
THE TWELVE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS
Artist: Allan Sherman
Album: Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time
Artist: Allan Sherman
Album: Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Musical Calendar Countdown - Dec. 2
AMERICAN JESUS
Artist: Bad Religion
Album: Recipe For Hate & Christmas Songs
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Artist: Bad Religion
Album: Recipe For Hate & Christmas Songs
Friday, December 1, 2017
THE MISTLETOE MURDER by PD James
4 Stars
Cozy mystery meets satire.
I selected this book for THE MISTLETOE MURDER short story for my Yule season reading. I may or may not read the other selections at a later date. Shocking to have to admit, but this is my first PD James story. I know, I know. What have I bee doing with my life. Nonetheless, I am happy to have begun the author journey with this little gem.
An English country manor Christmas setting shines with it's ragged World War II charm as the first person narrator takes us through the incident. It all seems so very civil, until it's not. Nothing sordid or graphic per se, but the means of violence definitely made me smile as did the zinger at the end of the tale. Like a friendly slap to the face. Nicely done.
Fabulous start, and nice addition to my Yule list.
Musical Calendar Countdown - Dec. 1
DON'T SHOOT ME SANTA
Artist: The Killers
Album: Don't Waste Your Wishes
Artist: The Killers
Album: Don't Waste Your Wishes
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