i am currently in the midst of Air Force by Ian Mcphedran. Very awesome book that details the new era in Australian Air power. Very detailed and reasearched with a righting style that keeps you interested. Very Recommended for the Aussies out there(Pitt..)
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
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Pitt Commodore
posted 10-08-12 11:24 AM
EDT (US)
101 / 284
Speaking of wikis and different perspectives, I came across RationalWiki recently. It's pretty liberal (in the American sense), but amusing and still more or less informative.
By contrast, Conservapedia ("the trustworthy encylcopedia"), a self-styled 'conservative' encylcopaedia, is so bad it's funny. I thought it was a parody at first. It actually has an article with this glorious title - Evolutionary belief and bestiality.
"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins
Earl Scruffles Mariner
(id: generalscruff)
posted 10-08-12 11:37 AM
EDT (US)
102 / 284
I thought that was a satire at first.
I read encyclopedia dramatica sometimes if I'm at a loose end
But I won't go to England due to the prescence of scruffy in shottingham. - Scenter102 This is Scruff we are talking about. I can't think of anything I don't see Scruff doing just for the hell of it. - Agrippa 271 The cake was made by Scruffy and it was... a rude shape. - Liam monkey in a suit on a cycle - Scenter102 describing Scruffy
[This message has been edited by Swabbie Scruff (edited 10-08-2012 @ 11:40 AM).]
Scenter102 Mariner
posted 10-08-12 07:59 PM
EDT (US)
103 / 284
I found Conservopedia funny.
Awesome Eagle Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)
posted 10-09-12 04:34 AM
EDT (US)
104 / 284
Moving back to the original topic, just finished Vietnam- Australia's War by Paul Ham and have just one word to describe it: AMAZING. Fabulous book that i heartily recommend not just for the Aussies out there but anyone who who wants a good overview of the war from a Australian perspective.
Have transitioned now onto Australia- 1942: End of innocence by Brian McKinlay.
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
[This message has been edited by Awesome Eagle (edited 10-09-2012 @ 04:35 AM).]
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 10-09-12 05:17 AM
EDT (US)
105 / 284
I'm currently reading "Gods of Atlantis" by David Gibbins. It's a very interesting book. I also read Aristophanes' "Hippeis" (knights), which was hilarious. I'm thinking of writing a comedy, too...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Pitt Commodore
posted 10-09-12 08:14 AM
EDT (US)
106 / 284
Returning to the purpose of this thread, I recently finished Christopher Hitchens' last book, Mortality, and now I'm back to reading The Enlightened Economy: Britain and the Industrial Revolution 1700-1850 by Joel Makyr.
The latter is an interesting book; to over-simplify, it basically argues that it was the Enlightenment's idea of improvement and progress that spurred investigation and diffusion of knowledge, stimulating development of new inventions and devices, and that it was this curiosity that provided a significant boost to the industrial revolution.
From the Introduction:
Economic change in all periods depends, more than most economists think, on what people believe, and this was very much true for the economic development of the British economy between the Glorious Revolution and the Crystal Palace exhibition... [This book] argues, in short, that in addition to standard arguments such as geographical factors and the role of markets, politics, and society, the beginnings of modern economic growth depended a great deal on what people knew and believed, and how those beliefs affected their economic behaviour.
"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 10-17-12 06:27 AM
EDT (US)
107 / 284
I'm currently reading the first four books of the Roman Sub Rosa series by Steven Saylor. Quite an interesting series and a highly accurate one...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
[This message has been edited by Alex_the_bold (edited 10-17-2012 @ 06:28 AM).]
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 10-21-12 03:47 PM
EDT (US)
108 / 284
I'm currently reading "The battle of Salamis" by Barry Strauss and Sophocles' "Antigone" for school.
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Agrippa 271 Mariner
posted 10-21-12 08:22 PM
EDT (US)
109 / 284
Haven't read anything aside from some fiction lately, but I would like to highly recommend Lamb by Christopher Moore for anyone who likes a laugh. One of my favorite books. It's completely hilarious.
Death is a (vastly) preferable alternative to communism. "Idiocy knows no national or cultural borders. Stupidity can strike anyone, anywhere." -- Terikel
Scenter102 Mariner
posted 10-27-12 06:40 PM
EDT (US)
110 / 284
Anyone know a good chess book?
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 10-28-12 01:17 AM
EDT (US)
111 / 284
Yasser Seirawan's (spelling?) three books (play winning chess, winning chess strategy, winning chess tactics) are quite good. There are three kinds of chess books: those which teach and present examples, those which examine series of chess games and those which contain only exercises...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Awesome Eagle Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)
posted 10-28-12 02:21 AM
EDT (US)
112 / 284
Readin Special Forces by Chris Chant. gives a nice simple overview of everything about the worlds special forces.
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
Awesome Eagle Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)
posted 11-06-12 06:16 PM
EDT (US)
113 / 284
Transitioned to Churchill's Generals by John Keegan. Very detailed and informative book so far.
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
Pitt Commodore
posted 11-06-12 06:29 PM
EDT (US)
114 / 284
If you haven't read it already, see if you can find a copy of Corelli Barnett's Desert Generals, which looks at the successive British commanders in North Africa, including Wavell and O'Connor.
"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French." - P.G. Wodehouse, The Luck of the Bodkins
Awesome Eagle Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)
posted 11-06-12 06:34 PM
EDT (US)
115 / 284
i will look out for it. Have a look on this website. I love this book shop. Fantastic books(most used but they tell you the condition thoroughly) and they have bargain book lists every so often. I picked up Churchills Generals from them for $7.50 i believe. They mail the books out so no worries about them being in Canberra.
PS: not advertising just giving a reccomendation to 1 person.
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
[This message has been edited by Awesome Eagle (edited 11-06-2012 @ 06:36 PM).]
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 11-07-12 04:41 PM
EDT (US)
116 / 284
I'm in the middle of "Il Tiranno" (the tyrant) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi (greek translation). It's very interesting, I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Greco-Carthaginian wars of the late 5th-early 4th century BC...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Punic Hebil Centurion
(id: Punic Hoplite)
posted 11-07-12 08:45 PM
EDT (US)
117 / 284
Is there any English translations? I'm interested in Carthaginian history!
I am the Carthaginian who became an angel, and surrendered his wings for a life on the sea of battle.
My magic screen is constantly bombarded with nubile young things eager to please these old eyes. This truly is a wonderful period in which to exist! - Terikel the Deflowerer
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 11-08-12 00:05 AM
EDT (US)
118 / 284
I dunno, you have to look for it...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 11-09-12 04:09 PM
EDT (US)
119 / 284
I'm currently in the midst of the second book of the Palaeologoi series by Giorgos Leonardos, which is also called "The Palaeologoi". They are very interesting...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Hannibal the Conqueror Mariner
(id: HannibalBarcaXXI)
posted 11-10-12 03:27 AM
EDT (US)
120 / 284
Just started reading the book 'Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why' by Bart D. Ehrman
"I long for Darkness." - Cormac McCarthy, The Sunset Limited.
"We are a species that ravages, plunders, kills, destroys, rapes and enslaves in the name of progress."
Earl Scruffles Mariner
(id: generalscruff)
posted 11-10-12 11:19 AM
EDT (US)
121 / 284
The Great Gatsby and Small Island. They're my English Lit texts for the rest of the term.
But I won't go to England due to the prescence of scruffy in shottingham. - Scenter102 This is Scruff we are talking about. I can't think of anything I don't see Scruff doing just for the hell of it. - Agrippa 271 The cake was made by Scruffy and it was... a rude shape. - Liam monkey in a suit on a cycle - Scenter102 describing Scruffy
Alex_the_Bold Mariner
posted 11-20-12 03:47 PM
EDT (US)
122 / 284
Just read "The Ides of March" by Valerio Massimo Manfredi. Another excellent historical novel by an excellent writer...
Invincibility lies in defence, while the possibility of victory in the attack -Sun Tzu Akouson me, pataxon de (hit me, but first listen to me)-Themistocles to Euribiadis prior to the battle of Salamis.
Awesome Eagle Spear of Mars
(id: awesomated88)
posted 11-20-12 03:51 PM
EDT (US)
123 / 284
Now reading Redcoats to Cams, a history of Australian Infantry, by Ian Kuring. Great so far!
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it- George Santayana History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are- David C. McCullough Wars not make one great- Yoda
Drakontos Mariner
posted 11-22-12 02:35 AM
EDT (US)
124 / 284
1356, Bernard Cornwell's new book. Exciting stuff, too, reading about Thomas of Hookton again - it picks up some 8-9 years after the events of Heretic, which is exciting in itself, because the characters have clearly changed, but you don't know why...
PROCRASTINATE NOT · JAMAIS ARRIERE
Enkidu of Uruk Mariner
(id: thekid951)
posted 11-22-12 09:36 PM
EDT (US)
125 / 284
Just finished The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi, an Auschwitz survivor. He committed suicide shortly after publishing the book. Extremely, extremely gripping book.