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OFFTOP 2.6.09

Nolamarinergirl1_tiny by NOLAmarinergirl on Comment 1052 comments

Hello loyal readers...and I mean readers.  I'm using the OFFTOP today to try and earn points to get myself a few books for the price of shipping.  Is anyone here a member of Bookins? On Bookins, you can get used books (or DVDs, turns out) for the price of shipping.  You sign up, create a list of books you're willing to trade, and then earn points by shipping off books of your own (you print pre-paid labels and stick them in the mailbox).  Unfortunately, you need points to get a book shipped, and turns out no one wants my cheesy chick-lit novels, and I'm not willing to give up my non-fiction as I'm saving them for the day I have a library.  But I figure other people are ready to surrender their good books, and there are a lot of readers around here who might be interested in this site.  If you are, click the link below.  If you join and ship a book, I get points!  Weeeeee!

I know we do the book review thing a lot around here, but I'm looking to read some classics, as I don't think English class endeared me to them.  Any recommendations?

Also, did anyone else who read Twilight get a little bit skeeved out?  I mean, she's seventeen.  And he's a hundred and something.  And she's obsessed.  It's creepy.

Star-divide

http://www.bookins.com/rssreader/trade/2cR4cq2cA/

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Read More: reading is sexy, vampires are not

Comments

Display:

"Vampires are not"

David Boreanaz disagrees.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:00 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

FYI, your trade list link doesn't work.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:01 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Works now.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Easy steps to link inclusion:

1. Highlight and copy URL to page you want to link.
2. Write out what you want your link to say. Example: ESPN Page 2
3. Highlight your typed link.
4. Hit the include link button.
5. Paste the website URL into the box asking for it (and check the open in new window box if available).

Example: ESPN Page 2

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, sir, I have included many links.

There’s been a recent glitch in which you can’t always include a link by using the link button.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 8:25 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

. . . Okay.

It is confusing to newbies and thought this was a good place to insert a primer.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:29 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It was just the first thing that popped into my head.

Once upon a time I was a big Simmons fan.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:36 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Once upon a time we were all Bill Simmons fans.

When he was the underdog, writing quirky articles about quasi sports-related things, he was fantastic.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 8:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Are you fackin' serious?!

Bill Simmons is the best sports writer on the planet. NO ONE DENIES THIS!!!!
I’m kidding. I too used to be a Simmons-ite but I got sick of his Massholishness. Though I still enjoy that he was one of the few mainstream writers backing up Seattle on having thr Sonics ripped away from us.

by Willie Mays Haze on Feb 6, 2009 12:05 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I do like that about him.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 12:07 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Vampires not sexy!?

I 100% disagree.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:09 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Am I missing something?

I played Fallout 3 for a couple of days and didn’t derive any sort of pleasure from it. It just wasn’t that fun.

What’s the fuss over this game?

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:19 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

It's the open-endedness.

If you say the wrong thing, you get screwed. If you kill the wrong person, it comes back to bite you in the ass.

I’ve played the game for about 40 hours now, and just barely started on the main storyline. I’ve been doing side quests and exploring instead. The map is huge, and has so many little places that the quests don’t take you to.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 8:34 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, and the nuke rocket launcher.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 8:36 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I think that's what ends up bothering me:

You can either do side quests, where you’re horribly mismatched against much stronger enemies, or you can proceed with the main story line and be horribly mismatched against much stronger enemies.

I guess I just don’t have enough patience to kill molerats until I’m at a high enough level to be able to fight stronger enemies without having to use 4 stimpacks to heal myself.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:39 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

There are a lot of lower level sidequests.

I don’t think I spent any time just leveling up for the sake of it.

Also, VATS is your friend at lower levels.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 8:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I'm playing my second runthrough

Understanding where to put your levelup points and perks is more important. I found the quests matched my skill level in the first play through pretty nicely. Can def. get in over your head if your just wandering the map and stumble into an area you don’t belong in though.

by DCMariner on Feb 6, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

And don't be sucked in by the big, sexy weapons.

The minigun sucks and is very heavy. Hunting rifle and combat shotgun, rinse, lather, repeat.

by waldo rojas on Feb 6, 2009 9:39 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of,

get the special hunting rifle from President Dave, it rules, and you get rifles all the time from Super Mutants, so it never goes into disrepair.

And I echo the Combat Shotgun love, although you have to find Talon Mercs to get parts. When you find them, collect and save them somewhere. They break quickly, especially for ambush VATS attacks to the face. (I still shout SHOTGUN TO THE FACE every time I do that)

The Reservist’s Rifle is not nearly as worth it as it seems.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 11:05 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My favorite weapon was

The Terrible shotgun. I was more of an up close and personal fighter and this bad boy was quite handy in those situations. Outside of the special hunting rifle from president Dave what were other fun special weapons to use?

by Willie Mays Haze on Feb 6, 2009 2:59 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The railgun is a worthless waste of time.

I spent a bunch of time hunting around for one of the parts, finally assembled it and it was utter crap.

by waldo rojas on Feb 6, 2009 3:04 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Which was the rail gun?

Is that the one that shot the railway spikes? I didn’t ever make too many of the build-your-own weapons but i did enjoy the shishkabob. Something very satisfying about slicing things AND setting them on fire at the same time.

by Willie Mays Haze on Feb 6, 2009 4:08 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I should have realized this before playing it.

I had similar complaints about Oblivion.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I unfortunately have no books to trade

one of the things about living in Portland is that I rotate books through Powell’s pretty often – read a bunch, sell ’em back, get store credit, get more books, repeat.

As far as classics go, 1984 is always a good one, as is Catch-22. If by “classics” you mean musty old English books set on a moor somewhere and featuring floppy-haired protagonists acting rashly out of love, I can’t help you, because being an English major put me off those entirely.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 8:19 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

).<

I miss Powell’s

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 8:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Its an angry cyclops!

There are no good individual basketball statistics.
54!

by joof on Feb 6, 2009 12:09 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Holy God do I miss Elliot Bay Book Store in Pioneer Square.

I walked to that place at least three times a week when I lived downtown.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

"Anna Karenina" is amazing.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:25 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Lemme get back to you on that one.

I’ve got a copy at home, but I don’t remember which translation it is. Can you shoot me an email (my email address is in my profile) to remind me to take a look for you?

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

as I understand it

the recent Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation is a good one.

by msb on Feb 6, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yep

I like their method very much.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 6, 2009 11:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Their Master and Margarita is soooo much better than any other english version.

No comparison. Although I think they should have annotated it more heavily – there are so many things that cannot be caught by someone who was never a Soviet (or spent a lot of time studying 30s Russia), yet are easily explained.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 6, 2009 11:11 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yep.

They are my default for Russian lit. Anyone else reread War & Peace when their translation came out a few years back?

by DCMariner on Feb 6, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Richard Pevear and his wife have been retranslating a lot of classic russian lit

and doing a much better job of it than any of their predecessors. The thing to absolutely avoid under any circumstances is Constance Garnett. She sucks. She took the life out of everything she touched.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 6, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of books

This is the most awesome news in book publishing since the book was invented. That is all.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 8:30 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Finally!

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I love that idea, but I'm not sure what I feel about the 'context pages'.

I read old Doonsbury’s while in high school. When I didn’t understand, I asked or looked it up, which is one of the ways I learned about recent US history.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 8:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I plan on skipping the context pages

I just can’t wait to have the strip in tangible format again. My old Bloom County books have seen better days.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 8:41 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have all of the original books. I love them dearly.

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 6, 2009 9:09 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh NOLA, you and your literary pyramid schemes...

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 8:34 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Then you should have used the Tell a Friend feature.

http://www.bookins.com/userLogin.php?emailVar=tellAFriend

15 per user that sends a book.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 1:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I used it and it said nothing about a referral.

It's hard to convince people to let you eat them if you're an asshole. - Thingray

by Faux on Feb 6, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Did you click the 'join today' link?

 Join today, you’ll earn 20 points just for registering.

That one should give me my points

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 1:27 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Speaking of books, I give the Amazon Kindle a solid thumbs up.

The screen does an excellent job of simulated a real page, sparing you the I’m not reading a real book feeling. Excellent battery life. Pretty quality product.

I will say though, if you don’t travel as much as I do it isn’t worth your time. Anyone familiar with the Kindle have a different opinion or some ideas to improve it?

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:35 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Idea how to improve it:

Ditch the DRM.

the other angels fan

by Eyebrows on Feb 6, 2009 9:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My dad works for Random House

They were all issued Sony Readers to reduce their paper output. It seemed extremely buggy. It would only store about half of the files you tried to input and required a hard reset about once a month to accept a power charge. I wasn’t very impressed. The actual quality of the type and font were excellent. The fake paper screen is amazing. Changing font size took about 2 minutes though. I think the kindle is more finalized for mass consumption so I assume it isn’t as quirky as the sony product.

by DCMariner on Feb 6, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

"The Tin Drum" by Gunter Grass.

One of my favorite books.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:40 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Both awesome books

I didn’t think I’d enjoy Devil In The White City, but it was really engaging. I’d also recommend Krakauer’s Under The Banner Of Heaven.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 8:42 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes to both books.

Though they’re not “classics” like NOLA’s looking for.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Probably a stupid question, but that's not "Savage Dragon" Erik Larson, is it?

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 6, 2009 9:14 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Any one good at statistics able to tell me the odds that Mt. Redoubt will erupt on the 13th?

I just know it is going to screw me out of flying home for Valentine’s Day.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 8:41 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

AWESOME.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 8:49 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

"Heart of Darkness"

by Joseph Conrad kicks ass. It’s my favorite from high-school lit days.

by edgar is good on Feb 6, 2009 8:54 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

This was actually part of what inspired me to ask the question.

I’m reading 1491 and the author alludes to quite a bit of classic literature and themes. This morning it was Heart of Darkness. While I know the premise of the book, I’ve never read it.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 8:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Heart of Darkness is truly good.

Also, after reading it, make sure you watch the corresponding Seinfeld episode.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 8:59 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You should read it

it’s so short. And remember while reading it that Conrad only learned English in his 20s.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 6, 2009 11:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I remember watching Best and Pele in the NASL

and they were true ambassadors of the game here in the US. I saw Beckham on the cover of gossip mags at the grocery store all the time, but he never made any impact on MLS as far as I can tell.

by Sec 108 on Feb 6, 2009 9:02 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I resent that headline in the TNT

because George Best was every bit the player that Pele was, it’s just that George Best couldn’t put the bottle down so it ruined his career and ended his life. But Best was an AMAZING player.

I’m pretty sure that Beckham came here to sell replica shirts and Pepsi and didn’t give a good goddamn about being an ambassador.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:04 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, she wanted to make it big in the US

oooooops

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:06 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

What I am about to say here is a bit unfair to Best,

but he is to soccer what Hack Wilson was to baseball. The difference being that Best actually had a career while Wilson flamed out super fast.

by Sec 108 on Feb 6, 2009 9:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, that's not too bad a comparison really

I would have loved to see Best at his peak.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:24 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I know what you mean regarding Best, but this article was not written by a soccer fan.

Best was amazing, but he was not as big a name here in the states.

by Sec 108 on Feb 6, 2009 9:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

True enough.

And the article’s pretty good, for an American non-soccer writer.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Headline, no but the article's great

I can’t believe I just read an article about George Best in my local paper.
And the more I think about it, the more I think the Rashard Lewis comp is pretty damned perfect. I think it may be a little harsh on Becks (he was a great player once), but it captures that he could never carry a team, and that he was always dependent on those around him.
You can’t put George Best or LeBron James on a mediocre team and have that team get worse. But that’s exactly what happened to the Galaxy.

by marc w on Feb 6, 2009 9:25 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's it though

Becks was only great when he had great teams around him. He’s good at doing two things – he can pass (to an extent) and he can free kick. he’s always been slow, he’s never been particularly physical, and he can’t improvise very well. Ask him to pick out a player with a pass from his station out there on the wing, and he’s great, there are (or were, I guess) few better. Ask him to move the ball upfield and avoid a tackle, and then pass the ball with accuracy – not so much.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:31 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I know it's a classic, I just don't know if it's a classic in the literature realm, but:

Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

Gibbon’s writing is, at least to me, amazing. It’s a work of history, but it’s worth reading for the prose alone.

I’d echo the praise for Heart of Darkness, and… how about some Kafka?

by marc w on Feb 6, 2009 9:20 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

My bandmate and I wrote a song once called "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

It lasted about 20 seconds and the only lyrics were, “Things fall apart.”

by Sec 108 on Feb 6, 2009 9:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

"Also, did anyone else who read Twilight get a little bit skeeved out? I mean, she's seventeen. And he's a hundred and something. And she's obsessed. It's creepy."

well, I still haven’t read them, but it does seem to be telling the adolescent reader to embrace that creepy older stalker just because he says he loves you.

by msb on Feb 6, 2009 9:20 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Or because she's insanely obsessed with her animal lust, which is pretty much how it's described.

But then the author goes on to make sure and differentiate between lust and love.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 9:24 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh hells yes.

Sunday night’s (starting February 15th) on HBO:

9 PM – Big Love
10 PM – Flight of the Conchords
10:30 PM – East Bound and Down

That’s gonna be a helluva night of TV.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 9:27 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Link fail

but I am very much looking forward to East Bound And Down.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:32 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Oh hell yes.

Despite how disappointed I was with The Foot Fist Way.

by Teej on Feb 6, 2009 12:49 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Cosmo?

How can I do my makeup to tell my man that I want to have sex?

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 9:33 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Very few things suck as much as someone who you have shared working and living space with for days. . .

being medivaced home because of possible Hepatitis contraction. Man I hope he was sanitary.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 9:31 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

yeep

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:32 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

As you should be.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

With the food they serve us, understandable.

I have had yogurt and or cereal for dinner no less than four times already this hitch. I would just eat a salad, but more often than not the lettuce is browning.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 10:10 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have tried to read Lolita no less than four times.

I can never finish it. It literally makes me physically ill.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It's one of those books

I’ve read it once, I recommend it to people, but I’m probably never going to read it again. It was disturbing.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:35 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I understand that technicly speaking it is a well written book.

And I’m not trying to be holier than though or anything, but I completely fail to see the entertainment value in a book that is nothing more than a brutal description of a grown man’s systematic sexual violation of a 12 year old girl.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 9:42 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Completely agreed

I read it in college – we were only supposed to read a passage of it for one of my classes, but the passage horrified me enough that I felt compelled to read the whole thing. I’m not sorry I did, but never again.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:45 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Never read the Twilights

but I guarantee that Lolita’s skeevier.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Read it before going to sleep.

Makes for interesting dreams.

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Haven't read Twilight either

but I guarantee Lolita is better written.

by Bearskin Rugburn on Feb 6, 2009 11:14 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

hmm. classics.

what Austen have you read (speaking of chicklit)?

what of the Bronte sisters?
Dickens?
Wilkie Collins?

War and peace? :)

by msb on Feb 6, 2009 9:35 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

For those victorian chicklit novels, go with Thomas Hardy

one man’s opinion, and for the record, my opinion tends to detest victorian chick-lit novels. I can stomach Hardy though….

by marc w on Feb 6, 2009 9:39 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Just Pride and Prejudice.

I’m telling you, English class scarred me. And I love to read.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 9:48 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have contemplated re-reading Great Expectations.

It is beyond a shadow of a doubt the worst book I have ever read, but I read it as a High School Freshman and was forced too. I often wonder if now as a nearly 30 year old adult my opinion might be different.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

See.

English class fucked up our appreciation of books.
Seriously, Great Expectations (abridged) at fourteen? C’mon.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 9:58 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My biggest complaint was that none of the characters were sympathetic.

I hate stories where none of the characters have any redeeming qualities whatsoever. Same reason I loathe the Great Gatsby. In comedy it is awesome (Seinfeld and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia great examples) but in drama it just isn’t entertaining to me.

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 10:03 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

let's see.

for Austen, to ease back in you can read Northanger Abbey, which she wrote as a gentle mocking of the Gothick novels then in fashion. I am very fond of Persuasion, which was her last novel, and has an “older” heroine. Sense and sensibility is also an entertaining read.

Dickens is one of that time period where you have to let yourself slow down, and just take the long descriptions and the pace of the novel. Hard times is a much shorter novel, and has some nice pokes at education ….

by msb on Feb 6, 2009 10:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yes.

I get to read it for a second time this year.

by Mariner John on Feb 6, 2009 10:30 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hello loyal readers…and I mean readers.

I read books almost exclusively. Reading articles on the computer hurts my eyes, so I print out passages to read them.

I recommend Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point,” which is basically about the moment where something unique becomes commonplace. Actually, anything by Malcolm Gladwell is good reading material.

by Zygomorphic on Feb 6, 2009 9:44 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Gladwell is a fascinating writer.

He does tremendous research, and his ability to connect ideas is breathtaking. For an example (and a good read while bored at work), watch how he mesmerizes you with an article about something as seemingly benign as ketchup.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 9:51 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Are there any medical websites as ridiculous as WebMD?

I have a sore throat, but only on one side. I thought that was kind of weird (Google says it is pretty common) so I used WebMD’s symptom checker to se what kind of sore throat it is and the best remedies. It told me repeatedly I was in immediate danger and to seek emergency medical care ASAP.

Are there any WebMD-ish websites out there that are not totally useless?

Fear the NPE

by thewyrm on Feb 6, 2009 9:54 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Actually, I just tried it and that's pretty hilarious.

I mean, I know they’re trying to diminish the possibility of death by meningitis, but still.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't know about that, but sore throats on only one side are very, very common.

I’m guessing you have a cold. I’m not a doctor, but I did sleep in the dumpster behind Holiday Inn last night.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 9:55 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

I hate that website.

It’s so freaking hard to navigate.

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 9:56 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

WebMD. Bah.

So you are experiencing stomach pain? Cancer. Slight dizziness? Cancer. Headaches? Cancer.

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Feb 6, 2009 10:14 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Are you experiencing cancer?

leprosy.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:15 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

According to WebMD...

I’m been experiencing cancer since I turned 21.

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Feb 6, 2009 10:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

holy shit dude

have you called the Make-A-Wish people? That’s gotta be good for a World Series game or SOMETHING.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:17 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Dinner with ARod and Madonna.

61/755: KGJ's homer totals, or Rosie O'Donnell's age/weight in 2019?

by kevin_ess on Feb 6, 2009 10:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My Dinner With Hepatitis

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Feb 6, 2009 10:20 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Make action figures

"Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery?" - Dr. Venture

by Eegah on Feb 6, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Hey! Old People! Remember when we were young?

The Murder City Devils have apparently reunited for a couple of northwest shows next week. Wednesday/Thursday in Seattle (Showbox), Fri. in Vancouver (Commodore) and Saturday in PDX (Roseland).

I can’t believe I just heard about this. Is anyone going? Lisa? Kevin? I would love to go Saturday, but I can’t. I could try on thu., but who knows.

by marc w on Feb 6, 2009 10:06 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

DON'T EFFING REMIND ME

stupid Valentine’s day. Stupid not-liking-MCD wife. GAH

(NOTE: my wife is far from stupid and I love her very much.)

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:08 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Shit, Valentines Day is getting close, isn't it?

I need to find a DVD of the Lion King ASAP.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:12 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, and we had made plans before I knew about MCD

no backin’ out now.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, this is the one "holiday" where plans can't change if you know what's good for you.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:21 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You spelled "fuck" wrong.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:29 AM PST up reply actions   2 recs

I hate this holiday.

Thankfully I just have to find a little cute gift, and then we generally just make a special dinner at home and watch a movie or something.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:28 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Almost as entertaining as listening to women try to justify it

I have nothing against public expressions of affection for my wife – I buy her flowers and send them to her work somewhat regularly – but the societal EXPECTATION of it on Valentine’s Day is really annoying.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:32 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I like flowers.

But I don’t think it should be a certain day that they’re given

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 10:37 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is my exact problem with valentine's day

My wife never knows when I’m going to send her something at work. It just shows up. It’s so much better that way.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

You, sir, are a romantic.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE!!! I DRINK IT UP!!

by abender20 on Feb 6, 2009 10:38 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Apparently so.

And it’s women that make it this way, because when someone else gets flowers at work and we don’t, we get sad.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 10:44 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't

I just long ago gave up that line of reasoning in favor of “this is how the game is played” and it makes life so much easier.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Flowers provide cheeriness and lift spirits, cheesy as that may be.

I worked at a flower stand for months. Not having fresh flowers is hard for me.

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 10:57 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I 100% agree

the only time I resist is on Valentine’s Day. My affection for my wife is not a competition with her coworkers to see whose spouse loves them more.

Nice Guys Finish Third - Hopelessly lost, but makin' good time.

by pdb on Feb 6, 2009 10:59 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

first "when" = dead

I will smash your face into a jelly.

by Phildopip on Feb 6, 2009 10:52 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Unless you go the "potted plant" route.

Which does not seem to work out well.

"Fights begin, finger prints are took, days is lost, bail is made, court dates are ignored, cycle is repeated."

by Thingray on Feb 6, 2009 10:53 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

What that says to a woman:

“Here, take care of this.”

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2009 10:54 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I give them potted herbs

so that not only do they have to take care of it, but it provides an incentive to make me freshly herbed dinners.

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2009 11:00 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

My parents raised me.

You think I want to deal with me at age 4?

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

It does not

Stop stirring up trouble

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 11:16 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I meant I was surprised Matthew's parents

sent him to boarding school and they could handle him being away so long

by NOLAmarinergirl on Feb 6, 2009 11:19 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

True

except for all the times you lied in this subthread

by JI on Feb 6, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

WHAT?!

I say “I 100% believe you”! That’s my thing that I say!

by Matthew on Feb 6, 2009 11:22 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Let me spell this out for you

-I hate babies

-women generally do not hate babies

-the plant would be a training baby

-if the woman isn’t annoyed by the plant, she gets a yippy dog

-the woman will be annoyed by the yippy dog and come to resent things that make noise

-woman hates babies!

by Jeff on Feb 6, 2009 11:06 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Seems stupid.

The dog will just build up her annoyance tolerance.

by JI on Feb 6, 2009 11:07 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs