The Bears Pit: Off Topic Discussions

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

preface

The primary aim of this book is to furnish the little learner reading matter that will excite his attention and give him pleasure, and thus make lighter the difficult task of learning to read. The ruggedness of this task has often been increased by the use of disconnected sentences, or lessons as dry and uninteresting as finger exercises on the piano. It is a sign of promise that the demand for reading matter of interest to the child has come from teachers. I have endeavored to meet this requirement in the following stories.

As far as possible the words chosen have been such as are not difficult to the little reader, either from their length or their unfamiliarity. The sentences and paragraphs are short. Learning to read is like climbing a steep hill, and it is a great relief to the panting child to find frequent breathing places.

well, THAT is a book for you, howie

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #262156]

Fri, 10 September 2010 23:29

Burzmali

Messages:248
Registered:March 2007
Location: Estonia

William Gibson, "Zero History"

"The military needed clothing that would appeal to those it needed to recruit. Every American service branch, she said, illustrating each with a PowerPoint slide, had its own distinctive pattern of camouflage. The Marine Corps, she said, had made quite a point of patenting theirs."

but, seriously, i just love Gibson, not because it is (also) about military clothing...

Sergeant 1st Class

Re: Book of the day[message #262247]

Sat, 11 September 2010 19:39

cdudau

howareyou32

Stories of Great Americans for Little Americans

Great little book indeed.

Speaks volumes of why you post the things you do. Truly a tell tale post.

Re: Book of the day[message #262263]

Sat, 11 September 2010 20:41

cdudau

Essentials of Hinduism: A Comprehensive Overview of the World's Oldest Religion

http://www.gnaana.com/visuals/july10/Hinduism_Kids_Book.jpg

I just started reading this one. Very nice lay out. Uses very understandable metaphors and similes for explanation. All in all a great introduction to the world's third largest religion.

Re: Book of the day[message #262431]

Mon, 13 September 2010 10:57

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

Beautiful religion, beautiful people, nothing to do with the fact that I look like Krishna and Hindu girls always make a bee-line for me at parties Smile

Current book. Love all the people: Bill Hicks.

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262432]

Mon, 13 September 2010 11:01

Gorro der Grüne

Messages:1448
Registered:March 2009
Location: Broadwurschd-City

Hinduism is the most endangering and loathsome religion we have on this planet.

I define religion as having at least 10.000 blockheads following it

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262447]

Mon, 13 September 2010 15:07

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

In your opinion (as my positive attitude towards Hindus, Sikhs & Bhuddists is merely a product of my own opinion obviously). There's a militarist expansionist "religion" which does indeed fit that particular bill but Hinduism isn't it. Besides their carvings are both spectacular and deeply sensual. Please add at least something about a book you rate...

Tao of Pooh maybe?

Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance?

Something... anything...

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262449]

Mon, 13 September 2010 15:15

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

& if we're going for kids books Howie I think I'd find yours a little dry. I'd suggest Kipling's Just So Stories or C.S.Lewis's 7 Narnia books as much more entertaining. Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea trilogy for something to move on to rather than (yuk) Harry (puke) Potter (barf).

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262450]

Mon, 13 September 2010 15:41

Gorro der Grüne

Messages:1448
Registered:March 2009
Location: Broadwurschd-City

1) the militant Hindu riots that take part at least every 10 years

2) the cast sytem. Hindu is brilliant as long as you belong to the upper thirt of the cast system

3) the militant claim to be the one and only religion (which others have too but don't call for fire and sword action atm) which lead to 1

no other religion has this in that strong shape within the last 300 years.

At least if You don't count Nazinalsocialism and sowjet/chinese Communisn as religions.

(I normaly count them as religions as well as the what-was-good-ennough-for-the-foundingfathers-crap)

btw: I like Harry Potter and JKR's English

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262458]

Mon, 13 September 2010 18:44

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

1. As oppossed to militant moslem riots that take place oh about once a week somewhere in the world.
2. I actually like the Caste system thanks. I loathe meritocracy and the bland uniformity it brings.
3. ALL religions make this claim. At least four are prepared to back this up with violence as we speak. They are of course funde-mental-ist idiots.
4. Extreme politics requires "faith" of sorts so yes they are are religions too.
5. Potter's ok but Le Guin is better and she did it years before JKR.

And none of this is about books so go to pm if you wish maybe?

& just for fun compare pre and post war Kipling book covers. Another very pro-Hindu Brit I think you'll find!!!

[Updated on: Mon, 13 September 2010 19:34] by Moderator

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262521]

Tue, 14 September 2010 10:46

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down: A Survival Guide to the Apocalypse

Do we need this? Who know.....

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #262640]

Wed, 15 September 2010 04:24

Mauser

Messages:756
Registered:August 2006
Location: Bavaria - Germany

http://cdn-i.dmdentertainment.com/cracked/jp/bucholz/B10330.jpg

Visit mysterious and sensual Tschai, renowned throughout the galaxy for their abundant natural supply of handjobs.

Read more: http://www.cracked.com/article_14790_the-best-worst-fantasy-science-fiction-book-covers_p3.html#ixzz0zYaGcJ53

First Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #262641]

Wed, 15 September 2010 04:37

Headrock

Messages:1760
Registered:March 2006
Location: Jerusalem

Is it me, or is he holding Lrrr, Ruler of Omicron Persei 8?!

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #262643]

Wed, 15 September 2010 07:07

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

hm.....

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #262706]

Wed, 15 September 2010 20:19

lockie

Messages:3717
Registered:February 2006
Location: Scotland

That book ( part of a series of 4), unfortunate title notwithstanding Very Happy

, is an excellent sci-fi novel , well worth reading . Jack Vance is an absolute master of his field , his usage of language and characters is rivalled only by Gene Wolfe .
I heartily recommend any of the above writers .

( I don't recognise either of the figures as people in the book !! )

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #263420]

Fri, 24 September 2010 01:17

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe
by Frank Dik

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #263421]

Fri, 24 September 2010 01:23

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

frank dik

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #263440]

Fri, 24 September 2010 06:39

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

I guess you are not smart enough to read the "Synopsis" to know what the book is about. Pity.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #263445]

Fri, 24 September 2010 07:51

Mauser

Messages:756
Registered:August 2006
Location: Bavaria - Germany

howareyou32

Mao's Great Famine: The History of China's Most Devastating Catastrophe
by Frank Dik
Report message to a moderator

First Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #263457]

Fri, 24 September 2010 11:32

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

howareyou32

I guess you are not smart enough to read the "Synopsis" to know what the book is about. Pity.

if a synopsis is enough for you to mark it 'book of the day' you should stick to your videos as noone will take anything you say here seriously (if he ever did)

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #263475]

Fri, 24 September 2010 15:13

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

The biggest deliberate killing machine on earth is
(1) a genocidal/suicidal fascist government then
(2) a communist/theocratic government then
(3) all other governments.

With Mao in mind you have to wonder how many more would have starved etc under (a) continued Japanese occupation hypothetically assuming it had carried on or (b) corrupt capitalism (you only have to look at democratic India during the same period of history to see millions starved there too).

Chairman Mao is the Sun. The Sun is Chairman Mao. Repeat until hypnotised.

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #263609]

Sun, 26 September 2010 07:47

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Will Gates

The biggest deliberate killing machine on earth is
(1) a genocidal/suicidal fascist government then
(2) a communist/theocratic government then
(3) all other governments.

With Mao in mind you have to wonder how many more would have starved etc under (a) continued Japanese occupation hypothetically assuming it had carried on or (b) corrupt capitalism (you only have to look at democratic India during the same period of history to see millions starved there too).

Chairman Mao is the Sun. The Sun is Chairman Mao. Repeat until hypnotised.

We can talk about which kind of gov is the number one in this. The jap and india things are all true. But, does that mean we should just accept what mao did? Even now, his one child policy in china still killing millions of baby every year and we can not see much talk about this in anywhere. Yes, the world is looking at china as the earth slave factory now, but does that mean those people are not our own human kind? Where is the humanity? We are talking about a 40-50 millions people hungry to death in a few years in china's 60s with china own gov non-secret documents. The china gov has not un-secret their crime in 70s and 80s yet. Be prepare for more gov killed death number when those doc come out to see the light of day.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #263610]

Sun, 26 September 2010 07:54

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/10/29/PH2007102900818.jpg

This book will not tell you any secret of the CIA, rather a story for us to know - truth is precious and some people did and will sacrifice a lot to bring that to us.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #265554]

Sun, 24 October 2010 22:14

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Ayn Rand - Atlas Shrugged

http://movies.popcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/atlas-shrugged-book-cover.jpg

No need for introduction, I am sure. I just hope the movie will be as good as the book, if not more.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #265741]

Wed, 27 October 2010 05:07

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

http://nelliejacobs.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/napoleon-hill-think-and-grow-rich.jpg

Money, money, money.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #266146]

Tue, 02 November 2010 06:48

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Grunch of Giants by R. Buckminster Fuller

http://www.grunchofgiants.com/images/grunchofgiants.jpg

We have an choice to make, be grunch or to be grunch.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #266953]

Tue, 16 November 2010 12:21

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

robert anson heinlein: starship troopers

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/ff/St59.jpg

howie, if you want to talk about it you need to read it (watching that bloody movie or reading a synopsis won't do the trick)

wiki-overview

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #266955]

Tue, 16 November 2010 12:29

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

joe haldeman: the forever war

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/TheForeverWar%281stEd%29.jpg

kinda contrast to heinlein, but not an answer - haldeman just delt with his tour in nam

fuck you, sir

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #267106]

Fri, 19 November 2010 01:43

Shanga

Messages:3480
Registered:January 2000
Location: Danubia

http://images.angusrobertson.com.au/images/ar/97803453/9780345300553/180/270/plain/heechee-rendezvous.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederik_Pohl

They just published the first 3 of the Heechee series here, loved it. And it opened me the taste to re-read the first great Scifi series of my youth, of which the first I've bought in 1993: Asimov's "Foundation".

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/io9/2009/01/foundation.jpg

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #267110]

Fri, 19 November 2010 01:53

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

john brunner: the shockwave rider

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/TheShockwaveRider%281stEd%29.jpg

this is in fact one for shanga (and any other nerd, who wants to be a hero)

wiki.overview

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #267398]

Thu, 25 November 2010 21:26

cdudau

THE TAO OF WU
THE RZA

http://images.freshnessmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/tao-of-wu_final-570x907.jpg

Very nice wisdom.

Re: Book of the day[message #267880]

Mon, 06 December 2010 15:18

Messages:1012
Registered:September 2006
Location: Far far away.

Apologies if either of these have been highlighted before but just read them and was impressed to say the least.

Cormac MacCarthy... The Road. Read it. Read it now. Awesome. The most powerful thing I've read in decades.

L T Leroy... Sarah. Only read if you can handle tales about some rather unusual err.... lifestyles.

Sergeant Major

Re: Book of the day[message #267881]

Mon, 06 December 2010 15:52

Messages:3199
Registered:December 2008
Location: B

immanuel kant: grundlegung zur metaphysik der sitten

http://images.buch.de/images-adb/12/ee/12ee47cd-6c8b-43f3-aa26-d4a67fd3ff60.jpg

or for those who need it translated to english

http://ca.pbsstatic.com/xl/98/1598/9780061311598.jpg

there should be translations to next to any languange (shanga, in your case the edition's year is importand - some guys tried to make him a commie)

wiki-description

... btw, to read this is kinda hard work

----

for those who want to know how his name is pronounced: well there's an english word (also 4 letters) featuring a C and a U

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #272954]

Tue, 08 February 2011 07:31

cdudau

Ecclesiastes

As seen in:

http://andthoushaltread.com/images/medium/9780827607668.jpg

Ecclesiastes, widely attributed to King Solomon, is one of my very favorite books of the Abrahamic religions.

Re: Book of the day[message #273526]

Mon, 14 February 2011 04:37

cdudau

Social Intelligence
The New Science of Success
Karl Albrecht

http://images.chapters.indigo.ca/covers/books/938/0787979384_b.jpg

A must read for nearly everyone. Forget the golden rule, Albrecht has a proposal for the platinum rule. It is a very nice book to teach us how to talk and negotiate in a new way. The old way is: I want the best for me and the worst for you. This is the viewpoint from both sides. The book hits all sides of relationships and social intelligence.

If you are in a managerial position and are looking to expand your capabilities of being a leader this book is for you.
If you are in any relationship that is in need of repair or maintenance, this book is also for you.
If you are into studying the habits and behaviors of people, this book is for you too.

Re: Book of the day[message #277533]

Sat, 09 April 2011 02:00

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Time 1776

A fancy history book, but a fun re-read of good exciting history none-the-less.

Master Sergeant

Re: Book of the day[message #280125]

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:12

cdudau

[color:#000099]JESUS[/color]
A Story of Enlightenment

[color:#663300]Deepak Chopra[/color]

http://www.chopra.com/files/images/Jesus-LG.jpg

In scripture there exists a gap between the ages of 12 and 30 with regard to what
Jesus actually did and where he was. This book is a fictionalized version of the "lost years" of Jesus Christ.

I have started to read and so far so good.

@Howareyou32

Did you know that...

Thomas Jefferson was one of three presidents that were not considered white. He and Calvin Coolidge had mixed Indian blood.

Re: Book of the day[message #280126]

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:42

lockie

Messages:3717
Registered:February 2006
Location: Scotland

Quote:

This book is a fictionalized version of the "lost years" of Jesus Christ.

Ahhh , but would a fundamentalist approve ?

You might 'burn in the fiery pits of The South' for recommending this ?

Captain

Re: Book of the day[message #280191]

Thu, 19 May 2011 21:01

cdudau

lockie

Quote:
This book is a fictionalized version of the "lost years" of Jesus Christ.

Ahhh , but would a fundamentalist approve ?

You might 'burn in the fiery pits of The South' for recommending this ?

Yeah, you are right. I believe it takes a lot of guts to take a stab at it though.

Re: Book of the day[message #280345]

Sat, 21 May 2011 05:19

Messages:424
Registered:March 2009
Location: New York, New York

Do we know the South is wrong about their believe? Do we know what we are? Are we so confident that we know everything in this tiny galaxy? I am not. If you are, good for you. I just hope one can keep an open on our future.

taoteching

Did you know that...
Thomas Jefferson was one of three presidents that were not considered white. He and Calvin Coolidge had mixed Indian blood.

I really do not know that. I judge my brother on his action, nothing on his appearance.