Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: LePaul on December 07, 2007, 12:47:47 AM
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So, what's everyone reading this month?
I just finished two health books, one by Dr Fuhrman and "What you dont know could be killing you" by Dr Colbert. Interesting reads if you are into lowering cholesterol and overall health.
This month I went with an impulse buy. "Surrender is not an Option" by John Bolton (former US Ambassador to the United Nations). Saw it at Borders when I was trying to find the Glenn Beck book which isnt available yet.
I've been looking for an aviation book I saw a few months ago but haven't been about to find. I thought it was called 'A Private Pilot Refresher' or something similar. It was essentially a good review book for those of us who have been out of the cockpit a few years. A good re-hash of the basics and brings you up to speed with current regs and such.
What are you guys and gals reading?
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Artifact
by Gregory Benford
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Flipping Confidential, The Secrets of Renovating Property for Profit in Any Market, by Kirsten Kemp (John Wiley & Sons, 2007).
Halfway through this, I'm finding it's good insight into cost-effective things to do to your own house whether or not you ever decide to try to make money by buying houses cheap, fixing them up, selling them quickly and making a fast profit.
Our house is more than 30 years old so it is a prime example of a house that needs a certain amount of maintenance and renovation, just like an auto, without messing up its original design and concept.
I have been negatively inclined toward such investors in our neighborhood, but I'm beginning to realize some flips can be improvements and enhance neighborhoods. Of course others could be cheap bandaid fixes not good.
However, with all the zoning and permits and inspection controls, it seems flips generally might be more positive than negative for all concerned. Either way, I'm getting some good ideas about what improvements to consider for our house.
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Halo, that's an interesting book. I'd be curious what you think when you complete it. I've got a 3 bedroom ranch home, built in 1963 and have been wondering what I want to do to it. Expand, renovate...or sell and get sometihng bigger.
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I'll report after I finish it. Meanwhile, I already can tell I'm defensive against the latest bandwagon.
For example, a friend had a nice cozy dark paneled lower level like ours. After his daughter found a mold problem, they had to rip out the entire lower level. Must have cost at least $40,000.
Now they're proud of their bland neutral colors everywhere. Ugh. To me, it ruined the entire character of their house, just as replacement windows with different designs often do.
A more prevalent example is replacing bathroom cabinets and fixtures with designs obviously out of sync with the rest of the house.
Always a debate between preservation and innovation, huh? I prefer moderately eclectic, comfortable with some serendipity. More to come after I finish the book.
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I'm not reading anything at all lately.
I need a new glasses prescription. Once I get those fixed I'll read again ~ I don't like being uncomfortable when I read... so I'm not reading. Awful, eh?
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Tempus Fugit - by Lawrence Lee Rowe
interesting book, historical fiction with a twist. Washington, Jefferson and Franklin suddenly find themselves in present day America. I'm re-reading this as the sequel is coming out soon...
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Rereading Atlas Shrugged.
Going to try to get my hands on the last (real) Dune book soon.
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The Michael Wittman Story.
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Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry...for the third time.
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MIDWAY: The Battle that Doomed Japan,the Japanese Navy's Story
Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya
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Originally posted by FiLtH
MIDWAY: The Battle that Doomed Japan,the Japanese Navy's Story
Mitsuo Fuchida and Masatake Okumiya
If you get a chance, read "The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors..." I'm usually not one for a historical book that can be slow at times, however this book was really well written.
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Stand-Tin-Sailors-Extraordinary/dp/0553381482/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197049361&sr=8-1
It's about the smallest of the American ships, the Destroyer Escorts and the Destroyers going toe to toe with the biggest ships of the Japanese armada, and just barely coming out on top.
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Originally posted by lasersailor184
Rereading Atlas Shrugged.
Going to try to get my hands on the last (real) Dune book soon.
It's been a while. The last one I know about is "God Emperor". Am I missing something?
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Strength Finder 2.0. Very good motivational book that finds your strengths, and you work your career from that aspect.
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Originally posted by midnight Target
It's been a while. The last one I know about is "God Emperor". Am I missing something?
Off the top of my head, it goes Dune - Dune Messiah - Children of Dune - God Emperor of Dune - Heretics of Dune - Dune: Chapterhouse.
I really enjoyed all of them except for God Emperor of Dune. It's was designed this way, but it was written like a history book. Very difficult to finish. Heretics of Dune started slow, but finished amazingly. Now I'm excited to get my hands on the last book.
Also, besides all the extra "Dune Universe" books that his son wrote, he recently compiled from Herbert's notes the 7th book in the series, which just came out. This is called Sandworms of Dune, I think. But past the original 6, I get confused as to which books are what and when.
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(quote) I'm not reading anything at all lately.
I need a new glasses prescription. Once I get those fixed I'll read again ~ I don't like being uncomfortable when I read... so I'm not reading. Awful, eh?
(unquote)
Please get your prescription updated ASAP. You deserve to read. Books are the ultimate vicarious experience. Go anywhere and do anything, all in the comfort and safety of your favorite chair. Such a deal. :cool:
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The Voyage of the Beagle
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Just finished Tom Clancy's "Red Storm Rising" for the 5th or 6th time myself. I think i will read Rainbow Six next.
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Tom Robbins - Fierce Invalids.
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The Helmsman Coast Guard manual.
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Thr Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and My War by Colby Buzzell.
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(quote) Halo, that's an interesting book. I'd be curious what you think when you complete it. I've got a 3 bedroom ranch home, built in 1963 and have been wondering what I want to do to it. Expand, renovate...or sell and get sometihng bigger. (unquote)
I think you might enjoy Flipping Confidential as cited. She's a realtor and renovator and flipper which takes a real entrepenuer mentality. Provides a good idea of what such market experts look for in value and potential profit.
It isn't as detailed in specific suggestions about particular renovations as might be expected, but it's a good overview with lots of insight into dealing with contractors, buyers, and sellers.
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Originally posted by Bodhi
The Michael Wittman Story.
Which one Bodhi?
I have Tiger Ace, but I know there is a two part set out there too on Wittman.
Amazing that his remains weren't recovered until the 80s. When we were in France we stopped at the German cemetary and saw the grave where he and his crew are buried.
It was fascinating to walk the areas where all that combat took place between the British and the German SS units in Normandy on the road from Caen to Falaise.
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I just read up about that guy on Wiki. That book sounds like a good read.
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House to House. its about Falluja very intense a good book.
Just finishing up The Power of Body Language also a useful book
and starting next week The 12th SS volume one. Been falling behind in the reading of fiction so perhaps I shall do my annual rereading of Red Storm Rising. My faithful old copy wore out after the 10th time:( I need a new one.
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Originally posted by MoeRon
Artifact
by Gregory Benford
I just finished reading that.
Currently rereading Eon by Greg Bear, but I'm still having trouble with the concept of a PI meter.
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Foundation - Isaac Asimov
Just finished:
Glory Road (Heinlein)
Podkayne of Mars (Heinlein)
The Menace from Earth (Heinlein)
Variable Star (Heinlein/Robinson)
The Number of the Beast (Heinlein)
Time Enough for Love (Heinlein)
I Will Fear No Evil (Heinlein)
To Sail Beyond the Sunset (Heinlein)
Job: A comedy of Justic (Heinlein)
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Heinlein)
Haven't read these books in years.
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Just last night finally started
"Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends"
By William "Wild Bill" Guarnere and Edward "Babe" Heffron
Whom I think most of you know who they are
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Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JHEVH48HL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg)
Excellent biography about the man who was one of the chief driving forces behind the design of the F-15 and F-16 and the "Fighter Mafia" faction in the U.S.A.F.
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A Falcon Flies - Wilbur Smith
have read most of his, im a sucker for his classic action packed thriller writting style and the often and most random references to the shapes of his female character's boobs in fine detail..
favorite of his out of the 20 i must have read is 'Eye of the Tiger' about some english charter boat guy called harry, in the carribean mixed up in a hunt for a huge diamond of the same name as the books title.
when i cant be bothered to read fiction i look at the pictures in aircraft books or something
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Just finished "house to house" a story of the clearing of faluja in Iraq. A real page turner. Trying to get through "cryptonomicon"
lazs
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Ortona
Hadn't even heard of the battle until I came across the book, but it apparently was the Canadian army's definitive WW2 battle. Kind of a smaller scale Stalingrad. Writing that's good enough, and a niche I hadn't read about before.
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In the middle of Stephen Donaldson's latest Thomas Covenant and "Epicenter". Both are slow so I went to get "House to House" as recommended by lazs. Terry Goodkind's 12th and final was on the stand so I had to get it. Enjoyed it but the ending was a bit weak. Dean Koontz has a new one I'm about half way through. Didn't see House to House.
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Originally posted by Chairboy
Foundation - Isaac Asimov
Just finished:
Glory Road (Heinlein)
Podkayne of Mars (Heinlein)
The Menace from Earth (Heinlein)
Variable Star (Heinlein/Robinson)
The Number of the Beast (Heinlein)
Time Enough for Love (Heinlein)
I Will Fear No Evil (Heinlein)
To Sail Beyond the Sunset (Heinlein)
Job: A comedy of Justic (Heinlein)
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (Heinlein)
Haven't read these books in years.
good to re-read some good old books.
Time enough for love is my personal fav from your list.
I re-read "Stranger in a strange land" this year. Was digging into the text. I first read that book in Eng, then got a decent translation to Rus,
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Time Enough for Love is one of my favorites from him. The Door Into Summer is another great one, haven't re-read it yet.
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Paulo Coelho, By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept
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Ken Follet: "World Without End" ...NEVER read a book by this guy I didnt like (i.e. "Eye Of the Needle", "Key to Rebecca"...)
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If you want to count them as books, the Evangelion Mangas, up to 10. Just finished them a little while ago.
I need to read New Spring, by Robert Jordan, and finish book 11 of the Wheel of Time...
Probably gonna read some other stuff that's in my roommates room...
No idea what though.
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"Die guten Glaubens waren. Die Geschichte der 4. SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division. Band II 1943-1945"
[In good faith. The history of the 4th SS-Polizei-Panzer-Granadier-Division vol 2. 1943-1945]
I would have bought it in english, but as far as I could find, only volume I was ever translated. And even this German version wasn't easy to come by.
Funny how after high school I could swear I was through with ever dealing with German again, and now 10 years later almost half the books I read seem to be in German.
It's mostly because I'm researching for some scenario I'm working on for another game, but as for unit histories (if you are into that sort of things) it is one of the better.
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Originally posted by LLv34_Snefens
"Die guten Glaubens waren. Die Geschichte der 4. SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division. Band II 1943-1945"
[In good faith. The history of the 4th SS-Polizei-Panzer-Granadier-Division vol 2. 1943-1945]
I would have bought it in english, but as far as I could find, only volume I was ever translated. And even this German version wasn't easy to come by.
Funny how after high school I could swear I was through with ever dealing with German again, and now 10 years later almost half the books I read seem to be in German.
It's mostly because I'm researching for some scenario I'm working on for another game, but as for unit histories (if you are into that sort of things) it is one of the better.
I have been looking for this in german as the place I know has it has the english translation
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Originally posted by CavPuke
Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram.
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JHEVH48HL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_OU01_AA240_SH20_.jpg)
Excellent biography about the man who was one of the chief driving forces behind the design of the F-15 and F-16 and the "Fighter Mafia" faction in the U.S.A.F.
Good article on this gent
http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/1997/articles/jul_97/july2a_97.html
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Originally posted by Pooh21
I have been looking for this in german as the place I know has it has the english translation
Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000PIGI3U/ref=sr_1_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1197224581&sr=8-1) have Band.II for sale at $74.95
Otherwise you can find other sellers at this (http://www.eurobuch.com/meta/result.php?doAll=1&search=glaubens%20husemann) site. But maybe they don't all ship overseas.
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Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship
Jon Meacham