I’ve been reading up on a couple of medical conditions. Due to HIPAA guidelines, I can’t share precisely what they are. But I can say, for the layman researcher, it’s a minefield out there.
I’ve been listening to the awesome and somewhat comprehensive History ok of Rome pocast series by this writer:
(The podcast comes in short 12 minute bits, so that I never get tired of it. I always want more, in a little while, or the next day.)
And the guy is a great storyteller. He makes it fun.
And all the great Roman blood and guts stuff is in there. This is a kinda pg13-level family-friendly podcast, but he tells you when “he’s not gonna go there” on some topic or other, so that you can look it up if you want.
For the History of Rome podcast series, about the time the podcast gets to the Caesars, audible started sponsoring the podcast.
This means a few seconds of light promo at the beginning of some podcasts.
The cool thing is, Duncan uses the promo as an opportunity to recommend a book (always one available in an Audible version) that deals with ancient history or with Rome.
Sometimes this means an ancient writer like Livy or Juvenal. Sometimes this means a modern writer or historian gets a mention.
But I love the recs.
@therealjrn
Correction:. Some (small of the book recommendations seem to only be available in print or e-book. Unfortunately no audible version, for just a few.
Got this for Christmas, but my wife just retired also and I’ve really been too busy to read it yet. Hope to start it in a week or two after some projects are finished…
Just finished Pop Kult Warlord by Nick Cole, and Torment, by WJ Lundy. The former is a ‘post meltdown but recovering world’ where virtual wargaming is used in place of (some) wars and as competition between companies for advertising space and rights. The latter is the beginning of a stateside soldier’s experience during a zombie apocalypse, based on the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot series following a group of American soldiers starting out in the sandbox when the SHTF.
Other than that endless studying for a cisco certification exam that work is requiring I pass in the next few weeks.
I just finished The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz. This is book #4 in the Jane Hawk series. It was OK, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first 3. There wasn’t actually that much of the kick ass heroine in this one. It felt like it was mostly filler/staging before the series climax in upcoming book #5.
@sammydog01 I would (wait a minute - I did!).
I have enjoyed them so far, but I like most of Koontz’s books (Intensity gets me wound up every time I read it). My wife also read and enjoyed this series. The Jane Hawk series has a compelling heroine, nasty villains and good action/suspense. The story has a sci-fi/tech premise rather than supernatural/horror.
My excuses are some excellent podcasts: History of Rome
History of Ancient Greece
History of Byzantium
12 Byzantium Rulers
And more listening to go.
In the meantime:
For anyone who has an audible credit subscription, there is a current repeat sale on previous Audible Daily Deals - at the previous daily deal price. .
Not all of them, I think, but lots. Including the most popular or highly rated audiobooks.
I’m guessing this sale is only open to audible credit subscribers. But perhaps not. Have not checked.
@f00l I’ve been trying to find some audible books for spring break. Lots of people recommended the Alan Cumming/Tim Curry version of Dracula. I somehow found a link that let me buy the book for $.99 and an audiobook for $.99, and it turned out to be that version. I think from Reddit? I’m pretty sure I could never figure out how I did it. The whispersync thing works oddly.
. . . But this book is sneaky. As much as you want to think this is just some lightweight little confection made of robot fights and space murder — and as much as All Systems Red wants to present itself as nothing but robot fights and space murder — Martha Wells did something really clever. She hid a delicate, nuanced and deeply, grumpily human story inside these pulp trappings, by making her murderous robot story primarily character-driven.
Amazon has Cloud Atlas on Kindle for two bucks as a daily deal. Has anyone read it? Is it good?
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=cloud+atlas
I’ve been reading up on a couple of medical conditions. Due to HIPAA guidelines, I can’t share precisely what they are. But I can say, for the layman researcher, it’s a minefield out there.
I’ve been listening to the awesome and somewhat comprehensive History ok of Rome pocast series by this writer:
(The podcast comes in short 12 minute bits, so that I never get tired of it. I always want more, in a little while, or the next day.)
And the guy is a great storyteller. He makes it fun.
And all the great Roman blood and guts stuff is in there. This is a kinda pg13-level family-friendly podcast, but he tells you when “he’s not gonna go there” on some topic or other, so that you can look it up if you want.
I’ll do his audiobook at some point.
@f00l Have you ever listened to Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History? https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/
@therealjrn
Got that one loaded. Listened to one of the Roman ones. He’s good.
The guy I’m currently listening to is a bit more ironic/modern in tone. And lots of fun. And there are hundreds of them. So many hours!
Fun fun fun!
@f00l You do make it sound good. The short eps might be easier to fit in as well.
@f00l @therealjrn I’m listening to Shogun on Audible. Two days and a few hours to go.
@sammydog01 @therealjrn
Shogun was great fun.
@therealjrn
Yeah. The short eps always keep me wanting more.
I usually listen on ios. Currently using Downcast Player. Not as pretty, but fast and crashproof and has the controls I want.
I usually listen at 1.25x or 1.5x normal speed and or seems fine.
@therealjrn
Ooooh!
Caligula!
@therealjrn
For the History of Rome podcast series, about the time the podcast gets to the Caesars, audible started sponsoring the podcast.
This means a few seconds of light promo at the beginning of some podcasts.
The cool thing is, Duncan uses the promo as an opportunity to recommend a book (always one available in an Audible version) that deals with ancient history or with Rome.
Sometimes this means an ancient writer like Livy or Juvenal. Sometimes this means a modern writer or historian gets a mention.
But I love the recs.
@therealjrn
of the book recommendations seem to only be available in print or e-book. Unfortunately no audible version, for just a few.
Correction:. Some (small
@f00l ok
@therealjrn
Here is the list of recommended additional reading from the History of Rome podcast.
(Some books are just great history books he was reading at the time of the podcast. Most are Rome-related)
https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/the_history_of_rome/audiblepodcastcomrome-book-recommendations.html
The podcast webpage is here. Unfortunately he had to close discussions after being overwhelmed by spam comments)
https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/
His new podcast is on the history of big revolutions.
https://www.revolutionspodcast.com
And here are the audible sponsorship book recs for this podcast:
https://www.revolutionspodcast.com/audible-recs-1.html
He also does a bibliography for the new podcast here:
http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/revolutions_podcast/bibliography.html
I am currently reading meh.com/forum
@SenorYEETZ I’m sure your English teacher would be proud.
@sammydog01 Yes, yes she would
@sammydog01 @SenorYEETZ
She were was mighty proud. Right?
@f00l What? It sounds like you need an English teacher.
@SenorYEETZ
Her were like WOW!
@f00l lol
@SenorYEETZ Have you read Ready Player One? My kid sort of liked it.
Got this for Christmas, but my wife just retired also and I’ve really been too busy to read it yet. Hope to start it in a week or two after some projects are finished…
@daveinwarsh
I am not much a fan of Medved’s thinking, but I am a fan of his writing. (This makes sense to me somehow, even if to no one else.)
So I read him anyway. Except for his movie critic stuff. That I skip. But the rest, ok.
(“Obligatory” Amazon link to this book)
https://www.amazon.com/American-Miracle-Divine-Providence-Republic/dp/0553447262/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547344235&sr=1-1
Just finished Pop Kult Warlord by Nick Cole, and Torment, by WJ Lundy. The former is a ‘post meltdown but recovering world’ where virtual wargaming is used in place of (some) wars and as competition between companies for advertising space and rights. The latter is the beginning of a stateside soldier’s experience during a zombie apocalypse, based on the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot series following a group of American soldiers starting out in the sandbox when the SHTF.
Other than that endless studying for a cisco certification exam that work is requiring I pass in the next few weeks.
@kdemo
@kdemo Do you have a context for this? Is it for people that hate the book?
@kdemo I couldn’t find it but I found this:
And I learned that you can check out ukeleles at libraries in Los Angeles.
@kdemo Found the book drop story. Pretty funny.
https://metro.co.uk/2015/10/23/library-plagued-by-pranksters-sticking-up-rude-messages-by-their-book-drop-offs-5458624/
@sammydog01 - Sorry, omitted the /s
@sammydog01 - OooOOooo - the Ann Arbor Library loans theremins.
@kdemo Sorry, I’m sarcasm challenged.
Love you, @sammydog01.
@kdemo I’m gonna take that as not sarcastic.
@kdemo @sammydog01
Theremins! Cool!
/giphy theremin
@sammydog01 -
I am reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott for the first time. No, I’ve never seen the movie either. No spoilers.
@callow Now all I want to do is complain about the ending!
There’s a Game of Thrones short story and picture book for $3 on Amazon. I’m giving it a shot.
https://www.amazon.com/Knight-Seven-Kingdoms-Song-Fire-ebook/dp/B00S3R6HAE/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1547479932&sr=1-6-catcorr
@sammydog01
The Dunk and Egg stories are excellent.
I just finished The Forbidden Door by Dean Koontz. This is book #4 in the Jane Hawk series. It was OK, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first 3. There wasn’t actually that much of the kick ass heroine in this one. It felt like it was mostly filler/staging before the series climax in upcoming book #5.
@macromeh I haven’t read any of these- should I?
@sammydog01 I would (wait a minute - I did!).
I have enjoyed them so far, but I like most of Koontz’s books (Intensity gets me wound up every time I read it). My wife also read and enjoyed this series. The Jane Hawk series has a compelling heroine, nasty villains and good action/suspense. The story has a sci-fi/tech premise rather than supernatural/horror.
Alton Brown: EveryDayCook: A Cookbook
Kindle Edition
Current price $2.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AES52CS/ref=nodl_?creative=9325&camp=1789&linkCode=ur2&ie=UTF8&tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=4536ad98194e11e98a0ed2652e8437d70INT
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity-ebook/dp/B00KWG9M2E?tag=slickappfp-20&ascsubtag=3c5247f41db911e988ddca32e05c6d670INT
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity Kindle Edition
by David Allen (Author), James Fallows
$1.99 at Amazon for e-book
Not so much reading books this month?
My excuses are some excellent podcasts:
History of Rome
History of Ancient Greece
History of Byzantium
12 Byzantium Rulers
And more listening to go.
In the meantime:
For anyone who has an audible credit subscription, there is a current repeat sale on previous Audible Daily Deals - at the previous daily deal price. .
Not all of them, I think, but lots. Including the most popular or highly rated audiobooks.
I’m guessing this sale is only open to audible credit subscribers. But perhaps not. Have not checked.
Sale prices good thru 01/27/2019, 11:59PT.
https://www.audible.com/ep/DDReSale19?ref=a_ep_DDReSa_c5_tab1&pf_rd_p=c0628140-e9a7-405c-a2d4-a4adb6d18e96&pf_rd_r=257QJJPB63KWZAWN6NXQ&
@f00l You’re correct, you need a subscription.
Worthy of the $3 price of admission: The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul by Douglas Adams.
This is a low fidelity recording, but tolerable. And a fun story.
Also of note: The Spaceship Next Door by Gene Doucette.
@ruouttaurmind
The Douglas Adams books were my very first Audible purchases, so long ago now.
And totally worth the listen.
@ruouttaurmind I bought the Adams book back when they let non-members buy the daily deal. I loved it.
@sammydog01 It’s a pity Douglas Adams wasn’t able to turn it into a series. It could have been stellar.
Don’t Panic: Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
Kindle Edition
by Neil Gaiman (Author)
Currently part of the Kindle Daily Deals.
$1.20 thru midnight PT Tonite.
https://smile.amazon.com/Dont-Panic-Douglas-Hitchhikers-Galaxy-ebook/dp/B07HY7YH7R/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?_encoding=UTF8&cor=US&priceChange=1
https://www.amazon.com/Things-Only-When-Slow-Down/dp/B01N38FDB5/ref=nodl_?creative=9325&camp=1789&linkCode=ur2&ie=UTF8&tag=slickdeals&ascsubtag=94699c4e21f111e989683e168dc908e80INT&_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FThings-Only-When-Slow-Down%2Fdp%2FB01N38FDB5
Audiobook on sale from audible
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm and Mindful in a Fast-Paced World Audible Audiobook – Unabridged
Haemin Sunim (Author)
Currently $.99
This is an Amazon store link. So prob no audible membership needed for this one.
@f00l $9.95 for me. Amazon is weird.
@sammydog01
This is what I see.
If Amazon is messing with pricing again big-time then I’ll have to start browsing anon on a VPN and privacy browser.
@f00l I’ve been trying to find some audible books for spring break. Lots of people recommended the Alan Cumming/Tim Curry version of Dracula. I somehow found a link that let me buy the book for $.99 and an audiobook for $.99, and it turned out to be that version. I think from Reddit? I’m pretty sure I could never figure out how I did it. The whispersync thing works oddly.
@sammydog01
Have never read Dracula.
Thx for recommend. Good to have it to look forward to.
(BTW the above audible book sale link I mentioned came from Slickdeals I think)
I haven’t read any of Douglas Clegg’s books but they get good reviews. His new one is a buck and the Audible add on is two bucks.
https://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Hour-gripping-supernatural-thriller-ebook/dp/B006X85IDM
I like scary books so I’m giving it a try.
Wow, “All Systems Red: The Murderbot Diaries” by Martha Wells sounds amazing!
Part of today’s Kindle daily deal
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West Kindle Edition
by Dee Brown (Author)
$1.99 until midnight PT.
https://www.amazon.com/Bury-My-Heart-Wounded-Knee-ebook/dp/B009KY5OGC/ref=lp_6165851011_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548714098&sr=1-1
From the Kindle daily deals page
Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga
Kindle Edition
by Hunter S. Thompson (Author)
$1.99 until midnight PT
https://www.amazon.com/Hells-Angels-Strange-Terrible-Saga-ebook/dp/B008IU9IVG/ref=lp_6165851011_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548793270&sr=1-4
Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir Kindle Edition
by Norm Macdonald (Author)
$1.99 until midnight PT
https://www.amazon.com/Based-True-Story-Not-Memoir-ebook/dp/B01B0K989W/ref=lp_6165851011_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1548793270&sr=1-7