I just came across The Mammoth Book of Awesome Comic Fantasy in a local thrift shop that looks like it's never been opened and read. It's a collection of over 30 comic fantasy short stories including Happy Valley by John Cleese & Connie Booth of Fawlty Towers. I'm looking forward to all 528 pages of it.
Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America Beth Hoffman From goodreads Bet the Farm chronicles this struggle through Beth’s eyes as a beginning farmer. She must contend with her father-in-law, who is reluctant to hand over control of the land. Growing oats is good for the environment but ends up being very bad for the wallet. And finding somewhere, in the midst of COVID-19, to slaughter grass-finished beef is a nightmare. The couple also must balance the books, hoping that farming isn’t a romantic fantasy that takes every cent of their savings. Even with a decent nest egg and access to land, making ends meet at times seems impossible. And Beth knows full well that she is among the privileged. If Beth can’t make it, how can farmers who confront racism, lack access to land, or don’t have other jobs to fall back on? Bet the Farm is a first-hand account of the perils of farming today and a personal exploration of more just and sustainable ways of producing food.
I forgot how much was packed into this tiny tomb. I blasted through it (2nd read) while doing maintenance window DWDM node insertions and I was re-re-reminded of the human animal's struggle with those old fremenies....Science and Religion. I was so taken with it that I hair-pinned it for a 3rd read. Herman orders them thusly, and I'm envious of a person who rubbed elbows with scientists such as Feynman, Murray Gell-Mann, Freeman Dyson, and Steven Weinberg without knowing....."The Language GOD talks" despite repeated attempts. I'm going to have to put Pompeo on hold and look into something on the Talmud and maybe get a Calculus for Dummies book.....
The Boys from Biloxi John Grisham For most of the last hundred years, Biloxi was known for its beaches, resorts, and seafood industry. But it had a darker side. It was also notorious for corruption and vice, everything from gambling, prostitution, bootleg liquor, and drugs to contract killings. The vice was controlled by a small cabal of mobsters, many of them rumored to be members of the Dixie Mafia.
Earl Swagger #1 Hot Springs Stephen Hunter Earl Swagger is tough as hell. But even tough guys have their secrets. Plagued by the memory of his abusive father, apprehensive about his own impending parenthood, Earl is a decorated ex-Marine of absolute integrity and overwhelming melancholy. Now he's about to face his biggest, bloodiest challenge yet. It is the summer of 1946, organized crimes garish golden age, when American justice seems to have gone to seed for good. Nowhere is this more true than in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the reigning capital of corruption.
I just started Termination Shock, a novel by Neal Stephenson. I've enjoyed most of his other works, and this one is off to a good start. Looks like he's doing climate change in this one.
Placed on hold in my digital library. It might be a while. There's a looooong line. Just finishing up: O'Donnell does a good job with the format and he didn't stray too far from the path...... Recommend.
This popped into my in-box while I was waiting for Ramaswamy's book. Only 321 pages, but wisdom-packed. Any politician above the US county level (or equivalent in other lands) should be required to not only READ this book, but demonstrate some passing proficiency with its contents.
I've only started this one so far, and already I might back out and save it for a roadtrip. Super powerful intro and Chapter 1!!!
The Chain is a 2019 novel written by Adrian McKinty Interesting so far. It seems like it is predictable but I am guessing there will be a couple of twists and turns before the end.
The UK used to be the cat's own nice person in aeronautics (and a few other things.) This is a look back at some of the reasons...WHY. Not a bad little tomb. Well written, as they tend to do. A VERY NICHE book but an interesting look back a few years.
