Excellent cyber-historical fiction

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Excellent writing and story telling in this cyber-historical fiction spanning three generations. Loved it, despite being 910 pages long. This guy is a fantastic writer!

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was a long haul, but well worth it!!!!

2007 Honda Accord EX Sedan

2007 Honda Accord EX Sedan - $8089

2007 Honda Accord EX Sedan 4D
$8089
KBB Excellent Condition - Loaded
Honda Certified Pre-owned
Driver AIRBAG RECALL serviced
4-Cyl, VTEC, 2.4 Liter
Manual Transmission, 5-Spd
Mileage: 101,233
Dual Zone Climate Control
Power Windows
Power Door Locks
Cruise Control
Power Steering
Tilt Wheel
AM/FM Stereo
CD (Multi Disc)
Dual Air Bags
Side Air Bags
Power Seat
Heated Leather Seats
Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature
Alloy Wheels
Color Gold
Title Clear and in hand
Cash only
All service records
NON-SMOKER

contact for.sale@read2grow.net

Darkness on the Edge of Truth

Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy: Darkness on the Edge of Truth by Randall E. Auxier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My son-in-law got me this book - boy does he know me! You don't need to be a philosopher to read this book, but you probably need to be a Springsteen fan. This is a collection of essays by philosophy geeks, each of which is related in some degree to Bruce's music and lyrics. I have heard Bruce compared with Dylan and Guthrie, but in this book, parallels are drawn between Socrates and Plato. If those aren't enough to whet your appetite to read this collection, then get this - how does Peter Pan play a roll in the narrative of "Born to Run"? That is the subject of one of the chapters. And the famous Jewish scholar Abraham Joshua Heschel is quoted more than a few times. This is an enjoyable read for any thoughtful enthusiast of Bruce's music. Enjoy!

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Oracle parking

If Oracle owned a public parking garage... pic.twitter.com/3vM1ApAOkl
— Ryan Johnson // ™ (@tenthirtyam) March 8, 2015

Old Man River

Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, this has been on my To Read list for a while, and a recent perusal of my bookshelves turned it up so i picked it up. Having spent a fair amount of time in Missouri, i'm glad i read it. The book is a conglomeration of different pieces, patched together into a volume containing much information related to the Mississippi River from the perspective of the famous author Mark Twain. I enjoyed his insight into the skills and knowledge required of the steamboat pilot, an occupation he had earlier in his life. I also enjoyed the political, social, and historical commentary of Twain in the latter part of the book which is primarily Twain's travel diary and "blog" as he returns to the Mississippi River after decades of international travel and learning. His wit and attitude are enjoyable to read, and his views are interesting, he having been raised on the river and then returning to it after decades of travel and education. The book drags at times, but also provides insights which may be hard to find anywhere else. How many steamboat pilots become internationally famous and published authors? There are many interesting subjects covered related to a wide range of topics relevant in the second half of the 19th century. All in all, this book is a great read, despite the dragging parts. I'm thankful that the native American legend of "The Undying Head" was relegated to Appendix D - it was all i could do to get through that one. This is a great read if you like Twain, or are interested in the history and legend surrounding "Old Man River".

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Back in our day!

#TBT Before Truman became everyone's favorite Tiger, #Mizzou's mascot rocked shades and a bowler hat for the 1983 Holiday Bowl parade. @marchingmizzou was stylin' back then, too.

A photo posted by Mizzou Alumni Association (@mizzoualumni) on Feb 19, 2015 at 11:58am PST

The Martian

The Martian by Andy Weir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story is exceptionally good! The premise of a human stranded on Mars with the challenge of surviving and living long term is fascinating. After about fifty pages, the book's writing style left me less than satisfied, in that it sounded to me like a hipster scientist/astronaut blog about his survival on Mars. The language is often terse, crude and casual. But then i paused long enough to step outside my own reading preferences to see that in fact, the delivery method is brilliant. I realized that i am not the primary intended audience, nor should i be. This story presents the the scientific facts, challenges and marvels of space exploration and travel in a language accessible to a young person today. My generation grew up with the challenge, inspiration, and hope of the Apollo missions and the beginnings of the Space Shuttle program. But since then, shorter term national priorities have eclipsed much of the space program during my middle adult life. Much has been lost as a result. The contents and message of this book are sorely needed with today's generation of youth. It is my hope that puritanical school systems will not ban it from reading lists because of the frequent use of popular yet crude vocabulary. Including this language makes the story more accessible, and frankly, more authentic to a young person (face it, they all know these words, the book banners are deluding themselves if they think otherwise). I loved this story, and the wealth of science, technology, and knowledge that is presented in such an creative way. I hope every high school student gets a chance to read and discuss this book as part of their basic science education. We need this grounded hope for the future, that has been lost since the days of Apollo. 5+ stars.

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intriguing alternative history story

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The Man in the High Castle" is a story of alternative history following WW-II being won by Germany and Japan. It is filled with mystery, suspense and intrigue, and draws the reader to the ending. Other stories by the author, Philip K. Dick, were the basis of the Films "Blade Runner", "Total Recall" and "Minority Report". I'm looking forward to the Amazon video series based upon this story. http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/15/7553753/amazon-13-tv-pilots-released

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change of genre

Distrust That Particular Flavor by William Gibson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an absolute delight! I really loved the change of genre by one of my favorite authors, William Gibson. "Distrust That Particular Flavor" is a collection of essays, addresses, and other short non-fictional works that Mr. Gibson has written over the years. It goes without saying that the writing is excellent. I loved sharing his thoughts on a variety of topics, and the insights into ideas, events and places that have contributed to his fiction, of which i'm a big fan! I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Mr. Gibson's excellent fictional works.

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the Internet

I'm enjoying this change of genre from William Gibson!

"The Internet, an unprecedented driver of change, was a complete accident, and that seems more often the way of things. The Internet is the result of the unlikely marriage of a DARPA project and the nascent industry of desktop computing. Had nations better understood the potential of the Internet, I suspect they might well have strangled it in its cradle. Emergent technology is, by it's very nature, out of control, and leads to unpredictable outcomes."

p.61 "Distrust That Particular Flavor" by William Gibson

The World Made Straight

The World Made Straight by Ron Rash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The World Made Straight" is a powerful and moving story set in the mountains of western North Carolina. The characters feel authentic, being a mix of good and bad as all real people are. Having finished my teen years in a rural environment during the same time period, I felt resonance with the situations and the people. The author does a nice job of weaving together the struggles and conflicts the main characters are experiencing with the Civil War conflicts their ancestors experienced over a hundred years earlier. The descriptions of the mountains and scenery popped off the pages, my family having spent much time camping in the mountains of North Carolina and southwest Virginia. Ron Rash's writing style is rich with metaphor and imagery, reminding me of Annie Dillard's "A Pilgrim on Tinker Creek".

My only disappointment is that i did not get this book read in time to go see the film based upon it when it was premiering locally (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2420166/). I heard about the limited showings on WUNC my local NPR station. (http://wunc.org/post/set-north-carolina-world-made-straight-premieres) I hope to be able to catch the movie when it is released more widely. This is a great story, i recommend it highly.

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAlh5UYXp4Q

so ashamed of Duke

I'm so ashamed of Duke University right now :(

Rebuked by Graham, Duke University cancels bell tower broadcast of Muslim call to prayer 

BY BRUCE SICELOFF AND ADAM BELL
bsiceloff@newsobserver.com abell@charlotteobserver.com 

January 15, 2015 

DURHAM — In the face of protest from conservative Christian evangelist Franklin Graham and other critics, Duke University on Thursday dropped its plan to let Muslim students chant a weekly call to prayer from the Duke Chapel bell tower.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/01/15/4478652_muslim-students-will-chant-call.html

How Jesus Became God

How Jesus Became God: The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee by Bart D. Ehrman
My rating: 5of 5 stars

"How Jesus Became God" is another brilliantly researched, organized, written and referenced book from Dr. Ehrman. Dr. Ehrman has a real talent for teaching, and for presenting voluminous and complicated historical material in a form accessible to the reader. This book is extra special to me because my daughter met Dr. Ehrman (view his address here) and got me a signed copy! The book is an excellent detailed overview of the historical evidence and theory which accompany the transformation of Jesus from the Jewish apocalyptic prophet who walked and taught in first century Palestine and was executed as a state criminal, to the God-man who the Christian church has worshiped for over two millennia. I'm looking forward to reading more of Dr. Ehrman's excellent work.

• http://www.bartdehrman.com/
• http://ehrmanblog.org/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAsQULGs1kU
  

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An Infuriating American

An Infuriating American: The Incendiary Arts of H. L. Mencken by Hal Crowther
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love reading Hal Crowther, his writing is fresh, engaging, and thought provoking. This book is an overview of the (in)famous journalist and writer H. L. Mencken. Mencken was a fascinating and complex personality. I walk away from reading this book wanting to sample Mencken's writing, but also with the feeling that i won't appreciate most of what he has to say. It is a challenge to separate the author from the subject matter. I would like however to get a glimpse of Mencken's intellect and worldview, even though i don't expect to embrace it. Another great book from Hal Crowther.

ps. NPR Host Frank Stasio talks to Mr. Crowther about his new book, An Infuriating American: The Incendiary Arts of H.L. Mencken ( http://wunc.org/post/infuriating-american )

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unconditional love

The Kingdom by Tom Hardin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved this story. The reader is plunged right into the intersection of fundamentalist evangelical Christianity and the LGBT community. When these two worlds collide within a minister’s family, the real human drama that results is profoundly moving, in both tragedy and in redemption. Having literally walked through many of the circumstances in this story, it felt very real to me. I especially appreciate the authentic humanity portrayed in the characters, and that they are not beyond redemption. The characters are not good and/or evil in themselves. Rather, the systemic evil of Christianity and our society is exposed through real flesh and blood people who choose caring action, unconditional love and relationship over fundamentalist dogma. This story does not have a storybook ending. It will grab the open-minded readers heart, and tears may result. Sadly, this is a story that is being lived out over and over within our nation and around the world. My wish is that by reading it, more painful tragedy can be avoided, and true redemption can occur.

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Thinking in Pictures

Thinking in Pictures, Expanded Edition: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Thinking in Pictures" is the inspiring, fascinating, and informative account of the life experiences of Temple Grandin. She shares with candidness and detail her interactions with the world around her as a person with autism. Her insight and knowledge on many subjects have made her an expert on animal psychology and thought, and she has used her knowledge to revolutionize humane approaches to livestock handling. Her methods have enabled humane handling techniques to be used in a large percentage of the cattle and swine industry. Her personal experiences, challenges, and her philosophical pondering are interesting and thought provoking. She shares a viewpoint that many of us can never see for ourselves. I enjoyed this book very much and am looking forward to reading more of her expertise in animal psychology in her book "Animals in Translation"

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Peripheral

The Peripheral by William Gibson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An interesting angle on time travel, technology, and environmental catastrophe from one of my favorite authors. This is a great story, and it was cool to hear Mr. Gibson to read selections from it, and sign my copy at Motorco in Durham :)

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I do not grok

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I do not grok this in fullness, the waiting is.

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Great talk

Great talk, especially love the challenge at the end.

math fun :)

The Joy of Pi by David Blatner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

For someone who is a professional mathematician, this little collection of facts and anecdotes about the number Pi might seem trivial or boring. But to a math amateur like me who had about two dozen hours of math in the college of Engineering, this book was great fun. Lots of interesting facts, and many many humorous and sometimes scary stories about people who were fanatical about the number Pi and "squaring the circle". I enjoyed this collection!

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