Break Out Area Showing 601-650 of 2,602

[Manray9]

Jill wrote: "Manray9 wrote: "Any recommendations for a good bio of Isaac Newton?"

Try this one, Manray9. I haven't read it but it has gotten good reviews.

by [authorimage:James ..."

Thanks. I came across conflicting reviews of this.

[Manray9]

Below is a new review of --

American Spartan by Anne Scott Tyson

The review was written by Bing West, the author of the outstanding --

The Village

West is noted for his well-founded criticisms of our follies in Central Asia over the last ten (+) years.

I admire the comparison of Jim Gant to "Liver-Eating" Johnson, the "Crow Killer." They were men with the souls of warriors. It doesn't surprise me Gant came to an untimely professional end. In our current political climate there is little room for warriors. I, and many of my colleagues, saw this in the U.S. Navy in the Nineties. High rank was achieved by those who best navigated a desk around the Pentagon and curried favor with their seniors on the golf course. Operating an effective and efficient warship at sea was only having a "ticket punched" during the trip up the ladder.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinion...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

I've been checking out a few reviews of American Spartan so thanks for that link Manray9.

[Bob]

Thank you, Manray for writing the name of the book, instead of just showing the cover. When just the cover is shown, I often can't tell what it is on my ipad.

[Manray9]

From the Cold War and not WW II, here is a Washington Post article about the CIA's involvement in publication of Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/n...

Pasternak was (and remains) much better known in Russia as a poet, but I like his only novel. It was banned by the Soviet government for not reflecting the Socialist Realism required by all Soviet art in the period. On GR, I gave it Four Stars. If you have only watched the movie, read the book. It's much better.

[Lilo]

What do you all think of the recent developments in Eastern Europe?

Here is a link to an article that made me shiver:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/S...

The way Putin has swallowed Crimea and is stretching out his tentacles to the other satellite states of the former Soviet Union reminds me a lot of Hitler marching into Czechoslovakia and the world doing nothing. Yet if the world does something now, we might have WWIII, and this would probably let WWII look like a boy scout war game in comparison.

I think it was a big mistake that Western Europe boosted Russia's economy by purchasing natural gas from Russia. Not only is Western Europe now dependent on this gas, it made Russia so rich that Putin has been able to put lots of money into armament. (He has just raised the military budget by 44%.)

I can only say, the recent development is scary -- very scary!

[Bob]

At the same time, we are cutting back our military. Does that make sense? I am confused!

[Lilo]

Bob wrote: "At the same time, we are cutting back our military. Does that make sense? I am confused!"

No, this does not make sense. The problem is that the government is under pressure to cut expenses. The shirt is always too short somewhere.

I wonder if Putin can get stopped at all. O.k., if we had twice the military force than Russia, he might be. Does anyone know how Russia's military force compares to that of the U.S.?

I think, too, that if anything can stop Putin, it will be an overwhelming military force, but then we are back to an arms race, as we had it during the cold war.

I do not see any solution to this problem, no matter how we approach it.

The best thing would be if Western Europe stopped buying natural gas from Russia so that Putin would run out of money. Yet Western Europe would never do this. The whole European economy would break down if the gas import was stopped. Western Europe has made itself dependent on Russian gas. Besides, how long would it take for Putin to run out of money? I haven't got a clue.

Is anyone politically informed enough to have an educated guess what China might do when Putin continues with his imperialistic actions?

[Bob]

We must go back to WWII as we know that outcome! Thank goidness it went our way! I can remember the excitment here in the states when it was all over. Shows you how old I am!

[Dj]

When military spending goes to research over the maintenance of forces, you have to cut back the boots on the ground.
The scary thing about the mini-soviet nations playing hard ball with each other is a lot of those nations have nukes. Fun times for one and all.

Bob wrote: "At the same time, we are cutting back our military. Does that make sense? I am confused!"

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

This year's Beating the Retreat celebrates the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines and sees the band of the USMC and Royal Netherlands Marines join them. If you are in London on 3rd June then info for tickets can be found here:http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-....

The British Army's info for June is here too:
http://www.householddivision.org.uk/e...

Info on the military tradition of Beating the Retreat here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beating_....

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Thanks for that information and the links Geevee, sounds like it will be a great event!

[Steve]

It's sort of late notice, but tonight Turner Classic Movies is showing a rare British wartime movie titled Went the Day Well? from the famed Ealing Studios: About German commandos that try and take over an English village, but the villagers don't let them. Graham Greene worked on the script. Sounds like partial inspirations for both The Eagle Has Landed and even Red Dawn. Looking forward to it.

[Manray9]

Here's an article from The Washington Post about the future of the A-10 Warthog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busines...

I can’t remember when the USAF wasn’t "retiring" the A-10 Warthog. I wonder about the real story? Is it just money? The USAF as always belittled close-air support as a warfare specialty, as the USN has NGFS and mine warfare. There is no glory in those operations. In the USN you don’t make admiral by minesweeping and in the USAF you don’t make general by CAS. The F-35 is one of those magical “All-Mission” aircraft, which means some missions are done not too well. To me the nature of current warfare would argue for a good reliable CAS aircraft. If my small SF or Ranger group was pinned down by the Taliban in a rugged section of eastern Afghanistan, I would want to call in some Warthogs with 30 mm guns (with 1,300 rounds of ammo) and Mavericks, rather than some “fast movers” which will have loiter issues and only carry a couple hundred cannon rounds.

A former colleague of mine flew a Warthog in the first Iraq war. He says what they did to the Iraqi army wasn’t war it was slaughter. The Iraqis had virtually no defense against the Warthogs. The A-10s laid waste to Iraqi columns at will. It’s an ugly picture, but what’s needed in war.

I would be interested in comments by former pilots or ground pounders.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I have witnessed A10 support in the shape of its astounding gattling gun and its power is immense and shocking, but welcome.

[carl]

Steve wrote: "It's sort of late notice, but tonight Turner Classic Movies is showing a rare British wartime movie titled Went the Day Well? from the famed Ealing Studios: About German commandos that try and take..."

Missed that one, but looks interesting. Have to put it
on the TBW, to be watched list.

[Manray9]

Steve wrote: "It's sort of late notice, but tonight Turner Classic Movies is showing a rare British wartime movie titled Went the Day Well? from the famed Ealing Studios: About German commandos that try and take..."

I've seen it. Pretty good. I agree about "The Eagle has Landed."

[Colin]

Manray9 wrote: "Here's an article from The Washington Post about the future of the A-10 Warthog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busines......"

My good friend, LTC Robert Schmidt was a A-10, F-4 and F-16 USAF pilot. He flew A-10 in Iraq at that time, and what he said they did to enemy armor was incredible. USMC pilot are the world's best at ground attack/support, with far less friendly fire incidents than anyone else. That is because the FAC on the ground IS A PILOT, who knows the capabilities, limitations and coordination required for a successful strike.

[Dj]

Every time the Air Force tries to retire the A10, the Army offers to take it off their hands. It usually ends up with the Air Force keeping it.


Manray9 wrote: "Here's an article from The Washington Post about the future of the A-10 Warthog.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busines......"

[happy]

Dj wrote: "Every time the Air Force tries to retire the A10, the Army offers to take it off their hands. It usually ends up with the Air Force keeping it.

This :)

When I was in, a couple of times I was on the business end of the Warthog - he was making practice straffing runs on my antenna farm and was cleared down to 50 ft (teetop level at Ft. Campbell). You don't realize how big 30mm is until you see it from that perspective :)

[Dj]

I saw some footage of an A10 practice runs in a test fun for a new laser targeting systems. They would get kills and then get told that they weren't getting bulls eyes and had failed to take out the target when you could see it had been just shredded on the tape.
Finally one guy started his run and said he was firing and they kept telling him he was missing the target when the camera fell and went dark and the sound said, tell me that wasn't a bulls eye.



happy wrote: "Dj wrote: "Every time the Air Force tries to retire the A10, the Army offers to take it off their hands. It usually ends up with the Air Force keeping it.

This :)

When I was in, a couple of time..."

[Dj]

So since this is anything not WWII, here is a link to my review of Brave New World.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Feliks]

Breakout! Thin Lizzy

[Dj]

Feliks wrote: "Breakout! Thin Lizzy"

LOL, but I always preferred I am Just a Cowboy. or was it Cowboy Song? Hmmm, have to see if I can find that Brain Cell.

[Mike]

I'd go for Still in Love with You, off the Live and Dangerous album.

[Dj]

Not sure I have heard that one. Not a real bit Thin Lizzy fan. Much more into the Rush.

[Gerald]

Well, like Dj, I just finished a fascinating book. It is called Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America's Police Forces, and it deals with the trend toward militarizing American police forces and the court and policy decisions that facilitate this trend. I have written a review for those who are interested.

[Manray9]

For our May theme, I may read:

Tobruk: The Story of a Siege by Anthony Heckstall-Smith

I have had an old hard cover on my shelf for too many years. I just entered it into the GR database and noticed on the dust jacket two appearances of the word siege misspelled as "seige" -- in the subtitle and cover blurb. This is the 1st American edition by W. W. Norton in 1960. Nobody at the publishing house or printer noticed?

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Not seen that one before Manray9 (with or without spelling errors!)

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Very interesting Manray9 :)

[Dj]

Another, none WWII book review.
This one on the first of David Weber's Hornblower in space series.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dj]

Still nothing to do with WWII, but I found it amusing.

I have been attempting to read all those 'wonderful' classics that I dodged in school.

In reading Frank Baum, the Wizard of Oz I found out that Hollywood really didn't do anything special in the way they started the movie in black and white and then transitioned to color. It is that way in the book too. I was amazed that you could write a book so that you saw the state of Kansas as being black and white. Impressive.

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

A new statue/memorial commemorating the Black Watch near Ypres: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland...

[carl]

good to see they still remember.

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

A nice story Geevee, thanks for posting the details.

[Dj]

Here is my review for 'I am Number Four'
Yeah I know I am reading the SciFi much faster than the military history, but that is because I don't have to pay as much attention. LOL.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Dj]

I hope that anyone that really likes this book, doesn't come after me for this review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

['Aussie Rick', Moderator]

Oops :)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I haven't read this Dj but a number of classics I have and many have left me wondering why they have been gifted the label.

[Dj]

I suppose it would depend on the 'classic' in question. How much someone likes or dislikes a book is always a matter of personal preference, but I am sure that there are some English Teachers out there that love calling anything by Dickens a classic since it allows them to torture their students making them read it.
For myself I have a great difficulty reading poetry or anything in a play format. Even with all that against me, and the difficulty I have reading Shakespeare I recognize the quality and the fact that it does touch upon a number of very primal and very human emotions. Which when all is said and done is what I figure a classic should do. Touch you in a way that is unexpected.
Although if that unexpected touch is making you want to start a bonfire and burn all the copies of the book, I am going to have to say, that probably isn't a classic. LOL.

Geevee wrote: "I haven't read this Dj but a number of classics I have and many have left me wondering why they have been gifted the label."

[Manray9]

I think the definition of classic must include having withstood the test of time. I see GR members writing about the renowned classic "Harry Potter." Sorry, I don't buy it.

[Dj]

It might become one, but being that it isn't older than I am, I don't think it counts just yet. I felt a little like that when I watched The Last Samurai on AMC (American Movie Classics for those who are wondering) at the time the movie was less than five years old. Not a classic. Not then and realistically speaking not now.


Manray9 wrote: "I think the definition of classic must include having withstood the test of time. I see GR members writing about the renowned classic "Harry Potter." Sorry, I don't buy it."

[Tionne]

I hate how everyone picks on Dickens. I love his writing, even if he goes five miles when a few steps would've done. His use of words and themes to me are remarkable. I know, people hate reading him and hate calling his stuff a classic, but I think many of the things he writes about still hold to today, and I for one enjoy every moment. Although I still get angry about Sydney Carton. Ugh. Loved him. Anyway, maybe I'm fangirling too much over Dickens, but I really love his stuff. Also, many of his books were written in serial form, that's gotta be tough, every chapter has to be good enough to keep readers coming back for more. But I've read all of his works but 3, and I really, really dig them. I can understand why he has stuck around. But Harry Potter, yeah, let's wait and see on that one.

[Manray9]

Tionne wrote: "I hate how everyone picks on Dickens. I love his writing, even if he goes five miles when a few steps would've done. His use of words and themes to me are remarkable. I know, people hate reading hi..."

I like Dickens too. I want to read --

Little Dorrit

and

The Pickwick Papers

[Dj]

Wow, that was a can of worms I opened by making an off hand comment about Dickens. So I think I should clear a little bit of the air. I don't hate Dickens, nor do I think that his works should be considered less than what they are. A number of them are well worthy of the classics.

On a personal note the books that I have been subjected to by Dickens, two of them so far, were to my own view depressing, and difficult to read. While the book 'Great Expectations' may in fact be a classic, it was my own view that it was a truly depressing and miserable book. It is however just my own point of view. The other was 'The Tale of Two Cities' which does in fact prove that he was paid by the word.

On a plus side so far 'A Christmas Carol' is much nicer and more enjoyable a read than the other two.


Tionne wrote: "I hate how everyone picks on Dickens. I love his writing, even if he goes five miles when a few steps would've done. His use of words and themes to me are remarkable. I know, people hate reading hi..."

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

Tionne wrote: "I hate how everyone picks on Dickens. I love his writing, even if he goes five miles when a few steps would've done. His use of words and themes to me are remarkable. I know, people hate reading hi..."

Hi Tionne, Hope you're well. I don't get on with Dickens. I have read A Tale of Two Cities and it was good but laboured in many places and he does write as you say five miles for a few steps but that in part is because he was writing in a different age where often more was less, literary rates were rising and access to print was becoming widespread via libraries, penny dreadfuls etc and his writing was being serialised.

Although I've struggled to read Dickens I count them as classic - having garnered not just the books but plays, films etc.

I have never got on with Shakespeare but how could one say his writing wasn't a classic.

To some extent Manray9 hits it for me with his comment. The classic for me is when a generation after those something was written for accepts the writing and it generates reprints, conversation and perhaps adaptation to other media. Harry Potter I am sure will become a classic but it needs time and another generation in my view to be labelled one.

[Tionne]

It's ok, I get it, I just really enjoy reading him. When I was 14, my fav book was A Tale of Two Cities... So it's been there a long time. Manray, Little Dorritt is really good as well. Really good. David Copperfield is one of the better ones, even if he forgot to give David any personality, the other characters and the storyline make up for it. I don't much like Great Expectations either, just because Pip is such an idiot over a girl haha but I still think it is well written. But I understand why most people can't stand it, I just wanted to take up for Charlie as he is one of my favs! :-)

[Geevee, Assisting Moderator British & Commonwealth Forces]

I have this to read too Charles Dickens: A Life by Claire Tomalin

[Manray9]

Dj wrote: "Wow, that was a can of worms I opened by making an off hand comment about Dickens. So I think I should clear a little bit of the air. I don't hate Dickens, nor do I think that his works should be c..."

I liked "Great Expectations," but Dickens was writing about a depressing subject in a depressing time. Try "Bleak House" for a deeper draught of the same and look at "classics" by Steinbeck, Gorky, Upton Sinclair or Orwell too.

[Tionne]

Orwell is my go to guy. He was awesome. I have read lots of Steinbeck as well. I liked Bleak House.