What Book Are You Reading? Volume 9

[Masada]

I'm reading The Guns of August by Barbara W. Tuchman. It's a very interesting read. I just made it through the first two chapters.

Dated reactionary nonsense. Comaraden Dachs recommends The First World War - Hew Strachan for the First Imperialist World War. I am sure the good comrade could recommend something even more relevant if you so desired.

The first one describes the political scene of Europe just prior to the war laced neatly into a description of the funeral of King Edward VII.

The French Imperialists would have invaded Imperialist Belgium if the German Imperialists hadn't done it first. Unfortunately, the Imperialists didn't choke on their own collective folly except for the undeveloped Imperialist Russia -- which Comrades wasn't what we wanted. Germany but for a horse-shoe.

The second chapter describes German military thinking just prior to the war, and goes into a detailed description of the Schlieffen Plan, and how it came about.

The reactionary Schlieffen Plan was detailed? Comaraden Dachs can explain the deficienies with Barbara bourgeois Tuchman's account.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Oh, my dear Cheezy,

The Guns of August has been repeatedly vindicated as the most authoritative account of the opening days of the First World War ever written. If you weren't so blinded by your communist brainwashing you would see that. But no, you can't help but follow Glorious Comrade Stalin's story of the great European imperialist catfight. Disgusting.

You make me sad, Cheezy. Why do you continue to defend this totalitarian ideology, responsible for the deaths of so many millions in the 20th century? Do you really think turning the whole world into Cuba or Zimbabwe will solve anything?

There was an old joke around during communist days in Russia that if the Sahara were collectivized there would immediately be a shortage of sand. People don't make those kinds of observations for no reason, Cheez.

 

[Masada]

The Guns of August has been repeatedly vindicated as the most authoritative account of the opening days of the First World War ever written. If you weren't so blinded by your communist brainwashing you would see that. But no, you can't help but follow Glorious Comrade Stalin's story of the great European imperialist catfight. Disgusting.

Masada for a poor oppressed racial minority you have a low class consciousness: Ideological education is the key link to be grasped in uniting the whole Party for great political struggles. Unless this is done, the Party cannot accomplish any of its political tasks. Nevertheless, its authority while venerable does not preclude certain parts of it becoming obsolete as further work is done: The Communist Party does not fear criticism because we are Marxists, the truth is on our side, and the basic masses, the workers and peasants, are on our side. Comrade Dachs has made criticism of bourgeois Tuchmans thesis regarding purported German aggression and the inevitable invasion of Imperialist Belgium by Imperialist France if Imperialist Germany hadn't acted first. All the Imperialist states are obviously evil, but the specific evil that was attributed to the German proletariat is simply false.

You make me sad, Cheezy. Why do you continue to defend this totalitarian ideology, responsible for the deaths of so many millions in the 20th century? Do you really think turning the whole world into Cuba or Zimbabwe will solve anything?

Zimbabwe isn't Socialist. And Cuba is the way it is because of the Imperialist aspirations of the United States of Amerikkka.

There was an old joke around during communist days in Russia that if the Sahara were collectivized there would immediately be a shortage of sand. People don't make those kinds of observations for no reason, Cheez.

Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing Masada for the communes, think about it, no sand and rich soil. It clearly shows the singular wonderfulness of the Soviet Unions to turn the course humour of the capitalists against themselves. After-all: All our cadres, whatever their rank, are servants of the people, and whatever we do is to serve the people. How then can we be reluctant to discard any of our bad traits?

 

[Whomp]

Bravo you two! Oh and Topeka, KS is now known as Google, KS.

 

[Smellincoffee]

I'm still working on 1491, but am in the mood for adventure lit and am so reading Captain Horatio Hornblower, a collection of three novellas about a Royal Navy captain during the Napoleonic wars.

 

[Tani Coyote]

I'm browsing through "Mangamania Shoujo" by Christopher Hart. Despite the rather fruity name(Shoujo is the Japanese genre for girls), and the fact it's pink and has a fairy chick on the front...

..It's useful for learning the ropes. Failing that, I can always use the internet and even others' pictures for reference on how to draw certain things. It's always easier to follow in a person's footsteps than to be the actual innovator!

 

[Richard Cribb]

I'm going to read "Dreiser's Russian Diary" edited by Thomas Riggio.

I spent the weekend with quite an interesting group of people this weekend. Dr. Riggio was one of the accomplished people I met and we really hit it off.

He feels Dreiser is one of the most under appreciated American authors. It turns out Dreiser's writings were often censored because of what was unacceptable during his time, sexual promiscuity as well as his socialist leanings. Dr. Riggio said that his most famous book "An American Tragedy" is actually 50 chapters longer but was edited down because of some of the content. He is now reconstructing many of his works since apparently Dreiser never threw anything away.

The diary is about Theodore Dreiser's invitation in 1927 from the Soviet Union to visit the country for 2 months on the 10 year anniversary of the revolution. The diary is part Dreiser and part Ruth Kennell who was his secretary and companion on the trip. Should be an interesting read.

Now that is quite interesting. Thanks for the information,Whomp.

Bravo you two! .

Seconded. I am intending to hire those two lads for performing on my next wedding anniversary.
As for me, just finished reading the manual for my new wireless router.
Tonight I'll start on
Shadows over Baker Street which is supposed to be an anthology of short stories where "Sherlock Holmes enters the nightmare world of H.P.Lovecraft".
Quite talented for an amateur, that mr. Holmes.

 

[Cutlass]

What's the Matter with Kansas? by Thomas Frank

Published in 2004, it's quite prophetic for the situation with the reactionary right today.

 

[Whomp]

Now that is quite interesting. Thanks for the information,Whomp.

You got it.

He also sent me this in his last email so hopefully I'll be able to report on some other interesting things.

Now that I know you are getting the Russian Diary, and have an interest in the subject, send me your home address and I’ll ship you some stuff I did as a result of working in the Russian archives.

 

[Masada]

Now that I know you are getting the Russian Diary, and have an interest in the subject, send me your home address and I’ll ship you some stuff I did as a result of working in the Russian archives.

Revealing I'm sure the true nature and extent of the despicable Imperialists and their attempts to destroy a true workers paradise (in the making).

As for me, just finished reading the manual for my new wireless router.

Does the manual demonstrate proper class consciousness? Do you feel the struggle of the oppressed proletariat constructing it?

Seconded. I am intending to hire those two lads for performing on my next wedding anniversary.

I think my American lower class brogue might be a bit to thick for Norwegian ears.

 

[Cutlass]

You got it.

He also sent me this in his last email so hopefully I'll be able to report on some other interesting things.

Now that I know you are getting the Russian Diary, and have an interest in the subject, send me your home address and I’ll ship you some stuff I did as a result of working in the Russian archives.

What type of stuff?

 

[Whomp]

Revealing I'm sure the true nature and extent of the despicable Imperialists and their attempts to destroy a true workers paradise (in the making).

Well done.

What type of stuff?

Well, I'm not sure but Dr. Riggio said Dreiser was a pack rat and didn't throw anything out so we'll see.

 

[Elrohir]

Thanks for catching that. I meant 1491.

Ah, good! You had me worried.

 

[Cutlass]

Well done.

Well, I'm not sure but Dr. Riggio said Dreiser was a pack rat and didn't throw anything out so we'll see.

I meant what type of work did you do on it? If you talked about it around here, I missed it.

 

[Richard Cribb]

Does the manual demonstrate proper class consciousness? Do you feel the struggle of the oppressed proletariat constructing it?

What the deuce are you rambling about?

I think my American lower class brogue might be a bit to thick for Norwegian ears.

Don't worry about that, lad.
Will just add to the comic value.

 

[Masada]

What the deuce are you rambling about?

Marxist dialectics?

Don't worry about that, lad.

International class solidarity!

 

[Whomp]

I meant what type of work did you do on it? If you talked about it around here, I missed it.

Actually, the italics was from Dr. Riggio's email. It's the work he did on the Russian archives.

 

[Richard Cribb]

Marxist dialectics?

No.

International class solidarity!

No.

 

[Pokurcz]

Kapuscinski's "TRaveling with Herodotus" Pretty good, but nothing beats his "The Emperor" or "The Shah of Shahs".

Awesome stuff...

 

[Gilder]

Finished Jude the Obscure last Sunday. Well-written, if a bit stereotypically Victorian in a little of its prose, but really good. Also more depressing than a sack of ferrets in a meth lab.

I am now reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X by... Malcolm X and Alex Haley.