SOCL

I just finished Aspects of Roman History, AD 14-117 by Richard Alston. Granted, it was for a class and I'm a Roman historian, but I have to push it regardless. I used to recommend Antony Kamm's The Romans as the best book with a brief history of Roman society, but now I have a new one, although this one only covers the aspects of the society from the reign of Tiberius to the end of Trajan's. Alston's book covers all the important aspects of the era with good detail, but in a easy-to-read manner without getting bogged down in detail. The only thing I would change would be to add footnotes for the sources instead of internal citations, but that would make it less attractive to the average reader. Still, anyone interested in the early Imperial period ought read it.

Speaking of un-great movies, I saw Superbad approximately a month ago. About as bad a let down (after all the hype) as The Matrix. Too much hype about...nothing. In fact, I thought it was boring and greatly regret spending the money I did on it... Wait, didn't I already mention this?

Thanks for the birthday wishes from three days ago, mates! I can assure you all I spent a few great evenings in the care of a more than few ale...and the next morning in the care of Tylenol and grumpiness.

Long time to reply, I know, but... Tex, if I had meant you, I promise you I wouldn't have hesitated to call you out.

Read World War Z by Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks). Even if you don't like zombies (I'm certainly not what you would call a "fan"), it really has less to do with zombies as it does the human condition; i.e. reaction to crisis. It's easily one of my favorite novels! I read it all in a day! Absolutely brilliant! I won't detail it the plot since that would give much of it away, but it's written exactly like a true oral history, a series of small vignettes about people who survived the "Zombie War" that explores the human condition and humanity, addressing the numerous, numerous issues that plague society in the modern day, all against the backdrop of a zombie outbreak (i.e. zombies are not in the fore). Reader reviews seem to indicate that most people were actually not even aware of a lot of global issues/crises until they read this book! READ IT!

Hmm...last time I watched the films was last Star Wars Day, 25 May 2007. And I'll watch them again this Star Wars Day!

Appears to me I read it right the first time Tex, reread what I wrote, especially what I bolded and italicized text:

Finally warm enough here to go for a stroll in D.C.!

I think I remember reading somewhere (and I think it was Traviss, actually ) that "fifty is the new forty" or maybe even "the new thirty"!

I think you pegged it on the nose, Evaders: national pride. There be something in Tibet that we're not aware of, though, and I suppose cynicism makes me think there might be an untapped source of oil there. Losing Tibet, though, in my view, would actually strengthen the PRC's economy in many ways by solidifying their hold on the traditionally Chinese lands closer to the coast. It would also create a buffer state between China and India, relations being shaky and back-and-forth since the 1960s. The fact the PRC at one time backed Pakistan also probably doesn't sit well with India, as well as India's willingness to support the Tibetan government-in-exile (especially the Dalai Lama). China may in fact have fears, perhaps founded, that withdrawing from Tibet would strengthen India's position in the region as a direct rival. I think it's likely a combination of national pride and strategic positioning.

Hmm. Sorry about that. I mistook what you said to mean you didn't care for the Tibetans. My bad.

Sweating? That's just annoying, Mitth.It's warmed up here, too. I'm going camping this weekend in Arkansas. Hopefully it'll be both warm and dry, especailly since the storms have passed and the floods are finally subsiding.

Don't do anything and just pray, eh? Right. That's precisely what Christians do, too, right? Thus, they should be oppressed by the government and told that they may not have an opinion against the government and thus may not organize and protest. That makes a lot of sense. Would you say the same thing about the Civil Rights Movement, too? In all seriousness, I think the matter in Tibet is quite disturbing, and by that I am referring namely to the PRC's reaction and their deployment of paramilitary and military forces to the area. In the past I was at least in moderate favor of an independent Tibetan state and not just an autonomous region under the government of someone else. Maybe a state whose survival is guaranteed by the International community? The recent events have radicalized my opinion all the more and I staunchly believe that Tibet ought break from the People's Republic of China. It's amazing that in the modern, so-called "progressive" world the International community stands for allowing another country to oppress a people so thoroughly, to the point of forcing the government of Tibet into exile (in India). To show my stance, and though it may not do much, I'll be participating in peaceful protests outside the Chinese embassy here in Washington, D.C.

Yes. Quite.

Additionally, anyone scraping out an existence on part-time work do not go into the unemployment count. Yes, granted, they have a job, but it also doesn't count an "official" job because it's not considered enough to sustain a lifestyle. Further, there is no count for immigrant or migrant workers, either, despite the fact most immigrant/temporary workers actually pay in for benefits, but are not granted those benefits. Yeah, don't want immigrants, huh? Willing to give up a great deal of the benefits you get at work? I doubt it. Precisely. I suppose I did oversimplify it some. It's not socialism, but there's a level of socialized benefits and programs, which makes it apparently socialism here in the States. As for this, which I managed to overlook: I don't think I accused you of being a racist, Tex, and it's quite unfortunate you saw that in what I wrote. I still believe that a great deal of the people who say Obama is "not ready" or this other nonsense have a level of a racism in what they say, at least in my experience throughout the East Coast of the country. I would hardly call it propaganda, though, as I can assure you, it does exist. As for the matter of Condoleezza Rice, I have a great deal of doubt she would ever run for the Presidency, and I also have a great deal of doubt the GOP would nominate her with any serious intentions of candidacy.

Mmm...a gin and tunic sounds good right about now. I've lately started splitting my drinking time between beer and red wine, a good pinot noir, preferably.

It was certainly dumb, but I think that if you're going to read Legacy of the Force you should read Dark Nest, just to set the stage. Just remember while you're reading it: it's not Shakespeare.

Now who's being steoretyical . I have relatives in Kentucky. Say that to their face and you'd be shot! That seems like a logical response. "Shoot anyone who doesn't agree, or how about just over some schoolyard name calling?" And I know they wouldn't hesitate to shoot me. I lived in both Kentucky and Tennessee for six years, and when I lived by myself, off the military base, I had a guy who lived across the street from me who told me every single day I should "go back to my own country" despite the fact I was born in Puerto Rico and thus an American citizen by birth. Despite the fact my father is in the U.S. Army. Despite the fact I myself am on the Individual Ready Reserve roll for the U.S. Army. I have no great love for Kentucky or Tennessee. I would get into a discussion about the incentives for working under a socialized (notice I did not say communist, and also note the lack of capitalization on "socialized"), but I've it before on these forums and it generally doesn't come to that. Suffice to say, the Socialist system (note the capitalization) gives plenty of incentive to work harder. When you see it from the perspective of "I get my fair share, no matter what", then it shows a lack of understanding of how socialism works. How do you think it works in most European, but especially the Scandinavian states?

Short memory? Try 1993 and 2003. Operation Gothic Serpent and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and that's only ten years.

I think your last sentence is the point, Tofu. Besides, she was young--very young--when Anakin died. It's not surprising at all that it would have severely traumatized her, especially since it was also her first love. This isn't a particular unusual reaction. Look at the way Traviss has Boba Fett obsessed with his father--he was very young and saw the only love in his life killed directly before him. MINOR SPOILERS follow: As for Jacen, I don't think riding on the "He's not crazy, just doing the wrong thing for the right reasons" bit can work any more. The man has given himself fully to being a Sith and I believe that part of that evolution involves beginning to lose touch with reality. At first Jacen gave himself to the Dark Side in order to accomplish certain goals and such, but the more and more he does it, the more and more he feels he has to do it, and thus we get Darth Caedus, who is not Jacen. This is a new character, a Sith Lord, willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish a certain goal. That idealistic goal Jacen had in time becomes more and more jaded and increasingly distances itself from his original idea. This, though he may not realize it, he is going mad in a slow, painful process. Traviss explains this quite well in the last chapter or so.

Here's my bit on Revelation. The first paragraph has minimal to no SPOILERS, only commenting on Traviss' style, but after that SPOILERS follow. Highlight to read. SPOILERS FOLLOW Traviss once more proves that despite her boasting about journalism skills, they lack what it takes to tell a story. Although the creativity of it all remains and the plot itself is quite good, Traviss lacks the ability to deliver so that even the most dramatic scenes come across as monotone and one gets the impression he is being told facts rather than told a story. It was nice to see Traviss at last reign in her obsession with the Mandalorians, if only be weaving it into the greater tapestry of the series, but even then the Fett subplot continued, though it certainly didn't weigh down this novel to the same degree as Sacrifice. Traviss also suffers from a lack of character development and behavior. All men act the same way in most situations, as do the women, and Mandalorians all behave the same way, and after a time it makes you realize that perhaps Traviss is better suited to stories about clones during the prequel era; ironic because her clone characters have more individualized personalities than the characters she contributed to this series, which makes one wonder just how devoted she was to the entire project. One gets the impression that to her, this was something a side job she had to do and that her true passion lay in the Republic Commando series. SPOILERS FOLLOW As for details within the book itself, the return of Daala was an interesting twist, especially considering the conditions under which she left the Empire back in Anderson's 'Darksaber' (1996), leaving what will become the Imperial Remnant in Pellaeon's hands. It was even stranger to see Pellaeon's death--which was not nearly was tragic or even heart-felt as it could have been, which I attribute to Traviss' dry style--leaving Daala once more at the helm of the Imperial Remnant, or at least the portion in rebellion of the Moffs. It seemed odd to me, at least, that the fleet would follow the Moffs at Fondor and not utterly mutiny and follow Pellaeon's policies, but given the rather confused state of affairs during the Hand of Thrawn debacle, it's possible that like then the Imperial military still lacks a clear command structure and remains unsure to whom they respond. Stranger still was the return of Maw Installation technology, which Traviss seems to have brought to the story in the spirit of the "superweapon of the week" story telling from earlier novels. By now that technology is at least as old as the Battle of Endor and likely to be inoperable, and one has to wonder what's the point of bringing it in to the story other than shock factor. Traviss only makes up for her lack of characterization, inability to be subtle about any character thoughts (saying what your characters think and how they change rather than showing it shows a lack of writing ability), and cliche dialogue through the reigning in of the Mandalorian/Fett subplot and a good story. Still, her delivering leaves something to be desired, and I personally believe that future novels would benefit from having Ms. Traviss outline the story, but let someone else write it. The good story line still garners it a 4 out of 5, but in light of this story brings down Sacrifice to a 3.5 out of 5, the lowest rating I have given any novel in the series. And I can personally only hope that her upcoming Republic Commando: Order 66 is her last foray into Star Wars.

I have a friend who also worked in the airport who broke her arm not too long ago while on the job. Unfortunately, because she isn't a full-time status employee (she still works 40+ hours a week, she just isn't signed on as full-time), she isn't covered by Workman's Compensation, so she had to rely on her health insurance. Because of the small amount of money she makes, she was only able to get her arm set and casted, but was unable to pay for the physical therapy. Since then, she has a great deal of trouble using her right hand. When I asked her about it, she simply said, "I couldn't afford to pay for the physical therapy and meds and eat at the same time." So she had to choose between two very important matters. Additionally, she makes just too much to be considered for welfare, so she is stuck in that loophole of thousands, maybe even millions, who make too little for good health insurance, but too much to be assisted by welfare. I promise you, too, I would personally punch out the first person to say she is lazy. It's because of situations like this that I thoroughly like the broader European health system, but especially the German one, as Eagle outlined. Those who make more money pay more money, those who make less money pay less money, and everyone is covered to the same degree. And I know of numerous other examples on a personal level (not just stuff I read or hear about), and it makes it apparent this is an increasing problem. That is why I support socialized health care.

Happy, albeit delayed, birthday, Tex!

No, but I generally dislike serious relationships. They become more a burden than a joy. Something a little more low-key is my type.

She said that she didn't like such derogatory comments made about her. I told her it wasn't personal, just that I happen to be anti-serious-relationship.