Bill:
Don't you dare forget to give your dog a treat too!
:) Ale.

Lähettänyt: AleAleta 8:48 pm (EST) May 31, 2008

Bill -
My take on Lee and Stuart was slightly different and I tend to agree with those scholars who suggest that Lee's reprimand at Gettysburg may well have pushed Stuart to take greater and greater risks, leading eventually to his death. Of course, the Union cavalry were also getting better while the Confederate cavalry were not and may actually have been getting slightly worse as their pool of good cavalry mounts and cavalry officers dwindled.

Blogspot is not entirely intuitive and I've actually spent a little time just playing with it to see how it worked, and trying out different things to see how they worked. Getting notice has gotten a little easier as I post more material and keep using the link to my blog in my signature block in many situations. It is also posted on LT and elsewhere as part of my public profiles. Finally, I also have the militaryphilosopher.com domain which leads directly to my blog, which helps. On the other hand, I imagine the fact that I don't blog daily or often even weekly reduces the blog's profile on the internet a bit, but I like to spend some time on my postings and they often require some research before I'm satisfied with them. I find that I tend to have more ideas lined up for blog articles then I have time to write them up, so its usually a question of finding the time to actually focus on and develop an idea into a finished blog.

In terms of techniques, I actually write and edit my blog in Word until I'm satisfied and only then do I post it. I don't try and write in blogspot directly. Pasting the text in seems to work pretty well for me. Good luck with yours and I look forward to reading your musings!

Robert A Mosher

Lähettänyt: RobertMosher 2:59 pm (EST) May 23, 2008

Oops! Just found that you added a book on Korea 3 days ago, so I guess I answered my own question.

Charlie

Lähettänyt: BrainFlakes 10:36 pm (EST) May 16, 2008

Bill:

Thought I'd check in and say hello. I've been recuperating from a stay in the hospital, so I haven't been surfing all the pipes and tubes on the Internet.

I also need to pick your brain (figuratively) since you're the history guy and I'm not. LOA hasn't done a book on Korea and I didn't find one in your library, but I'm wondering if you've heard anything about David Halberstam's book, The Coldest Winter. Considering that we lost 33,000 troops there, it seems like one of our disastrous wars we hear very little about.

I've been sticking to modern fiction lately and just finished Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith, a murder mystery set in 1953 Stalinist Russia where murder doesn't exist. Amazing writing from a first-timer.

I may return an LOA book for the first time: I see they shipped me their cookbook, a book we had no choice to reject. Their schedule is pretty light for the rest of the year, but I sure don't need a historical cookbook.

Hope all is well with you.

Charlie

Lähettänyt: BrainFlakes 9:26 pm (EST) May 16, 2008

Dear Bill,

I feel your mother's pain--though I didn't lose nearly that many books. But the only thing I can imagine that would be worse would be to lose family photographs; I didn't, so the loss of my books remains with me as much, much worse than trifles such as a couch, a chair, or even bookcases. Cleaning up was such a major process that there was no way to record what I was throwing out other than by a few photos I took (and when I asked someone else I realized later he had no idea that I was trying to capture the titles--he just took sort of long-range, fuzzy photos of the shelves of books that had to be tossed).

Not wanting to dwell--that's behind me now. When I finish my cataloging on LT, I'll be able to identify holes in a few series for which I want the complete collection. Otherwise, I'm content with acquiring new books and reading new things--while still having plenty of old favorites to re-read. I belong to a book club through my library and today they agreed that June's selection just might be non-fiction: had to keep from jumping for joy lest I betray too much how I really feel about the usual fare, which consists of way too many angst-ridden emotional wallows in what I would dismissively call chick lit. I like the women in the book club but I mostly hate the books they choose.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

Lähettänyt: ejj1955 2:06 pm (EST) Apr 15, 2008

Hi,

Pardon my delay in responding. Last Friday I finished trying a very nasty divorce the preparation for which took up all my time.

Yes, I'm a solo practioner. I hung out my shingle on 2 January 1982. I had been an associate for the four previous years, and a prosecutor for five years before that. Graduated from Boston University Law School in 1973. Got my B.A. from Colby College in 1966. My major was European history.

My three sons are all grown and have left the nest. The youngest is 23. He has been ski-bumming in California, but to the astonishment and pleasure of my wife and I, he thinks he wants to apply for law school. I think he will return to live with us sometime this Spring.

I try to read for at least a half an hour every morning. I only read one book at a time. For years I would alternately read a history (usually a biography) with a novel (usually 19th Century English). About a year ago I got interested in the history of mathmetics and physics. I don't know when I last read a novel.

I need to get back to work. I'll try to write more later

Bill Donahue

Lähettänyt: billdonahue 8:55 am (EST) Apr 14, 2008

Bill,

Yup--finishing is the hard part of writing! I've worked most of my career in reference publishing, but naturally would like to write a novel (you know, preferably the best-selling kind). I love being self-employed but motivating myself to get anything done is absolutely the hardest part.

LT has become an addiction in short order and I've seen that people can share very personal information about the hard times, too. My personal tale of woe includes being flooded out of my house in 2006 and losing books in the process--I've actually been surprised while cataloging here at how many I've already managed to acquire to replace them, though, so no worries. Also, somebody's comment here led to me BookMooch, which I've embraced enthusiastically.

Cheers,
Elizabeth

Lähettänyt: ejj1955 9:21 pm (EST) Apr 13, 2008

Greetings, wildbill. No I certainly don't see this as an intrusion. I looked over the books we share, and there are a number of key ones. I was surprised to see "Everyday Life in Ancient Times." I first saw the book in St. Augustine Seminary's (where I was a freshman) library in 1965. I found a used copy mny years later. The book still exists, but the seminary doesn't, having become a prison, and then a state park in Michigan. I had no idea I'd be moving to Michigan to live permanently over 40 years laters.

Yes, Brainflakes and I have starting conversing recently, which reminds me, I need to write him soon, having not been in touch for a little while. I see from your page that he has another dog. I must acknowledge that, as well as get some discussion going with him on some bookish things (as I ought here as well).

I have to update my profile a bit, since my intellectual activities have changed a little since I mentioned environmental protection. It's still an interest, but I've begun approaching it in a rather indirect way, i.e. through promoting scientific literacy.

I'd say this whole Librarything thing, what with people connecting based on intellectual pursuits, is quite worthwhile.

By the way, the real name is Ed.

Lähettänyt: redmeatliberal 12:42 pm (EST) Apr 1, 2008

Thanks, Bill, for noting Punkers's passing. Our house hasn't been the same since: she was very, very special to us. But we have adopted a little guy who needed a home and a home that needed a critter, and I know we'll fall in love with him. If you care to see him go to my blogspot blog and read the second entry down titled "Welcome Home!"

I laughed when you mentioned Philip Roth--this will be the fifth volume and only goes to 1991. Do I see 7 volumes, second only to Henry James, in our future? I agree that it was probably a "New York thing"--I believe it's called "LOA needs funding."

But I also thought of you when I saw the writing about Lincoln volume. Hoping not to offend your political leaning, I wonder what Mr. Lincoln would think of the three branches of our government during the past seven years, and if he would be as baffled (and worried) as I am.

Charlie

Lähettänyt: BrainFlakes 10:05 pm (EST) Mar 31, 2008

Hi Bill,

Things in my corner of the world are wonderful right now. I love spring, I love feeling energized and watching things around me come back to life. Sitting outside to read is one of my favorite pastimes. Everything is blooming, birds are singing and lizards are running my deck like they have some place they have to be. This weekend I cleaned out flower beds, planted a vegetable garden and ordered three books from Abe. I'm really trying to budget myself on books and music. It's hard when all you have to do is sit in front of the comp and enter your credit card information. In my area there is a small bookstore I visit on occasion but I like nothing better than to find books in the discount section of the large bookstores. Joining groups on LT and reading reviews only amplifies my need for more books. I should start a group called "book zombies" ;)

Beeg

Lähettänyt: beeg 4:18 pm (EST) Mar 23, 2008

Hi Bill --

After I got bit by classical Greek fever a couple of years back, I read Herodotus & Thucydides more or less back-to-back while reading histories of the period such as Holland's Persian File and Kagan Peloponnesian War. I wish I had the "landmark" editions at the time. At any rate, now that I know more about the period I may re-visit these -- I would especially like to re-read Thucydides -- in landmark form. I too need maps! I downloaded about twenty maps of ancient Greece off the web and the ones I didn't hang up on my bulletin board I put tpgether in a little notebook for reference. Trying to keep track of all the Greek city-states referenced by Herodotus & Thucydides are a challenge, even with the maps!

I highly recommend Teaching Company [http://www.teach12.com/teach12.asp?ai=16...] courses to augment book study of any period. The several courses on ancient Greece by McInernay & Harl are absolutely outstanding.

I was a big Civil War buff for years. Now I am more interested in colonial and early American history. I actually re-launched my reading of US history by going back to pre-history: The Eternal Frontier by Flannery, Looking East from Indian Country by Richter, 1491 by Mann & American Colonies by Taylor should all be required reading for students of American history IMHO.

I was big into Chinese studies back in college, but haven't read anything about the east in years until just recently when my local beer-and-books reading club selected American Shaolin by Polly, a great read by an American college student who drops out of school to live in a Chinese Shaolin temple and learn kung-fu in the 1990's.

Hope to trade more book scuttlebutt with you going forward!

Lähettänyt: Garp83 4:54 pm (EST) Mar 22, 2008

hi wildbill,

Still shopping for used books and creating a huge TRB pile. The only complaint I have and learned from is to make sure the books are hardbacks. I've gotten a couple of paperbacks when I've indicated I wanted hard. The book seller is willing to take it back but I'm not sure it's worth the trouble and shipping expense.

I'm ordering more books today and this time when unsure I've sent an email asking - live and learn, LOL *and* I managed to buy a book I already had.

Lähettänyt: beeg 12:42 pm (EST) Feb 21, 2008

No worries--I lose comments in the ether all the time. The "Shapiro and Company" group will, I hope, be a rather large tent under which to discuss any poets from mid-20th-century or so--from around the world. It's kind of interesting to see poets emerge from Modernism.

Lähettänyt: ostrom 2:57 pm (EST) Feb 9, 2008

I really appreciate your joining the group. I'll try to get more members by visiting the profiles of people with Shapiro's (and others') books and going to the "Invite To Group" prompt. Thanks, too, for starting a conversation. LibraryThing is a kind of heaven on earth for bibliophiles. It's great fun. All best, H.

Lähettänyt: ostrom 8:25 pm (EST) Feb 7, 2008

hi, I found your post to Teacherdad in the 50 book challenge about ABE books. I wanted to thank you for posting about it (as I'm still a bit clueless on what this site has to offer) and immediately ordered $50 in books! (big sigh, must stop ordering books)

Lähettänyt: beeg 11:29 am (EST) Jan 31, 2008

Hi, Bill. Sorry to take so long to get back to you; I haven't been checking my LibraryThing profile regularly, and just noticed your comment yesterday. Thanks for writing!

I don't think there is a difference between History and Historical Studies. I've gotten in the habit of calling it Historical Studies because that's the official name of the degree program at Empire State College. What you said about going back as a dream of yours exactly describes my reasons for going back, and it really has had that effect. My ability to write about complex topics, in particular, has grown tremendously. If you'd like to hear more about the college and why I chose it, let me know; I'd be glad to fill you in.

Thanks also for your comments on my blog. I've enjoyed putting it together, although it can be a little more work than I had expected because I like to modify the Wordpress templates for my own purposes. I'm now on a break from school until September, so really hope to spend more time on it. It can be very time-consuming sometimes; and like all this computer stuff, there's always a surprise or two in store whenever you try to do something different.

Where did you see this interview with McLuhan? Is it something available now? I read his "Understanding Media" for the last class I took (as you may know from the blog) and used a lot of his ideas and my class project on photography. His thought is really quite amazing, sometimes strange and amazing, and it seems so relevant to today's "new media" that I hope to develop a better understanding of how he fits into American intellectual history.

Hope you are doing well! We finally got some rain! Not much, but some!

Bye for now,

Dale

Lähettänyt: afewgoodpens 10:11 pm (EST) Jun 2, 2007

I agree that the John Smith volume should be interesting, but it will be a little while before I get to it. I will be receiving the new (and last) Steinbeck volume this week and I'm looking forward to The Winter of Our Discontent--the only novel of his I've never read.

I've been thinking about starting a LOA discussion group: Volumes we like, volumes we'd like to see, gripes, cataloging problems, etc. What do you think of the idea?

Charlie

Lähettänyt: BrainFlakes 9:49 pm (EST) Apr 28, 2007

To answer your question of three weeks ago (please excuse my rudeness), my favorite LOA volumes have been the three of Isaac Singer's short stories. My least favorite is Philip Roth: I believe his writing is highly overrated, and his The Plot Against America was downright embarrassing. I collect him, however, to keep the series complete; I will, at end of life, bequeath my LOA library to a small, uh, library.

Charlie

Lähettänyt: BrainFlakes 4:46 pm (EST) Jan 14, 2007