I am 35 sun-orbits behind the good Commander, and I have the opposite problem with books - I need to get more. I am a mechanical engineer with interests in economics and history, and I don't really want to buy much fiction.
My current purchase list consists of various Çengel-coauthored textbooks, other thermo and engineering textbooks, Adam Smith's two major publications, Marx's 'Capital', the complete work of Winston Churchill, some Barbara Tuchman books, Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged', and some books by Andrew Roberts and Niall Ferguson.
The 2024 Presidential Election is clearly upon us, and saving the intercession of the Almighty or the prison system of the federal government or the State of Georgia, we will have the same choice we had in 2020. This is not a positive development for our politics or our nation as a whole. The prospect of choosing between doddering, morally and legally compromised Baby Boomers (yes, I know Biden is not a Baby Boomer—he’s too old), is dispiriting, but it is what we deserve, having exerted little pressure on the moribund political parties to reach other conclusions."
A couple of thoughts.
1. You are not the only one who doesn't like the 2 candidates. To quote Tsgt Roosevelt Williams (C Flight Security Osan 1968) "Life Is Full Of disappointments. This is One Of Them. DEAL WITH IT."
2. The Democrats may be many things Stupid is not one of them. The Leadership Knows if they stick with Grand Pa Joe, its gonna be BAD. Not just the White House but right down the ticket. Therefore it won't be Grand Pa Joe. I have no idea who but it won't be Joe.
One mans opinion freely given an worth ALMOST that much.
(As Always 5 words, But..I..Could..Be..Wrong)
3. There are 3 Donald Trumps
The Policy Trump (how he actually governed) Pretty Good (this is good)
The Private Trump. Off camera, from what I have read he's a pretty good guy. Someone you wouldn't mind hanging around with. (this is good)
Public Trump Narcissistic, Thin Skinned *Huge Ego, that needs to be fed. This is NOT so good.
*Most politicians have big egos. Most can control theirs. Donald Trump has a problem with that.
"I happened across this little ditty over the weekend. Titled “The Swedes Know the Secret to Happiness: You are Not Your Stuff”"
It was Sept. 1967 at Lackland AFB when I discovered what it took to make me happy. 3 things, A Cold Coke,, a Snickers Bar and 10 minutes without someone yelling at me. :-)
“My stance this time around will be “a pox on both their houses”, as it was in 2016,”
Same. I, for one, appreciate your comments on politics, given that I tend to occupy the same place on the ideological spectrum.
“You will be subjected to occasional rants about UVA”
I’m curious if you’ve been following the changes in the honor code the last few years and if you have thoughts. I’m not as tuned-in as I might be, but I follow it in the alumni magazine.
Every 5 years I reorganize my work shop. Sometimes more often if I need a better pathway through it. I give away surplus tools and scraps and bury the useless stuff on my 4 acres. Have begun to free up some bookshelves for my expanding food stockpile. Clothing is difficult to part with. I wear mostly sweatpants and a Duluth pocket T-shirt to knock around in now. Comfort over sartorial splendor. But I still have some size 38 & 40 trousers and large dress shirts that haven't fit since I retired in 1991. Can't part with them, as I know they'll fit again someday. The two daughters left for college in the mid-90's and later married. I cleaned out their bedrooms, gave away the furniture, converted both to storage and a computer/reloading room about 10 years ago. Reduced my sofas, recliners and refrigerators from 2 to 1 and plan on doing the same for freezers. My clutter now is stockpiles of things that will be useful in an uncertain future. Hardest thing to do is to winnow one's gun collection. Just got rid of the 8mm and .303 stuff, and .25 ACP's (It was a phase of temporary madness in which I collected a shoebox full), .32 ACP's, and all but one .380. Kept 5 Mosin Nagant's...sold off 31. Got rid of 50 guns via gunbroker.com. 100 more to follow soon, I hope. The outre Euro caliber handguns and rifles with expensive ammo went too. Kept all the guns with "WCF", "Mak", "AK", "SKS", "Gward", ".41", "9mm", "1911", etc. in their descriptions. Guns may be difficult to part with but are easy to find homes for. Next project is the mini-barn and storage sheds.
In past years, I've made it to day 3 of Simpliefied's January challenge, as it was room to room, and that was, well, overwhelming. This year, they did 31 days of "things", which broke down the amount of "stuffs" I had to evaluate (jeans, t-shirts, shoes, etc). I haven't completed the whole list, however have made some progress, which is better than none.
I am one of those that was introduced to you after listening to you on the Ward Carroll's YouTube channel. Enjoyed your comments. Just the impressions of an old hermit.
Donation of books to my local library and clothing to DAV which is better than goodwill as it’s a not for profit. The classic Tolkien’s are being circulated about the 6 grandkids. My CJ Cherryh collection I still reread with pleasure.
I amazing how much stuffs a man can accumulate over time. Recently I had a week of cleaning, and come to a reckoning, "why did I keep this stuff?"
Our city allows residents to two debris pickups a year. Over a week I piled up a mountain of thing that had absolutely no value. I piled it high by the street old rugs, broken tools, sheet metal, left over floor tiles, junk, etc.
Little did I know that the local pack rats would dig through this trash and reduce that pile by half. As the old saying goes, " One man's junk is another man's treasure." If I have things that might have a value I will donate it to Goodwill or a local neighborhood garage sale.
After moving darn near 100 boxes of mostly hardcover books between houses several times, I changed my policy. I gave away most of them, read almost exclusively on the Kindle, highlight passages of interest or amusement (of which I have 100s of pages of them when I download an accumulated pdf), and only buy new books when I have the opportunity to get it signed by the author. I’m down to one small bookshelf of treasures, and a few other small accumulations that are slowly working their way to Goodwill.
My belongings have a lot less gravitational pull than they used to.
Honestly, at this point I find both options to represent a grave national security threat, mostly in light of the fact I think it quite possible the next occupant is going to be looking at peer conflict. That one is obviously completely incompetent and unprepared weighs heavily against the immoral, cowardly (and, seems to me, somewhat petulant) choices of the other in Kabul. The prayers for wisdom usually end up in tears at this point.
I can relate to all of this. It's especially hard to get rid of books, not only psychologically but practically. Nobody wants them. I also have summer clothes and what passes for winter in Georgia clothes, and in each category there are also realistic sizes and aspiration sizes. I'm sure lots of us will be interested to hear your strategy for calling the shelves. Love the video.
I am 35 sun-orbits behind the good Commander, and I have the opposite problem with books - I need to get more. I am a mechanical engineer with interests in economics and history, and I don't really want to buy much fiction.
My current purchase list consists of various Çengel-coauthored textbooks, other thermo and engineering textbooks, Adam Smith's two major publications, Marx's 'Capital', the complete work of Winston Churchill, some Barbara Tuchman books, Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged', and some books by Andrew Roberts and Niall Ferguson.
Does anyone here have any other suggestions?
"Silly Season
The 2024 Presidential Election is clearly upon us, and saving the intercession of the Almighty or the prison system of the federal government or the State of Georgia, we will have the same choice we had in 2020. This is not a positive development for our politics or our nation as a whole. The prospect of choosing between doddering, morally and legally compromised Baby Boomers (yes, I know Biden is not a Baby Boomer—he’s too old), is dispiriting, but it is what we deserve, having exerted little pressure on the moribund political parties to reach other conclusions."
A couple of thoughts.
1. You are not the only one who doesn't like the 2 candidates. To quote Tsgt Roosevelt Williams (C Flight Security Osan 1968) "Life Is Full Of disappointments. This is One Of Them. DEAL WITH IT."
2. The Democrats may be many things Stupid is not one of them. The Leadership Knows if they stick with Grand Pa Joe, its gonna be BAD. Not just the White House but right down the ticket. Therefore it won't be Grand Pa Joe. I have no idea who but it won't be Joe.
One mans opinion freely given an worth ALMOST that much.
(As Always 5 words, But..I..Could..Be..Wrong)
3. There are 3 Donald Trumps
The Policy Trump (how he actually governed) Pretty Good (this is good)
The Private Trump. Off camera, from what I have read he's a pretty good guy. Someone you wouldn't mind hanging around with. (this is good)
Public Trump Narcissistic, Thin Skinned *Huge Ego, that needs to be fed. This is NOT so good.
*Most politicians have big egos. Most can control theirs. Donald Trump has a problem with that.
"I happened across this little ditty over the weekend. Titled “The Swedes Know the Secret to Happiness: You are Not Your Stuff”"
It was Sept. 1967 at Lackland AFB when I discovered what it took to make me happy. 3 things, A Cold Coke,, a Snickers Bar and 10 minutes without someone yelling at me. :-)
“My stance this time around will be “a pox on both their houses”, as it was in 2016,”
Same. I, for one, appreciate your comments on politics, given that I tend to occupy the same place on the ideological spectrum.
“You will be subjected to occasional rants about UVA”
I’m curious if you’ve been following the changes in the honor code the last few years and if you have thoughts. I’m not as tuned-in as I might be, but I follow it in the alumni magazine.
Every 5 years I reorganize my work shop. Sometimes more often if I need a better pathway through it. I give away surplus tools and scraps and bury the useless stuff on my 4 acres. Have begun to free up some bookshelves for my expanding food stockpile. Clothing is difficult to part with. I wear mostly sweatpants and a Duluth pocket T-shirt to knock around in now. Comfort over sartorial splendor. But I still have some size 38 & 40 trousers and large dress shirts that haven't fit since I retired in 1991. Can't part with them, as I know they'll fit again someday. The two daughters left for college in the mid-90's and later married. I cleaned out their bedrooms, gave away the furniture, converted both to storage and a computer/reloading room about 10 years ago. Reduced my sofas, recliners and refrigerators from 2 to 1 and plan on doing the same for freezers. My clutter now is stockpiles of things that will be useful in an uncertain future. Hardest thing to do is to winnow one's gun collection. Just got rid of the 8mm and .303 stuff, and .25 ACP's (It was a phase of temporary madness in which I collected a shoebox full), .32 ACP's, and all but one .380. Kept 5 Mosin Nagant's...sold off 31. Got rid of 50 guns via gunbroker.com. 100 more to follow soon, I hope. The outre Euro caliber handguns and rifles with expensive ammo went too. Kept all the guns with "WCF", "Mak", "AK", "SKS", "Gward", ".41", "9mm", "1911", etc. in their descriptions. Guns may be difficult to part with but are easy to find homes for. Next project is the mini-barn and storage sheds.
In past years, I've made it to day 3 of Simpliefied's January challenge, as it was room to room, and that was, well, overwhelming. This year, they did 31 days of "things", which broke down the amount of "stuffs" I had to evaluate (jeans, t-shirts, shoes, etc). I haven't completed the whole list, however have made some progress, which is better than none.
I am one of those that was introduced to you after listening to you on the Ward Carroll's YouTube channel. Enjoyed your comments. Just the impressions of an old hermit.
Donation of books to my local library and clothing to DAV which is better than goodwill as it’s a not for profit. The classic Tolkien’s are being circulated about the 6 grandkids. My CJ Cherryh collection I still reread with pleasure.
I amazing how much stuffs a man can accumulate over time. Recently I had a week of cleaning, and come to a reckoning, "why did I keep this stuff?"
Our city allows residents to two debris pickups a year. Over a week I piled up a mountain of thing that had absolutely no value. I piled it high by the street old rugs, broken tools, sheet metal, left over floor tiles, junk, etc.
Little did I know that the local pack rats would dig through this trash and reduce that pile by half. As the old saying goes, " One man's junk is another man's treasure." If I have things that might have a value I will donate it to Goodwill or a local neighborhood garage sale.
The Loudermilk clip is hilarious. A little Office Space 2024. Your Hoo review is spot on. Headed for JPJ this afternoon--Go Hoos!
After moving darn near 100 boxes of mostly hardcover books between houses several times, I changed my policy. I gave away most of them, read almost exclusively on the Kindle, highlight passages of interest or amusement (of which I have 100s of pages of them when I download an accumulated pdf), and only buy new books when I have the opportunity to get it signed by the author. I’m down to one small bookshelf of treasures, and a few other small accumulations that are slowly working their way to Goodwill.
My belongings have a lot less gravitational pull than they used to.
Honestly, at this point I find both options to represent a grave national security threat, mostly in light of the fact I think it quite possible the next occupant is going to be looking at peer conflict. That one is obviously completely incompetent and unprepared weighs heavily against the immoral, cowardly (and, seems to me, somewhat petulant) choices of the other in Kabul. The prayers for wisdom usually end up in tears at this point.
I Marie Kondo'd my house, including my books, and my office, including my books, during Covid. Life changing.
I can relate to all of this. It's especially hard to get rid of books, not only psychologically but practically. Nobody wants them. I also have summer clothes and what passes for winter in Georgia clothes, and in each category there are also realistic sizes and aspiration sizes. I'm sure lots of us will be interested to hear your strategy for calling the shelves. Love the video.
Having the same issue with the books and the wife keeps reminding. They are now stacking up on the dining room floor.
On the books; make a list for a bookseller. I know I've had books "cleaned up" that are worth at least what I paid for them.