tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post168911468153992971..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: "Well, I bet you thought your little book was pretty clever."Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-65322168541165262712014-01-12T09:26:38.038-05:002014-01-12T09:26:38.038-05:00I LIKE your "Third Law"! In my household...I LIKE your "Third Law"! In my household the First Law seems to be "The NEED for a book is inversely proportional to the likelihood of finding it on a shelf." The corollary seems to be "Said book will be found when the need for it has passed."Will in Bamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-83869319014114423862014-01-11T16:01:27.667-05:002014-01-11T16:01:27.667-05:00It wasn't meant to be a correction. I was just...It wasn't meant to be a correction. I was just too lazy to type II. :)<br />Rob Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15604826633798229422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-53882611193422998182014-01-11T14:48:01.655-05:002014-01-11T14:48:01.655-05:00Rob K,
Thank you for the "Modula-2" corr...Rob K,<br />Thank you for the "Modula-2" correction to my "Modula-II" reference. For those wondering what obscure things we were discussing (including the Scheme dialect of LISP):<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modula-2<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisp_(programming_language)<br /><br />Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-22663319804523687372014-01-11T11:14:39.210-05:002014-01-11T11:14:39.210-05:00I got all my Pratchett books from Half Priced Book...I got all my Pratchett books from Half Priced Books here in Round Rock, Texas, grabbing them one at a time as they appeared on the shelves.<br /><br />Months passed.<br /><br />As I realized I had read almost everything in print written by Pratchett, it took longer and longer to find a copy of an unread title.<br /><br />It was with some delight that the last Pratchett book I bought used was Night Watch, in a hardbound paperback seconded from the local library to the bookstore.<br /><br />I could not have ordered this better had I tried, nor if I had been in France.mikeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-82474828278687108702014-01-11T08:47:05.180-05:002014-01-11T08:47:05.180-05:00That a book ................... speaks volumes. Pu...That a book ................... speaks volumes. Puns are my life; thank you. I too buy dollar books at the library and have more than once bought one and immediately tossed it into the trash; Al Gore springs to mind. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-8388086306219855222014-01-11T05:15:44.925-05:002014-01-11T05:15:44.925-05:00My daughter and I went to an open-mic night hosted...My daughter and I went to an open-mic night hosted by our church's youth group leader. It went okay, right up until some moody girl sat on the bar stool and started reading "poetry."<br /><br />I come to poetry through Kipling, Service, Tennyson <i>et al</i>. <i>Ozymandias</i> is about as far afield from standard meter as I care to get. What this girl was reading wasn't "poetry" so much as...well...drivel.<br /><br />"Here's another poem about my ex-boyfriend...It's really deep."<br /><br />Cue Snagglepuss: EXIT - STAGE RIGHT EVEN!<br /><br />Even our church youth group leader said afterward, "Um, it's <i>our</i> decision whether it's deep or not."<br /><br />It reminded me what Heinlein said about writing poetry - it's fine, just do it in private and wash your hands afterward.<br /><br />gviglobal village idiothttp://www.alpharubicon.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-5947024402877098622014-01-10T22:55:39.290-05:002014-01-10T22:55:39.290-05:00If I found a Modula 2 book, I would. I might actua...If I found a Modula 2 book, I would. I might actually read it too. Modula 2 was never as well known as Pascal.Rob Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15604826633798229422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-80784369134727535002014-01-10T22:35:24.317-05:002014-01-10T22:35:24.317-05:00But it says right on the cover that he's the a...But it says right on the cover that he's the author of GREAT BOOKS!!staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-47207640635623819562014-01-10T22:21:36.483-05:002014-01-10T22:21:36.483-05:00Rob K wrote:
"I've found a fair number of...Rob K wrote:<br />"I've found a fair number of good things on the free book cart at the library, but they tend to be narrowly specialized things.<br />I've taken a number of books to ensure that they exit circulation, such as Pascal programming books."<br /><br />As part of course work in computer language design, I once had to write a Pascal language interpreter (reads a Pascal program and runs the program on the fly) with extended parameter passing language "features" using a dialect of LISP. That skill itself is so narrowly specialized that it just compounded the misery. <br /><br />I hope that Rob K does the same for Modula II programming books. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-89993625376744123902014-01-10T17:54:13.775-05:002014-01-10T17:54:13.775-05:00On the saddest of days, when our fair Tam departs ...On the saddest of days, when our fair Tam departs this veil of tears....<br /><br />.... she'll be buried in a Snarkaphougus.<br /><br />Me, I'm opting to be mulched. <br /><br /><br /><br />Jim<br />Sunk New Dawn<br />Galveston, TXJimhttp://smokeonthewater.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-88037771542902698152014-01-10T15:59:51.508-05:002014-01-10T15:59:51.508-05:00Its a good thing you read that, Tam, otherwise, pe...Its a good thing you read that, Tam, otherwise, people might think you're mean, too personal, and a ruiner of conversations. Now you can do something about it!<br /><br />Funny how you're so popular, what with all that personal meanness and conversation ruination. <br /> Gooberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07358115439453465833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-38991748548896719002014-01-10T15:47:57.206-05:002014-01-10T15:47:57.206-05:00Never read a book by a film critic.
Unless its S...Never read a book by a film critic.<br /><br />Unless its Stephen Hunter.Cincinnatushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424218376882403880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-45062832956404152622014-01-10T14:18:01.370-05:002014-01-10T14:18:01.370-05:00Who says you can't judge a book by its cover?Who says you can't judge a book by its cover?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-84958179406062397562014-01-10T13:37:51.143-05:002014-01-10T13:37:51.143-05:00I've discovered another problem. Every time I...I've discovered another problem. Every time I check out a book at the local library, I want to buy a copy for myself after reading it. :(Gewehr98https://www.blogger.com/profile/14440119702457734221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-74465342758367169842014-01-10T13:26:46.029-05:002014-01-10T13:26:46.029-05:00Pretty sure the first sign that a conversation wit...Pretty sure the first sign that a conversation with the author had been ruined would be his arrival. Marco Pisconoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-44193110277575470922014-01-10T13:15:27.426-05:002014-01-10T13:15:27.426-05:00I've found a fair number of good things on the...I've found a fair number of good things on the free book cart at the library, but they tend to be narrowly specialized things. <br /><br />I've taken a number of books to ensure that they exit circulation, such as Pascal programming books. I also found a copy of "My Name Is Rachel Corrie" once. I'm still looking for a toy armored Cat D3 to complete the tableau.<br /><br />Rob Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15604826633798229422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-63619483576509067722014-01-10T13:13:49.338-05:002014-01-10T13:13:49.338-05:00From the Amazon description of the author:
"...From the Amazon description of the author:<br /><br />"David Denby has been film critic and staff writer at The New Yorker since 1998; prior to that he was film critic of New York magazine. His reviews and essays have also appeared in The New Republic, The Atlantic, and The New York Review of Books."<br /><br />Well now, that explains <i>so</i>much...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15303768559344256092014-01-10T13:07:53.010-05:002014-01-10T13:07:53.010-05:00I'll let you know when I make them up. ;)I'll let you know when I make them up. ;)Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-65694890726486929132014-01-10T12:29:18.252-05:002014-01-10T12:29:18.252-05:00What are your first two laws, then?What are your first two laws, then?Garrett Leenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-92136124055638931002014-01-10T12:27:06.832-05:002014-01-10T12:27:06.832-05:00So it doesn't stand up to the Shakespearean le...So it doesn't stand up to the Shakespearean levels of writing demonstrated in Steve Martins' "Pure Drivel"? Tom the Impalerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14236177849264187957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-20239126979223424542014-01-10T12:25:14.772-05:002014-01-10T12:25:14.772-05:00Looks like that Snark turned out to be a Boojum af...Looks like that Snark turned out to be a Boojum after all...El Capitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13166884584708996911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-62626491964156833372014-01-10T12:21:40.476-05:002014-01-10T12:21:40.476-05:00I haven't seem my copies of the Flashman novel...I haven't seem my copies of the Flashman novels for years. Must have loaned them out to someone and never got them back. I hate it when that happens.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05920772209272112515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-15257540612557535992014-01-10T12:05:36.869-05:002014-01-10T12:05:36.869-05:00I feel your pain.
I have been looking for the las...I feel your pain.<br /><br />I have been looking for the last three Gavin Lyall novels for years. I bought my Flashman and Aubrey/Maturin new because I HAD to read them in order and wouldn't wait.<br /><br />The problem is that at quality used book shops, you are competing with other bibliophiles, a large number of whom will have similar tastes. Quality shows, and since the supply is limited and sporadic, so is stock.<br /><br />I am fortunate in having two good second hand book stores in town and an independent book seller that also has a whole second store selling remaindered stuff cheap.Paul from Canadanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-25212577332527950692014-01-10T11:57:45.443-05:002014-01-10T11:57:45.443-05:00I've thrown really bad books in the trash (gas...I've thrown really bad books in the trash (gasp!) rather than take it to Good Will or a used book store because I didn't want to stick anyone with my mistake.ProudHillbillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14305205710265854978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-30506502378022300922014-01-10T11:34:48.145-05:002014-01-10T11:34:48.145-05:00That law you cited is why I don't even bother ...That law you cited is why I don't even bother looking at the free book cart outside the library's used bookstore. I mean, if the library doesn't think it's worth the shelf space to get $1, will I find anything that even my magpie mind finds interesting on the free cart?<br /><br />I also lucked out one day in a used bookstore when I found Charles Russell's book of illustrated letters, "Good Medicine", and snatched it up like a $100 bill in a crowded mall. How it got there, I don't know; It may have had something to do with it sitting in the architectural section. :)Windy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01951254236693386401noreply@blogger.com