Click to go over to the new blagh.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Our Maid of Orleans Makes an Appearance on Cracked.com!
#3. Joan of Arc, the Siege of Orleans
Via WikipediaThe Situation:
Prior to her arrival at the Siege of Orleans during the Hundred Years' War, the Maid of Orleans Joan of Arc dictated a message for the English to let them know what they were in for. The letter from Joan to the Duke of Bedford, leader of the opposing forces, reads like a curious mix of flowery ranting and religious zeal. That is, right up until the end -- where Joan suddenly gets down to business:
The Quote:
"The Maid and her soldiers will have the victory. Therefore the Maid is willing that you, Duke of Bedford, should not destroy yourself."
Note how smoothly she enters Captain America mode, using her code name for effect while delivering her enemy matter-of-fact statements about certain defeat.
The Aftermath:
Alas, the duke, he did not listen. And whether or not Joan was schooled in warfare by the same archangel who uppercutted Lucifer to the Pit, she and her troops were the battlefield equivalent of the Konami Code, tearing the English new ones in more places than syphilis in one of the most decisive battles of all time.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
"Must Read"
Well, this is embarrassing. Not only have I not even begun Brighton Rock—which is apparently quite a good read—but I've also recently discovered that a certain batshit lunatic elected official from Minnesota and I have far too much in common. Define "far too much," you say? Well, thanks to the Wayback Machine, I've been able to see the terrifying-sounding reading list from her 2002 State Senate campaign website.
Much to my horror, one of my favorite books of all time, and perhaps my absolute favorite non-fiction book, John Adams, by David McCullough, is FIRST on her list. First! I have been spreading the good news of the forgotten second President (it wasn't Jefferson?) for two or three years now to anyone that will listen, and now I have to live with the uncomfortable knowledge that I actually like a thing that Michelle Bachmann likes. It really makes me question my existence a little bit. Still, at least it's not the pro-slavery book.
Also, in other tangentially-related news, we've got some new competish' in the Book Club world. Apparently some start-ups in New York City (always trying to one-up us) have taken the Book Club world by storm by taking advantage of local laws and forming The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society (I've linked to their "About" page, which is safe for work as of the time that I wrote this, but pretty much every other part of their blog is NSFW, so be warned, office workers and mastrophobes (also, pulp fiction the genre, not the Tarantino film)). In their words:
If this isn't just a blatant attempt to steal our thunder, I don't know what it is. You have hip, urban intellectuals, creating a book club that limits itself to a specific genre in order to expand the horizons of its members (and their blog is on WordPress!). These upstarts, despite being formed a whole year after us, are already robbing us of our up-and-coming internet fame. At least they don't have beer or kayaking yet (that I know of), but still. I have to say, their name really has ours beat (it's the "Appreciation Society" that does it, but I do take issue with the "Co-Ed" part, because I don't see that many moobs at first glance). Anyway, I guess we ought to just throw in the towel now in the interest of saving time.
Annnnnd: This concludes the FIRST Book Club post with an NSFW link! Talk about bragging rights 4LIFE!
Much to my horror, one of my favorite books of all time, and perhaps my absolute favorite non-fiction book, John Adams, by David McCullough, is FIRST on her list. First! I have been spreading the good news of the forgotten second President (it wasn't Jefferson?) for two or three years now to anyone that will listen, and now I have to live with the uncomfortable knowledge that I actually like a thing that Michelle Bachmann likes. It really makes me question my existence a little bit. Still, at least it's not the pro-slavery book.
Also, in other tangentially-related news, we've got some new competish' in the Book Club world. Apparently some start-ups in New York City (always trying to one-up us) have taken the Book Club world by storm by taking advantage of local laws and forming The Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society (I've linked to their "About" page, which is safe for work as of the time that I wrote this, but pretty much every other part of their blog is NSFW, so be warned, office workers and mastrophobes (also, pulp fiction the genre, not the Tarantino film)). In their words:
We’re a group of friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends, and complete strangers, who love good books and sunny days and enjoying both as nearly in the altogether as the law allows. Happily, in New York City, the law allows toplessness by both men and women. So that’s the way we do our al fresco reading. If you’re in New York and the weather’s good, won’t you join us sometime…?
If this isn't just a blatant attempt to steal our thunder, I don't know what it is. You have hip, urban intellectuals, creating a book club that limits itself to a specific genre in order to expand the horizons of its members (and their blog is on WordPress!). These upstarts, despite being formed a whole year after us, are already robbing us of our up-and-coming internet fame. At least they don't have beer or kayaking yet (that I know of), but still. I have to say, their name really has ours beat (it's the "Appreciation Society" that does it, but I do take issue with the "Co-Ed" part, because I don't see that many moobs at first glance). Anyway, I guess we ought to just throw in the towel now in the interest of saving time.
Annnnnd: This concludes the FIRST Book Club post with an NSFW link! Talk about bragging rights 4LIFE!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Can you smell what the BRIGHTON ROCK is cookin??
First thing, we've decided on September 14th for our meeting on Inherit the Wind. Any suggestions for a venue? I believe Danielle mentioned Lauriol Plaza or maybe ChurchKey. Does anyone know how crowded either of those get after work on a weekday?
Aaaand, our next book will be Brighton Rock by Graham Greene! I'm excited, the book sounds like a great thriller, and this will be my first Greene novel. They have made not just one but TWO movies based on this one! The latter is in theaters now starring Helen Mirren.
Okie dokie, so let's plan on early October for our Brighton Rock discussion...featuring special guest Dwayne Johnson!*
*anyone know a Dwayne Johnson?
Happy reading! See you all soon!
Wendy
Thursday, September 1, 2011
October meeting
Since Inherit the Wind is quite short, I thought perhaps we could choose the book to discuss in early October before the long weekend for those of us who want to begin reading the next selection. Here are the choices:
Please vote for your choice in the comment section. I'm thinking we'll meet to discuss the spokesmonkey during the week of September 12th, (maybe at Lauriol Plaza?) so also let me know if any day that week would not work for you.
Thanks! Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)