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The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

    There were several (these are raw).

    4BAEDADE-4A04-4502-BCFC-7E12738B40ED.jpeg

    D56FC7B7-52AE-4A83-AA68-28D24E3D7900.jpeg

    BAEAF7F7-5B4E-4105-B15D-F34FF3DD1D0D.jpeg

    taiwan_girlT Offline
    taiwan_girlT Offline
    taiwan_girl
    wrote on last edited by
    #631

    @jon-nyc 😍

    1 Reply Last reply
    • taiwan_girlT Offline
      taiwan_girlT Offline
      taiwan_girl
      wrote on last edited by
      #632

      Just finished this book.. (Actually listened to the audio book)

      alt text

      Really good and really good researched. About a Dutch ship in 1628 that shipwrecked off the coast of Australia and almost a "Lord of the Flies" result for the people stranded on some small islands.

      Quite interesting was the discussion of the ship and what it was like to travel on a ship like that, even for the best passengers! I dont think I will complain if I fly economy!! 555

      Also, the lead mutiny guy was executed, and his punishment was to have both hands cut off and then hanged!! For his lead officers, their punishment was to have only one hand cut off then hanged!! :eek

      They built a re-creation of the ship. Some interesting videos of what it really was like.

      bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
      • taiwan_girlT taiwan_girl

        Just finished this book.. (Actually listened to the audio book)

        alt text

        Really good and really good researched. About a Dutch ship in 1628 that shipwrecked off the coast of Australia and almost a "Lord of the Flies" result for the people stranded on some small islands.

        Quite interesting was the discussion of the ship and what it was like to travel on a ship like that, even for the best passengers! I dont think I will complain if I fly economy!! 555

        Also, the lead mutiny guy was executed, and his punishment was to have both hands cut off and then hanged!! For his lead officers, their punishment was to have only one hand cut off then hanged!! :eek

        They built a re-creation of the ship. Some interesting videos of what it really was like.

        bachophileB Offline
        bachophileB Offline
        bachophile
        wrote on last edited by
        #633

        @taiwan_girl thanks TG, that kind of thing is perfect for me, i love maritime tales.

        added to my amazon shopping list

        1 Reply Last reply
        • RainmanR Offline
          RainmanR Offline
          Rainman
          wrote on last edited by
          #634

          Yeah, me too!

          1 Reply Last reply
          • George KG Offline
            George KG Offline
            George K
            wrote on last edited by
            #635

            Finished "The Emperor of All Maladies" this afternoon.

            What a fantastic dive into our understanding, and lack thereof, of cancer in its various forms.

            As someone who lost contact with the world of oncology in the late 1970s, I found it a fascinating journey that research and care has undergone since then. "Back in my day" we used to joke that all oncologists need to wear black coats, because the results of their care were so dismal.

            We weren't wrong.

            But now it's all different.

            Highly recommended.

            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

            bachophileB jon-nycJ F 3 Replies Last reply
            • George KG Offline
              George KG Offline
              George K
              wrote on last edited by
              #636

              Up next:

              Screenshot 2023-01-29 at 6.56.46 PM.png

              In a far-future, Dr. Avrana Kern is the head of a science team that has terraformed an uninhabitable planet then deliberately released a genetically designed virus to speed the evolution of monkeys. Their plan goes wrong when the monkeys' ship burns up upon entry, leaving the virus to infect a variety of creatures, eventually settling on spiders (Portia labiata). Meanwhile, the last human remnants of a dying Earth are en route to the promised paradise planet unaware of the uplifted spiders. The work plays off the contrast between the rapid advancement of the spiders and the barbaric descent of the starship crew of the last humans

              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

              George KG 1 Reply Last reply
              • Aqua LetiferA Offline
                Aqua LetiferA Offline
                Aqua Letifer
                wrote on last edited by
                #637

                Highly recommended.

                24AE786E-492E-4C2E-99D4-97050CD88A5D.jpeg

                Please love yourself.

                George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                • Aqua LetiferA Aqua Letifer

                  Highly recommended.

                  24AE786E-492E-4C2E-99D4-97050CD88A5D.jpeg

                  George KG Offline
                  George KG Offline
                  George K
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #638

                  @Aqua-Letifer that looks fascinating, based on the Amazon blurb.

                  Thanks for the recco.

                  "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                  The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • George KG George K

                    Finished "The Emperor of All Maladies" this afternoon.

                    What a fantastic dive into our understanding, and lack thereof, of cancer in its various forms.

                    As someone who lost contact with the world of oncology in the late 1970s, I found it a fascinating journey that research and care has undergone since then. "Back in my day" we used to joke that all oncologists need to wear black coats, because the results of their care were so dismal.

                    We weren't wrong.

                    But now it's all different.

                    Highly recommended.

                    bachophileB Offline
                    bachophileB Offline
                    bachophile
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #639

                    @George-K yea ive used the story of the history of herceptin in several talks on how new drugs make it into clincal practice. herceptin was quite an epic tale, and a real game changer. another interesting drug story in the book is the history of gleevec.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • George KG George K

                      Finished "The Emperor of All Maladies" this afternoon.

                      What a fantastic dive into our understanding, and lack thereof, of cancer in its various forms.

                      As someone who lost contact with the world of oncology in the late 1970s, I found it a fascinating journey that research and care has undergone since then. "Back in my day" we used to joke that all oncologists need to wear black coats, because the results of their care were so dismal.

                      We weren't wrong.

                      But now it's all different.

                      Highly recommended.

                      jon-nycJ Offline
                      jon-nycJ Offline
                      jon-nyc
                      wrote on last edited by jon-nyc
                      #640

                      @George-K

                      I think you’d like The Gene, when you’re in the mood for a similar sweeping, well-written medical/political history.

                      I say political because he talks a lot about the history of our attempts to control genes that seems to come along with our desire to understand them.

                      Only non-witches get due process.

                      • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                      George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                      • jon-nycJ jon-nyc

                        @George-K

                        I think you’d like The Gene, when you’re in the mood for a similar sweeping, well-written medical/political history.

                        I say political because he talks a lot about the history of our attempts to control genes that seems to come along with our desire to understand them.

                        George KG Offline
                        George KG Offline
                        George K
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #641

                        @jon-nyc gonna queue that up after some sci-fi. Need something lighter for a while, LOL.

                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • jon-nycJ Offline
                          jon-nycJ Offline
                          jon-nyc
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #642

                          Yeah, I figured you’d want to space them out a bit.

                          Only non-witches get due process.

                          • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • George KG George K

                            Up next:

                            Screenshot 2023-01-29 at 6.56.46 PM.png

                            In a far-future, Dr. Avrana Kern is the head of a science team that has terraformed an uninhabitable planet then deliberately released a genetically designed virus to speed the evolution of monkeys. Their plan goes wrong when the monkeys' ship burns up upon entry, leaving the virus to infect a variety of creatures, eventually settling on spiders (Portia labiata). Meanwhile, the last human remnants of a dying Earth are en route to the promised paradise planet unaware of the uplifted spiders. The work plays off the contrast between the rapid advancement of the spiders and the barbaric descent of the starship crew of the last humans

                            George KG Offline
                            George KG Offline
                            George K
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #643

                            @George-K said in What are you reading now?:

                            In a far-future, Dr. Avrana Kern is the head of a science team that has terraformed an uninhabitable planet then deliberately released a genetically designed virus to speed the evolution of monkeys. Their plan goes wrong when the monkeys' ship burns up upon entry, leaving the virus to infect a variety of creatures, eventually settling on spiders (Portia labiata). Meanwhile, the last human remnants of a dying Earth are en route to the promised paradise planet unaware of the uplifted spiders. The work plays off the contrast between the rapid advancement of the spiders and the barbaric descent of the starship crew of the last humans

                            This is big, BIG, science fiction. I'm only about ¼ of the way through it, and it's on the order of stuff written by Alastair Reynolds. Reynolds is, as I've said, a very "dense" writer. This book, though comparable in scope to Reynolds' stuff is a much easier read. It's not challenging, but a very good space yarn.

                            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG George K

                              Finished "The Emperor of All Maladies" this afternoon.

                              What a fantastic dive into our understanding, and lack thereof, of cancer in its various forms.

                              As someone who lost contact with the world of oncology in the late 1970s, I found it a fascinating journey that research and care has undergone since then. "Back in my day" we used to joke that all oncologists need to wear black coats, because the results of their care were so dismal.

                              We weren't wrong.

                              But now it's all different.

                              Highly recommended.

                              F Offline
                              F Offline
                              Friday
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #644

                              @George-K

                              I really enjoyed "Children of Time". I thought it was pretty imaginative. It's sequel "Children of Ruin" was fine, but not fine enough to get me to read the final book of the trilogy.

                              But I like Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing. He has this one-off that I also liked, "Guns of Dawn". Not at all sci-fi; it's flintlock fantasy about a gentry woman in a swampy war. If you get tired of sci-fi, but want more Tchaikovsky, you might like this.

                              George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                              • F Friday

                                @George-K

                                I really enjoyed "Children of Time". I thought it was pretty imaginative. It's sequel "Children of Ruin" was fine, but not fine enough to get me to read the final book of the trilogy.

                                But I like Adrian Tchaikovsky's writing. He has this one-off that I also liked, "Guns of Dawn". Not at all sci-fi; it's flintlock fantasy about a gentry woman in a swampy war. If you get tired of sci-fi, but want more Tchaikovsky, you might like this.

                                George KG Offline
                                George KG Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #645

                                @Friday said in What are you reading now?:

                                I really enjoyed "Children of Time". I thought it was pretty imaginative.

                                Thoroughly enjoyable, indeed. Nice, satisfying ending which completes the tale, and yet opens the door for sequels.

                                Up next, on @Aqua-Letifer 's recommendation - Music: A Subversive History.

                                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • taiwan_girlT Offline
                                  taiwan_girlT Offline
                                  taiwan_girl
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #646

                                  alt text

                                  A story about a Korean American who spends timing teaching at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. Interesting story for anyone who wants an insight into a specific part of the DPRK society.

                                  If you are interesting, here is the link to the PUST website.

                                  https://pust.co

                                  RainmanR 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • taiwan_girlT taiwan_girl

                                    alt text

                                    A story about a Korean American who spends timing teaching at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. Interesting story for anyone who wants an insight into a specific part of the DPRK society.

                                    If you are interesting, here is the link to the PUST website.

                                    https://pust.co

                                    RainmanR Offline
                                    RainmanR Offline
                                    Rainman
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #647

                                    @taiwan_girl thanks for the suggestion and the link.
                                    Curious what you might know of PUST. Are you familiar with its founding, and whether it is or was successful? Website is outdated.

                                    taiwan_girlT 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • RainmanR Rainman

                                      @taiwan_girl thanks for the suggestion and the link.
                                      Curious what you might know of PUST. Are you familiar with its founding, and whether it is or was successful? Website is outdated.

                                      taiwan_girlT Offline
                                      taiwan_girlT Offline
                                      taiwan_girl
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #648

                                      @Rainman said in What are you reading now?:

                                      @taiwan_girl thanks for the suggestion and the link.
                                      Curious what you might know of PUST. Are you familiar with its founding, and whether it is or was successful? Website is outdated.

                                      It was started by an evangelical Christian ethnic Korean. They have a campus in Shanghai also. I believe that he wanted to use the university as a back door to get religion into the DPRK, but the campus is pretty isolated and DPRK is quite strict about bringing religious material into the country. (there are a couple of churches in DPRK but pretty much "show churches") Below is a picture of one. (Not my picture - never did go to any while I was there).

                                      Teachers at PUST are unpaid, so it is a volunteer assignment. I haven't heard much about it recently, but it was pretty much shut down during COVID with no in person classes even until now.

                                      alt text

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • RainmanR Offline
                                        RainmanR Offline
                                        Rainman
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #649

                                        Thanks TG!
                                        I don't want to veer off topic on this thread, but wanted to ask if you ever posted your experience(s) of NK, and if so, do you remember what the thread was named? Maybe it was on the old board?

                                        taiwan_girlT 2 Replies Last reply
                                        • RainmanR Rainman

                                          Thanks TG!
                                          I don't want to veer off topic on this thread, but wanted to ask if you ever posted your experience(s) of NK, and if so, do you remember what the thread was named? Maybe it was on the old board?

                                          taiwan_girlT Offline
                                          taiwan_girlT Offline
                                          taiwan_girl
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #650

                                          @Rainman Pretty sure it was on the old board. I will see if I can go to the old one and find it. If not, I can repost some of the pictures I have from there.

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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