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Heather
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Joined: 12 May 2005
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Location: springfield
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 Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:07 pm
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| neverending wrote: |
| any more details on the science book? |
Sure. It's mostly about how bullshitters like homeopaths and nutritionalists use "scientific studies" to support their claims that their stuff works, but that they are in fact misrepresenting the science or doing it wrong. So, how does a real trial of a medicine or a scientific claim for the health benefits of a food work? And how can you tell when someone's scientific claims are in fact "scientific"? He also just did a big chapter on the placebo effect, and how a lot of what people claim is a benefit to their product is probably a result of that.
I'm about halfway through the book, and I think it's really fucking great. It's readable, and also informative. I know a lot of the mechanics of scientific trials that he spends a lot of time talking about, but the medical stuff is all new to me. (Edited to add--"new to me" in the sense that, while I knew, say, homeopathy was full of shit, now I know what homeopaths think they're doing, why they think what they are doing works, and how it can be proven that what they're doing doesn't work or, to the extent that it does work, it's the product of the placebo effect, etc.)
For a short taste of the author being awesome, check out his TED talk.
http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science.html
Last edited by Heather on Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:35 am; edited 2 times in total |
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neverending
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Joined: 04 Aug 2003
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Location: ontario
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:23 pm
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oooh, sounds good! thanks! ive been meaning to pick up a few sciency books so i can continue learning, but they're all so boring. and my magazines im getting from my....certification organization (????) are boooring.
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ZooeyLewis
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Joined: 06 Sep 2010
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Location: Omaha, Nebrasky
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Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2012 11:53 pm
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I just finished a couple. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby and a collection of Bukowski short stories.
Juliet, Naked reminds me a lot of this board. It's about a dude who is obsessed with a reclusive musician who hasn't had new information surface about him for like 5 years. |
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mojo shivers
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Joined: 13 Jul 2004
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Location: the goondocks
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Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2012 3:51 am
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| ZooeyLewis wrote: |
I just finished a couple. Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby and a collection of Bukowski short stories.
Juliet, Naked reminds me a lot of this board. It's about a dude who is obsessed with a reclusive musician who hasn't had new information surface about him for like 5 years. |
I loved Juliet, Naked. But, then again, I always tend to like Nick Hornby. The ending to that book is just pitch perfect.
From back when I read this for the first time:
| mojo shivers wrote: |
I needed a new book. I bought this.
For anyone who considers themselves a music aficionado (or snob), I recommend this book. It pokes a little fun at the completist must-have- every-recording-ever-made and deliberate-over-every-stylistic-or-lyrical- -choice in all of us. But most of all it's a charming love letter to anyone who's ever loved music enough to get a little crazy over it. |
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ZooeyLewis
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 2:55 am
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| I'm starting another Hornby novel tonight, Mojo. I've been devouring my human genome book this week, I'm missing my classes a lot. |
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mojo shivers
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 8:51 am
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| ZooeyLewis wrote: |
| I'm starting another Hornby novel tonight, Mojo. I've been devouring my human genome book this week, I'm missing my classes a lot. |
Which one? I've read them all.
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california is a recipe for a black hole |
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bergenergy
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Joined: 24 Apr 2005
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2012 8:19 pm
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I've been trying to keep a journal of books read and figured out that I have gotten through around 300 during the 360 months since I was 20.
Anyway, I finished 'A Sense of Loss' and it had a double surprise ending which really brought the book together.
I finished 'The Arrivals,' which was amazingly light-weight, but still enjoyable.
And finished 'The Envoy'. Cried my ass off when the Soviets axed Wallenbourg after all the good he did.
Have picked up:
and,
For some reason I got up at 4:30 this morning and read in all of these.
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happyfish
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 1:07 pm
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I am reading Treasure Island for my book club. It is boring, and I'm still perplexed as to why it was suggested.
I'm also reading The Omnivore's Dillema, which is vastly more interesting.
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shadespatterson
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Joined: 08 May 2005
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:20 pm
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Just finished The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) last night! So wickedly funny and dark. I've been reading a lot more since I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas--even though I used to rail on them so much in the past, it really is easy to just pick up and go. I think I will now scour this thread for some more recommendations.
Also, hi, board! It has been a while with me just being lurky.
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mojo shivers
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:25 pm
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It's another urban fantasy book in the vein of The Dresden Files involving somebody who investigates crimes of a supernatural bent. The difference is this one involves the equivalent of a beat cop just learning the ropes of both police work and magic.
I like it because the main character takes both instances with an almost stoic attitude; nothing completely freaks him out. A victim who is beheaded on the street? That's interesting. A turf war between the two guardian spirits of the River Thames? It's a dispute handled just like any other.
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"Right is right even if no one does it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone does it."
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Heather
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 7:34 pm
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| shadespatterson wrote: |
Just finished The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) last night! So wickedly funny and dark. I've been reading a lot more since I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas--even though I used to rail on them so much in the past, it really is easy to just pick up and go. I think I will now scour this thread for some more recommendations.
Also, hi, board! It has been a while with me just being lurky. |
Hello! |
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happyfish
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 3:53 pm
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| shadespatterson wrote: |
Just finished The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) last night! So wickedly funny and dark. I've been reading a lot more since I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas--even though I used to rail on them so much in the past, it really is easy to just pick up and go. I think I will now scour this thread for some more recommendations.
Also, hi, board! It has been a while with me just being lurky. |
Oooooh, I want to read this. I love his Unfortunate Events series.
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neverending
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Joined: 04 Aug 2003
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 12:22 am
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my mom got a kindle for christmas, and i remember someone posting about downloading books for free for this? i.e. torrents, can someone tell me how to go about doing this? because i have no idea, thanks!
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Built To Post
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Joined: 04 Feb 2005
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Location: Howell, NJ
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:16 pm
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I'm close to finishing East Of Eden. I love Steinbeck's overall story, theme, and attention to detail both in characters and nature. To me, his writing screams of pure genius.
As I feel almost anytime reading a great book, it's almost depressing knowing that I do not have the intellect or ability to tell a story in such a fashion.
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My Morning Jacket - Librarian. |
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bergenergy
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:19 pm
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| Built To Post wrote: |
I'm close to finishing East Of Eden. I love Steinbeck's overall story, theme, and attention to detail both in characters and nature. To me, his writing screams of pure genius.
As I feel almost anytime reading a great book, it's almost depressing knowing that I do not have the intellect or ability to tell a story in such a fashion. |
Interesting reaction and comment. I just looked at some reviews and it sounds pretty intense.
I'm reading a pretty serious biography about a 14th century queen of Naples, but it had this funny passage. Basically, the set-up is that the mother of a prince is arriving in Naples to push his claims on the throne.
She arrives with 400 armed nights, but the author says 'what was more intimidating was the 10 carts of gold florins which she was going to use for bribes'. Then, when the local bribes don't pay off, she 'went to where she could get value for her money - the Pope'.
I got  from those observations. |
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Built To Post
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:22 pm
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| bergenergy wrote: |
Interesting reaction and comment. I just looked at some reviews and it sounds pretty intense.
I'm reading a pretty serious biography about a 14th century queen of Naples, but it had this funny passage. Basically, the set-up is that the mother of a prince is arriving in Naples to push his claims on the throne.
She arrives with 400 armed nights, but the author says 'what was more intimidating was the 10 carts of gold florins which she was going to use for bribes'. Then, when the local bribes don't pay off, she 'went to where she could get value for her money - the Pope'.
I got from those observations. |
Ha ha...that is pretty funny. Not much has changed in politics since.
You should read East Of Eden. It's very intense often. While the movie helped make James Dean a star, it totally lacks the darkness of the book. Plus it doesn't have one of the best characters.
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bergenergy
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 1:41 pm
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OK, I picked up East of Eden - didn't realize it is 600 pages!
So, very randomnly, I ended with with two books that mirror the other one's cover design.
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rockstonic
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Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 3:58 am
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Just finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I really enjoyed it even though I kind of hated the characters; didn't know that was possible. Is it just me or is he a total asshole and she kinda a fucking idiot? Love hurts I guess...
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mojo shivers
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:53 am
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My brother gave me this as a gift about a month ago, but I've only gotten around to reading it now. The plot is involves an elaborate hunt inside a global-scale virtual world for three keys that will unlock the inventor of the world's multi-billion fortune. However, because the inventor was a fan of the 80's the entire book is one big gushing fan letter to 80's music, video games, movies, tv shows, and overall culture.
It's kind of rad.
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"Right is right even if no one does it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone does it."
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california is a recipe for a black hole |
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mojo shivers
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:16 pm
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I got recommended this book last week. I was able to read a bit of it last night. So far I liked what I read since it seems to live up to its premise.
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Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.
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"Right is right even if no one does it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone does it."
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california is a recipe for a black hole |
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bergenergy
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Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:31 pm
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This book is interesting in that it shows the degree to which Coco Chanel collaborated with the Nazis during the occupation of Paris. I get really sick of people acting like she was God's gift to couture.
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happyfish
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:46 pm
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I am reading a children's novel called Liesl and Po. It's about a young girl and a ghost, I picked it up after reading a few good reviews. I'm disappointed so far - the characters seem, well, like characters. Very flat and stereotypical. 
I am also trying to make my way through a "short" book on Italian history, since I'll be going there in October!
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mojo shivers
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 7:52 pm
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| mojo shivers wrote: |
I got recommended this book last week. I was able to read a bit of it last night. So far I liked what I read since it seems to live up to its premise.
| Quote: |
Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
Every morning, A wakes in a different person’s body, a different person’s life. There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.
It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.
With his new novel, David Levithan has pushed himself to new creative heights. He has written a captivating story that will fascinate readers as they begin to comprehend the complexities of life and love in A’s world, as A and Rhiannon seek to discover if you can truly love someone who is destined to change every day.
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My final review for the book is that it was a great read up until the ending. I can't be too disappointed, though, because with the premise he established there really was no other way to end it satisfactorily.
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"Right is right even if no one does it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone does it."
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Heather
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 2:26 pm
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Lately I have really enjoyed How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran and The Knot by Mark Watson.
This might have added to my enjoyment of The Knot:
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neverending
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2012 6:22 pm
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im currently reading this at work right now! im enjoying it very much 
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