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Quote:What can I say? Textbooks are dull, formed from actual historical research that has been run through a blender, made into tasteless pulp, then subjected to the incredibly biased whims of the Texas School Board, and then put out for our children to use. I like to bring into class new research for the kids to consider.
Besides, what textbook is going to explain that Sally HEmings, Jefferson's slave by which there is more than enough evidence he fathered children on, was also the daughter of his own father-in-law?
First decade of my career I was an historian, working at a state site. One of our goals was to show that history isn't a boring collection of facts and dates but rather an interesting story. Whether it was a noteworthy event or the routine of daily life there is always something can grab attention, even for a moment, and leave a lasting impression.
And Heaven forbid that any textbook more than mention a topic even slightly controversial. That just might lead to discussion, further research, independent thought and diverging opinions.
Who, Me?
Veni, Vidi, Vamoose
I Came, I Saw, I Skedaddled
Kids shouldn't drink with monkeys.
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<strong class='bbc'>'How to Exit a Porno Store Without Being Seen'
by some guy with a red clown nose and really big green shoes</strong>
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The first half of my summer was spent on a reading binge, sadly I have not had much time of late to read anything but news and such.My favorite book I read this summer though was The Confederacy of Dunces. I am pretty sure this is the funniest book I have read and skyrocketed up into my top 5.
Currently making my way through Umberto Eco's "The island of the day before". I hope he cuts down his ramblings on the state of Robert's mind pretty soon and puts a bit more action in...
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For now I'm reading Nietzsche's On the Genealogy of Morality
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<em class='bbc'>Last Man Standing</em> by Dick Camp about the 1st US Marine Regiment on Peleliu. Frustrating in two respects:
1. The narrative gets broken up with sidebars that are planted smack-dab in the middle of the text. Really hurts the flow of the narrative.
2. No maps! There are photos of two smaller sit-rep maps but no maps of the island, the attack plan or daily dispositions. I had to go to two other sources to figure out exactly what was being described.
Who, Me?
Veni, Vidi, Vamoose
I Came, I Saw, I Skedaddled
Kids shouldn't drink with monkeys.
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I'm reading now the thing about the miners of the San Jos? mine in Copiap?, Chile, i will post it as a topic in other place so can everyone can know what happened.
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<em class='bbc'>I'll Sleep when I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon</em> by Crystal Zevon.
Although authored by Warren's ex, it's primarily the recollections of those around him, from his youth through the end. As much as I enjoy his music I'm struck by two things - He was an incredible a-hole and his behavior should have gotten him killed before age 30, either through substance abuse or at the hands of someone he mistreated.
Who, Me?
Veni, Vidi, Vamoose
I Came, I Saw, I Skedaddled
Kids shouldn't drink with monkeys.
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<em class='bbc'>A Fire in the Deep</em>. Just finished <em class='bbc'>Calculating God</em>.
A sword is useless in the hands of a coward - Nichiren Daishonin
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We may not see eye to eye, but we can speak heart to heart
