All Consuming : gladglide

A story about "The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 04:07:53 GMT

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible

by A. J. Jacobs

I thought the idea was great, but the book was sort of boring. Also seeing into the lives of some of the people he met depressed me— since this gave me another glimpse at how many crazy religious fundamentalists there are in the world.

A question I have about "Mere Christianity"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:23:43 GMT

Mere Christianity

by C. S. Lewis

Is this really the pinnacle of Christian thought!? I’ve been looking forward to reading this book ever since my teenage days when I was an evangelical Christian. He jumped to bad conclusions way to quickly. Very disappointing. I feel like I’ve been punched in the stomach!

Please someone suggest a better Christianity book for me to read.

Why I recommend "Bombay Sapphire"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:27:32 GMT

Bombay Sapphire

by Gin

Makes great martinis!

Author's style not my cup of tea (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:13:44 GMT

Middlesex

by Jeffrey Eugenides

I tried reading this one for 3 days. I just couldn’t go on. I just didn’t like the author’s style of writing. With so many good reviews, it’s probably a good story… but, I just couldn’t finish it.

Why I recommend "The Modern Scholar: Global Warming, Global Threat (Unabridged)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:02:06 GMT

The Modern Scholar: Global Warming, Global Threat (Unabridged)

by Michael B. McElroy

This really helped my understanding of the global warming facts vs fiction. For example… why the United States was right to reject the Kyoto Protocol when it did (but should approve a revised version).

A question I have about "The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 04:35:29 GMT

The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God

by Lee Strobel

Does Lee Strobel know he’s misleading people, or does he actually buy into what he’s saying? The book is full of many straw-man arguments… for instance: of all the man/ape missing links he could have used he chose Java man! I agree that textbooks should remove the bad science, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I bought into the creationist movement back in the early 90’s and have been studying it ever since. Take it from me, if you want to sustain your belief in God… either don’t make creationism your foundation, or figure out a way to turn off your logic.

half good, half bad (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 05:02:15 GMT

Round Room

by Phish

The album has some great songs. Some of the other songs are total crap! No studio album should have songs where people are out of key!

stick with it

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 04:56:17 GMT

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini

REALLY SLOW at the beginning, but after the midpoint, becomes more worthwhile. Not bad, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

Why I recommend "The Naked Buddha: A Practical Guide to the Buddha's Life and Teachings"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 03:44:45 GMT

The Naked Buddha: A Practical Guide to the Buddha's Life and Teachings

by Adrienne Howley

So far the best book I’ve read on Buddhism. Very straight foreward no-nonsense explanation of buddhism from an American buddhist monk.

A story about the last time I consumed "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 01:22:01 GMT

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

by Philip K. Dick

I was looking forward to reading this for a couple of years. Perhaps it was too much anticipation, because I didn’t like the book. I can see how it was a classic in the 70’s and 80’s, but it’s not one I would recommend for people to read today.

I particularly couldn’t get beyond the idea that machines couldn’t be empathetic. Wouldn’t an entity with empathy be better suited for survival (thus that code would be reproduced in newer future androids, ad infinitum)? Empathy for other androids and those humans helping them would decrease their odds of being “retired” via safety in numbers. Empathy for the bounty hunter would help them understand their killers’ mind, thus be able to react ‘more correct’ while taking the distinction tests. IMHO, by the time androids’ bodies would be developed indistinguishable from humans, their mind’s coding would be strongly empathetic.

This fundamental flaw combined with outdated futurist ideas made the novel a disappointing read. I hope Blade Runner takes the good from this classic and updates it to a story more relevant to the near future.

How "skyline chili" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:59:46 GMT

skyline chili

Grew up in Cincinnati. Worked at a Skyline. Lived in Dayton and Columbus Ohio for many years and convinced many people to try it. It takes 3 times before people like it. This is consistantly the reaction:

1st Time) “WTF!? This isn’t Chilli. This is aweful.
2nd Time) “Wow, this is much better than the first time. You know, it’s not too bad”
3rd Time) “This is delicious…”

After the third taste, you’ll start getting skyline cravings. You are now hooked. Good luck if you move away from the Tri-State area.

A story about "The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 03:25:13 GMT

The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture

by John Battelle

Much better than I thought it would be. Should be a must read for anyone in business planning / marketing. Good insights for investors as well.

Why I recommend "Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:55:43 GMT

Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar

by Rogue Brewery

Wow! This has gone to the top of my list as the best beer I have ever had. Got it on tap at Henry’s in Portland (not to far from the actual Rogue brewery).

good god! (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:48:33 GMT

Godless: The Church of Liberalism

by Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter’s Sarcasim is will make you laugh. Her arguments though won’t change your mind. Not very logical, though it is a great summary of what’s been said before by many other conservatives. Years ago I would have agreed with most everything she said – but that was back in the days when I let Rush Limbaugh do my thinking for me. The book is a long winded and repetative – it could have been 200 pages shorter if she simply removed the word “liberal”.

A story about "Starlight and Time: Solving the Puzzle of Distant Starlight in a Young Universe"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 06:25:56 GMT

Starlight and Time: Solving the Puzzle of Distant Starlight in a Young Universe

by D. Russell Humphreys

I read this book around 1995. It proposed an ingenious theory on how we see old starlight in a young earth. I stopped believing in the young earth theories a few years ago after realizing how falsified these arguments I was taught were. Unfortunately, I haven’t read the book since then. It would be interesting to know how other physists argue for/against his theory and if there is any supporting data.

A story about "The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 06:07:52 GMT

The Moral Animal: Why We Are, the Way We Are: The New Science of Evolutionary Psychology

by Robert Wright

One of the top three books I’ve ever read. Though, I felt the author tried too hard to make Darwin’s personal life parallel every single argument he was making.

When I recommend this book, I now do so with a disclaimer since my close friend needed depression medicine after reading this book. Maybe not the best book if you are new to existential thought.

A life changing book. It creates a thought process you can’t help but use which allows you to understand nearly all behaviors and emotions exhibited by others, yourself, and animals.

A story about "Beyond the Cosmos: The Extra-Dimensionality of God : What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal About the Glory and Love of God"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 05:58:25 GMT

Beyond the Cosmos: The Extra-Dimensionality of God : What Recent Discoveries in Astrophysics Reveal About the Glory and Love of God

by Hugh Ross

Poor arguments… not to mention poor math (where was the editor?)

A story about "Darwin's Demise"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 05:56:51 GMT

Darwin's Demise

by Nicholas Comninellis

Lots of inaccuracies. How do these “findings” keep getting republished book after book when they’ve been disproved?

A story about "The Wealth of Nations"

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 05:52:52 GMT

The Wealth of Nations

by Adam Smith

Perhaps the most boring important book ever written. Don’t read Adam Smith… read someone who has already summarized him.

Poor data

nobody@allconsuming.net (gladglide) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 05:46:19 GMT

What the Bleep Do We Know!?

by William Arntz

I enjoy learning about quantum physics so it had great promise to be a good movie. Unfortunately, it failed by promoting some bad science as the truth. The water turning to crystals is an unscientific hoax. Much of the movie was based on the results of that experiment. It too heavily promoted the Ramtha mystisicm for my liking.