"Cross of Iron": The Rise and Fall of the German War Machine: 1918-1945 Mosier, JohnLots of solid primary source research, though he still throws in the occasional fast and loose speculation without evidentiary support. I like it. In a nutshell, the Nazis just couldn't get it together. Their faith in racism, the great man, and individual craftsmanship (at the expense of mass industrialization) inevitably led to failure. After reading many other histories, I always wondered why no one called Germany out for its obvious inability to keep up with the Allies' production. Mosier does this and more in solid detail.
"Children of Men"Truth in fiction? With articles about decreased sperm count in men living in industrialized countries, hormone-laden food affecting our kids' development, and now inadvertent cocktails of every drug ever administered forming from human bodily waste that filters into our water supply... One figures that whatever eventually happens in reality will defy and exceed even the extreme speculation in movies like this one.
Really, really good movie. Nihilistic as hell (until the 'morrow at the end), but very accurate depictions of human reactions under stress.Learning a single, minor improvement won’t change the world. However, five years’ worth of such improvements has made the difference between a steel cocktail dress and a German footman’s burgonet.
The above title has nothing to do with the following entry.
Went out into Mark’s yard to dump out and rinse his cooler. The light in the back is burned out, and this particular night was rather dark. I went looking for the hose, and walked face-first smack into a spiderweb.
After much pawing, I cleared it off, and found the hose. Cleaned out the cooler, managed to hose myself off accidentally, then went to set it on the paving by the garage back door.
Splat. Ran into *another* web. This time, there were chunks on. Dead, curled up insect chunks. I was a little freaked that one of them might be a rather large, damp, and irate spider.
After much more frantic pawing this time, I went back inside and resolved to only enter that yard before dark ever again.
But at least this time, it’s got nothing to do with a girl.
Applied for the ISMAC scholarship. Would’ve provided free registration for general classes and one master class, onsite accommodation, and some money towards travel expenses. About a $400 value, I guess.
But I suppose I demonstrated insufficient need or ability. And by this time next year, b/c I’ve got a job (two, as a matter of fact, and don’t intend to lose them anytime soon), I shan’t be able to demonstrate financial need again. :/
Still, making it to WMAW in Dallas this year will give meaning to my life, so don’t go tying up black bunting anytime soon.
Monsieur Le Genius went and cut out two halves of a burgonet helm tonight. Cleanly done, no problems. Set down the pieces each in turn on the large dishing bowl and hammered on each one with the 12-lb round sledge for about 20 minutes. Then he realized he’d hammered ‘em both on the same darn side. So he supposes now that he will be making two helms instead of one.
Idiot boy.
Every generation has its claims that Mankind has maxed out his wonder credit.
I am utterly beat. Completely knackered. What fun!
…Are no fun. I highly unrecommend. If I ever maul significant amounts of wood again, I am getting a table saw and router. But I am under semi-voluntary vows of poverty, that’s not likely to happen soon.
On the flipside, I smelled pine-fresh all day.
So I’m moving into a new bedroom, and I have to consolidate all my books, files, WMA gear, armor, fabric and sewing tools, and !@#$ else into the room. It’s been an organizational challenge, but one that I’m measuring up to.
Oh, nothing much. Needed a hatchet, so we made one.
