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Review Date: 2/14/2009
This is a worthy successor to Dangerous Visions. This edition has the same content as the 830 page edition, which can also be seen here on Paperback Swap.
Bill of Wrongs: The Executive Branch's Assault on America's Fundamental Rights
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Author:
Book Type: Hardcover
2
Review Date: 6/18/2009
Helpful Score: 1
This was the last book that Molly Ivins wrote, as she passed away from cancer during the writing of it. It is a worthy ending to a long career of comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable - and speaking truth to power.
For all those who supported President George W Bush and just could not understand why so many people hated him, this is the book that explains why people who love America thought Bush was a disaster.
In story after story, Ivins shows how the now-thankfully-former President and the people he appointed violated their oath of office (to preserve, protect and defend the US Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic -- the Constitution, not the people, that is the oath). She details many examples where the Bill of Rights was trashed by that President and how his team got Congress to go along with doing so in some cases, as well as how the Administration simply broke the law again and again when they chose to do so. Not since Richard Nixon (with the immortal quote that "When the President does it, it is not illegal") has there been such arrogant and obvious disregard by a President for the checks and balances spelled out in the Constitution -- not to mention criminal behavior and rampant violations of the Bill of Rights.
If you loved Bush, you need to read this book to understand why so many Americans who love America hated him. And all those Republicans and Fox-News-watchers who are screaming about Socialism and Fascism under the new President need to read this book to see what doors Bush opened for abuse of the American people by a sitting President. Everyone who cares about our country needs to read this book to see how far the Bush Administration took us from the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
For all those who supported President George W Bush and just could not understand why so many people hated him, this is the book that explains why people who love America thought Bush was a disaster.
In story after story, Ivins shows how the now-thankfully-former President and the people he appointed violated their oath of office (to preserve, protect and defend the US Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic -- the Constitution, not the people, that is the oath). She details many examples where the Bill of Rights was trashed by that President and how his team got Congress to go along with doing so in some cases, as well as how the Administration simply broke the law again and again when they chose to do so. Not since Richard Nixon (with the immortal quote that "When the President does it, it is not illegal") has there been such arrogant and obvious disregard by a President for the checks and balances spelled out in the Constitution -- not to mention criminal behavior and rampant violations of the Bill of Rights.
If you loved Bush, you need to read this book to understand why so many Americans who love America hated him. And all those Republicans and Fox-News-watchers who are screaming about Socialism and Fascism under the new President need to read this book to see what doors Bush opened for abuse of the American people by a sitting President. Everyone who cares about our country needs to read this book to see how far the Bush Administration took us from the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.
Review Date: 4/10/2009
Matt Venne's short story in this collection (Elvis Presley and the Bloodsucker Blues) won the 2009 Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Science Fiction, Fantasy or Horror Short Story.
Now, if I could only get my hands on a copy of the actual anthology, we could see what other goodies are in it.
-- Tim Gatewood, Chairman Emeritus
Darrell Awards Jury
a project of the Mid-South SF&F Association (formerly the Memphis SF Assn.)
Now, if I could only get my hands on a copy of the actual anthology, we could see what other goodies are in it.
-- Tim Gatewood, Chairman Emeritus
Darrell Awards Jury
a project of the Mid-South SF&F Association (formerly the Memphis SF Assn.)
Review Date: 3/27/2010
As some folks have said in other forums online, the editing is very uneven in this anthology of dragon-themed fantasy short stories. Even so, there are more gems here than not -- and the 3 of the 4 Finalists (including the Winner) of the 2010 Darrell Awards for Best Midsouth Short Story are in this one book. Tamer by CRS Bailey won, The Time Scar by Jackie Gamber was first-runner up and Here There be Dragons by H. David Blalock also received Finalist status recognition.
Review Date: 3/27/2010
Cherry Tart (in this anthology of erotic fantasy) was one of 4 finalists for the 2010 Darrell Awards for Best Midsouth Short Story. This book has some very hot stories, in addition to Cherry Tart. Highly recommended.
Review Date: 3/27/2010
Think of Simon R. Green's dark fantasy crossed with Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden and you are pretty close to the wonderfulness of this Markhat series. This one won the 2010 Darrell Award for Best Midsouth Novella. (Amazon shows a collection of 3 of these Markhat stories due out later this year. Alas, that collection does not include this one -- but it WILL let you catch up.) Highly Recommended -- well worth getting all the stories in ebook form or any other way you can find them.
Review Date: 2/4/2009
Helpful Score: 1
This book is not really about any secret history, as the background story of Repairman Jack was already revealed in the books in print about him. What it IS is a new series aimed at the juvenile market (old enough to read about stuff they cannot do, young enough to only identify with heroes of their own age). If you can take the book for what it is, a juvenile set in the pre-history (or early history) of Repairman Jack, it is an excellent read.
Now, if you don't know who the heck Repairman Jack is, this is the wrong place to start reading about him. Go to the link here for F. Paul Wilson and look at his bibliography. Read the Repairman Jack books in order, then come back to this one and see if you enjoy it. I certainly did !
Now, if you don't know who the heck Repairman Jack is, this is the wrong place to start reading about him. Go to the link here for F. Paul Wilson and look at his bibliography. Read the Repairman Jack books in order, then come back to this one and see if you enjoy it. I certainly did !
Review Date: 2/4/2009
Helpful Score: 4
This book will appeal ONLY to the Repairman Jack completist, as only those will know what the heck a Rakosh is -- and they will already have this story as part of the 2nd Repairman Jack book, All the Rage. The tale here is literally the same as in that book minus the Rage-drug and Jack's-surrogate-family connections. I cannot figure if this was written first and then expanded into All The Rage, or if it was culled out of All The Rage for a publisher looking to put something-anything with F. Paul Wilson's name on it onto their list.
If you have not already read All The Rage and cannot find a copy, this makes a decent sequel to the first Repairman Jack book. Otherwise, skip it and read All The Rage.
If you have not already read All The Rage and cannot find a copy, this makes a decent sequel to the first Repairman Jack book. Otherwise, skip it and read All The Rage.
Review Date: 9/3/2014
The Notary Signing Agent field needs a good book about marketing, especially since the mortgage lending field collapsed in the 2008 meltdown and never really recovered.
Unfortunately, this is not such a good book. It is mediocre at best.
First, it is very basic information - very little of this is stuff anyone intelligent enough to be a Notary Signing Agent would not know or be able to figure out on their own.
Second, at least 30 pages of the book are blank other than the page numbers. Most of the bits of advice are only one page, with the back side of that page blank. I got the impression these are the author's notes for seminars she may have presented, as there is no overall organizing principle to how the articles are arranged.
Third, she mentions having hired a proof-reader in one place, but that proof-reader needs to do a much better job of looking for unneeded commas and missing words, as the book is full of them.
Fourth, she has a website where she sells other books and training and supplies. She manages to work mention of that website in far too often for what is supposed to be a book of advice.
Fifth, the last page lists a very few websites of interest to Notaries, only all but one of them no longer exists -- and she left off all of the major sites that should be there.
If you can find a copy of this at a low price and if you are a Notary Signing Agent, it is worth having for the one or two ideas it may give you. Otherwise, skip it.
Unfortunately, this is not such a good book. It is mediocre at best.
First, it is very basic information - very little of this is stuff anyone intelligent enough to be a Notary Signing Agent would not know or be able to figure out on their own.
Second, at least 30 pages of the book are blank other than the page numbers. Most of the bits of advice are only one page, with the back side of that page blank. I got the impression these are the author's notes for seminars she may have presented, as there is no overall organizing principle to how the articles are arranged.
Third, she mentions having hired a proof-reader in one place, but that proof-reader needs to do a much better job of looking for unneeded commas and missing words, as the book is full of them.
Fourth, she has a website where she sells other books and training and supplies. She manages to work mention of that website in far too often for what is supposed to be a book of advice.
Fifth, the last page lists a very few websites of interest to Notaries, only all but one of them no longer exists -- and she left off all of the major sites that should be there.
If you can find a copy of this at a low price and if you are a Notary Signing Agent, it is worth having for the one or two ideas it may give you. Otherwise, skip it.
Review Date: 4/8/2009
This hardback edition contains the same story as the paperback editions which were issued later. This one is from Bantam and is a book club edition of 403 pages.
The premise is simple: imagine the US did not get involved in World War II and Hitler won. Fast forward to 1974 - only the USA and Australia survive beyond the bootheel of fascism and a last, desperate gamble is taken, to send a team back in time to change history.
This is Hogan at his best, one of his finest works. Before Harry Turtledove became so famous as the dean of alternate history, Hogan was writing first-rate A-H books himself, and this one ranks up there with anything Turtledove has written.
The premise is simple: imagine the US did not get involved in World War II and Hitler won. Fast forward to 1974 - only the USA and Australia survive beyond the bootheel of fascism and a last, desperate gamble is taken, to send a team back in time to change history.
This is Hogan at his best, one of his finest works. Before Harry Turtledove became so famous as the dean of alternate history, Hogan was writing first-rate A-H books himself, and this one ranks up there with anything Turtledove has written.
Review Date: 1/23/2009
Helpful Score: 11
Heinlein was well known in his time to be less than thrilled at all the hippies and drop-outs who adopted this book as their bible. He was said to have hated it when people asked to "share water" with him, as if the ceremony he invented was somehow sacred. His own time spent in the U.S. Navy (had to leave for actual medical reasons) led him to believe that only those who did national service should vote (See Starship Troopers) - so, he was far from thrilled by the peace movement and the drop-outs of the Sixties.
EVEN SO, this book had a profound effect on American culture by opening the minds of its many, many readers to the possibility of a religion that meant something, that led to actual changes in how people behave and act toward one another, not just beliefs -- but actions. I dare say that the thoughts Heinlein put out into the culture via this book were an important part of the stew that led to the reviving of religion as a vital force in the culture, after it had become so staid and dry during the Fifties.
Okay, enough profundities. This book changed my life. There, I said it. It did that by leading me to ask myself questions that I had been trying to avoid, which put me on a different path religiously and otherwise. I might have been a very different person had I never read this book.
The world would have been much different had Heinlein not written it. You owe it to yourself to read this NOW.
EVEN SO, this book had a profound effect on American culture by opening the minds of its many, many readers to the possibility of a religion that meant something, that led to actual changes in how people behave and act toward one another, not just beliefs -- but actions. I dare say that the thoughts Heinlein put out into the culture via this book were an important part of the stew that led to the reviving of religion as a vital force in the culture, after it had become so staid and dry during the Fifties.
Okay, enough profundities. This book changed my life. There, I said it. It did that by leading me to ask myself questions that I had been trying to avoid, which put me on a different path religiously and otherwise. I might have been a very different person had I never read this book.
The world would have been much different had Heinlein not written it. You owe it to yourself to read this NOW.
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