What are you currently reading?

[The Argonaut]

We should set up a mutual aid fund to pay off the library fines of other RMers

[washing machine]

Interesting title. I've never heard of these authors. Do you have any interviews or shorter reads you would recommend to get an elevator pitch idea of the concepts in there?

here's a 10-minute NPR piece on the book that might help:

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/02 ... k-business

I see. Thank you, my friend.

[washing machine]

We should set up a mutual aid fund to pay off the library fines of other RMers

What other RMers do you suppose have fines and for how much?

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Our libraries cancelled late fees

[washing machine]

Ours did too but I guess I was grandfathered in, which I understand.

[The Argonaut]

I don't think any other RMer can match reid on his curiosity, voracious appetite, and love of public spaces, so I wouldn't know who else to nominate as potentially having library late fees

[Hatfield]

Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

I just finished Guns of August and Larson's "Splendid and Vile" (which is good, but nothing like his other books) and got really interested in learning the details of Germany's unimaginable shift. Only 300 pages in, but Rise and Fall is an excellent read.

[BurtReynolds]

[washing machine]

I don't think any other RMer can match reid on his curiosity, voracious appetite, and love of public spaces, so I wouldn't know who else to nominate as potentially having library late fees

There really is something about a library building, isn't there? Repurposed spaces along with new builds all united in the service of information dissemination... gives me tingles.

I was ashamed to set foot in a library for years, but now that I'm back it's like I never left.

[dad]

taking a break from fiction...

just finished This Is Your Mind on Plants, and have started on Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker.

[washing machine]

Is that first title a Pollan book? Sounds like a Pollanian theme.

[dad]

Is that first title a Pollan book? Sounds like a Pollanian theme.

yes sir.

[blueviper]

I don't think any other RMer can match reid on his curiosity, voracious appetite, and love of public spaces, so I wouldn't know who else to nominate as potentially having library late fees

There really is something about a library building, isn't there? Repurposed spaces along with new builds all united in the service of information dissemination... gives me tingles.

I was ashamed to set foot in a library for years, but now that I'm back it's like I never left.

Libraries are the best. When our daughter was younger was when we really started using them on a regular basis. She'd get books and movies but there would also be events for young children that she enjoyed. It got me back into my regular reading habits, and we've saved a lot of money not buying books and movies.

It also seemed like a politically agnostic place, until recently, unfortunately. The state trying to ban books and a local kerfuffle regarding a mom going nuts because a male library worker was dressed in clothes that are more geared towards women, and had some makeup on. A protest (and counter protest started , then board meetings etc. I'm not sure where we are at with it, but it's funny how when she initially was complaining, he was wearing a bit of make up, and colorful clothing with a dress or skirt. By the time this reached a county council meeting, the guy was apparently in full blown drag. I like how the clothes and makeup escalated. And to top it off, the mom cam dressed how she thought the guy was dressed. She's not playing with a full deck.

oh, in summary....Libraries are the best.

[washing machine]

Is that first title a Pollan book? Sounds like a Pollanian theme.

yes sir.

His topics are so interesting and yet so predictable at this point in his career. He's really leaning into this consciousness exploring thing, yeah? I'm curious -- does that one and How to Change your Mind have applications for open-minded people who aren't planning on using psychedelics?

[dad]

Is that first title a Pollan book? Sounds like a Pollanian theme.

yes sir.

His topics are so interesting and yet so predictable at this point in his career. He's really leaning into this consciousness exploring thing, yeah? I'm curious -- does that one and How to Change your Mind have applications for open-minded people who aren't planning on using psychedelics?

agreed on the first two sentences. I've not read How to Change Your Mind. Not sure I'll even get around to it. I did start In Defense of Food, but didn't finish it

I liked TIYMOP, but he makes no secret that he's looking to achieve an altered state, particularly the mescaline portion of the book, which makes up the last third of it. At least that's how I see from the reading.

He even went so far as to ask about it - at least a couple of times - to the guide performing the ceremony. The guide was basically saying, that altered states of consciousness isn't what peyote is supposed to be about. It's about healing.

In Pollan's defense I think it's easy to get caught up in magical white man thinking when it comes to peyote.

[washing machine]

Thanks for the clarification.

Based on that, I'm not super interested in TIYMOP but strangely more intrigued than ever about HTCYM.

You should read The Botany of Desire if you haven't already. Early proving ground for a lot of his ideas about plants, and a hefty cannabis section to boot. All about how some of our most enjoyable plants have tricked us into domesticating them merely by being so damn enjoyable.

[dad]

Thanks for the clarification.

Based on that, I'm not super interested in TIYMOP but strangely more intrigued than ever about HTCYM.

You should read The Botany of Desire if you haven't already. Early proving ground for a lot of his ideas about plants, and a hefty cannabis section to boot. All about how some of our most enjoyable plants have tricked us into domesticating them merely by being so damn enjoyable.

Thanks for the rec. I've added it to my libby shelf.

[dad]

Thanks for the clarification.

Based on that, I'm not super interested in TIYMOP but strangely more intrigued than ever about HTCYM.

You should read The Botany of Desire if you haven't already. Early proving ground for a lot of his ideas about plants, and a hefty cannabis section to boot. All about how some of our most enjoyable plants have tricked us into domesticating them merely by being so damn enjoyable.

Thanks for the rec. I've added it to my libby shelf.

I had the physical copy of Rick Rubin's book, The Creative Act, on hold at the library. Ended up checking out The Botany of Desire as well.

Rubin's book reads like a guided meditation. The audio version, which I sampled before getting the hardcover makes a strong case for that as well.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

[Bammer]

The 2023 MLB all star game program