Not questioning what you're saying, especially on a sort of "macro" level but, based on interviews with Germans that were on the beaches there were actually a lot of these tanks that did make it. The Germans were astounded by these machines.

This is a 2 volume series of interviews. It's one of the most incredible reads I've experienced.

https://www.amazon.com/DAY-Through-German-Eyes-Hidden-ebook/dp/B00VX372UE

There's a book written by the man who this facebook post is to, Marcus Luttrel, who is the sole survivor of Operation Red Wings in which Michael P. Murphy is killed. It's called Lone Survivor and though I don't necessarily agree with all the politics, it's a harrowing account of persistence and survival.

EDIT: Since I'm recommending books, anyone who has read or may be interested in Lone Survivor should read the book Unbroken about Olympic runner and WW2 bombardier Louie Zamperini's struggle for survival after being shot down over the Pacific Ocean.

here's the book Buying it now!

Battleground Pacific: A Marine Rifleman's Combat Odyssey in K/3/5

The book he wrote about his experiences as a Marine rifleman.

I hadn't seen it posted yet so I wanted to get it on a high comment.

Since he was too polite to link it, here's the book.

And spy for Israel! https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Gordon/dp/0786712953

Must Must Must Read!!!!!

NEVER FORGET - the way he was used by the military for propaganda, how they burned his uniform and journal, how they lied about and covered up his death by friendly fire.

https://www.amazon.com/Where-Men-Win-Glory-Odyssey/dp/030738604X

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgU6SwuZJIY

Big ups to his brother for calling out the bullshit at his funeral.

SWS is on the low-end of the BadAcademia spectrum; there've been recent attempts to reduce the shitposts and circlejerking- including a meta meta sub to highlight egregious offenses -but there's a definite slant involved, and there aren't usually that many sources.

We tend to take things a bit far in the opposite direction, sometimes. A lot of that stuff wasn't total shit, but watch the downvotes roll in if you say it in the wrong spot.

And, of course, anyone citing ^Cooper, ^B. ^Y. ^(1998). ^Death ^Traps: ^the ^Survival ^of ^an ^American ^Armored ^Division ^in ^World ^War ^II. ^Navato, ^CA: ^Presidio ^Press, ^1998. is a top-of-the-line memester.

If, however, you would prefer -even- lower standards and a thriving shitpost economy, try r/DerScheisser for all your meme needs.

Buddha was an freethinker. He was born into a high-class position and yet when he saw the suffering of others he rejected Hinduism and the evils of the caste system. He refused to believe that humans were destined to live a life of poverty while others lived lavishly. I doubt he was an atheist though he might have been but there weren't too many atheists during his time. If I have my guesses he was probably a Deist or maybe a Pantheist. Buddhism itself doesn't actually require a belief in a God. Here's a Book on the life of an Atheist Buddhist

"Son Of Hamas"

"Since he was a small boy, Mosab Hassan Yousef has had an inside view of the deadly terrorist group Hamas. The oldest son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader, young Mosab assisted his father for years in his political activities while being groomed to assume his legacy, politics, status . . . and power. But everything changed when Mosab turned away from terror and violence, and embraced instead the teachings of another famous Middle East leader. In Son of Hamas, Mosab reveals new information about the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization and unveils the truth about his own role, his agonizing separation from family and homeland, the dangerous decision to make his newfound faith public, and his belief that the Christian mandate to “love your enemies” is the only way to peace in the Middle East."

I guess he didn't finish reading the book...

I'll assume you've already found the 4 noble truths and 8 fold path (if not give those a google). Here are a few suggestions that I've found personally helpful:

Mindfulness in Plain English (link to text)

Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist (link to Amazon)

Explore the different sects of Buddhism, but don't get too caught up if some of them seem too religious to you. Much of Buddhism spread by incorporating local traditions and gods/goddesses, and those are not the heart of Buddhism. Don't get too much into the theory before you get into the meditation. While Buddhism can be studied academically, you really need to practice to fully understand. (And by practice I mean meditate).

Released today. Amazon has it.

The best thing to do is to start searching for "eugenics." For some reason that stuff hasn't been buried as much and you can see more of it. And, since links in English are favored by the web over links in German, you get more of an allied perspective on it. You can start here, move on to here, spend a little time here and then dip in here for a little light reading before going down the rabbit hole for ever and ever.

Absolutely!

For TR, I highly recommended Edmund Morris’ Three Volume bio . The first volume, The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt, won a Pulitzer and is one of my all-time favorite books.

For a general social and political history of the times, check out “The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

There have been a couple of bios on Alice, but the two best that I have read were Alice by Stacey A. Cordery and Hissing Cousins
which chronicles and parallels her life and rivalry with her First Cousin, Eleanor.

For FDR, my favorite single volume bio is Traitor To His Class by HW Brands. It’s been criticized in certain Right Wing circles as “too biased”, but screw those assholes.

For a generalized overview of the Roosevelt family, check out Ken Burns’ doc, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History. It’s on Netflix.

That’s just scratching the surface, but I have found that to be the most accessible and readable stuff.

The problem with the East is, except for the state and national parks, it is all private land -- fenced, keep out -- no trespassing. When the western states applied to the Fed for statehood, the Fed kept a large chunk of the land in trust for the American people. The fed owns around 50% of the land west of the Rockies; that means you own them, too. Hell, the Fed held more than 80% of Nevada.

The desert lands of the West, what used to be called wasteland, are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM isn't like the National Park Service; you can do pretty much anything you want within reason. On BLM lands, yes there are fences but only for livestock -- not to keep people out. If the gate is open, pass right on through. If the gate is closed, close it again behind you.

Protip: when you come out west, check out as much as you can of the Colorado Plateau, a 130,000 square mile red rock sticking out of the desert. This is among the wildest, most remote places within the lower 48. OP's photo is likely of the Grand Canyon which is the very southern tip of the Colorado Plateau. About half of the Plateau looks just like that; not quite as grand but every bit as colorful and beautiful.

Reading suggestions:

Desert Solitaire

The Secret Knowledge of Water

Edit: grammar

Short answer: no.

Slightly longer answer: The radicalization of Islam in the Middle East ties into the division of the region by the western powers after WWI, and further during the Cold War, when the U.S. (not only, but in particular) supported the rise to power of radical religious figures in opposition to communist/leftist parties & figures who might be sympathetic to the Soviet Union, and therefore potentially threaten U.S./U.K. access to oil in the region. This included aiding in the over-throwing of democratically elected governments in favor of autocratic but U.S./U.K.-favored leaders - most notably the U.S.-led 1953 coup d'etat in Iran, when Mohammad Mosaddegh was overthrown. The 1978 Iranian Revolution began as a popular uprising against the Shah who replaced him.

For more extensive reading on the subject:

Inventing Iraq by Toby Dodge (I have some major issues with Dodge's conclusions post 9/11, but the historical analysis that makes up the majority of the book is solid)

Spies in Arabia by Priya Satia, and Lawrence in Arabia are good histories of imperial ambition during the WWI period and its after-effects

Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan for the political maneuvering of the Western powers

A Peace to End All Peace by David Fromkin

I also recommend Edward Said, if you're looking for cultural analysis as well as history

Maxwell achieved his topmost objective as a superspy for Israel's Mossad; sold PROMIS—America's state-of-the-art surveillance software stolen by Mossad—to the USSR and many other countries; recruited foremost Republican Senator John Tower to acquire for Israel top-secret, cutting-edge U.S. technology being developed at Los Alamos; cultivated his vast KGB connections and strove to involve Israel in a coup to oust Mikhail Gorbachev; and how Maxwell ultimately became Mossad's target in an elaborately prepared assassination plot.

Old enough, apparently, to have been a combat Marine in the Pacific in WW2. And to write a book about it:

Battleground Pacific: A Marine Rifleman's Combat Odyssey in K/3/5

And also, apparently, not give a damn anymore about anonymity.

[Edit] Previewed a few pages on Amazon. It's a good read!

In Viper Pilot Dan Hampton talks about his time in the air directly after 9/11. He does a good job conveying how much confusion there was. He was actually given the green light from the ground to take out a SEAL team helicopter. Luckily he stayed cool and called everyone off before that chopper was downed.

Shot by a fellow ranger's saw, I think.

Check out the book When Men Win Glory Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman https://www.amazon.com/dp/030738604X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_uPC3AbBCFP55Z

Fuff and fuffery.

The fact that Epstein's procurer, Ghislaine Maxwell, was the daughter of a man called, Israel's SuperSpy in the title of a book published 2 decades ago, or
that the source of most of Epstein's billions was a co-founder of a 30 year old group dedicated to advancing the cause of Israel remains.

Quibbling, however validly, about one non-crucial connection out of many relevant connection is pure pettifoggery. The bulk still proves nothing in isolation, but provide a plausible explanation as to why Epstein

1. had sole access to another man's billions
   
2. a reason as to why they would have been engaged in a vast enterprise of blackmail with that man's money
   
3. chose the accomplices he consorted with.

People depict him as some sort of anti-establishment candidate. Just read the description of one of his books. He tries to appeal to people that are skeptical of the government by talking about lobbyists dictating our laws and him shaking up the establishment. That being said, his "solutions" are very statist in nature and he's not much of a free market candidate.

Check out Where Men Win Glory if you haven't yet.

Jon Krakauer is a very popular author and does his typically thorough research into the story.

Gives some great insight into his personal drives and motives, the portions describing his days on the football field will really take you back if you remember watching him.

> Neither candidate delves into serious substance about how their ideas will be implemented, instead resorting to populist (and in Trump's case, nationalist) talking points.

Actually, Trump has a whole book detailing how he's going to implement his ideas.

Sanders Trump crossover supporter. The biggest issue with politics is legal bribery where certain industries like Wall Street contribute millions to both Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz's campaign. Sanders and Trump understand that this is a broken system and are fighting for campaign finance reform.

• Campaign Finance Reform: Doesn't have any special interests groups funding him unlike the other candidates besides Sanders. Has called for all candidates to return the money they're getting back to Super PACs and to remove special interest groups from our election process, including the ban of super PACs.
  
  
• Foreign Policy: No more nation building in the Middle East. He was also calling the Iraq War a mistake way before it was viewed positively to do so. Interested in investing in our crumbling infrastructure instead.
  
  
• Non-interventionist based foreign policy. (e.g. if it is in our interest to let Putin bomb ISIS, so be it, instead of threatening to shoot Russian planes down). Calls for U.S. to stop this hostility against Russia with NATO.
  
  
• Economy: Focus on American middle class jobs. Protectionist and won't allow favorable economic policies that encourage companies to ditch operations in the U.S. to move to China, Mexico for cheap labor. Desire to put America labor first in trade deals instead of pure Wall Street globalism that exploits third world workers abroad and destroys domestic jobs.
  
  
• He's genuinely against TPP, saying the U.S. will lose even more middle class jobs outside of manufacturing to other Asian countries working for pennies on the dollar. Has been critical of our economic policies screwing over Main Street for decades.
  
  
• Testified against Reaganomics, saying it would negatively hurt the Middle and Lower classes. Not only is he very knowledgable in economics and investment, but the tax structure he offers up back in 91' seems relevant even today to help alleviate some of the complaints we have about 1%'ers and wall street.
  
  
• Education: Doesn't want the government charging interest on student loans: "That’s probably one of the only things the government shouldn’t make money off. I think it’s terrible that one of the only profit centers we have is student loans". Open to student loan
  forgiveness programs.
  
  
• Wants complete education reform to let our graduates be competitive in a global market. He cites that we spend the most per student but have the worst results of any developed country.
  
  
• Marijuana: Wants to allow states to legalize marijuana: "Marijuana is such a big thing. I think medical should happen - right? Don't we agree? I think so. And then I really believe we should leave it up to the states."
  
  
• Healthcare: Likes universal healthcare, is open to replacing America's broken system with something similar to Canada by gradually expanding Medicare. In the short term, will increase bidding competition to lower insurance costs.
  
  
• Social Issues: Moderate on social issues (e.g. affirmative action, women's health, gay rights). Socially liberal from life experience as Democrat in New York.
  
  
• Diversity: he employed women in leadership roles before it was popular to do that. And he did it in the construction industry of all places.
  
  
• Immigration He has absolutely nothing against legal immigration, he's encouraged it many times. His grandparents are immigrants, his wife is an immigrant, several of his closest business partners in New York are immigrants. He is against uncontrolled, illegal immigration because it gives cheap labor to exploitative international corporations and stagnates lower class wages and lowers employment of existing U.S. citizens.
  
  
• Successful businessman and job creator, knows how to manage money, how to invest for the future. Always underbudget and ahead of schedule, especially with the campaign. He spent the least amount of money in the political race of any candidate and has the best results. He makes outlandish comments time to time for free press, but through the attention, people look into his actual stances like from his campaign book, Crippled America.
  
  
• Nonpartisan. Has been both a Democrat and Republican. Proven negotiator that can work with both parties to get things done.
  
  
• Not afraid to call out corrupt polticians for puppeting for special interests, especially the Koch Brothers

This article is word-for-word identical (including the same pictures) as the original version published by the Sunday Telegraph on April 29 last year: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/spying-shock-shades-of-big-brother-as-cybersecurity-vision-comes-to-light/news-story/bc02f35f23fa104b139160906f2ae709. I'm not sure why it has appeared again on another website with today's date. There is no new information here.

On a related note, Edward Snowden's book "Permanent Record" has just been released: https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238. For anyone who is unaware, Snowden was an insider at the NSA (the US equivalent of our ASD); he had access to and in 2013 leaked to journalists a historically unprecedented amount of information about the mass surveillance activities conducted by the US, UK, Australian and other five eyes intelligence agencies.

Any time you hear about the government requesting new powers like those discussed in the article, there's a good chance it's merely an attempt to obtain proper legal footing for activities they've already been conducting (or collaborating with other five eyes partners to conduct) for many years. For an overview of the revelations see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_surveillance_disclosures_(2013%E2%80%93present).

Probably Paris 1919.

I think Ron explains it pretty well, take a look, it's only $13. Basically the only way that Obama and McCain differ is in the way that they will waste our money. They will each pick different ways to run the country into the ground. Neither of them is proposing any kind of significant change which is what we actually need.

The Revolution: A Manifesto

It could be some sick joke where you pay your $2 and get a remaindered copy of "Crippled America" by D. Trump.

Danny was apart of a 4 man team dropped high into the Hindu Kush Mountain region on a mission to neutralize or capture a HVT (high value target). Said HVT was in the presence of a very large Taliban force. This force was notified of Danny and his team and immediately descended upon them where all but one SEAL were killed. This is the first person account of Operation Red Wing

There were also multiple incidents of poison gas canisters leaking and triggering local detection gear. These canisters were close enough to the front that the chemical teams often thought they were under German attack, until they found the leak.

I believe that one such incident is detailed in the book Death Traps

His book: Son of Hamas

top-selling Amazon book that tells the story of D Day from the German soldiers’ view is likely a fraud — filled with made-up quotes from veterans who never existed, according to The Times of London.

Experts are shooting holes in the work of Holger Eckhertz, who claimed the accounts in his hit book “D Day Through German Eyes” were collected by his journalist grandfather, it says.

But historians can’t locate any references to soldiers quoted in the book, which ranked no. 4 in Amazon’s top 10 World War II titles — or even the author himself, whose name is not listed in any phone directory in Germany or Britain.

Nor could The Times locate information about the book’s purported publisher, DTZ History Publications, or translation service.



https://nypost.com/2019/05/11/experts-claim-top-selling-world-war-ii-book-is-filled-with-made-up-quotes/amp/

I read this neat book on the subject. The sheer ignorance of the leaders during the peace negotiations (for I cannot stress the negotiations part enough) and the way they made decisions were astoundingly horrible. A snippet I recall is that there was a recorded incident where after ~2.5 hours of discussing what to do with country X, one of the leaders (Wilson maybe? I dont recall who) finally figured out that the country is not located in the balkans but is located in the Mid-East (I forget which country in particular) - basically the finer details elude me but the point stood that they had no fucking idea what they were doing (Lyod George, Clemenceau, Wilson).

i tend to agree that we wont see her any time soon and that FBI is afraid to issue a search warrant for her,

but my money is on her being in Israel

Israel becoming 'safe haven for paedophiles' with laws that allow any Jews to legally return, activists claim

Jewish Community Watch says 32 paedophiles moved from countries around the world to Israel over past decade

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/israel-safe-haven-paedophiles-jerusalem-sex-abuse-jewish-community-watch-a7445246.html

​

one female jewish pervert Maika Leifer escaped to Israel from Australia and got released on bail in October 2019. Alleged child abuser Malka Leifer released on bail in Israel

Decision by Jerusalem court was a ‘massive betrayal of justice’, says alleged victim. Manny Waks, founder of Kol V’Oz, an Israel-based organisation against child sex abuse in the global Jewish community, said the decision was “an absolute travesty and continues to bring shame on the State of Israel”.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/02/alleged-child-abuser-malka-leifer-released-on-bail-in-israel

​

Robert Maxwell, Israel's Superspy Paperback – December 16, 2003

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Gordon/dp/0786712953

I took Yoga at a college. It was offered as part of the exercise sciences program (phys. ed just wouldn't do any longer). The instructor was great and I benefitted and did recommend it to many people. It also had a blatant religious component. We were required to buy and read Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. Then we had to complete a 10 page paper dealing with the text, the class, and our lives.

I enjoyed the physical development and noticed great gains (we had an initial set of tests and a final set to gauge improvement). I also enjoyed learning a bit about Yoga. It did occur to me that in p.c. new agey California religion could be taught and exercised in a public exercise class so long as it was not Christianity. Namaste.

Historically, the 105 on its many mountings (the Sherman included) was one of the few reliable methods the US had to take out German tanks at longer ranges.

In WT, well. My squadron and myself had a four-man squad - two M6A1s (later a Jumbo, one've them) and two Sherman 105s, putting them at a 5.0 BR.

They can kill Tigers that aren't angling properly, and Panthers pretty easily. This is due to hitting their mantlet with HE (the HEAT's not so great), as both tanks don't have very good upper hull plating, and doing so sends shrapnel right into that (on the panther) 15mm plate beneath - with the ammo racks right beneath such on two sides.

Also worth noting that US crews were fairly well known for their ability to reload guns, to the point that neither the Ordnance Corps or Wermacht could believe it. According to Death Traps - the memoir of Belton Cooper (an ordnance corps lieutenant with the 3AD's Maintenance Battalion) - their artillery detachment ran the barrels of their guns out so fast from firing so much faster than anticipated that the Corps sent their state-side expert on barrel wear to the front to determine if their shot-logs were being fudged. Case in point: They weren't.

There's also an instance noted in Forging the Thunderbolt of german prisoners asking to see the Americans' new 'automatic artillery gun.' So much so was it that American artillery in Tunisia accounted for half of the German infantry losses.

By Gela during Sicily the majority of German tank casualties could be attributed to truck-drawn artillery - a fact that was not wholly lost on the Army. The 105mm fit for the Sherman was aided by this in wider adoption, and it was greatly liked by its crews as memory serves.

...


Needless to say, it should seriously have its BR reconsidered, given these constraints. It does roughly even against Panthers and Tigers, as both can pen it fairly easily (pending the oft-'lel learn to play' demarcated 'known where to shoot' - though assuming highest skill on both ends, the odds are pretty fairly split). 5.0 seems to be an even match. 3.7 is painful undertiering, given how measurably it can take on the big cats in the right hands.

Basically, yes (though I'd amend your assessment to encompass remunerative kickback/political payback in some form or another.)

Any discussion of Mrs. Clinton's support for womens' issues has to be weighed against her personal treatment of the numerous actual women who've threatened her ascent to world power.

Here's an admittedly one-sided hatchet job by Roger Stone and Bob Morrow, but it includes extensive end notes and bears careful reading by anyone considering casting their vote for this candidate --and by extension, her retinue and charitable foundations.

His old campaign manager literally wrote a book on it http://www.amazon.com/The-Clintons-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X

I read a book called Viper Pilotby a retired wild weasel pilot. They have the latest in countermeasures and are all extremely well trained, he says most of the guys have their masters degree on top of the Air Force level of special forces intensity training. When those guys hear missile lock they react like someone has a gun to their head- they immediately shit pants and evade, evade, evade. Drop everything and pilot like your mother’s life depends on it. It’s terrifying.

He was a Mossad agent:

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Gordon/dp/0786712953

Here's a really fascinating look at D-Day from the German standpoint, which tells about the way Germany still used mules and WWI tactics and the US soldiers typically didn't have the burden of carrying everything. Unlimited jeeps and tanks and fuel... Really good read.

https://www.amazon.com/DAY-Through-German-Eyes-Hidden-ebook/dp/B00VX372UE

A few months ago I read a short pair of books "D Day through German Eyes" - there's a book 1 and a book 2. Note that these books are pretty short - each of them only has five interviews with soldiers at different beaches.


These are sets of interviews that the author's father (who was also former Wehrmacht) conducted with German soldiers in the 1950s, so it's somewhat close to the end of the war. One thing I found interesting was that many of the German soldiers expressed the belief that they were protecting France and the rest of Europe from some combination of Jewish / Capitalist Bankers / Bolshevik domination. The interviewer notes that only one of the interviewees looks back in retrospect and believes that what Germany did was morally wrong. There is an awkward moment when one interviewee pretty much admits to killing Soviet POWs, but abruptly changes the subject before he explicitly says it.


A couple more notes is that this is ultimately a collection of first hand accounts, it's much more about the psychology of the soldiers and their individual experiences, thoughts and biases - rather than a discussion of military tactics or strategy.

You do know that there is one candidate that Wall Street is afraid of, right? There is one candidate that receives almost no money from any major corporation, but his donations come from the 99%. He is considered taboo though because he is not part of the democratic party. The media ignores him because, like Wall Street, they are afraid that he will attempt to dismantle the banking industry as we know it. He has been talking about the problems on Wall Street for decades and even wrote a book about it before OWS was cool.

If you haven't figured it out yet, his name is Ron Paul and his book is End the Fed.

Now please excuse me, I must prepare for the massive amount of downvotes I am about to receive. You see, it's not "cool" to talk about politicians who want to fix the problem, it's only cool to be standing around on Wall Street talking about the problems.

He even has a book about it.
Robert Maxwell, Israel's Superspy

Welcome. Namaste. My humble suggestion is in agreement with Plutoid--order the sampler box. Hot yoga certainly doesn't have a corner on the market in being the most beneficial physically. It is on the athletic side, but as is several types of hatha yoga, power yoga etc. And I've been reading that the benefits of the heat tend to be more personal/experiential than scientific.

I'm no gymnast but Vinyasa has been the perfect equilibrium of physicality in postures (asanas), paired with breath strengthening (pranayama). I'd suggest you give it a shot to perfect your breathing, and then move on to the more physically demanding versions.

Re-reading your post, you did enjoy the heat--so my suggestion is to follow that direction if you still prefer it over the other styles, having worked on breath in this evaluative period.

Sidenote, in a very un-yogi-like observation, the founder of Bikram yoga, Bikram Choudhury, has been accused of many wrongdoings over the years. Despite the help and power he's given people over the years, he actually began to copyright his sequence of poses, which amassed him billions of dollars. In addition to his materialistic (and sometimes bizarre) pursuits, he has also been accused of sexual harassment by his disciples and trainees. If I did do hot yoga, I'd rather support a local studio that's not the Bikram brand.

Good luck and enjoy!

PS If you're interested in the spirituality and contemporary history, I highly recommend Autobiography of a Yogi, by Paramhansa Yogananda. He was a Shakespeare merged with a Buddha. Beautiful writing about Hindu yogic spirituality and his journey helping to bring yoga to America in the early 20th century.

Basically, you are not a body. If life after death is still a question, it means that you think you are a body. But there does come a point after which it is not a question, just a fact. You are Spirit.

At that point, your body is a "wholly neutral" thing (see "A Course in Miracles") because its forms aren't positive or negative. Just utilitarian. If you want to go get breakfast at McDonald's, it will help to have two legs. But other than that, you wouldn't be attached to any particular form. Just whatever's useful at the time.

As such, materializing and dematerializing at will would be something that happens without any mystery. Read Autobiography of a Yogi. The Great Babaji is known to materialize and dematerialize in locations as a means of travel. (Much faster than booking with kayak.com.)

Jesus doesn't really seem to materialize, per se, though I have no doubt that he could. Same with Mary. But they do appear to people and have throughout the centuries. Usually to encourage us. (I refer you to "The Great Apparitions of Mary" by Ingo Swann)

And the Babaji actually shows up in different forms (different physical descriptions). Sometimes he has facial hair, sometimes not. He also speaks all languages. (Known to converse with people in their native tongues). Really quite an interesting read. Really ... a must read. Pity it took me so many years to get around to it. It's more Christian than very many modernly-labelled "Christian" books.

I feel like there's a whole site dedicated to this

Meh. There is no writer noted, it's AP publicity puff as seen anytime anyone with name recognition is releasing a book.

In his case he can't exactly go on tour, yaknow?

So, the publisher - or a contractually obligated and independently contracted 3rd party - pays to play , puts it out there they will pay for any type of clickbait articles (100 words or more!) to drum up business.

Or even releases their own made to order press release - in the old days these would be marked as press release, for immediate release etc.

Make no mistake, the main idea of that article was to remind you there is a Edward Snowden alive and free in the world and now has a memoir.

​

NYT Review

Amazon $18.95

​

[EDIT] https://www.ap.org/en-us/services/ap-content-services

Here's a book for you:

https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238

I wonder if he related to the author of this book

more like mossad/russia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxwell#Israeli_connection

Also, there's a book that calls him a superspy

[Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin] (https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1501607776&sr=8-3&keywords=Jocko+willink)

[Heart for the Fight: A Marine Hero's Journey from the Battlefields of Iraq to Mixed Martial Arts Champion by Brian Stann] ( https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Fight-Journey-Battlefields-Champion/dp/076033899X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1501607842&sr=1-1&keywords=brian+stann+book)

I would also highly recommend subscribing to [Jocko Willink's youtube channel] (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkqcY4CAuBFNFho6JgygCnA)

He has amazing podcasts with combat veterans and it's really interesting to hear the tactics/mindset. On a side note there's not many people that can motivate me like Jocko can. You could send me those pictures of a landscape with inspirational words on them and it wouldn't do shit for me...However there's been many days where I was being lazy/feeling sorry for myself and not wanting to work out...
thats when I watch this video

I shit you not there have been many days where that video alone has gotten me to nut up and grab my bag to go train jiu-jitsu when I didn't feel like it...or go to the range and get some practice in when I would rather stay home get cozy and watch netflix.

I quite literally just read a book, D-Day Through German Eyes, which has an account from an MG42 gunner at Omaha Beach who says the following:

“I had a terror of flame-throwers, as my brother had told me about them from the Russian front. Therefore, when I saw through the smoke a man approaching from the sea up the beach, moving from one obstacle to another, approaching the cliffs, I was alarmed to see that he seemed to be carrying a flame-thrower gun and back pack. I shot him with the MG42 at once, and the bullets evidently ignited the fuel tank on his back. There was a very large explosion, and he disappeared completely in a fireball which went up into the air in a mushroom cloud. Both sides stopped firing for a moment, perhaps because we all saw what happened to this soldier. But then the shooting began again, more intensely than ever.”

So, it’s not a myth. Maybe it doesn’t always happen, but it did happen, at least once, and I’d wager a fair bit more given that gas mixing with air and tracer rounds sound to be an explosive mix.

On a side note, its a pretty short read and its only a few dollars. Its well worth the time and money for anyone interested in the subject. It is probably one of the most violent accounts I’ve ever read about combat. These guys experienced the full weight of allied material superiority and paid the consequences for it.

You think Bernanke is concerned with income equality? His monetary policy is designed to keep the "too big to fail" banks as healthy as possible. He is the banks' #1 crony.

I highly, highly suggest you read a couple books:

End the Fed

and

The Creature from Jekyll Island

The second book is especially interesting. It was the banking elite that wanted the Federal Reserve. Binding money to a commodity like gold restricts any sort of control of monetary policy. That is why Nixon ended Brettan Woods in '71 as well.

If you want to get more in depth into the "Europeans carving up the Middle East" and have your mind blown by the direct implications for what we are now facing almost 100 years later, I strongly recommend the book "Paris 1919".

In addition to being fascinating, well written and full of colorful characters, it's a refreshing departure from your typical war history book discussing troop movements and precursors. It's unbelievable to learn about the circus of the post war Paris 1919 talks which shaped so much of the world as it emerged from colonialism.

Link: Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World https://www.amazon.com/dp/0375760520/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OEqZxbNARKF2M

Correct. The book is Desert Solitaire.

Glad we're on the same page. Have you read Edmund Morris' trilogy on him? I really don't think I would have considered him an ass. He was a strong personality but he was an honest man who expected as much of himself as those around him.

Permanent Record https://www.amazon.com/dp/1250237238/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_n7uGDb4CH21BX

> Nazi-minded and Nazi-hearted Zionists

> pornographic carnage

> evil child killers

> wicked liars

> Israel itself is a crime against humanity

etc.

1. You're lying. Beit Hanoun was an accident, not a "murder". The target was Arab terrorists launching rockets at Israeli civilian population, which is a war crime.
   
   
2. You're lying. Al-Durah incident was staged. Even Arabs themselves thought it was staged at the time, see for example here. It took several years, mistaken admission of guilt by Israeli government, investigations and court battles, but it is now known as a hoax.
   
   
3. You're lying. Jews didn't drive BMWs, shop in malls, or studied in universities in Warsaw ghetto. There's no such thing as "virtual starvation" just as there isn't an "open air prison", "slow genocide" or any other memorable buzzwords invented by Arab propaganda for emotional impact.
   
   
4. You're lying. Nobody is terrorizing schools or orphanages.
   
   Bottom line is, you're lying, and you're a moron.

Came here to post this. Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything is a great way for the layman to become scientifically literate, and it's entertaining. I like all of Krakauer's works, but would particularly recommend Where Men Win Glory for a perspective on the war in Afghanistan as well as a portrait of Pat Tillman, a complicated man.

>Actually compared to WW2 they never really go into detail as to what the end goals were for WW1

No, you just have to know where to look.

What you see happening between 1919 - 1923 is the result of the victor's goals. For an excellent overview of the Entente's goals and implementation, I would suggest Paris 1919. We saw the occupation of the Ruhr, the separation of Prussia, the establishment of Poland and the infamous "corridor", the complete disintegration of the Austrian Empire and the disarming of Germany to a force of 100,000 men, the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire and the making of the modern Middle East and the loss of Germany's few colonies.

The Central Power's goals were no less sweeping. While this map is definitely a propaganda piece, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk gives you a good idea about Germany's Imperial ambitions. If the Central Powers would have won and obtained sweeping power over the negotiations, a chance I believe the completely missed in 1917 and lost for good thereafter, for Germany ALONE you would have seen:

1. Annexation of Belgium, or complete dominance to the German Empire as a client state, with no control over foreign affairs or military matters
   
2. Upholding the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, establishing German client kingdoms in the Baltic, Finland and White Russia
   
3. Annexation of numerous colonial territories, including all of Belgian Africa, large portions of French and British territories into "mittelafrika".
   
4. Occupation, if not annexation, of the industrial rich portions of Northern France already then occupied by the Germans
   
   Keep in mind this doesn't even begin to compete with Turkey's desire for the restoration of their territories in Northern Africa, the annexation of large parts of the Caucuses and the Mediterranean or Austria's plans for the Balkans and Northern Italy.
   
   War aims were such a large factor, that they were the primary factor for continuing the war in Germany even when all hopes were lost. Even as late as late as September 1918, Ludendorff kept the war going because he hoped to annex Belgium and keep a good portion of France they occupied!

I haven't really looked into teachers in particular, but Stephen Batchelor's books on both his path to secular Buddhism and Secular Buddhism itself are excellent reads. Here and Here

All right. Just went through my library and the following stood out to me:


Desert Solitaire (1968) by Edward Abbey: One of the best American voices for conservation spent some seasons as a park ranger in the desert southwest. Here are some brilliant, funny, and soundly critical musings inspired by his time there.


A Continuous Harmony (1972) & The Unsettling of America (1977) by Wendell Berry: In my opinion, Wendell Berry is the best cultural critic we've ever had. He's 86 now and still a powerful voice of reason in a chaotic society. Dismissed mistakenly by fools as someone who just wants to go back to the old days, he offers much-needed critiques on our decomposing relationship to the land and what it's been doing to our culture.


Night Comes to the Cumberlands (1962) by Harry M. Caudill: This Kentucky native saw what the predatory and morally bankrupt coal industry had done to the people and land (and the relationship between the two) in Appalachia and outlined how it all happened in powerful inarguable detail. This book serves as a stern warning about what chaos and destruction industries can bring forth when profit is their only concern. Anyone wondering why Appalachia is full of depressed drug addicts can find the roots of those issues in this book, which inspired The War on Poverty.

The Big Sky (1947) by A.B. Guthrie Jr. : A classic novel about a young kid who runs away to join the fur trade in the frontier days. It tells a very believable story, rather than chasing the overblown myths of the West like most novels dealing with that subject.

Shantyboat (1977) & Payne Hollow by Harlan Hubbard: He and his wife Anna built a truly rewarding and pleasant life together almost entirely independent of modern industrial society in the 1940s and 50s, first floating down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers on a shantyboat they built, living from temporary gardens and trading with people they met along the river, and then settling into Payne Hollow where they lived a realer-than-Thoreau existence together for decades. True love, and true meaningful living.

Of Wolves and Men (1978) by Barry Lopez: Rogan seems to think he's some kind of authority on wolves and I cringe every time I hear him start talking about them. It doesn't begin and end with "These are savage fucking predators that need to be controlled!" He seriously needs to read this book, which is a beautifully-written and exhaustive look at the history of the relationship between human and wolves. Like most interesting things, it is a complex issue.

My Life With The Eskimo (1909?) by Vilhjalmur Stefansson: The accounts of an ethnologist traveling through the arctic before much contact had been made between Europeans and Natives. Incredible stories of survival and the inevitable interesting situations that occur when two vastly different cultures meet.

The Marsh Arabs (1964) & Arabian Sands (1959) by Wilfred Thesiger: This dude went deep. Deep into the marshes of Southern Iraq and deep into the Empty Quarter of Arabia. Both books are amazing accounts of voyages through incredible parts of the world whose geography and people have since been changed forever.

The Mountain People (1972) by Colin M. Turnbull: This anthropologist lived with the Ik in Uganda as they went through a complete cultural disintegration brought on by starvation during a drought. Reading this, one sees how quickly complete tragic anarchy takes hold when basic resources are in desperate need. Humanity went out the window.

Let me know if you ever read any of these, and how you like them. I would bet they provide anyone with good food for thought and discussion.

Theodore Roosevelt trilogy by Edmund Morris. Teddy was a fuckin badass.

> I feel like I get a slight head change when I do it.

That feeling of getting a 'head change' will increase as your bran/mind gets this skill of meditating developed.

The effect can be quite pronounced.

> I do feel as though I have more mental energy and focus after doing this (placebo maybe?).

It's not at all a placebo effect. It comes from the fact that you have made your mind more efficient. Imagine a river that runs silently, so deep and quiet that it doesn't seem to move at all. Then imagine a whitewater stream that is chaotic and wild. Which has more power?

By harmonizing the flow of your mental energy, you stop it being wasted in chaotic patterns, which leaves you much more calm, rested, and energized.


>Eventually if I lose focus with reading will meditating for 10-15 minutes help bring the focus back?

Yes, although taking a light walk and breathing deeply with fresh oxygenated air will help as well.

Also, the meditation breaks will refresh and recharge you as well. After a while you could be surprised with what even a 5 minute meditation can do for you.

Part of what is going on when you are losing focus is that there is an internal conversation happening in your bran about the reading material that eventually takes over and takes you off track. You will find after a few months of continued practice that this conversation will start diminishing leaving you with a focus that will help you retain and remember the material much more efficiently.

>Very pleased with the results I've seen thus far. If you have anything you have read that you found especially helpful in your journey I'd love to have it.

What really got me going in meditation was a set of home-study lessons from an Indian yogi named Paramahansa Yogananda who came to America in the 1930s to teach meditation and internal yoga methods for achieving bliss to westerners.

He wrote the book Autobiography of a Yogi and while It deals with spiritual things, i figured that 'this guy could teach me how to meditate'. So I sent off for the home-study series of lessons he wrote in the science of internal yoga and meditation, and it actually ended up delivering in the promise he made of learning how to get in touch with inner peace and joy.

So that's how I ended up getting so excited about meditation -- essentially using Paramahansa's techiques of meditation I ended up learning to have spiritual experiences on demand. Which is pretty cool. The techniques themselves deal with the breath and so on, and the idea is that when the mind gets quiet enough then you can directly experience the inner bliss that is at the core of your being. What worked for me since I was extremely skeptical is that you can prove everything for yourself by direct experience.

I know you are basically looking for non-spiritual techniques / outlook on meditation, but since you asked, this is the stuff that's been inspiring me, teaching me, and thinking that meditation is the best thing ever.

A great book that connects meditation and spirituality is Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.

Yoga is actually a science of meditation that allows a person to connect to the highest levels of spirituality -- realizing your essentially unity with all that is.

What we know in the West as "yoga" is mostly the preparatory exercises for making the body strong and healthy to be able to meditate deeply for long periods of time.

So this book is a wonderful introduction to the power of spirituality gained from deep yoga meditation.

This book is what got me started meditating!

If you were given the job because your director thought you were the best for it, then you were the best for it. Proving yourself will happen best with long term consistent results. Don't get caught up on dealing with what doesnt really matter. Stick to impressive everyone with high quality work.

I am curious about where you are located? Could this be a cultural thing?

Last, i think that its worth noting that being the new guy coming in and trying to change the status quo is always going to cause friction. This is just a fact. So don't loose sleep over it.

This is the book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Extreme-Ownership-Jocko-Willink/dp/1250067057/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1458749634&sr=1-1&keywords=extreme+ownership

> And I'm actually obese myself, I am not healthy. I own up to that

This is what we lack, as a society; accountability for one's own behaviors. If we owned up to our actions, not even to the degree of Extreme Ownership, we'd be much better off as human beings.

One of my favorite books, love John Krakauer.

Where Men Win Glory

If you have not read Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer I highly recommend you do. It's an extremely good account of exactly what happened, and why men like Pat were over there in the first place.

It's one of the best books describing the whole war over there I've ever read.

Newjack: A journalist spends a year as a prison guard in Sing Sing, and wrote a book about it. Not from the prisoner's perspective, but still has some eye-opening moments.
http://www.amazon.com/Newjack-Guarding-Sing-Ted-Conover/dp/0375726624

Life After Death by Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three. 18 years on death row for a crime he didn't commit.
Newjack told from a guard's point of view.

I just read this book, Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist.

It talks a lot about many of the questions you have asked, and reads as an anecdotal account of one seekers journey as well as attempts to frame historical buddah. The opening story about meeting a Buddhist monk much revered for his ability to control the weather sets the book up nicely.

"Charting his journey from hippie to monk to lay practitioner, teacher, and interpreter of Buddhist thought, Batchelor reconstructs the historical Buddha’s life, locating him within the social and political context of his world. In examining the ancient texts of the Pali Canon, the earliest record of the Buddha’s life and teachings, Batchelor argues that the Buddha was a man who looked at human life in a radically new way for his time, more interested in the question of how human beings should live in this world than in notions of karma and the afterlife. According to Batchelor, the outlook of the Buddha was far removed from the piety and religiosity that has come to define much of Buddhism as we know it today.

Both controversial and deeply personal, Confession of a Buddhist Atheist is a fascinating exploration of a religion that continues to engage the West. Batchelor’s insightful, deeply knowledgeable, and persuasive account will be an essential book for anyone interested in Buddhism."

edited for quote.

No probelm dawn_weiner aka morning_wood! Just living vicarously through you so hard.

ehhhh "so hard" is a poor choice of words.

First off, I second what /u/kickstand said about doing the jenny lake trail in Grand Teton's. I hiked it with my GF and it was pretty much like hiking through a postcard if the weather is right. if you do this hike make sure you get back in time for the last ferry or you'll be adding another 4 or so miles onto the end of your hike!!! we caught the last one and it was the saddest thing to have pulled away from the dock and see hikers running to catch the boat to no avail.

/u/tibataw is also spot on about making your reservations ASAP. some campgrounds at the National Parks won't do reservations and are first come first serve so make sure if you're just going to wing it and try to grab one of those sites make sure you get there extremely early to ensure you have a spot. i would talk to your spouse and prioritize what you want to see and accomplish while in the parks as some campgrounds are better suited for certain goals due to their location and intended campers they plan to serve.

If I could be so bold to give you some more personal suggestions...

For Badlands...
We camped here and loved it. Stay at Cedar Pass Campground and if possible get campsite #2 as it's on the side of the campground facing the badlands and gives you a good amount of privacy. This is a place that you need to see sunrise and sunset at. It really brings out the colors of the rock and is what really took my breath away while here. Also, you'll see 10000000000000000000 (no exaggeration) of signs for Wall Drug. It's funny and a tourist trap, it is one of those things that if you go into it knowing what a joke it is you can enjoy it for the 20 minutes you decide to spend there. Make sure you get your free glass of ice water!!!!

For Yellowstone...
Head to Lamar Valley, bring some post cards, snacks and drinks and park your cars on one of the pull outs off the side of the road. (the ones with no bathroom, like just a patch of pavement with nothing around it) My GF and I spent 3 hours just relaxing, writing postcards, reading, listening to music and enjoying doing nothing while not being around any of the crowds. after driving so much, trying not to tackle a hike or site see was exactly what we needed. also Lamar Valley is where a lot of animal watching takes place in the park, so its a great place just to sit and do nothing. People run around the park to see the animals but if you just stay still they will reveal themselves! Get a pair of binoculars before you leave Chicago, can't stress this enough!!!!

For Grand Teton...
See sunrise from the top of Signal Mountain, you can drive up and the road is windy so leave early. It provides sweeping views of the mountains and the plains. An amazing place for photos!

For Zion...
I posted this the other day but still stands true. You should stop at Thunderbird Restaurant east of Zion off of Rt 9 while you're traveling between Bryce and Zion. Pretty much a standard diner but i'm not joking, the best slice of pie I think I've ever had. The reviews on Yelp seem to say the food is hit or miss (i don't remember since I visited about 5 years ago) but I do remember the pie. Maybe best course of action is to get a slice or two to go (if possible) to help pass the time while you're driving.

PIE!

Also in Zion Canyon, if you're super adventurous and in good shape I would look into hiking up to Observation Point from the Weeping Rock trailhead. It's a steep hike but sooooooo worth the view. When I went there was also pools of cool water off the trail to soak your feet in after the hike. worth it! worth it! worth it!

Bryce...
Can't really say much as I only stopped there for an hour or so while going between Arches and Zion. It was amazing and I would love to go back to see more.

Arches...
I know that this literally came on your radar about 30 minutes ago...but it's amazing. I can't describe how breath taking it is. One of those places that make you realize how diverse and beautiful the US is. If you are a reader and have some time I would suggest a book for you by Edward Abbey called Desert Solitare (I would say a Bible to geologists who are into nature). He wrote it while a NP ranger at Arches before it really transformed into what it is now. While it focuses on Arches, he does an amazing job with descriptive imagery for the surrounding area and Utah as a whole. Made me really appreciate what I saw and helps you get excited for the wildness/emptiness/beauty of Southern Utah.

Denver...
Not sure if you're a baseball fan (cubs or white sox?) but even if you're not I would suggest going to a Rockies game if they're in town while you're there. The stadium is really really nice and if you select your seat accordingly you can have amazing views of both downtown Denver and the Rockies (those seats are in the upper decks right of the first base line). My GF and I aren't huge baseball fans (but still happy the red sox won this year) and we had a great time. Nothing like a couple of beers, a hot dog, a bag of peanuts and a good crowd. After the game there are a lot of bars to walk to in the surrounding area too which kept the good times rolling.

As a suggested sound track for each part of your trip...

For badlands
bruce springsteen - badlands (DUH!)

For yellowstone
Swamp Dogg - Synthetic World

For Grand Teton
fleet foxes - ragged wood

For Zion
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

For Bryce
Rolling Stones - Wild Horses

For Arches
Jonathan Wilson - Desert Raven

For Denver
Afroman - Because I got High

I would also just load up an ipod of 60 hours of classic rock for the road but that's just me, my gf says I'm 'nostalgic'. I think she might be right...

if you have any specific questions just let me know!

Encounters with the Archdruid

Tongass: Pulp Politics and the Fight for the Alaska Rain Forest

Desert Solitaire

Gislane's father was an Israeli double agent, https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Gordon/dp/0786712953. Epstein isn't a British surname btw. And would MI6 be compromising the Royal Family? No, it is real man. It is-real

Yes! I like trilogies myself, so I'd recommend Edmund's trilogy on Theodore Roosevelt, Cornelia's Inkheart, my personal favourite fictional book trilogy, and This 12 book set, just try your best and push for more reps next time

Autobiography of a Yogi - While not mind altering, it gave me a new perspective on things I would have initially labeled as quackery.

The Believing Brain by David Shermer - explains the mechanics of why we believe in the things we do without any critical examination especially on topics like religion, politics, ghosts, and conspiracy theories.

Awareness by Osho - Osho might have been a controversial personality, but some of his writings were brilliant and refreshing. This book blew me away and provoked me to live life more consciously and with greater deliberation.

The Freedom of Choice by Tom Chalko - Simple but powerful read (only 100 pages)

The book that really got things started for me is the Autobiography of a Yogi. The group he founded is called Self Realization Fellowship who have carried on his mission of teaching powerful yoga techniques of meditation. I can certainly testify that their techniques work very well, and they have plenty of meditation groups around the world.

So if you like what I have written you can check to see if there is a local center of that group. However there are all kinds of groups out there.

What kinds of spiritual groups do you resonate with? Christian? Jewish? Hindu? Buddhist? Native American?

You can use meetup.com to find local mediation or spiritual groups, or find a metaphysical bookstore to find groups of like-minded people that get together. Then find the individuals that seem to 'glow' and are positive and lovely people and find out where they go for spiritual strength and support and training.

Then always check to see how you feel after you leave any person or group of people -- you should feel uplifted, joyful, buoyant, cheerful.

A group of people gathered in a place like a church should have a tangible uplifting atmosphere that takes you up out of your problems and makes you feel energized and positive.

Once you find a group that you like, you want to use the power of their community space plus a personal daily practice of connecting to the Divine within to really accelerate your growth.

If you keep asking around and making it clear what you are looking for, you will find individuals that will speak up. There are many like me that are passionate about this kind of thing, and there is plenty of power out there if you will look and start to open your 'spiritual eyes' and pray for guidance.

The Divine exists within you as you, so you will find plenty of inner help if you ask within and don't doubt and create static to mess up your answers. Just ask with faith and trust that you will be guided and you will, slowly but surely, even though you may make mistakes along the way.

I don't want to be too specific with my recommendations because you will have your own unique set of circumstances that will really resonate with you. However the principles will stay the same.

Edit:

IF your senses are strongly focused on material plane, as is the case with many people, you may not get seemingly strong results or a strong sense of light/upliftment. If your physical eyes are closed, a strong physical light may show up as rather dim. Likewise if your spiritual eye is closed, then a strong spiritual light may similarly show up dimly to you.

However just as the sunlight shows up very faintly in the first dim glow of dawn, if you follow that light it will keep getting stronger and stronger until you get full daylight. The same thing applies with spiritual practices. You may think you are not getting much of a result in most cases, but you are seeing the very subtle first rays of dawn. So if you only get a little peace, or only a little joy, or only a little love or upliftment, don't discount those results but treasure them instead. Just like tiny gold flakes will indicate a mother lode of gold nearby, tiny spiritual results will
Indicate great spiritual returns if you keep seeking and working and praying -- developing your spiritual abilities takes great time and patience -- but it is worth all that investment because nothing else will give you that kind of lasting and powerful results.

>The reason I think the Sherman gets a bad wrap is a combination of propaganda, people looking at casualty figures outside of their context, and people fixating on flashy stats like thickness of the frontal armor and size of the gun.

Propaganda from whom??

Didn't testimonies from Sherman crew members also contribute to this "bad rep". In Particular, Death Traps (http://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Survival-American-Division/dp/0891418148) , written by Armored Veteran, who was in charge of maintenance and salvaging the tanks. I mean , he explicitly doesn't say the Sherman was a bad tank but he sort of reinforces this notion of Sherman being a sub par tank.

http://www.amazon.com/Battleground-Pacific-Marine-Riflemans-Odyssey/dp/1250005051

If you found these helpful, I'd definitely recommend checking out the source. I'm mostly parroting what Jocko's described or explained in his book/podcasts.

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057

Interesting looking book.

https://www.amazon.ca/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057

Yeah.

​

Not going to lie, I didn't really read a whole lot but the title says it all and /u/cyanocobalamin sums it up.

​

Circumstances suck but happiness is really condensed to taking ownership of those circumstances. Sometimes things are beyond our control but overall they are a byproduct of what situations we allow ourselves to get into.

​

I recently read a book called Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink. It's about how you pretty much need to take responsibility for everything in your life even when you think it has nothing to do with you. I'm also reading Everything is Fucked: A Book About Hope - Mark Manson right now. I'm about 4 chapters in and it talks a lot about having something to really believe in even though everything in the world is fucked.

​

1. Find something to research that excites you and makes you money if you want to keep going.
   
2. Relationships come and go. Someone worth keeping will be patient with you and understand that you're working hard to build a sustainable lifestyle.
   
3. You can really do whatever the hell you want my friend, you just have to accept the consequences of whatever you do, good or bad.
   
   Don't overthink it. Things are only as good as you let them appear to be.
   
   ​
   
   Comparison is the thief of joy, but it is also a humbling endeavour.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238

Interview with attorney Larry Klayman, who represented nearly all of Bill Clinton's best-known accusers, including Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Paula Jones, Gennifer Flowers and Dolly Kyle Browning: The Trashing of Bill's Accusers: What Did Hillary Do -- and Why Did She Do It?

Fairly recent article bringing up all sorts of things: Hillary Clinton’s Long History of Targeting Women

For people arguing that there were never any incidents in the first place: Every [known] Clinton Sex Assault Victim

A documentary about the 1992 presidential election with focus on Bill's sex scandals and Hillary's work to keep it under tabs: The War Room (1993)

Do you want to know more, citizen? You're in luck, Roger Stone and Robert Morrow wrote a book about it: The Clintons' War on Women

Edit: All the downvotes and no replies!!

Eh....I think Roger Stone would fiercely disagree with you.

Explain why Trump has brought up Clinton Foundation, Clinton Affairs and a lot more to come.

All well Bernie is being "respectful"....gimme a break, it is called politics of doing business but bringing up the Foundation and Affair is not political at all. Those are the beginning of very vicious truth bombs to come.

https://www.amazon.ca/Clintons-War-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X

There's a whole book on the subject.

I really enjoyed that book, but I was kind of bummed to find out there's a lot of controversy surrounding the author (a lot of people think he's full of shit and never did any of the things he claimed to do).

Another great read in a similar vein is D-Day Through German Eyes - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VX372UE/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

Pretty graphic eyewitness accounts regarding D-Day, very interesting/enlightening.

D Day Through German Eyes is a pretty interesting read if you're interested in this perspective. I enjoyed it (as much as you can enjoy hearing stories about the atrocities of war).

you can get it here for cheap/free, I thought the book deserved a chance to be bought instead of pirated

Really? You just think he wants to "End the Fed". Where do you get such ideas?

You're silly by the way. A very silly person.

Ron Paul vs Barney Frank.

The Fed Audit

The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve

End the Fed

The whole book is amazing (note that I had the title wrong earlier). The detail the soldiers provide is far more graphic and horrible than any movie I've ever seen. D-Day is basically a free-for-all where everyone gets to get killed for free. They've also got an audio book of it which is pretty decent.

Trump will unleash all that stuff about Bill, and much more--I base that on what his sometime adviser Roger Stone has been saying Stone is the guy who got Trump to appear on Alex Jones' radio show in December, and he recently published a whole book about the Clintons (published in October 2015)-

http://www.amazon.com/The-Clintons-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tveor3jjM7k

They sure did. I'm reading a book right now called "D DAY Through German Eyes - The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944" Amazon link that features lengthy interviews with German soldiers who manned the gun emplacements at Normandy. It's fascinating to read the German perspective of D-Day. The troops were awed by the amassed allied firepower, with ships stretching out to the horizon and a parade of aircraft flying overhead.

I'm about 2/3 through this one:

D DAY Through German Eyes - The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944


If you're interested in WW2, I definitely recommend it. Understandably it does have some pretty graphic content, so just a heads up.

I did that, though. So far the results all cite the same conversation in 1984, but it seems to be complete heresay, I didn't even once see "When asked about this conversation that occurred in 1984, Bill Clinton went on the record to confirm that it is true."

And she looks JUST LIKE BILL. The photographs given that are meant to support the theory that Webb is her father are all awkward angled pictures in which she is lowering her mandible in a sort of frown, making her lower jaw appear rounder and 'chubbier' like Webb's.
Robert Morrow and Roger Stone are anti-clinton, and have made this abundantly clear. http://www.amazon.com/The-Clintons-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X
Every source I read (and I read many) was another National Enquirer type of tabloid.
In none of the videos where he confronts chelsea or Webb did it look like they had been 'caught' in anything, in fact Webb merely said 'no comment' which means 'I am not acknowledging this stupidity'. Chelsea just smiled and promoted her book. She has obviously had to deal with this asshole before.

This book has an account of a German defender who fought in a Tobruk bunker for a short time on D Day.

Read D-Day Through German Eyes and it's Part 2 sequel, it's amazing to read about what destruction that pre-dawn bombing raid and the day-long Jabo (low-level strafing, WP and rocket) attacks did, and the terribly demoralizing effect it had on the ground troops trying to make sense of where the allies were coming through. I could not put either down once I started them.

It's alright. That's why you need to educate yourself and be able to stand up for him. If you choose to defend him on facts rather than emotion you will convince people.

A general comment, read his books revolution, end the fed, and liberty defined. You can even buy them in a bundle.


another great book from a great thinker, andrew napolitano

You don't have to agree with everything these people say to support them. If you understand the core principles and believe in the constitution and free, unalienable rights, then we can at least have educated discussions about these ideas and how to deploy them. And I am writing in generalities... I'm using "you" in a very broad, non-descriptive sense.

After loads of reading on the bus to work every day, here follows my reading list for military aviation:

Modern

• Viper Pilot - memoir of an F-16 Wild Weasel pilot who flew in both Iraq Wars
  
• A Nightmare's Prayer - memoir of a Marine Harrier Pilot flying out of Bagram.
  
• Warthog - Story of the A-10C pilots and their many varied missions in Desert Storm
  
• Hornets over Kuwait - Memoir of a Marine F/A-18 pilot during Desert Storm
  
• Strike Eagle - Story of the brand new F-15C Strike Eagle pilots and their time in Desert Storm
  
  

  Vietnam
  

• The Hunter Killers - look at the very first Wild Weasels, their inception, early development, successes, and failures
  
• Low Level Hell - memoir of an OH-6 Air Cav pilot
  
  

  WWII
  

• Unsung Eagles - various snapshots of the less well-known but arguably more impactful pilots and their missions during WWII (pilot who flew channel rescue in a P-47, morale demonstration pilot, etc.)
  
• Stuka Pilot - memoir of the most prolific aviator of Nazi Germany (and an unapologetic Nazi) who killed hundreds of tanks with his cannon-armed Stuka
  
• The First Team - more academic historical look at the first US Naval Aviators in WWII
  
  
  

  Overall/Other
  

• Skunk Works - memoir of Ben Rich, head of Lockeed's top secret internal firm and his time working on the U-2, SR-71, and F-117 including anecdotes from pilots of all 3 and accounts of these remarkable planes' exploits.
  
• Lords of the Sky - ambitious attempt to chronicle the rise and evolution of the "fighter pilot" from WWI to the modern day
  
• Red Eagles: America's Secret MiGs - the story of the long-top secret group of pilots who evaluated and flew captured Soviet aircraft against US pilots to train them against these unknown foes.
  
• Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage - story of the US submarine fleet starting at the outbreak of the Cold War and their exploits
  
  
  
  

  Bonus non-military aviation
  

  I highly second the recommendations of Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and Diamond Age. I would also recommend:
  
  

• Neuromancer - defined the cyberpunk genre
  
• Ghost in the Wires - memoir of prolific hacker Kevin Mitnick
  
• Starship Troopers - nothing like the movie
  
• The Martian - fantastic read
  
• Heir to the Empire - first of the Star Wars Thrawn Trilogy and the book that arguably sparked the growth of the Extended Universe of Star Wars
  
• Devil in the White City - semi-fictional (mostly non-fiction) account of a serial killer who created an entire palace to capture and kill his prey during the Chicago World's Fair
  
• Good Omens - dark comedy story of a demon and an angel trying to stop the end of the world because they like us too much
  
• American Gods - fantastic story about how the old gods still walk among us
  
• Dune - just read it
  

Seriously, read this book.

If you haven't read the book "Where Men Win Glory" by John Krakauer, you really really should.

http://www.amazon.com/Where-Men-Win-Glory-Odyssey/dp/030738604X

I just finished a book about him that is really good. It makes it worse knowing how amazing of a person he really was.

Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman https://www.amazon.com/dp/030738604X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_FhxYzbGF69HAP

For those who haven't read Where Men Win Glory, you should consider reading it. Pat Tilman was a damn interesting and inspiring man. Additionally, the writer, Jon Krakauer does a great job of presenting the history and context of Afghanistan.

Maybe they just got finished with Lone Survivor

Thank you for doing this AMA.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure to read Lone Survivor by former SEAL Marcus Luttrell. Throughout his book he reflects on their decision [to not kill the shepherd boy who stumbled upon their position, who in turn revealed their position to the Taliban that wiped out the rest of his team.](/spoiler "their decision"), wrestling with the idea that ROE, hamstrung by politics, and fear of backlash back home were major deciding factors.

I keep finding myself contrasting Luttrell's book with comments by Admiral Mullen in an interview about the OBL op - that politics were the last thing on the operators minds.

Throughout your experience did the opinion of the media, politicians and general population play a role in tactical decision making? What are your thoughts on the perception of these groups of SEALs and other special operation teams?

Newjack Guarding Sing Sing

This book is great, I’m currently reading it and loving it. Its about a journalist who tries to follow a CO through the academy in the 90’s to be able to write about the CO’s experiences, gets denied and he decides to become a CO himself and recounts his firsthand experiences as a NY State CO. I like it because there’s a lot of similarities to my prison and what I’ve been and currently going through.

Rose Tainted Justice is also another good one i gotta read that was recommended by my instructor at the academy which deals with corruption in Corrections.

Highly recommend this book - this guy became a guard at Sing Sing so that he could write a book about it. They wouldn't let him in to do research so he had to get a job there:

https://www.amazon.com/Newjack-Guarding-Sing-Ted-Conover/dp/0375726624

I've not read Jon Ronson, but the phrase long form journalism brings to mind Ted Conover. He's a journalist who takes a very anthropologically minded approach to his works. I recently finished Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing which chronicles his experiences going through training to become and subsequently working as a corrections officer at a maximum security prison in New York. He went through all this trouble because the prison system officials would not grant him any journalistic access, so he went in on the down low.

I'd even more highly recommend his book Coyotes: A Journey Across Borders with America's Illegal Migrants, however. It's probably my favorite non-fiction book ever. Conover lives and works with migrant workers in true ethnographic fashion and tells vivid stories about his time in their world.

Have you read Ted Conover's Newjack?

Newjack by Ted Conover is by a journalist, not an anthropolgist; it might be a good start for you.

Have you read this? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375726624/ Different guy, different level of depth, different experience.

https://www.amazon.com/Paris-1919-Months-Changed-World/dp/0375760520

Paris 1919

Yea, SlyReference basically covers it and I may have been overstating things with China (given their past 100 years in particular). All the same, where Western/European culture ends up from here is an interesting question to me.

A book I really like that's relevant is The Great War and Modern Memory.

Of course the war and its aftermath set the stage for the deaths of the old empires (all gone or changed beyond recognition by 1945), and was a nexus point for the conflicts that would shape the next century - Paris 1919 covers that quite well.

Buddhism to me is more like a practice than a religion itself.

My Islamic civilization lecturer once brought this up in the class "The true Buddhism doesn't believe in god".

Anyway, I'm not a good debater but you can read this book to find out more.

I mean it in the sense that I agree with the general teachings and philosophies of Buddhism (4 noble truths, 8-fold noble path, interdependence, impermanence, etc.); but don't believe in the "organized religion" aspect of it or some of the metaphysical stuff that happens in the sutras.

Maybe "Buddhist Atheist" is redundant - but I was introduced to the term from:

http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292871808&sr=8-1-spell

Hope this helps to clarify

Yep, atheistic Buddhism.

Stephen Batchelor was excellent on Reasonable Doubts:

http://doubtreligion.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/episode-73-confession-of-buddhist.html

He wrote a book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063

> I will not define Buddhism in any way

There's a wide range, apparently. The more dogma and lack of evidence involved the less I like it. There's nothing fundamentally wrong with trying to achieve inner peace, learning about your own consciousness, and all that.

Thinking I might learn something, I recently added Confession of a Buddhist Atheist to my wish list.

Why we end up spending twice as much? Thank you. That is the real issue. The answer isn't what bernie thinks though. The answer is government enforced monopolies of HMOs and pharmaceutical companies.

https://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519/

I've been doing something similar with my dad. I've managed to drag him about halfway from staunch Republican to ideologically libertarian. The project continues. (I'm hoping the process will accelerate when my copy of The Revolution arrives.)

you can find it here.

Here is a great place to start:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446537519/

Desert Solitaire

Leaves of Grass

One Man's Wilderness

Into the Wild

Wilderness Essays

Call of the Wild

Walden Shocking huh?

Robert Maxwell is Ghislaine Maxwell's father. Ghislaine was Jeffrey Epstein's handler(?). Notice the NXIVM connection?


More on Robert

FO suspected Maxwell was a Russian agent, papers reveal

Robert Maxwell, Israel's Superspy

According to Gideon's Spies, six former Israeli heads of state, as well as high ranking intelligence officials, attended Robert Maxwell's funeral.

Maxwell is buried on The Mount of Olives in Jerusalem

he was not allowed to be an israeli spy, it was exposed after his death, and he died in mysterious circumstances

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Maxwell

Robert Maxwell, Israel's Superspy Paperback – December 16, 2003
https://www.amazon.com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Gordon/dp/0786712953

Learn about Robert Maxwell here:

amazon(dot)com/Robert-Maxwell-Israels-Superspy-Murder/dp/0786712953

If you like history, buy this and this

India is definitely the place for that! I am born in the US but visited India in my college years when I was getting interested in spirituality. I am blessed that I had some strong experiences in the US and had a few in India. You can take that as confirmation that you are on the right path. You are right, they will just happen when you least expect it. Sometimes I get experiences like deja-vu, but I just take it as a confirmation that I am where I am supposed to be. I had a few amazing ones that really pushed me into spiritual life as well.

When I was getting interested in spirituality I was a big fan of Paramahamsa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi. A classic from earlier in this century. This is maybe off topic, but when I was visiting Kurukshetra I had a sadhu stop me on the road and wanted to show me things and then asked for money. He actually changed a rock into some sugar candy in front of me. I thought "OK whatever, he did some slight of hand". Then he had me pick up a rock in my own hand, close his hand over mine, then chanted a mantra and it turned into sugar rock candy within my closed fist. I ate it. I had read about those things in the Paramahamsa Yogananda book and it was happening. He then asked for money and wasn't happy with how much I gave. He opened his shirt and showed me scars and said he had been doing a lot of austerities!

An interesting experience. I eventually read more of Shrila Prabhupada's books and settled in as a Hare Krishna devotee. Shrila Prabhupada and even Paramahamsa Yogananda explained that those sort of mystic powers are not the end goal of self-realization.

This is also a great book, this person is still alive and has written an amazing tale of his travels from the US around the world in search of God. How he ends up in Himalayas living amongst the yogis and then meets his guru.
The Journey Home

The authors site: http://www.thejourneyhomebook.com/

Do you like fantasy stories? The Gita is actually just one chapter in India's greatest epic, the Mahabharata. It's an amazing story, and gives a great cultural background for Hinduism. Hindu's other epic, the Ramayana, is also lauded by many. I actually just began reading it recently.

Hindu's purest (and probably the world's longest) treatise on non-duality is the book at the very top of the bookshelf, Vasistha's Yoga. It's intense, so if you are just beginning, it's probably not the best intro to Hindu thought.

The most ancient written roots of pure Hinduism are found in the Upanishads. Eknath Eswaran's introduction and commentary are sublime.

A more modern, yet just as mystical take on Hinduism is The Autobiography of a Yogi.

Autobiography of a Yogi - Paramahansa Yogananda

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Swami Satchidananda

The Yoga Teachers' Toolbox - Le Page

The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita: Explained by Paramhansa Yogananda, As Remembered By His Disciple, Swami Kriyananda

Ohh I got some goodies for ya, Hermann Hesse is amazing and opened me up to many books.

1. Just buy it right now..seriously. The Book of Mirdad by Mikhail Naimy
   
   
2. Another Classic by Herman Hesse Demian
   
   3)Another with a similar feel as Siddhartha The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
   
   So these top 3 are the "closest" to Siddartha that I've read. You will defintely like the top 3, they are amazing books with such fundamental truths told through a story. All easy to read and similiar in length.
   
   These next 4 are just suggested for anyone that is into these types of books, I would almost guarantee that you will love them! They are just less "story" like. The Autobiography is an amazing read, and is indeed a story but it's non-fiction. The Way of Zen is just a beautiful book, but is not a fiction along with the Bhagavad and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (The author actually suggests Siddhartha in it!)
   
   
3. If you liked Siddhartha heavily for it's spiritual aspects and the effect it left on you, this book has changed me deeply (they all have but this book is a little different) The Autobiography of a Yogi by
   Paramahansa Yogananda
   
   5)And his translation of The Bhagavad Gita
   
   6)Good ol' Allan Watts The Way of Zen
   
   
4. Another highly suggested book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma
   
   Enjoy my friend!

I recommend checking out Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda if anything it was entertaining to read and helped me look at things differently :)

Autobiography of a Yogi

You should read this book

Cool. Thanks for the book links. I just finished a great book entitled Death Traps, the story from the viewpoint of a maintenance guy for armored forces in the European Theater. A odd person to write a book that is fascinating, but he did.

Thanks again.

Firing from head on, the anti-tank guns could have penetrated the Shermans from over 1000 yards. Of course the gunners could have been distracted/inexperienced/scared, the scenario is plausible, but having them seemingly manned by storm troopers sounds a little unrealistic to me.

If this is the book you're referring to, there's a lot of debate as to whether the author's statements beyond his personal experience are worth considering.

Hey, if you want a good read about Shermans in WW2 from the perspective of a guy who had to fix them I highly suggest checking out Death Traps.

Battleground Pacific it would seem.

And centipedes, I'd like to plug Jocko's book Extreme Ownership. I HIGHLY recommend it to all centipedes. Excellent lessons on leadership, toughness, self reliance, and taking ownership in life and business.

Not specifically tailored to divorce, but were helpful to me in general reorientation of approaches to life:

"Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink

"A Guide to the Good Life" by William Irvine

No worries, man. Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods were both major studs that disobeyed orders to do the right thing... Saving dozens of lives. May they rest in peace... Anyways I recommend everyone to check out Jocko's book called Extreme Ownership. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1250067057/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464285041&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=extreme+ownership&dpPl=1&dpID=41cmM6UedGL&ref=plSrch

It is a great read and I got a LOT out of it. The podcasts where he was a guest on the Joe Rogan show and on the Tim Ferriss show are also definitely worth checking out. He has his own podcast now too and so far I've also gotten a lot of value from that as well.

I want this man to become President someday. Cannot speak highly enough about him. His experience and leadership... And perspective, is quite humbling to say the least.

This

>They whole device is a spy tool to sell your data.

Not only that but provide this is a permanent record available to the government. So it's a spy tool for them too.

https://www.amazon.com/Permanent-Record-Edward-Snowden/dp/1250237238

I do not deny your statements.
But I cannot believe you missed everything about the rockets in schools and mosques and hospitals.
Medial reported it clearly, they also filmed Hamas militants firing rockets near homes of people.
Can you prove that my statements is lies?

I have read numerous reports of Hamas abusing their civilians and hiding weapons. Even UNWRA reported rockets hidden in their facilities. And not to mention the tunnels they dig.

How come Egypt is having a blockade against Gaza and destroying their tunnels?
Israel isn't innocent I agree, but you give the impression that the Palestinians are totally innocent of everything.
They are the biggest reason for not achieving peace in the middle east. The Israeli government in general wish is to have peace with the Palestinians, but Hamas only wish for every Jew in Israel to be killed.

You are totally biased in your way of reasoning.

Like I said, read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
http://www.amazon.com/Son-Hamas-Gripping-Political-Unthinkable/dp/1414333080 and you'll get a more fair view of the situation.

Times are different than how it was pre -48 and Israel has indeed changed. There are idiots in israel, like in every nation, but the do not wish to kill every palestinian, like Hamas wants to kill every jew.

Here are some videos of Hamas firing rockets:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUrDAEgisXM
http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Watch-Gazans-fire-rockets-from-school-and-cemetery-369063

Yes. If you'd like to learn more, he published a book about his experience, called Son of Hamas...hence the name in the title.

It's quite a good book.

You should read Mosab Hassan Yousef's Son of Hamas

He worked for Israel's internal intelligence agency.

Crippled America?

I hate myself for even writing that title.

> He holds no concrete policy convictions

This meme is based on a false premise. Last election, the self-proclaimed "true conservatives" of the GOP nominated a habitual flip-flopper who ran as a progressive in Massachusetts before pretending to be a conservative, was for a path to citizenship before he was against it, for gun control before he was against it, created Romneycare before bashing Obamacare, etc., etc. Consistency and principles only matter now because the neocons have been overwhelmingly rejected at the ballot box by their own party, and they're lashing out at Trump.

It's easy and popular to claim that Trump has no real policy convictions, but it just isn't true. If you're actually concerned, read through the detailed policy papers on his website and the books that he's written about his political views. There's plenty of information out there about where he stands, you just have to do your own homework instead of expecting Trump to do it for you.

Has Trump changed his opinions before? Sure - for instance, he changed his mind about gun control when he got a gun and a license and saw why people like having them, and he changed his views on abortion when a personal friend decided at the last minute not to have one. But on his bread-and-butter issues, his message has been consistent for decades. You can go back 28 years and hear him saying the same things about trade that he's saying now. You can go back 16 years and read him saying the same things about illegal immigration and national security and foreign policy that he's saying now.

> What is a Trump voter actually voting for?

We're voting for national security, border security, trade deals that actually benefit us (not just our trade partners), and a prosperous economy that works. More importantly, we're voting against a phony strain of "conservatism" that capitulates on every issue, hates its own voters, and has been an embarrassment to our party and our country.

read it in college. never thought about feminism the same again.

Roger Stone's here to screw bitches and destroy presidential candidates' campaigns, and he's already done screwing...

The canadian got destroyed by the sex scandal and Cruz-Oswald JFK assassination plot stories, all thanks to Roger.

Good luck, Hillary. http://www.amazon.com/Clintons-War-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X

Not trying to sell anything here but read this book. One of the most amazing pilots and warriors in the US Military ever. He gives you great insights into taking out air defenses.

http://www.amazon.com/Viper-Pilot-Memoir-Air-Combat/dp/006213034X

If you're the reading type, check out Dan Hampton's "Viper Pilot." He flew the F-16C/J in both Gulf Wars, which is the Air Force's dedicated SEAD/DEAD airframe. He talks at length about the Wild Weasel mission, and emphatically states his disdain for the AGM-88. Their Pk is very low in real life (not quite the death laser that BMS makes it out to be...although that's probably more on BMS' unrealistic SAM radar behaviors more than anything else) and the author much preferred going in with CBU's or dumb iron and making sure the threat was really dead and no longer a threat.

Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton is a great read about F-16s on Wild Weasel missions in both Iraq Wars. These guys had balls of steel.

Check out the book Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton. Story of F-16 Wild Weasels in Iraq in 2000s.

Read Dan Hampton's Viper Pilot: http://www.amazon.com/Viper-Pilot-Memoir-Air-Combat/dp/006213034X/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1462823120&sr=8-5&keywords=dan+hampton

Awesome book. 10% of what is written here is folksy bullshit.

Viper Pilot is a great read about the Wild Weasels. http://www.amazon.com/Viper-Pilot-Memoir-Air-Combat/dp/006213034X

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the book Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton. An amazing book by a Wild Weasel pilot who flew the F-16CJ. Although it is packed full of information from how one becomes a pilot in the Air Force, the Wild Weasel mission, to fighter pilot culture, it reads just like a novel. The audiobook is also excellent - the recitation of some of the comms on the 1st night of the Gulf War is alone worth the price of admission. I can't recommend either highly enough.

While looking up the book again, I discovered that the author also released a new book, The Hunter Killers, last year about the original Wild Weasels in Vietnam. I obviously have not read it yet, but I bet it is excellent if you want to dive into the history of the mission.

Do you recall which one it was?

These are some of my favorites...

https://smile.amazon.com/Magnum-Weasels-Desert-Elimination-Defence-ebook/dp/B005D7FLL8/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517679129&sr=1-3&keywords=wild+weasel

https://smile.amazon.com/F-105-Wild-Weasel-SA-2-Guideline-ebook/dp/B01BY34K9I/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1517679129&sr=1-12&keywords=wild+weasel

https://smile.amazon.com/Viper-Pilot-Memoir-Air-Combat/dp/006213034X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=006213034X&pd_rd_r=8WMAQ52QBK32SPHVQN6S&pd_rd_w=p2r2i&pd_rd_wg=efvEa&psc=1&refRID=8WMAQ52QBK32SPHVQN6S

and this one is on my wish list...

https://smile.amazon.com/Hunter-Killers-Extraordinary-Maverick-Dangerous/dp/0062375121/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0062375121&pd_rd_r=0MV8ENFG0Q747QE4WRAJ&pd_rd_w=d7Byq&pd_rd_wg=NA79Y&psc=1&refRID=0MV8ENFG0Q747QE4WRAJ

Viper Pilot: A Memoir of Air Combat

by Dan Hampton

https://www.amazon.com/dp/006213034X

not an English written book but I also like this...

https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4871493911

Came here to suggest Dan Hampton. Ive read and loved all his books. His newest one, The Hunter Killers, was a great read.

Viper Pilot, is a great account of his time in the F-16.

You're going to ruffle some feathers and your going to run into bigger fish that will put you in your place as well. But people forgive charisma and boldness all the time, so it will balance itself out. Look at Pat Tillman. Gentle, down to earth alpha and amongst his special forces team I'm sure he was just one of the guys. Of course you can be 100af and still be respectable. Maybe try reading No More Mr. Nice Guy. Or read up a bit more on Tillman. Jon Krakauer has a good book on him; It's called Where Men Win Glory.

While you are free to voice your pleasure or displeasure with the choice, just a reminder that this sub is not a place for political discussion. Thanks.

Edit: Gonna plug his biography in case anyone wants to learn more. It's amazing.

Here's a book about Pat Tillman, a man of integrity who led an exceptional, albeit short life: Where Men Win Glory by John Krakauer

link to Amazon page

Fiction:
The Terror by Dan Simmons

Non-Fiction:
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by Jon Krakauer

You should read this book

Lone Survivor http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598

The book

The Wikipedia entry with SPOILERS

Marcus Luttrell

No doubt. It's rare that I hardly have to think about something, but when I read this this ask, I knew instantly that this dude was my answer.

His book about Operation Redwing

Hey punk, 25M / 6'2 / 247.6lbs here and you're about to lose.

I'm looking to end up at a solid 200lbs, so I've 47.6 pounds to lose. Close enough, right?

Download MFP and add me : Tychapman. Track everything you eat and every exercise you make and you better look forward to me talking mad shit when you sneak a cinnabon you pathetic land whale.

My weight loss frenzy is fueled by 2 part competition and 1 part accountability (also I'm out of college and have a little extra disposable income), so I'm not okay with buying you a 13 dollar book (not that you're going to win anyway). It's just not going to cut it.

What about this?

Or some of these?

Hell if you win (which you wont) I'll throw in your book, too.

If I win you better buy me THIS
(in fact, just go ahead and get it to save yourself the time).

PM me if you want to do a virtual shake-shake-shake and we'll exchange info. Lets get the fuck in shape!

Did you read this book: Lone Survivor? Any thoughts about it?

This is a great book. http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598

I doubt any Navy Seal would regret joining. The camaraderie is intense within the Seals.

When I was in Fallujah with the Marines, the Seals were high-speed no joke good guys.

Things to Buy
http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Years-Hanna-Schissler/dp/0691058202

http://www.amazon.com/Redneck-Manifesto-Hillbillies-Americas-Scapegoats/dp/0684838648

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/039332169X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Everyone-Darwins-Theory-Change/dp/0385340214

http://www.amazon.com/Andromeda-Strain-Michael-Crichton/dp/006170315X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225932164&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Primates-Classroom-Evolutionary-Perspective-Childrens/dp/0870236113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589323&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Paleolithic-Prescription-Program-Exercise-Design/dp/0060916354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589224&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Eden-Psychotherapy-Evolutionary-Perspective/dp/0393700739/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589294&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Chimpanzee-Politics-Power-among-Apes/dp/0801886562/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589183&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Updated-Expanded-Insiders-Healthier/dp/0061473677/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263303625&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/YOU-Updated-Expanded-Insiders-Healthier/dp/0061473677/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263303625&sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Calories-Bad-Controversial-Science/dp/1400033462/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297305735&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/New-Sugar-Busters-Cut-Trim/dp/0345469585/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297305615&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/0143038583/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297305420&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Bastard-Kick-Ass-Getting/product-reviews/0762435402/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Everyone-Darwins-Theory-Change/dp/0385340214

http://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297305420&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Primates-Classroom-Evolutionary-Perspective-Childrens/dp/0870236113/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589323&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Exiles-Eden-Psychotherapy-Evolutionary-Perspective/dp/0393700739/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589294&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Paleolithic-Prescription-Program-Exercise-Design/dp/0060916354/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589224&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Chimpanzee-Politics-Power-among-Apes/dp/0801886562/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261589183&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Strange-Land-Robert-Heinlein/dp/0441788386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258348123&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Plate-Diet-Great-Healthy/dp/1885167717/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266199288&sr=1-13

http://www.amazon.com/Religion-War-Scott-Adams/dp/0740747886/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_9

http://www.amazon.com/Full-Plate-Diet-Great-Healthy/dp/1885167717/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266199288&sr=1-13

http://www.amazon.com/Blindsight-Peter-Watts/dp/0765319640/

http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Years-Hanna-Schissler/dp/0691058202

http://www.amazon.com/Redneck-Manifesto-Hillbillies-Americas-Scapegoats/dp/0684838648

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/039332169X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

http://www.amazon.com/Andromeda-Strain-Michael-Crichton/dp/006170315X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225932164&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Atheist-Manifesto-Against-Christianity-Judaism/dp/1559708204

http://www.amazon.com/Mayo-Clinic-Family-Health-Book/dp/1603200770/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267299889&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Sculpting-Bible-Men-Revised/dp/1578262380/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298573232&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Mens-Health-Big-Book-Exercises/dp/1605295507
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1594866279/ref=asc_df_15948662791442125?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pg-1583-01-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=1594866279

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345498461/ref=asc_df_03454984611442018?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pg-1583-01-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=0345498461

http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-Runners-Handbook-13-Week-Walk-Run/dp/1553650875/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298575384&sr=8-1
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703558004574581891694514228.html

http://www.amazon.com/Edible-Wild-Plants-Foods-Adventure/dp/1423601505

http://www.amazon.com/Shoppers-Guide-Organic-Food/dp/1857028406/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308213453&sr=1-16

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Portrait_of_the_Artist_as_a_Young_Man

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_writing

http://entertainment.time.com/2011/08/30/all-time-100-best-nonfiction-books/#fast-food-nation-by-eric-schlosser

http://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Strange-Land-Robert-Heinlein/dp/0441788386/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258348123&sr=8-1

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/continuous-positive-airway-pressure-cpap-for-obstructive-sleep-apnea

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye

http://www.amazon.com/Catch-22-Joseph-Heller/dp/0684833395

http://www.amazon.com/Starting-Strength-2nd-Mark-Rippetoe/dp/0976805421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253993543&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Aero-Speed-Hyperformance-Jump-Rope/dp/B00017XHO8

http://www.invisibleshoe.com/#ecwid:category=135066&mode=product&product=278983

http://view.exacttarget.com/?j=fe621670756c0575741d&m=fe7215707561047d7315&ls=fde817797d6d037977177974&l=fe9215717260007a70&s=fe2d13707d600478751c72&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe2e167375640d75711576&r=0

http://www.amazon.com/Element-Surprise-Navy-Seals-Vietnam/dp/0804105812/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304634342&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598

http://www.amazon.com/Diving-Bell-Butterfly-Memoir-Death/dp/0375701214/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312848167&sr=8-1

Political
Iraq Research

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Tawhid_Wal-Jihad

http://www.ontheissues.org/Drugs.htm#Barack_Obama

Congress Related

http://thomas.loc.gov/home/r110query.html

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_110_1.htm

http://www.usdoj.gov/

http://www.issuedictionary.com/Barack_Obama.cgi

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r110:75:./temp/~r110y7HfAa::

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists
/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=2&vote=00237

http://allafrica.com/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/??

Health & Exercise
Green Tea

http://www.teatrekker.com/store/tea/green/green+-+japan.php

http://www.o-cha.com/brew.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_2080066_steep-loose-leaf-tea.html

http://cooksshophere.com/products/tea/green_tea.htm

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=146

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_of_tea

http://blackdragonteabar.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

http://blackdragonteabar.blogspot.com/

https://www.itoen.com/leaf/index.cfm

http://www.maiko.ne.jp/english/

http://www.mellowmonk.com/buyGreenTea.htm
http://www.o-cha.com/home.php

http://www.denstea.com/

http://www.theteaavenue.com/chgrtea.html

http://www.teafrog.com/teas/finum-tea-brewing-basket.html

Not a novel but "Lone Survivor" is a great book. As is "Into the Wild"

http://www.amazon.com/Lone-Survivor-Eyewitness-Account-Operation/dp/0316067598

Very good read, once I started I couldn't put it down.

NewJack: Guarding Sing Sing

It's one of the few greats that hasn't been mentioned yet.
> Conover, a journalist and university professor, recounts his experience of learning about the New York State correctional system by becoming a correctional officer for nearly a year. The author went to such lengths after being repeatedly denied cooperation by the New York State Department of Correctional Services. In the book, he divulges the inner-workings of the system.

A Short History of Nearly Everything basically what the title says;

Where Men Win Glory about the Afganistan War and Pat Tillman, or really anything by Jon Krakauer (I loved his Everest book and the one on radical Mormon religion);

Newjack by Ted Conover, Conover became a corrections officer at Sing Sing prison and wrote about his experiences,

The Ghost Map about the start of epidemiology and how we started tracking viruses.

All of them are great reads where you also learn.

Robert Massie has 3 amazing books about WWI. Dreadnought about Anglo-German naval rivalry, Nicholas and Alexandra, about the last Czar and the russian perspective, and Castles of Steel, about the naval war. All of them are fantastic and read like novels.

Another excellent book is Paris 1919, about the end of the war, and how Woodrow Wilson ruined everything.

Ah, the racism inherent in Zionism.

I'm not even going to blame ignorance here, because I think it is literally impossible that you are ignorant of World War I and it's aftermath, and how it shaped the borders of the modern world. You literally have to have your head up your ass to not know the history here. The only way to miss it is to be in willful denial; an essential strategy is your engaged in a generations long enterprise to push out a native population in order to establish a state based on religion an ethnic background.

People who aren't racist shit and are looking for a better understanding of the modern world will find this book helpful :
http://www.amazon.com/Paris-1919-Months-Changed-World/dp/0375760520/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404942751&sr=8-1&keywords=paris+1919

Paris 1919 has several chapters that deal explicitly with the creation of the modern middle east after WWI. An extremely good starting point.

Talks about a lot of other things too like how the allies treated the newly created Soviet Union that goes a long way into understanding Russia's attitudes even today.

It is a must read book in my mind for understanding modern history.

If you're interested in WWI, have you read Paris 1919? Definitely worth picking up if you haven't.

For World War 1 I would say the best book to read is Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan.

She is specifically a World War 1 historian specifically on the causes of World War 1. Her book on the Paris Peace agreement that ended World War 1 is a bit more unique than most World War 1 history books. In it she explains the conflicts and problems that all of the parties involved had with the agreement and the discussions that were going on.

People often think of World War 1 as this battle between five powerful nations but there were in fact a large number of minor nations who were at the peace talks and unhappy with the outcome. The result of World War 1 was the disintegration of the Russian and Ottoman Empires (two historic enemies) and the creation of a vast number of micro states across their borders.

I've been reading Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist and he delves into concepts like these. It was really eye opening. He could be twisting things, but he paints the Buddha as an atheist according to the Pali cannon based on some key things he had said. Then delves into how you can be a religious atheist. I've found many benefits in religious practices throughout my life, they are a good anchor, it's just the metaphysical dogmas I can't dive into as an atheist. But the ideas of community, meditation and ritual can benefit anyone's life. I think every religion has a good philosophy to offer once you strip away beliefs.

If you are not comfortable with mystical concepts like karma and rebirth, but would rather focus on concepts like mindfulness and compassion, you can read Stephen Batchelor, http://www.amazon.com/Confession-Buddhist-Atheist-Stephen-Batchelor/dp/0385527063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291073951&sr=1-1

The Reasonable Doubts Podcast (one of my favorites, BTW) did a 3 part series on the good and bad of Buddhism Epsidoes 73-75. They had as a guest Stephen Batchelor, one time high ranking Buddhist monk turned atheist, and author of a number of books including Confession of a Buddhist Atheist

If you're interested, it's as good an overview as you'll find anywhere I think.

All of Ron Paul's views can be found in this book, which he wrote.

Reading this book will clear up anything that "someone told you" or "you heard on the news", because it is his own work. I wish more people would do some reading before just accepting biased opinions from unqualified people.


I wish the other candidates had books that outlined all their views.

>He will actually honor his oath of office (to defend and protect the U.S. Constitution) via a strict constructionist/Jeffersonian interpretation

It's worth noting, of course, that every President honors the oath of office to protect and defend the constitution according to their interpretation of what the constitution means. To say Ron Paul is different in this regard is to claim that his interpretation is somehow "more right" than others, which is debatable at best.

So, the irony is that from my perspective, Ron Paul would not be honoring his oath of office by writing laws to make it impossible to bring federal suit over state violations of privacy, equal protection, or religious freedm. So, let's stop this whole "he's great because he'll actually protect the constitution" crap, when the entire argument is whether we agree with his interpretation of the constitution.

>If you want a good starting place for understanding who Ron Paul is and what he believes, check out his book "The Revolution - A Manifesto" - [1] http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519

If you want to know what a man believes, don't listen to what he writes as a way of garnering support for himself. Look for what he does. Look at the laws he's written. Look at the causes he's championed. Ron Paul doesn't stand for anything close to individual liberty; he stands for state power, plain and simple.

This is an example of intentionally selective representation of his support in order to portray those the actually defend constitutional governance as "wackos".

Doug Mataconis has spent a inordinate amount of time and effort into advance a dishonest portrayal of Ron Paul and of his followers.

It is starting to have the appearance that Doug is being paid to to smear Ron Paul and the freedom movement that has ignited.

Today, it is widely acknowledged that Barry Goldwaters' failed candidacy for President in 1964 marked the beginning of a movement that culminated in the ascendancy to power of the GOP.

Ron Paul's support comes from those that truly desire to save this country from imploding upon itself due to a unsustainable empire building as a well as an unsustainable, no matter how well meaning it may be, welfare system and a corrupted to the monetary system intentionally designed to steal the wealth of the poor and middle classes in favor of the wealthy and politically well connected.

Barry Goldwater, Jr. has a new book:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/020592.html

Ron Paul's new book is now available:
http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519/lewrockwell


Ronald Reagan's famous nominating speech for Barry Goldwater shows that Ron Paul's ideas represent true conservative values:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=STLR6tFP4S4
-
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UmsP95Bl9pM

Thanks, I just ordered the book.

The timing of this development is interesting, as Ron Paul addresses the move to corn syrup from sugar in his latest book. Specifically, he talks about the corruption and incentive to deal with it.

I won't spoil it for you any further, but suffice it to say that this article is a bit more interesting to me because of the history of which I'm now aware. Ron Paul '08?

Also, Desert Solitaire and Cadillac Desert.

I'm interested in the Basic Kafka and Thus Spoke Zarathustra, unless you have anything else you wish to offer (my collection is skant and what I offer is all to give).

The editions are here and here.

I've never done this before and should have said earlier: I am in the continental u.s.

His subtle sexism and borderline racism aside he was a great man . . . a giant flawed great man.

If you haven't read "Down the River" or "Desert Solitaire" definitely pick up a used copy of these books somewhere. If you can't find them, let me know and I'll send you copies.

If you're interested in environmental issues at all I suggest Edward Abbey, "The Monkey Wrench Gang" and "Desert Solitaire" are both excellent.

Additionally, I feel like it doesn't even need to be said but "The Hobbit" and the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien are amazing.

Book recommendation: I highly recommend the biographic trilogy of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. Trust me once you start you will not want to do anything but read until all three books are done.

First book is called The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

Both are EXCELLENT

• Edmund Morris's trilogy on Teddy Roosevelt
  
• Manchester's The Last Lion series on Churchill

I haven't cracked them yet, but there are a few multi-volume biographies that get high marks (and since you say "the bigger the better..." :))

• Edmund Morris's trilogy on Teddy Roosevelt
  
• Manchester's The Last Lion series on Churchill
  
• Caro's The Years of Lyndon Johnson
  
  I also just had a friend send me Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton which seems like an interesting read.
  
  None of these are explicitly reformed, so I apologize if that's what you're looking for. But these are all acclaimed reads about men with a remarkable impact on history, which is worth attention anyway in my opinion :)

While The Bully Pulpit was already mentioned for Teddy Roosevelt, I found that one a rather repetitive bore. It is not a bad book, and I still think some folks might enjoy it, but the way the information is delivered feels tedious.

For Teddy, try instead Edmund Morris's trilogy. While still dense with material, you can pick and choose what part of his life you want to look into. I actually started with the "last" book, or the one about his days after his presidency, Colonel Roosevelt and that is ultimately what got me interested in what kind of president he was.

I have read all three of Edmund Morris's biographies on TR, totaling over 2000 pages of Teddy Roosevelt's life. I also teach history. I doubt you can say the same. Here, do some reading before you embarrass yourself anymore.


https://www.amazon.com/Edmund-Morriss-Theodore-Roosevelt-Trilogy/dp/0812958632/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=RQ7AY9KEE1QXMDC17X0R

If you think TR is one of the worst presidents in US history, you have a lot to learn, and quite frankly, are delusional.

TIL, it is a trilogy
"colonel Roosevelt" is the 3rd part
http://www.amazon.com/Edmund-Morriss-Theodore-Roosevelt-Trilogy/dp/0812958632/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1292697539&sr=8-4

The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy

Autobiography of a Yogi

The Field,
The Intention Experiment, The Bond

Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

You can do your own research about this, it's not too hard to track down the roots of what grew into american pop yoga from wikipedia. There are multiple books too about original yogis. It is true, some of their work is physical related, but it is not at all how westerners think of it. This book is a good place to start to understand why yoga is the way it is in America today, and also a lot of experiences and stories from India. People in this subreddit may have passing knowledge of this sort of thing, like myself, but if you seek the truth, there is plenty of already written material that covers what you're asking.

Gratitude is very powerful. Are you familiar with Yogananda?

Autobiography of a Yogi (Self-Realization Fellowship) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0876120796/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UrH0CbZT74B9G

This book could be a very interesting read for you: http://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Survival-American-Division/dp/0891418148/

The reason of high crew turnovers was not because the old crews got new vehicles, it was because the old crew was dead. As tanks were valuable, knocked out tanks were often patched up. If the hull was a loss, they would re-use the turret and vice versa.
Cooper describes that if they were 'lucky' the would find the projectile that knocked out the tank inside the tank so they could use it to patch the hole (as the projectile and the hole often had the same diameter.

"Life & Death on a Tank - Tank Crews Documentary"

Death Traps: The Survival of an American Armored Division in World War II

you realise by the end of the war AT guns were everywhere? how good is a tank if it's hit by a AT gun from 1940 and it gets knocked out? From the 50.000 shermans built, only ~10.000 survived

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Survival-American-Division/dp/0891418148

Logistics:

Death traps: Survival of an American Armored Division in WWII by Belton Cooper

A must read for any Ordnance guy who wants some pride in their branch. Its an autobiographical account written by Belton Cooper, a Maintenance Officer during the advance towards Berlin across western europe. Great read of WW2 on the ground tactics, cool stories of a WW2 Loggie Officer (which may seem hard to believe, but seriously some cool shit), and some takes on tank warfare from a maintenance perspective. Cooper gets really critical of eisenhower though on not implementing the pershing tank sooner.

https://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Survival-American-Division/dp/0891418148

I read it in this.

In the book Death Traps, it's mentioned that it was typical for the Germans to not stop firing on a tank until it was on fire. This was Vs the Americans anyways.

So it could be a tank from an actual battle.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0891418148/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1465013172&sr=1-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=Belton+Y.+Cooper&dpPl=1&dpID=51k4tqorPQL&ref=plSrch

"Death Traps" by Belton Cooper

Autobiography of a junior officer of one of 3rd armored division's maintenance battalion from Normandy to V-E. Critical of Patton (as you'd expect from anyone who saw the aftermath of nearly every Sherman knocked out in the division.

Talks about modifying Shermans for various tasks, including how they modified German beach obstacles and welded them to the tanks to bulldoze hedgerows. Fantastic detail about tank recovery ops and details about damage to both allied and axis armor.

My personal recommendations:
My 30 year war by Onada Hiro:
This book was written by a Japanese lieutenant who refused to believe the war was over, and continued living in the jungles of the Philippines until the 70s.

https://www.amazon.com/No-Surrender-My-Thirty-Year-War/dp/1557506639/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493673294&sr=8-1&keywords=Hiroo+Onoda

Battleground Pacific by Sterling Mace. A first person account from a USMC rifleman who fought in the Pacific war. He is also a redditor.

https://www.amazon.com/Battleground-Pacific-Marine-Riflemans-Odyssey/dp/1250005051?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-d-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1250005051

And the Forgotten Soldier by Guy Sajer, a French man who fought for the Germans on the Eastern Front.

https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Soldier-Guy-Sajer/dp/1574882864/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493673668&sr=8-1&keywords=the+forgotten+soldier+by+guy+sajer

Happy reading!

He did write a book. If he's a troll he's a committed one.

http://www.amazon.com/Battleground-Pacific-Marine-Riflemans-Odyssey/dp/1250005051/ref=la_B0078HKU44_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345171765&sr=1-1

Honestly, this was the closest I've come to reading about combat (and its from an 'old corps' combat vet

Source: I've been there and back again. Sangin Afghanistan 2010.

Have you read Battleground Pacific? It's written by Redditor Sterling Mace, covering his recolections of the same battles but as a rifleman rather than as a mortar man. It's a bit more earthy.

Great feedback from /u/volci - I would take heed.

Along with that, buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469622981&sr=8-1&keywords=extreme+ownership

Listen to these podcasts:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/jocko-podcast/id1070322219?mt=2


I usually don't say "buy a book and do X" but these two things have given me more insight on leadership than anything else in my 30 years on earth. I have a management degree that cant hold a candle to this stuff.

Extreme Ownership

This is starting to make sense. You aren't willing to hold Baker more accountable for his poor play in much the same way that you refuse to hold yourself accountable for your own poor spelling and grammar.

You say that Baker's focus can't be taken away by external factors like his tweeting and at the end of the day he is just a bad QB.

At the same time, your grammar and spelling can't be controlled by you because it's an autocorrect problem.

I am reading a book right now I think might benefit you, cheers!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250237238?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=X8XPQR5BNKF3VB8GS04R

>Holy racism, Batman!

Holy political correctness Karl Marx! Guess I'm also a racist against freemasons, because that's another cult that destroys the sovereignty of nations.

I recommend you read some literature to help you understand the militant Islam threat and read Son of Hamas. It was written by Mosab Hassan Yousef son of Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a founding member of Hamas and its most popular leader.

i read "Son of Hamas"

he too was replaced

>I do not deny your statements. But I cannot believe you missed everything about the rockets in schools and mosques and hospitals. Medial reported it clearly

Some media reported the most ridiculous pro-Israel lies - as they do constantly.

There were no rockets fired from either hospitals or mosques. Some rockets were found in unused UN buildings (almost certainly there because people had emptied them from bunkers in order to use them as shelters).

>they also filmed Hamas militants firing rockets near homes of people.

No they didn't. One set of rockets was fired on an open patch of land not far from a hotel. Couldn't possibly justify using precision weapons to target civilians - as Israel boasts and threatens that it will do - and as we've seen them do repeatedly.

>Can you prove that my statements is lies?

I can't prove a negative - whereas you do have to prove your claims.

Shouldn't be difficult - Gaza must be the most intensively surveilled place on earth!

>I have read numerous reports of Hamas abusing their civilians and hiding weapons.

They're lies. Especially stupid lies when we know that the Zionists did much worse things themselves.

>Even UNWRA reported rockets hidden in their facilities.

What do you mean "even UNWRA"? They're pretty much agents of Israel, forced to comply with Israel's demands or lose their jobs.

>And not to mention the tunnels they dig.

They're fully entitled to dig tunnels. Its completely legal - unlike most everything Israel does, which is completely illegal.

>How come Egypt is having a blockade against Gaza and destroying their tunnels?

Because the US pays them to seal off the concentration camp (and also, of course, vast numbers of Palestinians in Gaza are mentally ill and have never had a job of work to go to, hence they must be kept out).

>Israel isn't innocent I agree, but you give the impression that the Palestinians are totally innocent of everything.

The Palestinians have homes to go back to and they're a proper menace anywhere else in the region.

While the Israelis are acting like armed squatters, in total non-compliance with the most solemn promises they made.

>The Israeli government in general wish is to have peace with the Palestinians

That's a lie - and a very stupid one. When Hamas held a 4 month ceasefire in late 2008, Israel smashed it with the biggest massacre yet.

Furthermore, they murdered some 250 of the very policemen who had delivered that ceasefire - those are not the actions of anyone who wants peace, they're the actions of people who want an excuse for an extermination.

>Hamas only wish for every Jew in Israel to be killed.

The Palestinians are the Jews of Israel. The same people were there 2000 years ago (and almost certainly the Canaanites of 3000 years ago).

Whereas many of the Israelis are up to 99% converts ... indeed, a lot of them are 100% converts.

>You are totally biased in your way of reasoning.

I'm with the fireman against the arsonist.

>Like I said, read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef http://www.amazon.com/Son-Hamas-Gripping-Political-Unthinkable/dp/1414333080 and you'll get a more fair view of the situation.

Its a load of artfully contructed nonsense - he's a Judenrat, a collaborator who deserves to die for what he's done to his family and his people. But its paid him handsomely - the book came out in March 2010, in June he was granted asylum in the US.

>Times are different than how it was pre -48 and Israel has indeed changed.

Stolen property (at least 93% of Palestine) remains stolen property and must be returned.

>There are idiots in israel, like in every nation, but the do not wish to kill every palestinian

They clearly do wish to kill every Palestinian - 1.5 million of them in Gaza were already wading in sewage before Israel blew up all their sewers.

>Here are some videos of Hamas firing rockets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUrDAEgisXM http://www.jpost.com/Operation-Protective-Edge/Watch-Gazans-fire-rockets-from-school-and-cemetery-369063

You simply prove that you're a hasbarist - blurry videos with no location information - what is the "Abu Nur School in Gaza" and how can Israel not know if its UN or not?

Those videos are actually proof that Israel has none of what it claims to have!

And their response could never be justified anyway. Israel does the kind of thing that the Nazis did at Lidice.

You don't know much about Hamas. Your metaphor would work if the "little kid" also went home and beat his younger siblings and used them like a sociopath to get back at the "bully".

For a good look into Hamas read Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef.

sjacob16: ^^original ^^reddit ^^link

You should read Mosab Hassan Yousef's Son of Hamas

He worked for Israel's internal intelligence agency.

This photo is similar to the one on the cover of his book"Crippled America" and he explains why:

"Some readers may be wondering why the picture we used on the cover of this book is so angry and so mean looking. I had some beautiful pictures taken in which I had a big smile on my face. I looked happy, I looked content, I looked like a very nice person, which in theory I am. My family loved those pictures and wanted me to use one of them. The photographer did a great job. But I decided it wasn’t appropriate. In this book we’re talking about crippled America that’s a tough title. Unfortunately, there’s very little that’s nice about it. Hence, the picture on the cover. So I wanted a picture where I wasn’t happy, a picture that reflected the anger and unhappiness that I feel, rather than joy. There’s nothing to be joyful about. Because we are not in a joyous situation right now. We’re in a situation where we have to go back to work to make America great again."

People who bought this: https://www.amazon.ca/Crippled-America-Make-Great-Again/dp/1501137964
also bought a rope and a stool.

Read this for greater context

already read it, great book. this one is good too, https://www.amazon.com/Crippled-America-Make-Great-Again/dp/1501137964

http://www.amazon.com/Crippled-America-Make-Great-Again/dp/1501137964

LINK FOR PURCHASE HERE. LETS BEAT HILLARY FOLKS!!!!!!

https://www.amazon.com/Crippled-America-Make-Great-Again/dp/1501137964

Crippled America by the KING

Does she read books? Tell her to get Clinton's War on Women. That will change her mind. http://www.amazon.com/Clintons-War-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X?ie=UTF8&keywords=clintons%20war%20on%20women&qid=1465433297&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1

This has nothing to do with RuPauls Drag Race.

Now if you want to discuss Rapist Bill Clinton and his rape supporting wife who destroyed the lives of all his victims, you probably want to take that shit elsewhere.

http://i.imgur.com/9EpJnZp.png

The Clintons' War On Women

The Clintons' War on Women

His book : The Clintons war on Women

The Clintons' War On Women

It's all right here... and you're way off from what he is proposing.

We have already defaulted. Bernanke is printing money, although we use the phrase 'money printing' loosely because he is really just pressing buttons on a computer and increasing balances at the Fed.

Taxes have already been raised - it's called inflation. The CPI is a flawed calculation. It used to be based on maintaining a certain standard of living. It no longer is. The real inflation rate is at least 5% - 10%.

World conventional oil production has peaked. The COLLAPSE is imminent. Every time the real economy starts growing, it runs into $90/bbl oil.

It doesn't matter if you raise the debt ceiling or not. We either default literally or experience a hyperinflation.

The jobs data on Friday was a gain of only 18,000, after last month's abysmal 55,000. Using 'The Economist' is hilarious. It's like citing Krugman. The consensus by "mainstream" economists for Friday's jobs number before it was released was a gain of 90,000. Bernanke will have to initiate a QE3 and then a QE4, etc. (QE = money printing).

Yes, it is true that during the Great Depression, the Fed tightened too quickly. However, the Fed's policies enabled the speculation that caused the Great Depression, and the inflation under Carter, and the tech bubble in the 1990s, and the housing bubble. If you keep interest rates artificially low and make it clear that the government will bail out banks (moral hazard) you get bubbles. Bubbles pop.

I come here and just laugh at people arguing about raising taxes and cutting spending. The debt isn't containable. If you subtract the deficit from the GDP calculation, you see that the recession is still full-on. But, it's not actually a recession in the traditional sense - it's a collapse.

Because the real economy cannot grow out of its debt, the only way to "save" the country would be to make drastic cuts to spending in next year's budget (like $2 trillion) and deliberately go into a depression for a few years. We shouldn't have bailed out the banks, either.

The problems in 2008, in the EU, in Japan, and in all the heavily indebted nations of the world are not problems of liquidity. They are problems of insolvency. Until we allow the bad debts to be dissolved and defaulted upon (the Fed's balance sheet is $2.78 trillion), there will be no recovery of any kind.

A gold standard forced fiscal discipline. That's why we got rid of it. The bankers don't like having to be disciplined. The politicians know they can just string people along with spending promises to pacify them. The Federal Reserve, the government, and their Keynesian policies are the root of all of our problems.

But, Krugman tells liberals what they want to hear - just spend more money, so you all follow him. If the planet had infinite resources, Keynesian economics would actually work.

End The Fed

Now, I doubt anyone will even read this far, and that's fine. Or, I'll just be labeled as a crazy libertarian, and that's fine too. It's not like I want the country to collapse, though. That's just what the facts show.

In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to the COLLAPSE, actually. We can completely get rid of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and all that social spending nonsense in one swoop. And, we can repeal the Sixteenth Amendment. We can restore actual, genuine, authentic free-market Capitalism where bad banks and union destroyed companies like GM fail. I have my gun for the next civil war. Do you have yours?

/rant off

Lost the password to the original account.

I don't have to care about people who make bad decisions. I don't expect you to pay my bills if I make bad decisions. She could have had an abortion, could have used birth control, could have given the kid up for adoption. And, on top of that - TO HAVE ANOTHER FUCKING KID AND TELL ME ABOUT IT LIKE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY FOR HER - THAT'S INSANE.

I don't know if you're aware of where babies actually come from, but they don't just happen. Decisions lead to babies. People who think they have a right to food or water or healthcare or to have society support their kids are wrong. You cannot have a right to "things" in a world of limited resources.

It's one thing to ask for my help personally or the help of a charity, but she just expected the government to be there to support her. She just expected other people to pay for her bad choices. People like that just take us all down with them. That's why social programs cannot work - it's known as the free-rider problem. The only reason America's social programs have lasted this long is because of our great wealth, abundant resources, and the initiation of the GREATEST PONZI SCHEME ever when Nixon closed the gold window and made it so the rest of the world had to use the American Dollar - keeping its demand high.

I'm actually not angry because I know that THE GREAT COLLAPSE is well under way. That will get rid of all the useless people. I think like 7 million or so die during the Great Depression, and the country wasn't nearly as over-populated and people actually knew how to take care of themselves then. THE GREAT PURGE will be refreshing. Humanity can start over. America can start over.

Maybe I am angry. But, I think it's just more annoyance. People in this nation, and everywhere feel they are entitled. By this time next year, they're all going to find out just how entitled they really are.

Human beings are not special. They are the only species that doesn't reach some type of balance with the planet. Mother Nature is just getting its revenge with climate change and the fact that oil (which is absolutely necessary to feed 7 billion people) has peaked - at least conventional production.

If this all ends up leading to another World War (Germany experienced a hyperinflation and the world had experienced a terrible economic collapse leading to WWII - although, the Federal Reserve enabled the speculation that lead to the Great Depression, anyway), I'm just going to overdose and leave this world. Gerald Celente expects another world war. That's not a world I want to live in.

The root of many of our problems is the Federal Reserve, combined with the Sixteenth Amendment and fiat currency which allows the top to suck the wealth up from the bottom.

http://www.amazon.com/End-Fed-Ron-Paul/dp/B004IEA4DM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310507503&sr=8-1

I do come on here to rant and rave. I don't know why. It doesn't make me feel better. I just pity these people on here who seem to have no clue about the terrible economic collapse from America to the UK to the EuroZone to Japan to China that is coming. There's no way to save them all. No way to save most of them. And, they're all in denial and refuse to make even the most basic preparations.

Oh well.

Good luck to you, sir or madame. As soon as Bernanke is forced to start QE3 or Italy or Spain needs a bailout or Greece defaults or Japan has to print more money or China's inflation gets out of hand or there is another terrorist attack (if I were Gaddaffi, I'd blow up another plane - just proves Iran and North Korea shouldn't give up their nuke programs like Gaddaffi did), everything will spin out of control. Within a week or two of things spinning out of control, store shelves will be empty. Civil unrest. Maybe civil war or martial law.

Good luck to you and your family.

If you aren't aware of his work, take a look at Stephen Batchelor's Confessions of a Buddhist Atheist. Critchley's Faith of the Faithless might also be useful for you to cut through some of the cognitive dissonance you might be experiencing when balancing an atheistic standpoint with other ontological traditions. Take what is useful from the tradition to reduce the level of suffering you experience. The Buddha doesn't care; he's dead.

Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate with a consistent voting record. I honestly believe if elected, he will do what he says he will. I can't say this for any other candidates, R or D. He will actually honor his oath of office (to defend and protect the U.S. Constitution) via a strict constructionist/Jeffersonian interpretation. He will drastically reduce the size of the federal government starting with the executive branch (the only branch he actually has authority to act over) and urge congress to do the same for the areas they have authority over.

I've only known about Ron Paul for about 3 years, but in that time my politically philosophy has been turned on it's head (well, I really had NO political philosophy prior). In that same time frame, I have seen his support grow by leaps and bounds. I'm very encouraged by what I'm seeing as this campaign gets into gear, and the political data that's been coming in.

If you want a good starting place for understanding who Ron Paul is and what he believes, check out his book "The Revolution - A Manifesto" - http://www.amazon.com/Revolution-Manifesto-Ron-Paul/dp/0446537519

I hope this helps.

OP, here's a book you may enjoy and benefit from: https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250067057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486323161&sr=8-1&keywords=extreme+ownership

Hillary Clinton does not represent me as a woman. At all. Handing out a "woman card" doesn't make you a feminist.

You do realize your entire second paragraph is exactly what Clinton will do (or lack thereof), correct? She is the one getting paid for $225k+ speeches from big banks, big pharma, and other massive industries. What makes you think she won't provide them a return on their investment for donating to her?

Your argument is literally what Clinton is to the rest of the country -- a powerful elite looking to change nothing about the status quo.

And Did you know there were third party candidates?

I'm guessing not?

edit: this is a great book that talks about how the Clinton's receive tons of foreign donations from countries who treat women like second-class citizens: https://www.amazon.com/Clintons-War-Women-Roger-Stone/dp/151070678X

Palin is no longer relevant. I think she was probably somewhat of a good political move for McCain, but Presidential candidate? No thanks.

We need someone who will bring real change -- get rid of/severely cut income taxes, stop policing the world (see: blowback), get rid of needless spending, and really cut the size of government. I hope Ron Paul runs in 2012.

If you're interested in freedom, prosperity, and peace, try to find this book at your local library. A short read but straight and to the point.

Read The Clinton's War on Women for an in depth look at those cases. I think you'll be surprised.

Exactly. You need someone well-read in political theory.

Ron Paul for example has written and published a number of books, mostly on monetary policy and foreign policy:

A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship

Pillars of Prosperity

The Case for Gold

Gold, Peace, and Prosperity

End the Fed

Liberty Defined: 50 Essential Issues That Affect Our Freedom

He provides READING LISTS to his political opponents, like Rudy Giuliani:

Educating Rudy: The Ron Paul reading list

Edit: apparently there are inaccuracies in the book that I was unaware of hence my downvotes. Still think it's a valuable perspective to gain, even if you have to take some of the details with a grain of salt.

I highly recommend the book death traps which was written by an american armored officer in a pretty unique position during WWII. He was a trained engineer whose role was basically tracking all of the damaged and destroyed tanks for his unit and helping coordinate their repair/replacement.

He has a lot of in depth knowledge about the tanks, doctrine, and field effectiveness of WWII tanks on the western front, particularly the Sherman, and a ton of really interesting stories and anecdotes.

>There's nothing about that in the articles you linked.

yes, you need to read actual books to learn history, not just Wikipedia.

>Career State Department Ambassadors and staff are testifying that the Guiliani group's activities are unofficial, irregular

Yep. they're bitching that the president didn't listen to them.

>and unprecedented.

if they're saying that, they're lying.

> At this point the debate is simply you asserting that career officials are all mistaken.

Sure, try this or this, or this, or frankly, almost any of the hundreds of books on american diplomacy in ww1 and ww2 that you obviously haven't read yet for some reason have strong opinions about.

The Sherman was a mishmash of ideas from people who didn't know what the fuck they were doing. American armored warfare theory at the time of it's production centered around on the idea that our tanks should always bypass enemy tanks so that they could move into enemy lines and destroy other targets. A sound strategy on paper that resulted in American crew and vehicle losses that will boggle your mind. The army was losing Sherman's so fast in combat that both crew size and training were diminished to simply get more units on the field. At some point some Sherman tank crews were reduced to three men who were soldiers that had basic training and were given an opportunity to shoot the main cannon three times before being considered ready for action. These Sherman units suffered around 500 percent causalities, no that isn't a typo.

Anyone who is interested in the experiences of Sherman crews owes it to themselves to read Death Traps.

http://www.amazon.com/Death-Traps-Survival-American-Division/dp/0891418148/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420849729&sr=8-1&keywords=Death+Traps