Stuart > Recent Status Updates

I tell ya what I am NOT interested so far! But I don't read a lot of fiction, I'll give it some time to marinate

18 pages plus change (foreward by Angela Davis)

In a 2016 poll 91% of Republicans and 94% of Dems reported being "unsatisfied" or "mad as hell" about "money in politics", and I would really like to see the breakdown of who among them knows of or furthermore understands Citizens United, AND what sacrifices they'd be willing to make to truly rectify its consequences - would you for instance write to your rep? Protest? Or are we really that apathetic? I'm guilty too

p165 "Unless Democrats stand squarely on the side of democracy against oligarchy, much of America w2ill continue to believe him or any future politician who imitates Trump's authoritarian demagoguery."

So I had these thoughts on a quote that Reich says on page 92, regarding the capitalist view that "if some people aren't pad enough to live on, the market has determined they aren't worth enough" - I think what anti-union, pro free-market people fail to really reconcile is that its a question of who we want to be, and like Reich, I don't want to be a member of a country that permits poverty like the system does now

Seen this guy on Insta? He's alright. Could be taller tho. Hit the gym pal.

Seems like there's a decent change the CIA eventually connects on one of these... I'm be facetious

This guy Saddam, a bit of a rabble rouser ya know. Wonder what's gonna happen to him by the end of this book

Goodness me this here is a good book I tell ya what

"You kids don't know about the great American patriot Oli North?!" - American Dad

Got some major catching up to do, it’s fine I got all day tmr

I'm slacking right now but that's only because we wrapped up boat talk a chapter ago and now I'm not so engaged. I feel a bit, marooned. Pontooned, even. I can't wait to talk about this at the book club. I believe it will go swimmingly. Our discussion of the Sublime Porte will be... sublime. Santeria.

“Bivouac” was a new word to me, meaning an improvised camp or resting spot especially in a wartime or expeditionary capacity. That’s cool but I don’t need any more French vocab, thanks anyway

This chapter... NOT about BOATS!!! I don't give a RATS A** about a stinkin land battle!!
Rifles, bayonet charges and artillery? Pshhh
Dreadnaughts and nautical navigation?? Yes please!!

I didn't journal yesterday but guess what... more tales about BOATS people hell yeah that's what I like to see!

Oh how I love me a story of a boat

The last sentence of the section I read is as follows
"Compelling as the unfolding Greek-Turkish drama was, however, a team of Serbian Conspirators in Belgrade was determined not to be upstaged."

What ever could McMeekin be referring to???

I want to read more about (since I wasn't really thinking of this while reading this last section) what exactly was Kaiser Wilhelm II's attitude towards Ahmed Riza, both in the context of his policies how it would prospectively mesh with German ambitions, and also hedging his bet for his potential ascension to power? Ultimately worked out alright for him I suppose. Fascinating.

Will this "Ahmed Riza" fella turn out to be a cool, tempered & level headed revolutionary or will he go bananas when he decides to play his hand and attempt to take all power? I don't know because this is my first time reading about Ottoman history. Excited to learn
Cool quote: "Like all revolutionaries... [they] were truly united only in what they opposed". Dang thats cold

We gotta read 17 pages a day to finish by our deadline, that's doable - so long as I don't enter the wikipedia rabbit hole every time I pick this up, which I did today smh my head

Stamped the inside cover