Tamsyn > Recent Status Updates

Oh good, “Nothing I say in this section should be interpreted as implying that there is no place in our lives for the help we can receive from the medical profession.”

Like this book does have some really extreme ideas, but it’s got its own internal logic and reasoning, and that seems fairly consistent.

“I realized that I had been delivered that night from a demon of yoga.”

Would Forceps of Deliverance or Demon of Yoga be good names for acid rock groups?

“Some contemporary forms of music, such as acid rock, fall into the same category and are used as channels of supernatural satanic power.”

That’s… oddly specific.

“Without the probe of discernment, we cannot effectively use the forceps of deliverance.”

No notes.

“I realized that humanism has its roots in Greek philosophy. It is one of the major satanic forces at work in the world today, I believe, and will ultimately open the way for the rise of the Antichrist.”

Whoa, calm down. Humanism can co-exist with religion just fine. As a humanist, I believe everyone has the right to practice their religion (or lack thereof) if it isn’t hurting anyone.

“It would be absurd to suggest that all sicknesses are caused by demons.”

I agree entirely.

“Some are, some are not.”

Sigh.

OK, throwing out Plato seems a bit extreme, you’re starting to lose me here.

“My old enemy did not give up on me; I still had to struggle against depression. But the great difference now was that its attacks came from without, not from within….. “

Dude dealt with his depression using a cognitive behavioural therapy technique (via his spiritual beliefs). That’s impressive. I guess there are many paths to the same destination. Good for him.

“I kept asking myself, ‘How could it be that so many Christians are possessed by demons?’”

Isn’t there some adage about when you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail….

This book is wild. I opened it out of curiosity and I can’t stop reading it.

They should have named this book Skullduggery. I hope someone has written a Dawson biography or a Piltdown book and used that title. It’s too good.

Kinda fun reading this knowing that a 2003 study concluded that Dawson faked nearly his entire collection. Hmm I wonder who could have done it.

I’ve finished the first part, the Bonds novel. I dislike every single character so far and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse.

I have not stopped laughing at the drawing of the pre: Pangea with Valinor speeding off to the west. Unexpected Tolkien!

“We will never know anything more specific [about the end of the Armana period] and it is a delusion to believe otherwise.”

Calm down buddy, it’s just archaeology.

‘a twice life-size stone sphinx’


what?? How do we know how big a sphinx is supposed to be?

This is so so good.

It’s interesting and fact-dense, which I like, but needs editing badly in places. Going to go for a few more chapters and see how it goes.

This book, in a nutshell - ‘it’s the end of the world!’ ‘Oh wait, it’s not actually, never mind’ repeat ad nauseam. It’s not a bad book and I love the hard sci-fi elements but dude. Chill.

The epic poem on syphilis was rather amusing

I have to admit to a shudder when COVID 27 got mentioned. I like how realistic the setting is - things have gone bad, but it’s not a complete hellscape. Saskia seems like an interesting character.

So well written, detail rich with clear points made.. definitely read it if this subject interests you

Thought I was having a bad year, but at least I didn’t abandon Moscow to Napoleon’s army I guess?

Round 2, here we go. Book 1 was easier to keep the characters straight. Now tackling the first war section in book 2. May need a good map to follow this.

This is the only book in a long time that has made me cry. It’s almost too real.

This was published in 2018, so it’s kinda cute to see the explanations of coronaviruses in the MERS chapter, and SARS-CoV without a 1 on the end.