Currently Reading

[Thelemech]

 

[Zzzptm]

Thinking about starting up on "The Haunted Wood", a book about Soviet espionage in the USA during the 30s and 40s.

That sounds like it could be an interesting read. If you do go for it, I'd appreciate your general thoughts, I might have to check it out.

Got jury duty today, so it's in my messenger bag. I'll report on it tonight.

By "tonight", of course, I meant "next week"... erm...

It's a very good read, got through 4 chapters in the jury room, so I'm pretty sure I'll finish it on the plane when I have to travel to England on Saturday. I had been reading a different book about the KGB's use of poisons, but the author got enmired in the reasons *why* people were KGB targets. I just wanted to know how the attacks were executed and what poisons were used and speculation about why those poisons and not others. Yes, the KGB went after people that threatened to reveal what they knew about the KGB, that's standard form, really...

But back to this book. It looks at recruitment techniques and then actual activities performed by Soviet assets in the West. I have to say that it's a rather revealing read, given that the Soviets basically had the same pool of talent to draw upon as the rest of the nation did, and they managed to recruit more than one dud, incompetent, or other bad pick whose flaws weren't all totally evident in the interview process.

Easiest to manage were the ones doing it for money. They didn't care what the Commies were doing back in the USSR. Most productive were the ones that did it all for ideology - provided they agreed ideologically with what was happening back in the USSR.

[Vyn]

Sounds pretty cool, thanks for the summary!

[Thelemech]

I try to read this every couple of years as it is my favorite Shakespeare play and also helps clean out the cobwebs of the mind.

[Zzzptm]

Planning to read this one next, covers that Adams-Jefferson debate I mentioned in another thread.

[Scott]

Jackie Chan - Never Grow Up

[Zzzptm]

Going through some of my old short stories, considering doing audible versions of them...

[Thelemech]

Blood, Sweat and Pixels - Jason Schreier. The stories behind how modern video games are made. Halfway done and I must say that it is a fascinating overview of the multi billion dollar industry. The work that goes into these games is pretty astounding.

[Zzzptm]

Planning to read this one next, covers that Adams-Jefferson debate I mentioned in another thread.

Finally picked it up, it's fascinating stuff. Just finished the first section on racism in the USA, which involved a careful look at Jefferson's contradictory position and its legacy. This book brings forward some rarely-considered primary source material that really brings forward the complexities of the issues surrounding slavery, equality, and the federal government's relationship to the states.

[Thelemech]

Beethoven - His Spiritual Development by J.W.N. Sullivan

[Vyn]

Just cracked this one open, and so far is proving to be an interesting and thoughtful read:

[AnnoMundi]

Sunday comics

[Zzzptm]

Working through my ebooks... a little here, a little there.

Reading this one:



It's led to quite a lot of side reading, pro and con the author's contention that there's a strong link between marijuana and psychotic episodes. Makes me wonder if one solution to gun violence - as well as violence of other sorts, including child abuse/neglect - would be reduced dramatically through efforts to reduce marijuana consumption in the USA and Canada.

[Thelemech]

Working through my ebooks... a little here, a little there.

Reading this one:



It's led to quite a lot of side reading, pro and con the author's contention that there's a strong link between marijuana and psychotic episodes. Makes me wonder if one solution to gun violence - as well as violence of other sorts, including child abuse/neglect - would be reduced dramatically through efforts to reduce marijuana consumption in the USA and Canada.

The evidence shows that Marijuana can trigger Schizophrenia and other psychotic mental illnesses. It brings to the surface an illness that is already there. There is also evidence that CBD oil that comes from the Marijuana plant actually can help those with Schizophrenia and other mental health issues.

I have smoked pot for more than 20 years and I have never had a violent episode and also know many other users that have never had a psychotic episode from Marijuana.

[Zzzptm]

It's more like a roll of the dice for the mental health problem... but the marijuana usage can roughly triple a non-user's chances of developing schizophrenia or schizoform disorders. If you've got a heredity of schizophrenia, it's a much higher chance.

The key is in the THC content (or, in the case of imitators, the content of compounds that will latch on to the appropriate receptors in the brain). Modern marijuana that is being bred for higher THC percentages or imitation compounds that are very concentrated in their dosages will have a much stronger effect on users.

The CBD oil is totally separate from the THC, and does show promise. Thing is, people are voting for legalizing the THC without much thought for doing anything with CBD.