Notes and Thoughts in a Virtual World

Title: Off Armageddon Reef
Author: David Weber
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780765315007
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Human vs. Alien war, Post-Apploc
Series: ?
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 592
Pages: On: 48
Chapters: Many parts and I-II’s etc.
Chapter On: ? Part 2?
Time spent: 40 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Mankind spread to the stars. A ship intercepts an alien world with evidence of advanced life. Life has been destroyed. Most believe the advanced intelligent life was destroyed by another intelligent race (Ghabba, or something like that, randomly chosen name).

Ghabba enter one of Mans far-flung colonies. Ghabba destroy colony. War erupts. Man about even technology wise (Ghabba have been around for 1000s, if not millions of years, but not flexibable, not innovative (at least anymore), stagnent culture), but Ghabba civilization is much larger Man (humankind).

Seeing the end of Man, “Mission Control” sends a colony fleet away from Earth using sneaky techniques to get away from observation (all other colony fleets tracked and destroyed - one got away, but scout ships eventually found that colony and destroyed it - believed technology signals emitting from colony lured the Ghabba to the colony).

Operation Ark sent out - 47 ships visible, 47 ships hidden from view. 47 ships then break away. Establish colony. Belief that technology will lead Ghabba to colony, a system is set up to deny use of and advancement of technology.

Adult colonists have minds altered with implanted false memories - believe they “awoke” fully formed as adults on the planet. “God” and his “angels” (the crew of the ships that deposited the colonists on the colony) “created” the adults, placed them on the planet, and the humans (“Adam”’s and “Eve”’s) told to reproduce like rabbits (not those exact words). Complicated . . . . more stuff but brain froze.

Note: I raced through the “last” book in the Axis of Time series so that I could start Off Armageddon Reef. Learned yesterday that I was going to need to return Off Armageddon Reef in two days (now 1 day), so I need to hurriedly read it.

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 343
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 35
Time spent: 263 minutes
Rating: 4.35
Recommend?: If read first two books in the series.

Rushed through this book to get to next, as I had learned that I was going to need to return it to the library. I would normally have had about 6 more weeks, but the book had holds.

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 122
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 13
Time spent: 110 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

D-Day continues in Europe. Japan and USA heading to fight in Pacific.

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 24
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 3
Time spent: 35 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Book continues. Nothing really exciting happen yet.

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 11
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 2
Time spent: 15 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Prologue - “Future sub” takes out “future destroyer” in 1942. Chapter 1 - Helicopters, jets, landing craft head for France (I believe towards Calais (Sp?) Instead of Normandy).

Been too long since I read books 1 and 2. Not sure I’ll like this book.

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 431
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 49
Time spent: 247 minutes
Rating: 4.95
Recommend?: Yes

Phobos - completed, rated 5 stars. Great book. Too bad it appears that he wrote at most 1 more book, and neither were apparently well-received (at least in terms of buyers). Very well written.

1.7 pages per minute.

Not detailed concluding post as finished 2/24/07 in one lump and didn't have access to Internet.

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 137
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 14
Time spent: 137 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Troopers kidnap Brogue and toss him into the trash room and tell him to leave Phobos. Brogue escapes from the restraints and blindfold and returns to the barracks area. He notes that he will not leave.

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 95
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 7
Time spent: 101 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Lt. Mike Brogue arrives on Phobos. Trooper in airlock - wants to go after the “Beast.” Brogue can’t talk him back inside, so he goes outside. Goes with the trooper to the Dust area. Trooper fires into the dust. Beast rushes forward and spears the Trooper. Brogue shots it, vaporizing some of it. As the “talon” retreats into the dust, Brogue watches as the talon repairs itself. Brogue then drags Trooper back to the station. On way, Trooper dies.

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 69
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 4
Time spent: 71 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Lt. Mike Brogue. Lead character. Martian native from a defunct colony. First Martian to be an officer in the Peacecorps (military), father was first Sergeant. Story (after the prologue) starts with Brogue defusing a dangerous hostage situation. Makes him a hero, and Mayor wants to use him to help defuse tensions (native Martians want their freedom from the corporation that runs Mars - only reason Mars colonies continue is the barsooium(sp?) that is stronger than any earth metal and either twice the radioactive deflector than lead, or almost the same as lead (don’t recall now). Brogue is a hothead.

Purists (some long word that boils down to purists): want to wipe out all Martians.
Fredomists: Want Mars to be free.

Alien Life: Apparently, like Total Recall, finding alien life (or artifacts as in Total Recall) will get Mars its freedom from the corporation (EED?) that runs Mars.

Does seem to be something of a continuation of Total Recall, even if only vaguely (and with limited memory of both the original Philip K. Dick short story, and film (film is different, but with similarities, than short story).

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 27
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 1
Time spent: 15 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Facing a choice between two books, a Sports Fiction book by an author I’ve read before, but didn’t particularly like (I’ve seen good reviews for the option book and thought I’d give the author another chance, only read 1 by him so far), and a Science Fiction, Military Fiction book by an author that I’ve never read before and have the impression that he hasn’t written any more books, I decided to catch up on my magazine reading. Then, today, I finally got around to reading another book. Picked the sports book up first, glanced at the first two lines, didn’t like the way they went and started the Science Fiction book. I’ve only read the prologue, so I do not know anything about the book (other than the book’s description, something about a Martian officer in the Earth space service facing some discrimination, and placed in a position near/on Mars when it revolts, or something like that), or if I will like it.

This is Drago’s First Novel. Never heard of the author, and never seen the book anywhere except at my library.

So Far: Prologue involved military unit on Phobos (near Mars) tracking some kind of killer “thing.” Private Manning killed. Then Lead Character Lt. Joseph Halavero killed by some snake thing that has the ability to change the shape of itself. Halavero’s last thought is that he is glad that his female sergeant finally called him by his first name (they were lovers when she was a private, and he was in officer candidate school). Ok, main lead character dead on a moon off Mars. Died in Moon Dust by Very Fast Giant Snake Thing (read something recently about how moon dust was speculated on by famous science fiction writer, but theory disproved).

Read one more than last year (92 vs. 91):

Read most ever (136 vs. 135):


Note, I finished the Wager book, but I wasn't able to keep track of the times/pages read.

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 290
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 63
Time spent: 138 minutes
Rating: 4.55
Recommend?: Yes (but only after the five Sunny Randall books have been read, and the five previous Jesse Stone books have been read; no need to have read any of the Spenser books, though there are sometimes common villains/friends/lovers that turn up from the Spenser books)

Case solved. Parker has lead me to the conclusion that it is much better to have never loved (the deep “true” love) than to have loved and lost. All his main characters, Spenser (and Susan), Jesse Stone (and Jenn), Sunny Randall (and Richie) are mixed up in relationships that involve deep love, but also an inability to stay together or to sever the connection. Why not separate? Because they love too deeply. Why are they apart? I haven’t a bloody clue.

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 217
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 49
Time spent: 91 minutes

Some motives found. “Stalker” found. Both stalker and Jenn deny connection, despite photographic evidence to the contrary. Many of the people that are suspects in the Weeks murder case are found to have either lied or withheld evidence. As mentioned several motives found: 1) Weeks was going to divorce current Mrs. Weeks. Current Mrs. Weeks, Lorrie, “dating” the man who will replace Weeks on Weeks Enterprises (Alan Hendricks). Lorrie set to inherit Weeks Enterprises and 30 million. Hendricks a small amount of money. All the rest of the ex-wives are set to inherit $11,000. If the divorce went through, Lorrie would likely fall back to just inheriting $11,000 (plus whatever she got in the divorce).

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 185
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 41
Time spent: 76 minutes

I’m still reading the Wager book, but I gained access to this Parker book, and I wanted to read it immediately.

Walton Weeks & female friend (Carla(y?)? Lombardi? (Only part of her name I’m sure about is that her last name, at birth, was Young - the L last name is her married (and then divorced) name) are found murdered in Paradise Mass. Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on the case. Weeks found hanging from a tree, but quick check reveals that he didn’t die by that method (shot three times, any of the three shots would have killed him - loss of blood). Weeks female friend, personal assistant and current lover, is found later in a dumpster beyond Daisy Dykes (she is proud of her name) restaurant. She is also found to have been shot three times, by the same gun that shot Weeks, and also that she was 10 weeks pregnant with Weeks child. Later find out they bought a house together in Paradise. Walton Weeks is a Nationally known TV personalty, newspaper columnist and radio personalty. Note: Weeks, 50ish, has wanted a kid for a long time, but has never been able to get one, before he impregnated Ms. Young. Also: Weeks noted to his doctor that he really loves Ms. Young, never loved any of the other women (Weeks has had many wives and causal affairs).

Jesse Stone & Jenn Stone: were married, Jenn tried to “sleep her way” into an actress career (didn’t work), and Jesse found out. He had already had a drinking problem, but it got worse. He noted that he could forgive her once. She didn’t stop. He divorced her. Drinking problem deepened. Kicked off of the LA (LA?) Police force, had been a homicide detective at some point. Acquired a job as Police Chief in Paradise Mass. Trying to get drinking problem under control. Jenn, eventually, followed him out to Boston, Mass. (Paradise is a suburb, or at least close enough to be considered a suburb of Boston). Jenn got a job as a weather girl. Just recently (this book) moved over to “serious” reporter status. This book is the sixth book in the Jesse Stone series. He has also appeared in the Sunny Randall series. Despite their problems, Jesse and Jenn really love each other and can’t completely break away from each other.

Sunny Randall & Richie: were married, Sunny was a little leery of Richie’s mob connections (family in the mob, Richie would help his family, but is not directly connected to the mob), and “pressure” of Richie’s strong solid personality. They divorced. Similar situation with Jesse & Jenn, though Richie has remarried. Sunny Randall is a private investigator in Boston. Has her own series of books (5 so far; Susan, from the Spenser series, has appeared in Sunny Randall’s book series).

Sunny Randall & Jesse Stone: Meet, fell in love in Sunny Randall’s most recent book (Blue Screen). Both are tied to other people, and both know this fact.

Jenn Stone & Sunny Randall: Beginning of the book, Jenn calls Jesse and tells him to come immediately. He races over. She tells him she had been raped and wants Jesse’s help. Jesse can’t be bodyguard, hunter (of rapist), and police chief. Gets Sunny (who had come up recently to visit Jesse), to protect Jenn and hunt the rapist. Sunny gets Spike to also help.

Spike: Giant, aggressive, macho gay friend of Sunny’s.

Rosie: Richie and Sunny’s dog.

Suitcase Simpson: Police officer in Paradise.

Molly Crane: Police officer in Paradise.

Daisy Dyke: Restaurant owner in Paradise.

Lorrie Weeks, Stephanie Weeks: Lorrie is current wife, Stephanie ex-wife of Walton. There is a third one, the first ex-Mrs. Weeks, but I’ve forgotten her name. She has remarried and has been in Italy for the last 5 years.

Note: Book jacket says something about the “tender age” of the dead woman. The woman was 30.

Title: Sledgehammer
Author: Walter Wager
ISBN: 0812510380
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Forge
Pages: 278
Pages: On: 12
Chapters: 27
Chapter On: 4
Time spent: 15 minutes

Old military group reunites after one member is killed in an explosion.

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 223
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 42
Time spent: 182 minutes

Interesting book. One plot twist I didn’t expect, and many plot twists that I saw a mile away.

1.2 pages per minute. 182 minutes. 223 pages.
Recommend?: Maybe
Rating: 4.22

Cover/title: Mixture of the title and cover gives a very wrong impression. Mixture of a small segment written on the back and cover gave impression lead character was the woman on the cover. It was flat wrong.

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 209
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 41
Time spent: 162 minutes

Joe, Adam, and Tina capture Cooper.

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 193
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 27
Time spent: 146 minutes

Joe released after Tina gives him an alibi for the night Ruth died (Tina’s real name is Ruth, oddly enough - Tina promised 10,000 by Cooper). Then witnesses come forward noting they saw Joe outside when he was supposed to be with Tina. Joe’s lawyer advises Joe to run. Lawyer hides Joe. Apparently the last place anyone would look for Joe is in the lawyer’s office. Adam gives Joe Gem’s diary, and Joe learns why Gem had been depressed, and why she had to get away. Cooper breaks Tina’s nose and informs her that he won’t pay her. Etc.

Note: I’m intentionally trying to include less information than I did with Lasko Tangent, to keep from giving too much away. Not that I appear to be succeeding as well as I should.

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 66
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 12
Time spent: 66 minutes

Ruth Hope (nee Simpson).

Joe beaten by the cops when he arrives and is arrested in the island retreat of Adam Wright (who, oddly enough, is Ruth’s cousin, maybe they were not boyfriend/girlfriend).

While lying on a cot in the police station, before questioning, Joe imagines himself killing Ruth why she takes a bath. Did he kill her in that drunk, sleep deprived time last night?

Joe is questioned by Constable McGiven and Monkman. They ask why he killed Ruth. He replies because Ruth didn’t iron his shirts. Then ask if he killed Ruth. He says he didn’t. Makes his one call, calls Cooper. Cooper immediately asks Joe why he did it. For some reason, Wright, Cooper, and the police believe Joe killed Ruth.

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 51
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 9
Time spent: 53 minutes

Joe Hope, after visiting a hooker and his boss’s place, heads to the island where Gem (his daughter “killed herself”). Taken into custody when he arrives at Adam Wright’s place (Gem’s boyfriend) for the murder of Gem and Ruth (Joe’s wife). Joe is naturally confused.

Language (profanity): Lot’s of cursing.
Language (Scottish slang, etc.): I have not yet read anything that I do not understand, except for what the Taxi-driver said on the island.
Violence: Joe beats up Billy, runs over pedestrian, though seems to have some desire to control his violent tenancies. Cooper seems to like to use his baseball bat also. Tina beats a pedistrian with Joe’s baseball bat.
Causal Sex: “Off screen”(mentioned, but not graphically described).

Characters:
Joe Hope: Loan Shark enforcer
Cooper: Loan Shark - friend of Joe’s and Joe’s boss
Park: Killer for Cooper

Ruth Hope: Joe’s wife, now seemingly dead
Gemma Hope: Joe’s daughter, dead

Sally: Cooper’s girlfriend and mother of Cooper’s child

Adam Wright: Gem’s boyfriend and a writer with a “Writer’s Retreat” in the islands off coast of Scotland

DC Monkman: cop arrests Joe

Billy Stratham: Loanee late on his payments - Joe and Cooper visited Billy at the beginning of the book.

Tina: Joe’s hooker/streetwalker (as opposed to Anglina, I think that’s her name, brothel worker)

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 20
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 3

Started another new author this icy morning. My first Scottish Crime novel.
So Far: Joe Hope is an enforcer for a loan shark. Just beat up a guy. Same night, daughter dies from pills. Didn’t learn about it until morning. Plans to go after the guy who promised that she would be ok.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 202
Time spent reading (so far): 337 minutes.

Book completed. Capitalism + Freedom good. Government intervention bad. Many of the “Great Reforms” backfired.

The major flaw of the book, if it can be called a flaw, is that it is filled with information and examples of a world that no longer exists. Good and all, I suppose, but more if the historical nature of the examples is noted. The book was released with new prefaces in 1982 and 2002. At least one section looks like it might have been updated, but most still relie on out-dated information.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 176
Time spent reading (so far): 322 minutes.

Tax: There should be a new tax system. Flat rate (23.5%) on ALL income above a certain level. ALL Income = broader definition of income (stock/capital/salary/inheritance/etc.). Corporate Tax eliminated (at least for corporation). All income for that year pushed down to stock holders - Dividends (included on stock holders tax returns as income) AND per share percentage of retained earnings (i.e, corporation gives out $5 dollars per share (dividend), and retains $50 dollars per share (retained earnings) - reported to stock holder, stock holder puts on tax return $55 per share as income, though only has $5 per share in actual money).

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 165
Time spent reading (so far): 287 minutes.

Current licensing arrangements retards development and limits market.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 153
Time spent reading (so far): 272 minutes.

Registration, Certification, and License of Professions (like barbers, etc.). Some arguments for Registration, and Certification, but case by case basis and a lot of negatives involved. No justifiable reason for requirement of license. All arguments for requirement of license answered by certification.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 105
Time spent reading (so far): 202 minutes.

More about Education and Government. This part about Higher Education. Government has almost no legitmate "Neighborhood Effects" reason to be involved, except for loans to students, as students underinvested in (loan-wise). Though need to be careful.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 95
Time spent reading (so far): 162 minutes.

Due to “Neighborhood Effects”, government has a duty to fund a bare minimum of education (amount of funds up to debate). But, the government does not have a place in running schools.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 85
Time spent reading (so far): 146 minutes.

Interesting discussion on whether to have a gold standard and effect on free enterprise, etc. Then very long section on how current gold situation and fixed monetary exchange rates adversely effecting the economy. Less interesting as that is not the world we currently live in.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 50
Time spent reading (so far): 101 minutes.

Federal Reserve made the Great Depression worse. Federal Reserve, and central banks are evil.

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 37
Time spent reading (so far): 86 minutes.

Interesting: Government: Provide rules and a framework for free enterprise. Only in the most extreme cases should it operate a public monopoly. Private monopoly more acceptable, as long as free entry of competitors is not barred. Over time, technological changes will chip away at the private monopoly, and allow the segment of industry monopolized to become open to full free competition. Harder to change or remove the monopoly if it is a public/government monopoly. The interesting part comes in the part about Government’s provide rules and framework but Friedman is against certain regulation, like regulating the banking industry (I could very well be confused).

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 17
Time spent reading (so far): 45 minutes.

Something about the historical record, and times when capitalism existed in a politically illiberal system. Then something about how the individual cannot truely be free in a Soalist system because of central planning, and limitations placed on work and free time.

- Note: Toomey book mentioned in earlier posts: Finished same day as finished Lasko Tangent (2/6/07).

- Wednesday: Catch up, somewhat, with magazines.

- Thursday: Start Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Friedman”

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 10 (which does not include the three prefaces, read, and introduction, read)
Time spent reading (so far): 30 minutes.

So far: Deep believe that you can mix and match Economic systems and Political systems, but Friedman notes that for Economic Freedom (Competitive Capitalism) you need Political Freedom (Democracy, limited government), and for Political Freedom, you need Economic Freedom.

Book Finished.

Great novel for a first novel, though there were some problems with “getting into the scene” - providing enough information so that the reader could get into some of the scences.

Overall rating: 4.39.
Recommend?: Yes
Read next book by author?: Yes

Recap:
Time spent reading: 220 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes)
Pages: 255

Last Entry: on Page 217
Now on: Page 234 (17 pages read in 16 minutes)
Total pages: 255

Just 20 pages left.

Aftermath of crash on Boston highway. Paget checks out other car. Both dead. Martinson is alive, but heavily damaged (forehead had a bullet glance off it, jaw out of alignment, basically damaged). Mention made of ribs crushed, don’t recall if mention of breakage, but Paget doesn’t seem physically harmed from the crash, despite immediate believe he had cracked his ribs. Only emotional damage.

Cops arrive. Take Martinson to hospital. One of the cops is the Boston homicide lieutenant who is investigating the Lehman hit and run. Now believes Lehman murdered. Pulls Lasko in for questions, but can’t hold him. Hospital doesn’t know if Martinson will wake up, and if so, if he will have brain damage.

Paget visited asylum without authority. News will not reach his ECC bosses until evening/afternoon paper. Heads to Miami to place gave loan to Green?, the fellow who manipulated the Lasko Devices stock under orders of Lasko. First Seminole Bank of Miami. President and counsel wary of cooperating without subpoena. Then learn of deaths, and that Lasko tried to kill Paget (Paget shows them a paper he picked up at the airport - he leaves Boston on a plane at 2:30 am (or thereabout) and arrives at 2:30 pm (exactly), so the story is now in the afternoon papers - 12 hour plane trip - Boston to Miami?; just fixed “turned” to “tried” at beginning of sentence, how many mistakes am I letting through?). Bank shows Paget box 95 (95 in memo found in Lehman’s house). Lehman’s picture on sig. card. Head across street to bank across street (as memo suggests). Talk to that bank’s management (don’t recall bank name). Lehman on sig card, so is Lasko’s attorney. Paget notes that he believes 1.5 million dollars is in the box in that bank. Box opened. 1.5 million found. Paget tells them to secure the money, it’s evidence. Paget leaves. I stop reading for now.

Economic Crimes Commission (ECC)

Let’s see, since last time:
Now on page: 217

Dead: 3 (Lehman, plus 2 “bad guys”)
Places visited: Boston; Washington, D.C.; St. Maartins in Virgin Islands; Old town Alexandria (Virginia)

Paget learned that Lasko acquired a company in St. Maartins and he can’t figure out why Lasko would do something so financially stupid. So he goes to St. Maartins (reminder, immediate bosses name is Feiner not Finder).

Goes by himself. Visits police first. They take him to the Carib Imports company Lasko bought. Man in charge, Martinson?, whom Paget wanted to visit gone (“stress”). Man left in charge very stingy on information. Building is a dumpy warehouse. Paget steals some chips out of box in warehouse. Visits wife Martinson’s (? Not sure on name) wife (after phone call, etc.). Tracy, the wife, is very worried and doesn’t know exactly where husband is now. Paget gets her to say that he said that he would be safe in Boston. Paget promises to find and protect Martinson.

Paget returns to Washington DC. Visits ex-girlfriend’s rich father (engineer) and gets him to compare the chips with some Japanese chips. Odd somewhat unexplained situation. Father seems to really like Paget, even if he isn’t connected with the daughter anymore (they, Paget and daughter, were together in Boston for a while, living together, argument, Paget kicked her out).

Recall witness had in earlier. Get him to confess to stock manipulation (Lasko contacted him, gave him money, told him to buy stock when and how much). Higher ups, Woods and McGuire, use this to close out the case (after Lasko makes a deal: promises to not do whatever they said he did again, though he will not admit he did it in the first place). Paget annoyed. Gets them to allow him to talk to police in Boston investigating Lehman death. Really wants to go to Boston to look for Martinson, who he believes is in an asylum Lasko invests in.

Paget and Mary hook up again. Listen to music. Paget offers Mary some marijuana/dope. She accepts without question. Odd. Very causal about everything, drugs, sex, etc. I don’t think Paget even likes Mary Carnelli?, and I don’t think she actually likes Paget. Or they do. Part of the problem, this is a first book.

Cons: Causal sex/drug use. First book - some of the scenes are a little too shallow. Sometimes hard to tell where the people are, what they are doing, etc.

Paget goes to Boston. Talks to police. They are not particularly receptive. Paget takes it upon himself to go to the insane asylum. Finds Martinson. Gets him out. Drives back to Boston. Car follows, shots fired. Other car crashed. Scene not written that greatly.

Oh, and I started Jim Toomey's Sherman's Lagoon "Planet of the Hairless Beach Apes". Started it so had something to read during commericals. Not bad. Read about half, I think.

Second Entry: Another 15 minutes

- Chris Paget works for the ECC (which I already knew but didn’t report before).

- Night after Lehman’s death, Chris and Mary “hook-up”. Relationship moves from outright hostility on the part of Mary to lovy-dovy. Voice calls in the night (over the phone) and notes that Chris needs to be careful or he will end up like Lehman.

- Paget considers who it might have been who tipped off the murderer about where Lehman was going to be.

- Paget, Robinson (colleague of Paget’s at ECC), Lasko and Caitlow (Lasko’s attorney, the fellow Paget saw McGuire having lunch with earlier) meet at ECC. Lasko is fishing, trying to find out what Paget knows. Paget wants none of it. Angers Lasko and Caitlow, they threaten him, then leave.

- 12 pages read - 15 minutes. Disappointed. Not a race, but expect better.

Author: Richard North Patterson
Book: The Lasko Tangent
Date: 1979
Note: Patterson’s first novel
Series: ?
Genre: Legal Thriller
Set: Washington DC, Boston

Started: 2/05/07
Currently on page: 91
Time spent reading: 1 hour 33 minutes

Interesting book about a USA government lawyer assigned a politically tinged case about Lasko Devices (and specifically about William Lasko, who is connected to the current USA President (unnamed, Jimmy Carter USA President at time, but no indication yet if USA President in book is supposed to be Carter).

Paget’s (main character) boss received a tip that there might be something funny going on with Lasko Devices stock. Paget’s boss (something like McGuire; Paget’s boss is actually Finder, who is under McGwire; Finder is depicted as a placeholder hoping to keep out of trouble, McGuire wants to become Commissioner McGuire) assigns Paget. Has to keep Chairman Woods and the Commissioners in the loop. Must keep Mary C . . . up to date (works for Chairman Woods).

Christopher Paget - 29, apparently of rich background; now cynical after three years working for Government. Reporter for two years between college and law school. Has a friend who is a reporter from his reporting days.
McGuire - from a poor background.
Mary C - “Indian cheekbones” “Aztec fierceness lingering on her face”

Lehman - Controller at Lasko Devices - panic when sees subpoena, wants to “come clean”; Paget goes to Boston to meet Lehman. They talk at the Ritz. Lehman has something “big” in a “memo” but doesn’t want to talk about it there. Meet later that night after dinner. Paget and Gruber (Paget’s colleague of the opposite side (defensive attorney for people/companies Paget’s agency goes after) watch as Lehman is run over by a Caddy why Lehman trying to cross the street from the Ritz to Boston Common. Dead at scene.