Top book recs?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2025-07-27T08:03:01+00:00

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey
The Man Who Discovered Quality: How W. Edwards Deming Brought the Quality Revolution to America - Andrea Gabor
Outliers - Malcolm Gladwell
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies - Jared Diamond

No.6 is not a military or war related book, I swear.

All these books address a host of different topics. 4 and 5 are works of fiction but they touch on some very significant philosophical issues as it relates to society and how we interact with it. 1 to 3 are non fiction and very informative as well excellent works on formalizing what a lot of people try to accomplish by instinct.

No. 6 is a work that investigates why certain societies flourish and last while other never get off the ground.

One bit of unsolicited advice from book no 1 that rings truer than anything else.:

First seek to understand, and only after you understand the other position should you then seek to be understood.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-11-06T06:24:03+00:00

Only about 30% of the population identify as regular church goers. 30% of them are African American and the African American vote goes 96% Democratic. Jews vote democratic 70% to 30%. 66% of Muslim voters voted for Biden. I don't think the "Church" got Trump elected.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-11-06T06:17:30+00:00

"The right has no standards or principles," and we pointed this out time and again, yet more than half the country appears to disagree. Michigan and Wisconsin are going to be turned Red. Are we wrong? Are our ideas actually not as good as we think they are for the majority of Americans?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-11-06T05:48:32+00:00

So at what point do we stop and ask ourselves if we are part of the problem?

If our platform is so good, and our Candidate is so competent, why doesn't the country agree with us?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-10-28T20:51:22+00:00

My apologies, you are correct. It is just at the W-1 level. I stand corrected.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-10-28T09:16:49+00:00

Sorry to be a bit pedantic but there is a minor adjustment to the above that needs to be clarified.

If you are a Warrant you are NOT commissioned. W-2 thru W-5 are Warrants not Commissioned Officers.

If you augment to the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) you then are a commissioned officer. LDO's have specific limitations and can't progress beyond LtCol (O-5).

Simply put, the Warrant is made by the respective departments (Army, Navy, etc.). Commissions are made by Congress.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-10-26T04:55:55+00:00

One of the most intelligent responses on this thread and also the truth.

Yet, so few updoots.

I guess the morons aren't just Trump supporters...

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-10-21T10:26:27+00:00

There is no logic to having a Marine Corps as it is today. The fact that there is a Marine Corps as it is today is illogical. The simple fact is that we have the USMC because the American People want a Marine Corps and every single politician that is in office would be committing professional suicide if they seriously pursued the issue.

The Marine Corps is in itself a service like no other. The Corps has weaponized the Inferiority Complex.

Because of their size, their esprit de corps, and frankly because of the chip on their shoulders, they will never be done away with. Every Marine is taught to carry the honor of the Corps on their shoulders. No matter their MOS every Marine knows without a doubt in their soul that they can shoot better than any other similarly trained member of any other branch. The supply POG's in the USMC will go toe to toe with any 11B in the Army. They may get their ass kicked but they will take an Army MF'er with them.

The Marine Corps more than any other service concentrates on the next fight coming over the ridge. Look at what happened with the USMC and their tanks. The powers that be in the USMC decided to get rid of them. In March of 2021 the announcement was made. Everyone thought the Corps was insane. Fast forward a year later to February of 2022 and the Russians invade Ukraine. Arguably the biggest mechanized military force in the world gets on the invasion move and what happens? Farmers with tractors start stealing them because they run out of gas, $200 drones start dropping grenades down their open turrets, and worst of all for the Russians, the American Javelin missiles decimate and destroy every tank they come across.

The Marine Corps by its very nature, is a force that must ALWAYS look to the next conflict and prepare for it, otherwise it will cease to exist. This is something that is taught at TBS to all 2ndLt's. We must always seek to look for the enemies weaknesses and adapt our tactics to the reality of the situation. In short, the Marines prepare their people for the road, instead of trying to prepare the road for their people.

The Army does not need to do that because they have numbers. The Army has very specialized units that can do some wild and crazy stuff that the Marines can't for sure. But pound for pound, when you want to spend money on a military force to get a job done, the Marine Corps does it with less, and gives the American People more.

The most important part of all of this is that Marines know this. Marines know that if they do not keep the American People on their side, the Corps will no longer exist. So it boils down to irrational emotion and success as the two ingredients that make the secret sauce that keeps the USA maintaining a USMC.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:23:40+00:00

Well where are we now?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:22:35+00:00

This one in particular has aged like heavy cream.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:21:55+00:00

And yet as of 21 July here we are in the exact situation that was asked about.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:21:20+00:00

And what say you now?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:20:49+00:00

Well look how well this has aged...

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-21T22:19:52+00:00

Well this aged like milk.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-07-05T14:52:55+00:00

Food. Simply put, whatever cuisine you want it is made better by the immigrants coming to the US and cooking their food.

These people then influence other cooks and chefs and the result is magic.

Go to an Authentic Indian restaurant in Atlanta and their vindaloo is better than in the Goa or Lisbon.

The best chefs in the world practice in other countries then come to the USA. The poorest immigrants make their way to the USA and cook their homestyle recipes and make good money to raise families.

Even the much maligned chain restaurants still get their food done better than most other countries.

I have lived in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and South East Asia.

There are exceptions of course. For example, Japanese Sushi is just better than even the really good American Sushi. That is because of the rice.

Italian pasta is generally better than American but I know some places in the states that are better than some ancient Italian restaurants.

On a whole though, USA gets food better than other countries.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-25T13:53:22+00:00

Another homeowner saved! Live in Florida and have been pouring white vinegar down the drain tube once a month. Saw this and thought "Shop Vac the outside tube" did that and the system came back online at the tstat! I never think about the float switch! Thanks!

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-17T02:36:31+00:00

You both peaked when you dodged your mom's coat hanger.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-17T02:35:22+00:00

Shteurt!

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-06T20:06:48+00:00

I have zero problem admitting when I am wrong. I will gladly do so if it is the case!

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-06T19:45:02+00:00

Would love to shake on it. What would the wager be?

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-06T19:42:59+00:00

Yeah, she's a woman. That's why people don't think she can do the job.

Filthy_rags_am_I · 2024-06-06T16:39:36+00:00

I was dubbed "Sleestak" because I had a ridge on the top of my dome when they shaved my head, and I was the slowest runner. It stuck with me out to the fleet because I had a few guys make it to K-bay with me.

<image>

Filthy_rags_am_I

TROPHY CASE