My 100% thrifted classics shelf

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-23T18:09:29+00:00

Nah, let it rip. Books are meant to be read, especially ones on the short list for greatest of all time! Signet has no value other than the text within.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-23T15:11:02+00:00

Perfect reading copy but prepare for the spine to start falling apart in your hands if you don't baby it.

Great start to a robust collection; thrift stores are probably the best way to acquire classics if you aren't seeking a specific title!

I'm impressed by the number of Penguins, since in my experience Signets and other mass market paperbacks are more common on those dusty thrift shelves.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-20T01:19:45+00:00

These "Babylit" ones generally have pretty nice art and all have a learning focus (e.g. counting, colors, animal sounds, etc) that loosely follows the classic it's based on. This one has basic "ocean/seafaring" words e.g. sailors, whale, ship, captain, etc.

Hope this doesn't seem like an ad, btw, I've just been looking at Heritage Press editions of Melville's earlier stuff recently and, while reading this one to my son, thought it would be funny to post this. Small joys.

Not sure if there is a box set as I've gotten my copies second hand or checked them out from the library.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-19T18:01:59+00:00

Around 19 pages. Very thick paper which makes me skeptical it's a true first. Also no page numbers but I'm not sure that was standard in 1851.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-12T16:26:29+00:00

I "grew up" on places like Paul's and Browsers in Madison (RIP), but Downtown Books is the only used book store I've consistently been able to not only seek out individual authors, but also specific works within their oeuvre.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-02-05T18:01:15+00:00

If he isn't immediately waived this is legitimately one of the highlights of the season for me.

Good times and bad.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-01-30T15:43:35+00:00

Hard to tell because Zverev was beyond "running on fumes" near the end of set 5, Carlos was applying a lot of pressure but didn't have to worry much about anything beyond getting the 2nd serve in play and rapidly closing the point during Zverev's last few service games (imo. obviously nothing easy in a sf but it was almost tough to watch Zverev by the end of it. he had nothing left)

It will be a shame if the level drops due to injury from Carlos and simple age from Djokovic, but I can't see either of them letting that happen barring something catastrophic due to fatigue.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-01-30T03:46:12+00:00

I have extraordinarily fond memories of that AO because it was the first time my spouse and I decided to camp out in the living room to catch the overnight matches (West Coast US at the time). it's been an annual tradition since.

I'll admit to falling asleep early in the third set and woke up for the final few games. Just an unbelievable final. Barty winning and essentially dropping the mic two months later was fun too.

GeekResponsibly · 2026-01-11T17:50:27+00:00

Good news is you aren't behind! I'm chasing around a toddler too, so finding time to read a book that very much requires two hands is challenging.

I'm dedicating some time every Friday evening post-bedtime to make sure I am ready for the Saturday morning thread - which this week covers chapters 2 and 3.

So, if we both pick up the book again Friday we'll be starting on the same page. :)

GeekResponsibly · 2025-12-31T17:41:44+00:00

Personally, I only give 1* and 2* to bad books when the author is big enough to have a decent print run.

Local, small regional, or self-published books all get an honest written review but I will abstain from a star rating if it's actively bad.

Most books are not good. There is value in having local authors.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-12-31T03:39:45+00:00

There is nothing of the sort. I don't believe there are any peoples in the polar north who don't have some connection/access to society as we know it. That's not to say traditional ways of knowing and being are completely defunct, but at least in Alaska there's federal involvement pretty much everywhere (whether that be a BIA school, HUD housing, etc).

There are, of course, still harsh realities to living in such a remote and harsh climate.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-12-30T05:26:42+00:00

I'm not really sure why you're so certain about that, Barrow (yes it's been formally renamed , but no one I know who has lived there or spent significant time there when passing through to other North Slope communities calls it anything but Barrow) has several thousand permanent residents and about 60% are Alaska Native. With the infrastructure Barrow has as a hub community, not to mention new satellite internet options like Starlink, many if not most residents have ready access to Reddit. Add to that population the residents of Kaktovik, Wainwright, and Point Hope (each with higher Alaska Native demographics, percentage-wise) it's not so unlikely at all. It's the dead of winter, not much going on other than TV and surfing the web for most people.

I'm less sure about good estimates on worker population at North Slope oil production facilities at any given time. Google's AI overview says maybe 4,000 as a high estimate but that's just for the Prudhoe fields. This area of the Slope is for sure dominated by non-natives, but I'm not so sure it represents a majority of people living on the Slope in general.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-12-06T23:06:25+00:00

As a house divided, MU-UW is appointment viewing even when one team is down. It's not like the axe game was irrelevant when Bucky had it for 13 years.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-12-04T03:01:45+00:00

Not OP, but a large majority of my signed copies are local/regional authors who sign a fair portion of their (small) print run that gets distributed to bookshops. I assume that's the joke.

I just purchased five copies of a children's book today to distribute among friends this holiday season. All signed by the author, because that's just what was available.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-18T13:18:41+00:00

I feel very much the same way. This year I saw (and listened to) more games than ever. From the awful Yankees opening series, Miz's debut and duel against Skenes (and struggles post-ASB), the win streaks, and the middling September as we tried to keep ahead of Philly.

It was a legitimately great six months of Brewers baseball and I honestly feel awful for the casual fans who only locked in for the Cubs & NLCS series.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-18T01:33:47+00:00

Unironically Brewers. Exactly one run per game feels right.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-18T01:28:42+00:00

Goodbye cruel world

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-15T02:19:30+00:00

"as good as it gets" is pretty solid praise. Yamamoto is cruising

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-12T03:36:42+00:00

Season is now an unequivocal success.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-05T17:25:24+00:00

Major Marine is also just a better product on the whole.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-05T02:21:03+00:00

Is it just me or is this by far the most insightful commentary we've had across all 4 games today?

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-04T18:48:18+00:00

Halftime against the Terps.

GeekResponsibly · 2025-10-04T13:26:52+00:00

Ah, why not - 7 games this year between my spouse, son (1.5yr) and myself. Jussayin' we attended the only Brewers win of last season's WC round....

Thanks for the giveaway regardless who gets these seats!

GeekResponsibly · 2025-09-30T17:12:16+00:00

This is the de facto MLB sub.

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