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Missive #98 Published 18 July 2023

Everyone wants to know where the society in which they live is going, but answers are elusive. Turchin, an academic working in the emerging field of complexity science, believes he has found a path forward with a discipline called cliodynamics, which melds statistical analysis, social trend data, and historical comparisons to create a sophisticated model. He has written several books using cliodynamics, including Ultrasociety and Ages of Discord, and here, he aims to understand the current situation in the U.S, which he sees as sliding toward social and political disintegration.

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Missive #97 Published 16 July 2023

I saw my first bull elk yesterday morning. There may have been another one in all the herds that I have seen but I didn't see any with antlers until the one yesterday. He looked to be a young bull and had a couple of cows with him; perhaps the start of his harem. He will have to fight to keep them and from his size I don't give him much chance against a fully mature bull.

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Missive #96 Published 14 July 2023

This book is 1049 pages in its printed hardbound format. It would probably only be a third of that if all the quoted material were removed; there are over 3,380 footnotes to cite the sources. A massive amount of data but light on an explanation about what it all means. I'll probably read Volume 2, but not soon, and hope that it is not as data heavy.

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Missive #95 Published 12 July 2023

I think this was the best of the three books in the trilogy. Sad that it has concluded. Also sad that Cormac McCarthy died on 13 June 2023 so he will write no more. There are more of his books that he did write that I have yet to read so that is good.

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Missive #94 Published 9 July 2023

I chose to read this book to get a better idea of what Phillip K Dick's early sci-fi writing was like. I'll finish reading the trilogy that I've started but was not sure about reading anything else. I suggest that you read this book before trying to read any of his works. He was a 'sick puppy' after 2-3-74.
I also suggest that you read Philip K. Dick's Divine, Amphetamine-Fueled Madness

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Missive #93 Published 7 July 2023

We have been here for a month now and settled into a routine. Reading, two walks each day and one breakfast a week at Ella's. As I write this it sure seems to be a dull way to live but Erik and I both like a routine. I don't know if I have got him into one or if he has imposed his on me.

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Missive #92 Published 2 July 2023

This is an interesting book but nothing like what Severin's earlier books were. His first adventure books were about him participating in recreating historical adventures. This book is about other adventurers with him playing no part.

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Missive #91 Published 30 June 2023

Nothing much happening here. I went to Reserve again yesterday and had breakfast at Ella's again. Then did some shopping at Jake's and back to the Park.
I am doing the month end house cleaning while trying to stay cool. We have had HOT days here, not as hot as much of the country but it has been hot for here. Since 20 June the high temperatures have been 90°F and above with it reaching 98 on the 26th. Not much chance of it cooling down much during the next 10 days if the forecast is correct. Maybe when the monsoon rolls in?

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Missive #90 Published 25 June 2023

I find it very ironic that Will Durant in The Story of Civilization Volume I: Our Oriental Heritage said "Most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice." He then went on to publish 11 volumes of The Story over a 40 year period from 1935 to 1975. I have started reading Our Oriental Heritage which is 1681 pages in print so I'll be reading it for a few days to say the least.

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Missive #89 Published 23 June 2023

This is the second book in the Nantucket trilogy. Much like Turtledoves mixture of sci-fi and alternate history; a very good read.

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