Disposable Books

By now, I expect you know the drill: a few minutes with a book, recording my observations... rooted in perception (and whatever moves my mind) not reality.

Oh, and I've decided anything that I consider mine (and has been in my possession for more than a few hours), I will denote with a Personal Stacks (or some derivation), as the first comment.

Mommies Dearest
A True Story
Christina Crawford

1978.

Personal Stacks.

Clearly, I've already changed the structure of my notation.
- The publication date is now the first entry.

The date is important.

As a child, I thought the book was from the 30s.

Getting work.

Just starting out.

I liked Summer Camp.

It was fun.

Brentwood, CA?

I've been there.

Mother was weird.
I so much do not care.
Not one red cent.

As everyone should expect.

I really cannot tell you how deeply anger and hate cut.

You think there is peace?

Illinois Library Laws & Rules
In Effect January, 2016

2006.

Personal Stacks.

{The discrepancy in the above dates may well be a mistake, zero and one being so close together on the keyboard. And no longer having the book in my possession, I cannot check. Thus, along with everything else, mistakes abound. This is not a professional endeavour, after all.}

A solid half-inch thick.

Way too many regulations.

Very controlling.

Taxes.

Meetings.

Everything.

The right to know.

Some things.

School Lunch Programs come into play.

As do Community Technology Center Grants.

A Stack Pass sounds...

Um, very geeky.

The non-resident fee is very high.
In-between Executors and Inspectors lay Indigent Persons.

Another way to think of these quickie reviews (Fast Fifteen, The Magazine Project, and so on) is as riddles that can't possibly be solved. What caused me to make this note? What line in the book? What word? What paragraph? What chapter? A problem made all the more complex by the musings (call it the drift) of my mind. It really is a You Can't Win situation. It is likely a game that only computers will ever play.

Dungeons & Dragons
Art & Arcana
A Visual History

2018.

Library Book.

I did not sit down with this book intending to make any notes.

I think I fell deeper into it because of that.

I made some Block Drawings, instead.

The story (the history) has gone past the point where I was involved in the hobby.

And as such, I care less.

Also, the book just bit me...

A small paper cut.

As to the rest...

All the changes and accessories highlight how boring the game was.

Of course, it gave meaning.

With note taking projects like this having taken the game's place.

I continue to want a RPG game based project.

I'm sure I'll use the Slaughter Quest System.

After all, I believe I own the copyright on that.

I'll use my Block Drawing App for any dungeons.

Civil Procedure
25 Holt/Landmark Law Summaries
Analysis and Explanation

1970.

From my stacks.

Which are dwindling rapidly.

The current purge having been going on for over a month, now.

Silly qualifications.

The book is not a lawyer.

Written arguments followed by verbal ones.
Only the facts, ma'am.
It's debate.

Respond to everything.

I feel my pulse quicken.

It's good to know.

But it is preparing for battle.

And victory is far from certain.

At 100 pages of 12pt type loosely spaced, the book is not that long.

But all the Laws of the Land should be able to fit into it.

I do not believe in a Code of Laws.

Bur rather, a Code of Conduct.

Call it a Code of Man.

I just noticed that because the first line of my notes starts with 1970, my note app wants to start a list, with the next item being 1971. The flash (and then, deletion) has been bothering me.

{And now, in retrospect, I am even less certain that the 1971 below is correct, but it could be.}

Fundamentals of Illinois Civil Procedure
Alphonse Cerza

1971.

Private Stacks.

A court is more than just a judge.
I'm pulling information.

A good overview of The System.

Likely why The System is called The System.

It's a system.

I like the idea of Oath Helpers.

Collateral in Honour.

It's got good definitions.

This book is much better than the previous.

Chancery looks like a Civil Court.

The outcome is money.

Hence, the gaming nature of the legal system.

Yeah, I have no respect for how the game is played.

Magic the Gathering
Rise of the Gatewatch
A Visual History

2019.

Library.

It would appear, the trend is putting copyright information at the end.

I'm looking for Campaign Ideas.

Or better yet, ideas on how to conduct the campaign.

Making cards or graphics might be the way to go.

The game has gotten more complex.

And it would appear Heroes can Advance.

Whatever that means.

Get promoted.

Like Pokemon.

Not that I know Pokemon.

Fire Mage.

Magic of a lesser sort.

The faceless ones are the best.
I would want more than five Mana Types.

Call them Power Sources.

Or Disciplines.

I can see Melee as a Discipline.

She looks evil.

So, there you go.

I presume, Blood Magic would have cut too close to home.
I find him uninteresting.
Gads, a PC Elf.

I hate.

A clear counter to the card drainer.

Having a thousand card deck makes sense with this one.

I am inclined to like The Lion.
I think I own a Nicol Bolas card.

It is the one Magic card I still own.

I am better at text than drawing.

I wonder how I'd work The RPG Thing (whatever that means) and if Running Text (like how I make these notes) could be part of the methodology.

Things From The Flood
Simon Stalenhag

2016.

Library.

Well, I'd have grabbed it, anyway.

But the robot on the cover calls to the movie I just watched.

Mortal Engines.

Pictures and copy.

Copy and pictures.

The art is thin...

Quick watercolors.

Or flat color oil.

There are not enough ideas to carry it.

I am flipping quickly.

Though, I like the robot.

Refugee Robots!

Now, there's an idea!

More, please.

The next idea is unique enough.

But not for me.

There's goodwill left over from the robots.

But now, we are even.

His Girlfriend?

A Fan?

Kid Sister?

Hmm, how do I feel about that hand?

I suppose, having to ask is a good thing.

Let's round up.

The Pump Station is good.

Is that a Pump Station?

Whatever.

More like that one, please.

But then, I guess it's not sunny in Sweden very often.

Sunny In Sweden!

It'd make for a decent title.

The Electric State
Simon Stalenhag

2017.

Library.

The last was good enough, obviously.

More importantly, in quick review of some artsy books, this was as good as any.

Better.

Papa?
I question whether I believe in anthropomorphic robots.

Much less, bipedal ones.

I want sunny day images.

That said, Death by VR!

Slowly but surely the desire for a road trip grows.
The same low contrast style.

Bright colors make all the difference.

I want to see better than in real life.

Not worse.

So, if it were legal, this is the raw footage from which a story could be easily extracted.

Only tangentially concerning myself with the prepackaged word.

Welcome to the future of media.

But is he happy on the inside?
I feel my relationship to war is more accepting than most.

Not so much as an Evil.

As Inevitable.

It reminds me of The Pali.

Don't ask me why.

Rain clouds, maybe.

That's a nice juxtaposition.

Well done.

But without reading the text are we looking at Team Offense or Team Defense?

I'm going to guess Reactor Cores.

Powering the Machine.

Funny Stuff.

Also, I fear I was wrong.

I find myself smiling.
I assume it's all rooted in reality.

Illusion versus hallucination.

Also, I want to isolate it to one input, but it was likely several.

Industry, power lines, water towers, neon signs.

The rain streaked windshields are inspired.
Silos.

It's an interesting game.

So, meta upon meta.

What was he looking at that inspired him to draw what I am looking at that forms a catalyst (as I wish to avoid the word 'inspiration') for these comments.

Based on the birds, I say a pair of silos for this one.

And that's just clever.

Like a moth to a flame.

Am I too subversive when I say (all in all) it would make a good [Dream]?

Have I ever said this about anyone else's media before?

It still needs more light.

But color me a fan.

Insta Style
Tezza

2018.

Library.

Eliminate the sex appeal and does anything remain?

Before paging through, I had assumed it was a best of.

Well, it is.

But a best of one account rather than the best of the site.

An amateur model turned pro, I presume.
High fashion.

A fortune in clothes.

Walking the line.
She is the content.

Take her out of the picture and less than nothing remains.

The story is social media success.
It's not the road trip I want to take.
Opinions differ.
I'm not good at consistency.
The last twenty pages looks like it's got some good advice.

Agencies.

Sponsors.

That sort of stuff.

Behind the scenes mundanity.

What I'm interested in.

I want to call it Off-Brand Branding.

But I probably mean Gorilla Marketing.

An interesting default background might be the best insight.

So, like, the exact opposite of a Blue Screen.

And that's the brand in miniature.

Yeah, those last twenty pages were useful.
Not my niche.

Not a troll.

Not a fanboy.

Somewhere in-between.

Or fine, I'm more than a bit contemptuous of raising form over function as a form unto itself.

Does that make sense?

Or more to the point, no one is wearing designer clothes in the library.

Though, I really dig my high functioning shorts.

Gaslighting
Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD

2018.

Library.

I'll include your PhD.

And then, belittle you for doing so.

I tossed this book aside once already.

Gaslighting is the wrong term.

But I suppose, it's as good a placeholder as any.

Laugh.

That sometimes works.

It's a good flip book.

Ideas wherever I land.

So, it's thick.

Dense.

Sounds like a boss, to me.
And then, it is time to quit on the day.

Nothing against the book.

Bodily needs call.

I can see picking this up again, tomorrow.

If I can find it...

Second day.
I've been thinking about this.

Rather than Gaslighters, I think Big Meanies would be a more accurate title.

If less likely to sell books.

STD Testing in the resources?

They are Big Meanies.

And the comment flutters away.
Hey, am I Gaslighting this book?

Maybe, I should put it on a shelf, walk away, and see if it's there when I come back.

Oh, right.

Been there.

Done that.

Well, I have precious little emotional empathy.

To the point I don't take other's 'skill' in this seriously.

Managing emotions just seems like a smart thing to do.

Something anyone who could come close to gaining a handle on their emotions would try to do.

Basically, a giant listing of human faults does not a common portrait make.

It's either everyone or no one.

But there I go, belittling the author's work.

Which is hardly the case, as coming back for a second helping is high praise, indeed.

Now, where's that How To Chapter?

I actually use these books as guidance.

I mean, I think I am reasonably nice.

But the world is not.

So, heads up.

Still, Big Meanies rings truer to me.
Let's just be nice to each other, can't we?

Game On!

Rivers of London
Aaronovitch, Cartmel, Sullivan, Guerrero, & Vassileva

2018 or so.

Library find.

I have a stack of six comics.

Stacked worst cover to best.

I will be going through them quickly.

Cat.

Soup.

Fox.

Phone.

Posters.

Bookcase.

I was planning on just doing one worders.

But that bookcase is nice.

Cage.

Librarian.

Done.

The librarian pages (or whatever, like I've got time to read) are worthy of note, as well.
Fungicide.

Black shadow.

Pigs.

Seriously, check out those pigs.

Fireball.

Dream-scape.

Fall.

Oh, I like this party.

I'm going to slow up.

Guns.

Nice twist.

Well played.

Gun.

Tea.

Something tells me he did not know how to play that guitar.

Nearly naked.

And out.

The Gang's All Here.

Coffee.

Mask.

Art.

Seance.

Lady in a red dress.

Oh, hey.

A BBQ would be nice.

In Stone Relief.

Hunting.

Bath.

What a twist.

The background color really makes a difference for me.

Viva la resistance!

Does it need stating how fast I am flipping.

And the total superfluousness of any text.

I would be totally surprised if I were hitting the major plot points.

Still, some of the twists are revealed...

To be quite pleasing.

Devil Car.

Resting.

Very nice.

Meh.

Hippy Girl.

The old Positive Q Sign.

My hat is off to you.

I'm laughing at the tragedy.

Still, comics are not (always) my thing.

Dance of the Dead.

Almost done before I begin.

But I could live with more of those portraits.

Stupidity.

Losing interest.

Wait! What's this?

And that's what this flip through is all about.

Just a page.

A shame.

Maybe, I'm just getting old.

Nice ambiance.

Nicer.

Will I remember.

That sequence is interesting...

Creative.

I do not care.

Solid end.

Give me the first page and the last (on that last) on every page.

And, well...

Awesomeness.

A very pleasing non-read.

But I very much want more art and less comic.

Aliens
The Set Photography
Behind the Scenes of James Cameron's 1986 Masterpiece

2016.

Library.

But of course.

But does she die.

Um, I don't know much about the story.

Just that the other She dies.

But, presumably, not before laying a few eggs.

Not my first pick.
Not by a long shot.
I wonder what it's like spending your day working in a studio?
Am I supposed to be laughing?
Nice.
Suitably creepy.
Ha, the robot looks the most emotional.

Well, second most emotional.

Don't ask me why I selected this book.

I do not care about the monster.

Ouch!
It's a total studio shoot with not that many locations.

I wonder the cost?

In retrospect, I would have liked to spin The Alien as a Dragon, but it's too goopy.

Still, it would make a fine template for a subterranean monster of some (egg laying) sort.

Choke
Chuck Palahniuk

2001.

Library free stack.

So, it's read or take home.

Let's be done with it.

The random chapter was interesting.
Miss on the next chapter.

While the chapter after has an in.

It was easy to skip the first chapter.

Another book, I may have simply put down.

Let us just say, it is not inviting.

And who am I to second guess the author?

Well, another author.

But we need not get into that.

I'm searching for the chapter that explains the fame.
He likes his commas.

Good for him.

I likes the later chapter better.
It's light.

Fluffy.

I know how I want the book to end.
I wonder if I would have gone back to the beginning and started over.

You know, if this book were like three or four interlinked poems.

Stretched out.

And laid straight.

Does it go without saying that I envision the poems as being much shorter than the book?

Short is harder.

And, of course, there's less there.

I wonder how many times folks read a poem and say this could make a good book?

Probably never.

I'm going to work a Twelve Step Program.

I just don't know which one or why.

As a project.

Also, why not?

Gads, that would have been a great ending.
I haven't read enough to understand the ending.

I have read enough to enjoy the flow.

Tick-Tock!

I haven't the time.

The Book Thief
Markus Zusak

2005.

Serendipitous title.

Library.

Let's look at the illustrations, first.
I don't care about the illustrations.
Anarchist Slut.

Sorry, I read that wrong.

Arty.

I can feel the pull.

It breaks apart nicely.

Bold questions.
There are no important books.

But this one is hard not to recommend.

Still, it has gotten the time I am willing to give it.

Showman Killer
The Golden Child
Jodorowsky

2016.

Library.

Based on my mood (tired and disinterested), I doubt I will be kind.

That's becoming more of a concern for me.

In Unity there is One.

Perhaps, I will draw inspiration for that project from this.

Not Science Fiction.

Rather Future Theocracy.

There will be no crying.

Unhappiness is not allowed.

And/or will not be tolerated.

And that's how we know he's a robot.

It's thoughts so much purer.

It's much easier for me to fall into the imagery than the words.
Do we need to do more than appreciate...

The mole, I am going with mole.

Even if at first, I thought it was a rabbit.

With that much power, you'd think a guy would make himself a better face.

Plastic surgery.

Wear a mask.

Something.

The art delivers.

To the extent I get bored (or play) with words, his art feels the same.

I can almost hear him at work.

'Yeah. OK. I'll draw that.'

It's a seal.

Also, the plot thickens.

Right at the end.

It's literally been two months since the last entry.

A New Earth
Awakening to Your Life's Purpose
Eckhart Tolle

Free Stack.

2005.

Lots of short chapters.
Just so.

The inarguable way it is.

Descartes was wrong.
Too many words.

Way too many words.

For me, whatever message was lost in the words.

Ready for the Big Finish? It is time to clear the stacks. I'm starting by throwing out wholesale (no need to review one iota) six computer books.

Sorry. There will be no Big Finish. I am throwing out a lot of twenty books and pamphlets, one of them a duplicate copy (same cover, same printed edition) of The Heart of Darkness. I think it is safe to say I am done with this project ... or at least, this page.

Brett's Books A Fast Fifteen

Disposable Books

Brett's Books
A Fast Fifteen