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Donald Trump not only had a hard time understanding international politics, but also had a hard time understanding war and sacrifice. At a certain point, there was just no teaching him. #thedivider #peterbaker #susanglasser #donaldtrump #war #politics #uspolitics #internationalpolitics #military #sacrifice #history #worldhistory #ushistory #politicalscience

5-9 Nov 24 (audiobook)
We, of course, learned a great deal about Cook‘s first voyage at school but I knew very little about his other two voyages and had not known what a prominent figure he was in his own time. This was a very informative account but it was also engaging. I appreciated hearing about Cook from a modern viewpoint - Sides did not shy away from the sometimes brutal misdeeds of Cook and his men which no doubt led to Cook‘s death.

I love a good Shakespeare reference. After Trump‘s meeting with Putin and disastrous news conference, John Bolton told Republican Senator Roy Blunt that Putin will always be Putin and took the opportunity to make this reference to Hamlet. #thedivider #vladimirputin #donaldtrump #peterbaker #susanglasser #ushistory #internationalpolitics #worldhistory #politicalscience #russia #unitedstates #johnbolton #hamlet

#Readingoceania2024 I was going to use this for Tonga as Cook did stop there in addition to New Zealand, Tahiti, Kiribati and, of course, Hawaii. However, there was exactly two pages on Tonga. I‘ll have to find another book. This was a good view into Cook‘s third voyage of discovery though. It illustrated well the geographical and cultural differences between the islands and it really highlighted how the European and Oceania cultures clashed.

Sometimes, I just laugh at some of the things Trump says because there‘s nothing else I can do. This is one of those times. #thedivider #peterbaker #susanglasser #kimjongun #internationalpolitics #donaldtrump #internationalpolitics #politicalscience #history #worldhistory #negotiations #summit #northkorea #unitedstates

#DaysDevotedTo @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs
#Coffee/tea

Decent read. It's good as a broad introduction to the history of the Normans. The book covers several different historical events, such as William the Conqueror, the Norman conquest of Sicily, and the 1st Crusade. However, I feel that the author tries to cover too much material in too short of a book. As a result, several events aren't covered in as much detail as they could've been.

“Beginning as a medical drink for the elite, coffee became the favored modern stimulant of the blue-collar worker during his break, the gossip starter in middle-class kitchens, the romantic binder for wooing couples, and the sole bitter companion of the lost soul. Coffeehouses have provided places to plan revolutions, write poetry, do business, and meet friends”.

In addition to the physical history, Roland also discusses how notebooks were used throughout history - in accounting, art, natural history, writing, etc. and various ways notebooks were perceived. I.e., in the 1200s when clergy refused to use anything other than parchment being suspicious of paper's novelty and its infidel and recycled origins: “one opponent fulminated against the idea that the word of God could be written on menses-stained rag.“

This was okay to listen to, but I felt myself being disinterested and zoning out during other parts. I think part of my issue was that it was dated- so much has happened since the Obama administration. #ReadingOceania2024