A Drinking Club with a Book Problem

Jim and I have been kicking around the idea of starting up a monthly discussion of some printed work.

In other words - a MilPub Book Club.

We thought we'd throw this out and see if there are any other takers. Our thought is that it'd work like this;

Every month one of us would throw out a suggestion for something for us to read. We thought that it wouldn't have to be restricted to military affairs and politics, but since that's what we talk about most we thought that they'd probably turn out that way. Jim says no fiction or historical fiction, and I would suggest trying to keep it to items published within, say, 20 years, to keep from circling back to the Classics. Journal articles are OK, but I'd suggest we try and keep it a little more strenuous than the typical Atlantic magazine piece. Yes?

We'd then take three or four weeks to read the thing, and then the original poster would open the dance with a "open discussion" post, giving his synopsis of the work and perhaps some commentary, whereupon we'd all get to chime in/pile on/discuss.How's that sound? Anyone else like the idea?

Thoughts for the Near Future

How about this?

I'd like to put this out there as a topic for the next round of posts from our bar staff.

What do you see coming in the immediate future?

Talk about whatever you're interested in; politics, war, peace, the economy, more politics, the military, even more politics, fashion, science, industry.

But let's turn a little from the topics of the present day to a murky look at the coming turn of the seasons. What do our servers think will be important over the short term. What should be important? What will we be talking about in November? In February? Is there something we as individuals, we as groups, we the People, we as (many of us) soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen or former versions of the above...should, could, be doing?

Do you have a particular hope? A fear? An idea?

Let's throw it out there and talk about it.Whaddya say?

Reception Station

At ease, listen up.

You can call me the Fire Direction Chief - FDChief - and I'm temporarily in charge of this goat rope until things settle down a bit. For informational purposes only, I'm a 51-year-old husband and father, a professional geologist living in Portland, Oregon. Retired after 22 years of military service, I've been in the Regular Army, Army Reserve and Army National Guard as a medic, medical sergeant, mortarman, drill sergeant, platoon sergeant, artillery fire direction computer and battery FDC chief - I retired as an E-7(P) and have always regretted not sticking around to make First Sergeant. But there you go - life is what happens when you're making other plans.

While I realize that y'all are new here, the first lesson of Life, including Military Life is: Ignorance Is Not An Excuse. This important lesson will take you far in the world if you remember the preceding rule, The Maximum Range of an Excuse is Zero Meters. Hopefully this place can inform and energize your brain housing group so you won't have to excuse why you were ignorant.I hope this will be the beginning of a lively place, a local taverna for us old sweats and the young bucks alike, to discuss whatever's on our minds. Many of us are ex- or current service types, and we tend to like to talk about military matters. But we have room for all; this is a Barroom of All Talents. Want to talk about your kids' graduation? Speak up. Health Care? We'll listen. Your prostate exam? OK, maybe not so much...


I hope to have some more friends and associates here soon to liven up the
conversation.

So when I release you from this formation remain in the blog area and additional personnel should be along with more information for the good of the order.

Fall out.