Bugman

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 9, 2009

*takes notes* I'm not going to finnish these books during my short lifetime! XD

I'm not really sure about any good books for Rommel. I MIGHT have one lying around here somewhere that I haven't read yet, but I can't find it if that's the case. But I've kinda picked up bits of information about him here and there, not only from books but from documentaries. Very honourable man, and the only high-ranking Nazi I feel is worthy of some respect. He didn't like the war, he just fought to save his homeland from ruin. Not because he was an ideological nutcase.

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 9, 2009

I haven't really read much about him either, but my former history teacher spoke a lot about him. I'll probably try to get my hands on a bio about him eventually.

So, are there any other characters from WW2 that you find particularly interesting? Personally I've got to say Rommel. I mean he would have been a legend had he not fought on the wrong side in the war, but he can't really help where he was born after all.

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 9, 2009

I AM reading! XD I'm reading a book about American politics right now though, so I've kinda taken a short break from the history books. 🙂

Yeah, I didn't really realize Eisenhower's greatness until after I read that book. Before that I had just been busy making fun of Monty. 😱 He was quite the character!

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 9, 2009

Darn it, that's another book on my list then! XD You do realize I have like 15 history books at home that I haven't had the time to read yet, right? 😛

Well anyway, Armageddon has some really interesting personal stories from people the author interviewed as well, like a group of russian POW's who managed to escape by stealing a German airplane (how insane is that?), only to be treated as traitors and second class citizens as they returned home since POW = traitor in the Soviet Union.

The book also put Eisenhower in a completely different light for me. I used to think of him just as a military leader, but his greatest challenge was to actually hold the allied forces together with his charisma. There were a lot of rifts amongst people such as Montgomery and Patton that he had to mend. While I don't recall there being a lot of focus on this, it is certainly mentioned and made clear in the book.

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 9, 2009

After looking it up, I recognize the cover as well as the title, but I have no idea where I might have read it. 😱 I bet it was back in 7th or 8th grade when my history teacher just let me laze around during class, but I think I might have to read it again. ...that's another book on my to-read list. XD

Not sure if I recommended this book already or not, but to pay you back a little bit I suggest you check out "Armageddon" by Max Hastings, that is if you haven't read it already. 😉 Books about WW2 usually feel "old" and not very interesting since they cover pretty much the same thing, but this book is really good! It gives some great perspective to the war on the eastern front, and also some great insight into the lives of the soldiers, Allies as well as Germans and Russians. It's the best book about the final years of the war that I have read to this day!

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

Yeah, see, that's why a part of me can't stand him. Haha. Sweden had a good thing going there, being an empire and all, but Charles simply wasn't enough of a well-balanced leader to prevail in the end. That, and Peter the Great was, you know, great and all that. 😀

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

You probably have a point about that. I mean the German tourists who come up here literally go out into the forest and collect moose droppings because they think it's so exotic. 😱 They also steal our road signs, warning for mooses crossing the roads and stuff. 😵

You are spot on about Charles. He killed off a bigger percentage of the Swedish population than Hitler did with his fellow Germans during WW2. Still, he would probably have been hailed as our greatest king ever had he just pushed for the Russians to surrender after the series of crushing defeats he dealt them at the start (my personal favorite being the Battle of Narva). But he insisted on attacking Poland instead, even though I believe they already asked for peace. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Charles was a brilliant military leader, but a horrible politician.

And yes, this is epic stuff for us geeks! XD

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

Haha, well there's really not much to see here, but I suppose you might like Stockholm. Lots of historical sites there, and since you mentioned Charles XII, you can actually see the uniform he was shot in (the mud still on and everything) if you visit the Royal Armoury. Pretty cool, huh? :D

Here be pic for proof, just in case you end up visiting Denmark or some other crap country instead! :p
http://lrk.lsh.se/livrustkammaren/Redaktionellt/Global/Bilder/Basbilder/KarlXII/Karlunirock01.jpg

But yes he was an interesting character. I really don't know if I should hate him or love him, lol.

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

LOL! I think you can do a little better than Sweden in that case, but whatever makes you happy Mr. American Overlord, Sir! ;D

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

Haha, oh man. That's crazy! 😱

But remember we're a bunch of weakling girlies here in Sweden. 86 degrees is a lot for us 😛

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

I think it was like 86 degrees fahrenheit, which is insane! But yes, you may now hate me - we have rain in abundance! 🙂

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

Oooh, yeah we had some insane heat here too, but luckily it just turned into rain. Lots of rain! 😀

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 8, 2009

You are a silly man, but it is forgivable. 😀

B

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  Bugman

• Jul 8, 2009

In a good mood are we? 😛

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  Gothika

• Jul 8, 2009

ya ya ya lol ehheheh

R

• R

  red indian

• Jul 7, 2009

Oh thats charming!....Arse!

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 7, 2009

Yeah, I didn't get much of that... XD Is this a good thing or a bad thing? 😛

Also, I'll harrass you more later, because I'm off to bed now.

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  Carsomyr

• Jul 7, 2009

Right back at ya', my friend! 😀 Everything well with you?

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  Gothika

• Jul 7, 2009

hehehehehehehe

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  desdemona

• Jul 7, 2009

Aw hon, you never bug me! And I was so going to call you this afternoon! Got so caught up, it slipped my mind 🙁

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  naughtylucy

• Jul 7, 2009

Hi Bug! Hi! I'm back in Scotland now...the weather is strangely like the jungle...perhaps I've brought some home with me?

How are you doing?

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  Excess

• Jul 6, 2009

Yeah, it's gone on long enough. I know it's just a proxy for an underlying issue, but it doesn't seem to be getting anywhere.

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  Excess

• Jul 6, 2009

Well uh...there are those Ab Flex things. I dunno, just shooting in the dark here. But then beer chugging is a sport in a way, so that can be considered exercise maybe?

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  Excess

• Jul 6, 2009

LOL Well that's good advice, but I do rather enjoy swimming so it helps there. Naps are fine too though, especially when you have 'good' dreams.

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  Excess

• Jul 6, 2009

Ah...used to have that problem. Shame, because swimming is good exercise, so they say anyway.