Weight Watchers Wednesday

I weighed in today and my weight loss was 0.2 lb. for a total lost of 6.6 lb.  Starting next week my weigh in day will be Thursday. 

Maisie Dobbs by Jacquelyn Winspear

I think I'm going to love this series! Set in England in the years following the Great War, Maisie Dobbs is an investigator and solver of questions, puzzles, and intriguing situations.

This first book sets the stage for the subsequent books with her early life, education, and nursing service during the war. Maisie's innate intelligence spurs the benevolence of her employer, Lady Rowan, who aids in her education and introduces her to her mentor, Maurice Blanche. The story begins in 1929 with Maisie setting out on her own as an investigator. As the story unfolds we move back in time to her war time service and first love. Then back to 1929 and the perilous conclusion of the puzzle that she is investigating.

I can only hope that the subsequent books in the Maisie Dobbs series are as thoroughly engrossing.        

Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking I loved this book because it validated so much of what I am--an introvert.   Our culture favors extroversion and looks down on introverts.  The author challenges both introverts who may need to develop skills to have a successful life in an extrovert oriented culture and extroverts to learn to appreciate the unique attributes that introverts can bring.   I found the first section very interesting in talking about how we have moved from a Culture of Character which values virtue and wisdom to a Culture of Personality which values American Idol.  The second section discusses many the biological factors of introversion and extroversion. The third section discusses Asian cultures which place more value on quiet, studious ness, humility, and careful thoughtfulness.  The fourth section is very helpful because of the advice for living with extroverts and raising and teaching introverted children.

Beautiful Minds by Bearzi & Stanford

Dolphins and apes and humans--all quite different, yet alike in many ways. This book explores the parallel evolution and the development of intelligence in dolphins and apes. The book details the ability  of these intelligent creatures to develop family bonds, form alliances, and care for their young.  The culture, politics, social structure, personality, and capacity for emotion are discussed with wonderful examples.  This dual portrait—with striking overlaps in behavior—is key to understanding the nature of “beautiful minds.” The last section of the book discusses the perilous plight of these creatures as their habitat is rapidly being destroyed and what can be done to reverse this and save these beautiful minds.

Top Ten Lessons of the Iraq War

This is from Stephen Watlt's article in March 20 Foreign Policy

1. The U.S. lost.  The revisionists will have you believe otherwise.
2.  It's not that hard to hijack the U.S. into war.
3. The U.S. gets into big trouble when the public and our leadership do not have an open debate about the course to take.
4. The secularism and middle class character of Iraqi society was overrated.
5.Don't listten to ambitious exiles. (Amhed Chalabi for example)
6.It is very hard to improvise an occupation.
7. Don't be surprised when adversaries act to defend their own interest and in ways we don't like.
8. Counterinsurgency warfare is ugly and invariably leads to war crimes, atrocities, and abuse.
9. Better "planning" may not be the answer.
10. Rethink the U.S. grand strategy, not just tactics or methods.

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/03/20/top_ten_lessons_of_the_iraq_war?page=full

Weight Watchers Wednesday

Last week I lost 1.6 lb. for a total lost of  6.4 lb. Current weight 168.2.  I am treating myself to a spa manicure each time I lose 3 lb.  So I get to make an appointment Saturday for my second manicure.

Excuses, excuses

I haven't had posts up because I am spending every spare second on the baby quilt.  I am working on Block #6 out of 9 blocks and the baby is due April 11. The race is on!!