I'm done with exams finally! One more year left. I got a research position here in economic geography for the summer with my supervisor. Everything seems to be going well: a job, free time, good weather (sort of) finally, and I'll be going to Spain in a couple weeks with my dad, and then coming back to the city for the second half of May and June (the best month in Quebec).

This semester I only had time to read three books aside from coursework. One was Allen Scott's Metropolis, an in-depth case-study application of Régulation Theory to the evolution of industry in Southern California. The second book was Beyond the Régulation Approach by Bob Jessop and Ngai Ling-Sum about the Régulation school, criticisms and new directions. Both of these books are related to the research I'm starting for my honour's thesis. They would be pretty dry to someone not interested in economic geography and/or political economy, and are likely of rather limited appeal.

So, instead, I'll recommend the other book I read, The Moor's Sigh by Salman Rushdie. I still prefer Midnight's Children as my favorite Rushdie book and my favorite book overall. However, the moor's last sigh is most definitely my second favorite Rushdie book. It starts out by drawing the reader in to the heart-warming story of a family's formation, happiness and rise. However, the hook comes as Rushdie details the family's destruction through a nearly Biblical fall. As is expected with Rushdie, the story leaves the reader questioning the truth of what happened at various points in the story, allowing you to chose a dark or light reality, or more likely a murky confusion in between.

Also, in film. For those who haven't seen Baraka, I would recommend it for sure. This is my favorite film of all-time. It is a non-plot, non-dialogue film about the unity of humanity and the oneness of the world. Recently I watched Dziga Vertov's Man with a Movie Camera. This 1920's Soviet silent film stars the cameraman as the protagonist in the story of factographic documentation. Unlike traditional socialist realists, Vertov portrays the world as it is, with the good and the bad, rather than simply glorifying the hammer-and-sickle happy worker cliché. It's interesting to watch Vertov as precursor to Fricke's Baraka. I also watched Manhatta, as well as Berlin, the Symphony of a Great City, along with some other similar films, all of which were quite disappointing in comparison to the aforementioned two.

I got nothing new in music. As for politics, I've been watching both the recent and the old Obama videos on Youtube (including the will.i.am music videos). Even as he enters this current media-induced tough-spot, he continues to impress me more ad more. I watched Wright's comments in context and some of his other sermons. He is a great preacher. I like him a lot. Some of his comments remain politically problematic (though mostly -not wholly- true) even in context. But the context does cast a pretty different light on the whole episode. I went back and watched his Charlie Rose interview from before he entered the race.

I particularly liked how he talked about how our problems are not so much technical in nature, but rather simply political in that we have the capacity to do what we set our minds to (we do not lack the money or the ideas), but that what we need is someone to build a consensus, a community, to inspire all of us to rally around a common project once again. In the whole babblefest about Clinton's experience versus Obama's hope, this view of the problem being a social, political problem (a vision deficit) reinforces in my mind how irrelevant (and arrogrant) it is for Clinton to somehow claim her experience would allow her to magically fix the economy and all other problems. No matter what, that view won't work. We need someone not to give us the answers, but to inspire us, make us proud to be part of the Americna project once again.

E. B. White

If you like sarcasm and often political commentary, you will love 'E. B. White Writings from the New Yorker 1927-1976'. He's an excellent, pithy writer and on top of that it's really interested to watch the evolution of the subject of his writings throughout historical events (ex-McCarthy era stuff is very bold and critical). He writes about other things as well, nature and his hero Thoreau for a few other topics. Check it out all for some good American writing.

Adventures in Marxism

I just picked up a copy of Marshall Berman's 'Adventures in Marxism' and have read the first few chapters. It's a collection of essays with a nice introduction that relates his own personal relationship to Marx's works. I'm not totally familar with Marx and this seems to be a nice way to ease into his ideas and terms. Berman is clear but profound in his comments. I suggest it to the expert or the novice of Marx.

Music Chat

Music Chat: Poll Results#links Hey, I'd really appreciate if any of you,hopefully having musical tates in the 60' and 70's, would check out my blog, Heres a link!

The Official Punk Rock Book of Lists

This book is filled with lists about punk rock, ranging from who has the best hairdo, to the most offensive songs. I liked it, mainly because it had interesting information about bands that i like, like the clash and the ramones.
On another note, i love this blog!!!

Anna

Bluebeard and Galopagos

I really enjoyed both of these the first being a autobiography by Rabo Karabekian (a character mentioned in Breakfast of Champions whos an abstract artist) and the latter is by a character in some of his books Leon Trout son of Kilgore Trout and is about how the only 11 survivors on Earth who are living on the Galopagos evolve in the course of 1million years.

Poll

Please vote on the new poll, you can vote for multible answers, if answerin other Specify the book as a comment on THIS POST.

Pink Floyd and Philosophy

Ok,... The Animals album had the same theme as Animal farm, what do you mean their irelevent??! Anyway i was reading a book, Pink Floyd and Philosophy, and it is making me look at Syd Barrett and Tye Wall album in a new light,... anyone who has even heard of Pink Floyd, like them or not, should read this book. To the right is Syd Barrett.

Godbless you, Mr. Rosewater

This is a good book about the Rosewater Foundation (mentioned in other books including Breakfast of Champions). In response to Nanos post I agree except I do not drasticly think either way of Orwell's works.

1984

As I said in a previous comment and expanded upon here is 1984. I got into the reading craze of Vonnegut too, as well as Eric, and I loved breakfast of champions, and I can't wait to get Slaughterhouse-Five, but my all time favorites will remain 1984 and Animal Farm, which inspired Pink Floyd's Animals album. I love how 1984 critiques our government which has so much power to spy on the citizens, and Russian Socialisms, sort of like how Goodby Blue Monday, or Breakfast of Champions, critiques all of the symbols of America.

Eric - Did you like the Vonnegut books from Uncle Larry?

Hope you enjoy the books - let us know your favorites.

Nathan, You Can Post

Check your email and follow the instructions to register as an author. I would love to hear your suggestions!

Cats Cradle

I realy liked this book, and realy thought Bokononism was clever, besides Bokonon being a jerk and he practicly being emporor. Althogh I thought the end was a bit deppressing.

All That is Solid Melts into Air

We read part of this for my environmental design course about cities. It focuses on the trends in city planning, the recent renewal projects, and parallels all this with french poetry, modern art movements etc. It's an interesting mix in the respect and I think the other chapters take you to cities all over the world and detail what urban life is like for the inhabitants. Well written and excellent combination of art and urban design.

Orhan Pamuk and Turkish law.

The NYTimes has an article that mentions the legal scrapes of the author Leah recommended.
See Article

Response to Leah

I went to the sight and found an interesting biography about him: fohttp://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4953/vonn.htmlund an interesting biography about him
However Kurt Vonnegut doesnt realy have one style Breakfast of Champions is much different than Cats Cradle.
The sight said Slaughter House Five was his best book(i havent read it)would you agree?

Vonnegutsy Books

I found this site dedicated to Vonnegut but it also lists books written in a similar style, perhaps a few new books to read?
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/4953/vonn.html

Green Bay Packers!!

Have you read any of these books listed here?

Breakfast of Champions Excerpts

Not even the president of the United States knew what that was all about. It was as if the country was saying to it's citizens, "In nonsense is strength."

1492

The teachers told the children that this was when their continent was didcovered by human beings. Actually millions of human beings were already living full and imaginitive lives on the continent at 1492. That was simply the year in which sea pirates began to cheat and rob and kill them.

Kurt Vonnegut

I started reading Breakfast of Champions and its already my favorite book
its a satirical book about America in the near future particularly about a sci-fi author named Killgore Trout

PS I'm changing my vote to other

My Mistake

My Mistake
Steinbeck wrote of mice and men

Voting

We had trouble voting because it would let us changeone vote, but not add votes. Anna wanted to vote forRowling.
Each computer can only vote once but every computer can vote once(if you have multiple computers every familly member can vote 3 votes came from my house)

Kurt Vonnegut

I didnt know Kurt Vonnegut wrote of mice and men. It seems a stark contrast to Cats Cradle. I read part of of mice and men and didnt like it very much
i hope i have better luck with cats cradle

Bye Bye Incondecent

Over 2 centuries ago the incandescent light bulb was invented;popularised by Thomas Eddison in the early 1800s. For over 2 centuries the incandescent light bulb has been in use. Now we can all say goodbye. In 1972 General Electric invented the fluorescent light bulb, now incandescent sales are falling 10 to 12% annually(poor people who invested in them). Did you know if everyone traded one incandescent for one fluorescent it would be the same as taking 800,000 cars off the road and $600million would be saved annualy. Because of these allarmming figures Congress has finnally past a bill the pressident actually didnt veto. Along with many other things it says by 2014 a 100 wat light bulb can only be 75 and simmilar % for different wats and by 2020 all wats have to be divided in 4 (100 wats=25wats).

Sry

Sry i lied again
comments can be posted to anything
but i was right in the fact the Turkish Journalist thing and Bin Laddins son article were copied directly from yahoo news

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_Cradle I realy enjoyed this review
Sry I lied I can post comments but comments cant be posted on things directly copied from the news(bin Laddinn and Turky Armenia journalist

To Isaac

To Isaac
I cant comment acomment for some reason so im just adding posts
I think Turkey was in some way partialy or indirrectly responsible for the assination. Was it ballowed into the European Union? I dont think so.
I dont think people will listen to Bin Laddins son and expect he has a secret aggenda.
Why dont you vote on the polls
Eric

The son of Osama bin Laden

One of Osama bin Laden's sons, Omar Osama bin Laden, in an interview with the AP said he is seeking to serve as an ambassador for peace. He wants to explore other (nonviolent) options for Islam to defend itself. He plans to travel 50 km/day across North Africa starting in March. His mission: to spread the message of nonviolence.

Atricle in El Pais

Response to Isaach

I think Canada should let the UN interfier. All laungauges in the rest of Canada are not persacuted(meaning internal bussiness speech, Sighn posts having larger one laungauge than another). Why should Quebec be special, all other non-devoloping nation under the UN cant disclude other laungauges. Even without all of Quebecs laws at least 40% of Quebec would speak french. Its not like Ireland where Gaylic would die the majority of Quebec allready speaks French. I think Canadas treatment of Quebec is unnexceptable; with discrimination on English, Its own legal system and laws; and it still thratens to suceed. No other province gets that kind of treatment. I think Canada should fase out most of its laws.
Eric

Mourners Remember Assassinated Armenian-Turkish Journalist

Today in Istanbul, Ankara and elsewhere in Turkey protesters gathered against Turkish nationalism. Hrant Dink, an Armenian-Turkish was a assassinated one year ago today by a Turkish ultra-nationalist. Dink worked for a left-wing newspaper and in an Armenian seminary in Turkey. He had been incarcerated prior to his death for publishing about the Armenian genocide that took place at the hands of the Turks during WWI. After being released he was gunned down by an attacker on the steps of the Armenian seminary where he worked. Subsequently, a government investigation fraught with improper conduct failed to answer important questions about who was behind the assassination. Protesters chanted in Armenian, Kurdish and Turkish, claiming the government was behind the murder, advocating for a new investigation, and calling for a more democratic and pluralistic Turkey.

Coverage from El Pais

Quebec language politics

Below is the link to an article I saw today. Bill 101 is Quebec's language law which requires all signs (including those belonging to private businesses) to be written in french. non-french languages can also be on signs but must be no more than 3/4 the letter size of the french part. businesses with over 25 (maybe 35?) employees must use french for all internal communications. The provincial and municipal governments are only obliged to publish materials in french. Immigrants, their children and the children of canadians who went to french-language schools are required to attend french-language schools (while a child of a canadian who attended an english-language school within canada is allowed to attend either). no new english-language schools are to be built in the province. road signs are only french and packaging of goods is required to be in french (english is not required -both languages are required in the rest of canada). quebec has some influence in determining who of the immigrants bound for quebec is eligible to immigrate (language being the chief criteria). Certain portions of radio and other media are required to be in french as well. some of these rules are reasonable, but many are not.

Understandably, the quebecois seek to preserve their language and culture. however, they fail to recognize that montreal has been only partially french for a century or more. the city used to be about 1/2 anglo and 1/2 french. anglo (and allo) montreal it would seem should be able to enjoy the same cultural autonomy within quebec as quebec enjoys within canada. now montreal is 20% anglo, 30% allo and 50% french. With continuing talk of creating quebec citizenship, admitting only francophone immigrant and seeking independence, Quebec should remember that Canada (with its good international reputation) has defended Quebec (and its language policies) against attempted UN action to end the language laws. Quebec ought to returnt he favor by softening the most egregious portions of the language law and promoting further bilingualism accross all of canada (including quebec). French in quebec is in no danger of disappearing. French is strong in the world and quebec remains a major magnet for francophones moving to north america. it only stands to gain from further bilingualism.

recent activism covered in CBC article

Sry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat%27s_Cradle That is the real Cats cradle site, The old one is faulty My Mistake
ps Irealy enjoyed and I think ill like the book

Cats Cradle Review

Sry this is not at the bottom of the page but here is an excellant review of "Cat's Cradle"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat's_Cradle

Its so sad im the only one who voted for Dan Brown . . . who did all you people vote for

Copying a Hint from Ficus Boy - Water for Elephants

Ficus boy said...

A book I recently read that I really enjoyed was WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen. I really enjoyed the view point of the older gentlemen in the book. If you have a chance you should give it a read, it is a quick read. From Jan (I am new to this)

Other Colors, Orhan Pamuk

I just picked this one up at the Wexner Art Center in Columbus (a signed copy nonetheless) and it's been really enjoyable to read. Because it is a collection of short reflections/essays, it's easy to read whenever you have extra time. The subjects of the essays vary, but many have to do with Istanbul, offering beautiful insight into the city. There's a story for everyone in here.

I strongly reccomend The Years of Rice and Salt and Digital Fortress. The Years of Rice and Salt is writen by Kim Stanley Robbinson and is an alternative history of what would happen if 99% of Europe died in the Black Death. Digital Fortress is a fiction novel about a "unbreakable algorithm."