Books of note

Obesity and the future of snacking

2012-01-29T09:16:00.001Z

Pepsi

Hi,

This article from the New Yorker is fascinating reading. Pepsi wants to move its business to healthy eating, a fascinating insight into corporate strategy. Also just mind boggling how a soft drink company wants to move into the market for healthy eating.

MHChaos

2012-01-24T19:21:00.001Z

Operation MHChaos

The reaction against the Vietnam War, by students and domestic groups inside america was a unique challenge to the intelligence community. I have read about the SDS, the Weathermen Underground and heard about the events that happened but I was skeptical that it could have been orchestrated by China or Vietnamese authorities.

Frank Rafalko is honest enough to admit that they were very close but they just didn't find anything and I think this only makes things more interesting. What really did happen, will we ever find out? Were naive students really capable of organising a terrorist campaign inside the USA without external help?

Rafalko was there doing the work and he gives his own perceptions.

Worlds worst jokes

2012-01-19T23:15:00.001Z

Why did Frosty go live in the middle of the ocean?

Because snow man is an island.

The man Noah found favour in the eyes of God

2012-01-15T19:52:00.001Z

In the Old Testament right after man started to live on the earth there was a problem. God didn't like his creation and he wanted to wipe them out. According to Tillich in 'The Eternal Now', this is the same problem that we have now, only it is man who has decided there is a problem and wants to wipe himself out, through which ever form of apocalypse is trendy at the moment - for Tillich it was nuclear. God took a risk, much the same as when we are creative, you take a risk and sometmes you decide to start again. Perhaps man today in planning the space race is subconsciously feeling the same fear - that it is time to start again in a different place.What is the message of God that we can bring for us today:

God saw promise in Noah and sent the rainbow to promise it would never happen again.

Tillich concludes that when we see ourselves as a tiny speck, in time and the universe this problem will always appear. The only answer is to find that God is outside time.

"Only the eternal can save us from the anxiety of being a meaningless bit of matter in a meaningless vortex of atoms and electrons. Only the eternal can give us the certainty that the earth, and with it, mankind, has not existed in vain."

Read the section here

Cold Steel

2012-01-06T19:33:00.001Z

It is not very often that a book I finished 2 years ago will re-appear in my mind and it just shows how good a book it was. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to have been mentioned at the time.

Cold Steel

The story of the merger of two huge steel companies and the drive and determination of an Indian entrepreneur, this was an awesome read, especially as the authors seem to have been in the very room where all the action was taking place. I would strongly recommend it - even if you are not a fan of business books.

The way some people die

2011-12-18T08:06:00.003Z

The thing about Macdonald is that he writes elegantly and simply. Chandler will freak you out with his twists. Hammett will leave you in awe but Macdonald is the tops for noir.

This is from a Ross Macdonald novel. When this book was first published in 1951, I doubt if anyone realised the horrors of heroin. Here we have an addict describe to Archer the feeling of cold turkey and it sent a chill down my neck.

'How do you know, have you had it?'
'No'
'Then you don't know what you're talking about. It turns you inside out. I was down on the beach last night and every time a wave slapped the sand it hit me like an earthquake, the end of the world. I lay back and looked straight up and there wasn't any sky. Nothing but yellow specks in my eyes, and the black. It's funny, it felt as if I was falling into myself, I was hollow like a well and falling down me. She touched her stomach. 'It's funny I'm still alive. It was like dying.'

Held within the love of God

2011-12-10T00:11:00.001Z

This quote comes from an article discussing the essence of spirituality. Religion should not be seen as a 'tranquilizer' true religion offers a continual quest, a striving, a struggle:

"Yet it would be wrong to view the struggle as our struggle, our work, and wrong to view prayer in this way. All prayer is the work of the spirit, and the struggle is a sharing in his struggle. It is in fact the false tranquility which exhausts the spirit, for it involves a failure to accept the depths in us, and is a covering up of the cracks. True spirituality must begin by an acceptance of the self, but acceptance of the self as held within the love of God, within an active and powerful love which heals.
To be held is not to become passive and return to the womb, but to be torn apart and renewed. To be held is to remain within darkness and doubt, but no longer to see them as the enemies of faith, but as opportunities for faith to grow. The wilderness is the abode of snakes and demons, the place of faithlessness and fornication, the point at which doubt may become black despair. Yet it is in the wilderness that God reveals himself, and men begin to trun towards freedom."

From a letter to 'The Times' by Kenneth Leech, Chaplain of St Augustine's College, Canterbury. 3 August 1974

Read the entire letter here

André Malraux

2011-11-15T23:03:00.001Z

"Art lives by reason of its function, which is to enable men to break free from their human condition, not by shirking it but by an act of possession. All art is a means to gain a hold on fate."

André Malraux

Joe's bad trip

2011-11-15T22:37:00.001Z

Joe's bad trip

This is an article about the captain of the Exxon Valdez during its 1989 oil spill. Read this article carefully and at the end you will understand that decisions can't be made quickly.

Questions

2011-11-14T23:42:00.001Z

In 'Catch 22' Yossarian is out to disrupt the educational sessions started by Clevinger. He doesn't have to work hard, after the first session (just imagine what the content was) when they ask if there are any questions they get the following:

Who is Spain?

Why is Hitler?

When is right?

Yossarian then asks 'Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear? referring to Snowden who had been killed recently. Headquarters come up with a cunning plan as follows, something that still has a familiar feel to it:

"Group Headquarters was alarmed, for there was no telling what people might find out once they felt free to ask whatever questions they wanted to. Colonel Cathcart sent Colonel Korn to stop it, and Colonel Korn's rule was a stroke of genius, Colonel Korn explained in his report to Colonel Cathcart. Under Colonel Korn's rule, the only people permitted to ask questions were those who never did. Soon the only people attending were those who never asked questions, and the sessions were discontinued altogether, since Clevinger, the corporal and Colonel Korn agreed that it was neither possible nor necessary to educate people who never questioned anything."

Spitfire

2011-11-11T23:17:00.001Z

The last few weeks I have been reading about the history of the Spitfire. It was a rocky road to produce the legendary fighter and at times caused great difficulties. One thing I did not realise was that when Chamberlain negotiated with Hitler the stereotype view that I heard from school primarily and other areas was that this was a cowardly act and an act of disgrace. Whilst the book goes into great detail about the production difficulties of aircraft compared to Germany and how many viewed Chamberlain as achieving a master-stroke of diplomacy by giving us more time to get prepared before the war started.

There is an interesting episode in the Supermarine factory when they are trying to produce the first Spitfires there were incredible delays that nobody could understand. At one point there was 78 fuselages and only 3 wings. There were problems in that the fuselage that was produced at a different site did not match to the wings that were produced at Woolston. It was discovered as follows:

"It was traced to the state of the tide when the riveting and bolting up of the structure took place. The wing jigs had been erected on reclaimed ground on the side of the river and, in spite of the workshop having been built on massive piles, nevertheless there was minute movement of the floor between high and low tide."

Moon stops play!

See the following link for more information on spitfire's and follow the links on the page to the BBC history site for video's on Spitfires.

Spitfire redux

How a Japanese writer conquered the world

2011-10-18T22:35:00.004Z

Haruki Murakami

Read this interesting article about 1Q84.

Barber

2011-10-07T16:39:00.002Z

Download and read this story from '1001 nights'. It is brilliant!

The Barber

A thundering call to action

2011-09-26T21:21:00.003Z

Tribute to Gaurav Gopalan

There is a worrying trend of an increase in attacks on the transgender community in Washington DC. This is an interesting case and I hope they do find the killer.

Sneezing

2011-09-26T21:11:00.002Z

Believe it or not I am still making my way through 'Independence Day by Richard Ford. Frank Bascombe has a day to re-connect with his troubled son - Paul, and after a great deal of effort he finally starts to talk:

"You know the one thing you can do that's truly unique to you and that society can't effect in any way?" he says. "We learned this in camp."
"I guess not." People out here with us are starting to stray away.
"Sneeze. If you sneeze in some stupid-fuck way, or in a loud way that pisses people off in movies, they just have to go along with it. Nobody can say, 'Sneeze in a different way, asshole.'"
"Who told you that?"
"I don't remember."
"Does that seem unusual?"
"Yes." Gradually he lets his eyes come down from the ceiling but not to me. His finger quits excavating his ear. He is now uncomfortable for being unironic and a kid.
"Don't you think that's the way everything is when you get to be old? Everbody lets you do anything you want to. If they don't like it, they just don't show up anymore."
"Sounds great," Paul says, and actually smiles, as if such a world where people left you alone was an exhibit he'd like to see.

Anyway after thinking about primary substances for so long it seems amusing to me.

Aristotle - searching for Primary Substances

2011-09-26T20:48:00.001Z

According to the 'Categories' by Aristotle the wonder of classification is found in analysing what makes us unique -and not what we have in common. Therefore describing man as an animal or vertebrate or DNA is fundamentally flawed because there are so many other 'men', vertebrates, things depending on DNA.

So much study and knowledge today is concerned with reducing things to their smallest components when Aristotle saw that it is only as a whole that we can truly know something.

Anyway, still a little bit confused but the 'Categories' is well worth the effort to study.

An Ode - Secundem Artem

2011-08-18T21:12:00.000Z

There is a line in this poem by William Cowper:

"Clinking, like change of bells, in tingle tangle chime."

that has enchanted me, it reminds me of 'Mr Tambourine Man' and Beat poetry only it was written about 1760.

Read it here

Robert Crais

2011-08-18T21:02:00.002Z

I have just finished reading 'Indigo Slam' and 'LA Requiem' by Robert Crais. Incredible writing,could not put the books down. There is an incredible experience in mystery writing where the narrator brings you to a point where all your expectations have been fulfilled and you look at the book and you are only about a third of the way through and you think to yourself - 'what else is there that can happen?' then he tips you up and you are on a rollercoaster of a ride. Chandler and Hammett could do it - so can Crais.

Heaven by George Herbert

2011-07-30T17:37:00.001Z

Heaven
O who will show me those delights on high?
Echo. I.
Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know.
Echo. No.
Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves?
Echo. Leaves.
And are there any leaves, that still abide?
Echo. Bide.
What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.
Echo. Holy.
Are holy leaves the Echo then of blisse?
Echo. Yes.
Then tell me, what is that supreme delight?
Echo. Light.
Light to the minde : what shall the will enjoy?
Echo. Joy.
But are there cares and businesse with the pleasure?
Echo. Leisure.
Light, joy, and leisure ; but shall they persever?
Echo. Ever.

Marmaduke posts second essay

2011-07-12T13:38:00.001Z

Where is hope?

Matterhorn

2011-07-06T23:10:00.000Z

Normally I am quite keen on books about Vietnam, but this book is unfortunately a disappointment. I think it will make a better film than a book and without doubt a film will appear.

On the plus side the book shows that there are many issues that have not gone away, racial tensions, arrogant leaders, misunderstanding of the enemy. This book goes for the 'war is hell' angle, and it goes for it big style. It goes for it so hard, that I found the writer pompous and over-zealous. Part of me suspects that it could be a fake and that the author will reveal this at some point in the future with the aim of shocking the readers who are loving it. The writing style is incredibly bad, the irrational futility of war is over-played and then over-played even more. There must have been something good in it because I read all 600 pages of it but in parts it was dreadfully slow, with whole chapters of the characters preaching about the futility of war, religion, racial problems ...

I am willing to accept that it is possible that some vietnam vet who has got into religion has written this book as an act of 'confession is good for the soul' but I think I am being generous.

I have no doubt the film version will be better but if anyone is contemplating reading it - don't believe the raving reviews, I think the reviews are fake, there is no way this could be better than Hemingway.

2011-06-20T00:05:00.000Z

Moral Agency Quest 1

My dear friend Marmaduke is starting a series of lectures, you can find them at the above link. Worth a read!

Letters from Nabokov

2011-06-18T23:02:00.001Z

In the June 13 New Yorker they have an article with some of the letters of Vladimir Nabokov, they are wonderful, a new book with previously unpublished letters is due to be published, translated by Olga Veronina and Brian Boyd with Dmitri Nabokov, look out for it!

On the next page there is an intriguing article by Salvatore Scibona about a college - St John's in Santa Fe, New Mexico where they read Aristotle and Copernicus, instead of textbooks, it sounds incredible and I wonder if he is being ironic.

Pina

2011-06-09T22:30:00.000Z

Pina

See this review and if you get the chance - watch the film.

Psalm 54

2011-06-06T20:21:00.000Z

This is a translation by Joseph Gelineau 1953:

O God save me by your name;
by your power, uphold my cause,
O God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.

For proud men have risen against me,
ruthless men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.

But I have God for my help.
The Lord upholds my life.
Let the evil recoil upon my foes:
you who are faithful, destroy them.

I will sacrifice to you with willing heart
and praise your name for it is good:
for you have rescued me from all my distress
and my eyes have see the downfall of my foes.

Prague in winter

2011-05-25T23:52:00.002Z

Prague in winter

You’re struggling with the wind the bells are silent the

city has built a snowman

On Petřin Hill where women aimlessly wander with

eyes of Snow White

The river flows as if someone were striking an anvil

Like a postal van with a mailbag burst open

The roofs like crows can’t move a wing

The whistle freezes like a bird like a stick of sugar-

candy

The spires are haughty wearing their ballroom gloves

The night weeps while it decorates the Christmas tree

Instead of people all you see is puppets and rabbitskin

rags

Instead of people all you see is hate frozen to foreheads

Lips from which bushes grow

Eyes with a purplish glare of arc-lights

Under lamps like ostrich eggs

Under lamps lined up like an army on ceremonial

parade

An army of deaf-mutes

As if there were no point in speaking

As if there were nothing to say

As if Prague were lost in an alien universe

Vítězslav Nezval

Example: I’m not the best rapper or singer, but I convert people

2011-05-25T23:40:00.000Z

Example I’m not the best rapper or singer, but I convert people

by Laura Davis

Las Vegas Noir, Eds Keene & Pierce, Akashic Books - A review

2011-04-29T12:46:00.000Z

4**** out of 5

Sin city, underground writing, hard core no nonsense, this book hits the spot if you are a noir fan. Bringing things right up to date, all of the stories are good stuff, there is some fun stuff - like a story about the mob setting up a fake rabbi, some dark stuff, some 'even darker yet' stuff that scared me. All in all a good read.

I was disappointed in some of the stories - perhaps they are just not my taste but to me noir is hard-core crime, not a short story that features a gun. Overall there is a good variety of writers. As a man I like the old Chandler style stories but you will be pleased to hear that diversity has reached the crime fraternity and there are plenty of women writers.

I would like to mention Felicia Campbell, her story was unusual, cool and dark. That is one heck of a lady.

'Crip' by Preston L. Allen is one of the best short stories I have read. I have never been so impressed by a story. It has the most magnificent of themes - an ugly character redeemed.

Up until now I wouldn't have considered visiting Las Vegas - now I would consider it and I would like to travel through the desert. I have seen some weird things in the deserts of Peru, like a live pig strapped to the back of a motorcycle but I would love to go on a road trip to Las Vegas.

Judge won’t compel search for Latisha Frazier’s body

2011-04-27T22:17:00.000Z

Judge won’t compel search for Latisha Frazier’s body

Quite an interesting story.

Creative Transformation

2011-04-26T08:46:00.000Z

"Creation is not a periodic intrusion of the First Cause: it is an act co-extensive with the whole duration of the universe. God has been creating ever since the beginning of time, and, seen from within, his creation (even his initial creation?) takes the form of transformation. Participated being is not introduced in batches which are differentiated later as a result of a non-creative modification: God is continually breathing new life into us."

Teilhard, Paris, unpublished 1920.

If anyone is interested I can send them a copy of the essay associated with this quote - 4 pages in total.

Homicide Watch D.C.

2011-04-17T08:43:00.000Z

I had no idea it was as bad as this in Washington D.C.

Homicide Watch

If you want to find out what it is really like then visit this website.

A History of Russia by Martin Sixsmith Radio 4

2011-04-15T15:47:00.002Z

Here is something to look out for:

A History of Russia by Martin Sixsmith Radio 4

An existentialist theology

2011-04-14T17:07:00.000Z

Is it possible that Paul was more fundamentally existentialist - or Jesus even? Macquarrie has pointed out the similarities, they call for an end to tradition, a call to see the full potential of all men rather than the modern scientific view of seeing all human beings as intelligent but beastly. The modern world would be more sympathetic to the viewpoint that we should only aspire to be like animals - that we are 'nothing-more' than monkeys. It is inspiring to me that the existentialist thinkers of the 20th Century shared the viewpoint of Christian theology that we do not have to follow the world, we can have an authentic exististence. To follow the world and to simply accept that we should expect nothing better than what we have is something that the existentialists also dreaded. I find this refreshing because the media and the scientific establishment seem to be so keen to press on us that there is no meaning to life, that our existence is mechanistic and there are so few people willing to speak out against this.

Macquarrie points to the term of Heidegger - Jemeinigkeit - existence is always mine. To quote from p. 33:

"One cricket-ball is pretty much like another. They are all made to a standard pattern, and while there are no doubt minor differences, it is true to say that if we have seen one, we have seen them all. Things can be classified - indeed not only science but everyday life would be impossible were we unable to classify and expect that one object will behave in the same way as others in the same class. But man as existing is an individual and defies classification. This is a point on which existentialism does justice to the biblical understanding of men as individual creatures of the Father and sets itself in opposition to modern scientific humanism to regard the being of man as at bottom no different from the being of things, an therefore amenable to study by scientific methods."

Can't believe this ...

2011-04-12T22:03:00.000Z

You have to read this.

and I thought Belfast was bad!

Christos Tsiolkas

2011-03-25T00:28:00.000Z

I have started to read 'The Slap' by Christos Tsoilkas and it is proving to be quite a good read. As an Australian, Tsiolkas seems determined to write in contrast to what he sees as 'dry / academic' european modern literature. Certainly, this book is a good read and I am sure it is well written. I have to admire Tsiolkas that he champions Updike's 'Couples' as an example of the best type of writing there could be.

The book has been described as 'soap-opera like' and it is certainly gripping, it reminds me at times of a film the it tries to bring in twists and turns. It also changes narrator each chaptor. Tsiolkas tries to say that writing needs to be more engaging - rather than escapist.

Isn't it ironic that on the back of my book, one of the reviews from the Daily Telegraph says 'The ideal summer read; escapist, funny and clever'!

I also heard this idea being proposed by Lionel Shriver, that we need books to engage rather than creating an escape. But by engaging, does that mean we are only allowed to read books about the current time, in our current location, if it does it is quite restrictive. What if I read a story about life in a Yugoslav army camp before the Serbian wars - is that escapist or engaging, what about a story about russia in the 1900s featuring a side story about time travel? Perhaps as long as the story is written recently.

I don't know but it there does seem to be a trend towards 'engaging' writing at the moment.

Appearance of truth

2011-03-17T10:07:00.000Z

This is a short excerpt from 'Ring around the moon', a play by Jean Anouilh. I love this short conversation, it is relevant today even more:

ROMAINVILLE: For God's sake, she isn't my mistress! I assure you she isn't, not the least bit.
HUGO: Who's going to believe you?
ROMAINVILLE: Everybody - because it's true.
HUGO: That's no help. It doesn't seem likely.
ROMAINVILLE: So according to you the truth means nothing.
HUGO: Nothing, dear boy, if no one believes it.

It could be said today but even more, Philip Marlowe could have said it and it would have made perfect sense. The authorities in Japan know this (but probably regret not learning more about it) and I think a lot of people are still trying to learn what this really means.

Celebrate International Women's Day 2011 with three women poets

2011-03-08T22:31:00.000Z

Sorry about the poor quality of these documents, contact me if you need a better copy:

Carole Satyamurti

Amanda Dalton

Polly Clark

Anxiety of death

2011-03-06T12:30:00.000Z

In 1952 Tillich wrote the following:

"It has been observed that anxiety of death increases with the increase of individualization and that people in collectivistic cultures are less open to this type of anxiety."

Makes me wonder the levels of fear in society at the moment.

Anders Bouvin

2011-02-28T22:04:00.000Z

Anders Bouvin, Handelsbanken

This profile found in the business section, is a fascinating look at the 'old-fashioned' way of banking that is making big moves and becoming more popular. Very interesting to read about a bank that goes against all the conventions of modern business and is doing very well. Part of the secret is identifying good people and training them well. I would suspect that if a UK bank tried to imitate them this would be the thing they would fail with.

Man was created in the image of God

2011-02-17T23:45:00.001Z

I have been reading F.D. Maurice lately and he ismuch impressed by a sermon preached by Robert South in the Cathedral Church of St Paul, London, November 9, 1662. I must admit I am impressed by the 'rare eloquence' too.

Try this for a new perspective on Adam as the first philosopher:

"It was the privilege of Adam innocent to have these also firm and untainted; to carry his monitor in his bosom, his law in his heart, and to have such a conscience as might be its own casuist. And certainly those actions must needs be regular, where there is an identity between the Rule and the Faculty. His own mind taught him a due dependence on God, and chalked out to him the just proportion and measures of behaviour to his fellow-creatures. He had no Catechism but Creation, needed no study but Reflection; read no book but the volume of the world, and that, too, not for rules to work by, but for Objects to work upon. Reason was his Tutor, and first Principles his Magna Moralia."

Pearls are a nuisance

2011-02-13T10:36:00.000Z

After reading a few Chandler novels I started to read Dashiell Hammett. I wasn't really convinced that Chandler was as good as Hammett. I discovered the above short story by Chandler and it is absolutely amazing. I can honestly say I have never read twists like this before.

Granta: Pakistan

2011-02-02T21:58:00.000Z

I bought this with no idea what to expect. The first story by Nadeem Aslam was incredible. Pakistan is not somewhere I would have thought of as the location for the next literary fad. I would encourage everyone here to believe the hype.

New York (Gay) City Boy

2011-02-02T21:42:00.002Z

Just finished reading 'City Boy' by Edmund White and it was a better read than I would have thought. White was part of the first generation to come out as gay in New York. Whilst I admire that, he does seem to be bitter about the prejudice that he faced in contrast to a previous generation of major literary characters (whom he names) who were gay but never revealed it.

I love reading about New York in the 70s, it was rough and cool, full of artists with wild times. I think he went overboard with the sexual detail. White mentions that Bob Dylan lived across the street from him but he never saw him and he didn't really like his music anyway. I don't think it is written as well as it could be, it is gossipy and reads as if he was discussing things over a glass of wine. It is full of famous characters from the New York literary scene and he obviously had a very exciting time. It is good to get a different view of the world every so often.

Whilst it does confirm my view that literary success depends on what friends you have, White did have a hard time getting his books published and I do have to admire that he stuck with it. It was quite lucky that Nabokov read his book and recommended him (even if he was never sure if Nabokov was joking or not!) He was even involved in writing 'The joy of gay sex', and openly admits that being published in whatever format, it helped him to get more published.

I must admit I was surprised at how bitter he appears at his lack of success and the trouble he has had over the years. I would have thought that now that he seems to have a fairly good reputation he would have glossed over it. I'm not even sure if it does merit the position of a 'book of note' but for a while it was quite a good read.

More by Mark Osborne

2011-01-23T11:15:00.000Z

This passed me by in 1998 but it is wonderful and it fits in with my thinking on Marx and Engels (!)

Science and religion do not always disagree

2011-01-22T21:53:00.000Z

Neuroscience and free will

This is a wonderful article, well thought-out and perhaps illustrating that there is more to the science-religion debate than the press would reveal to us. I have always suspected that as Clarke reveals there is more integrity and rigour within the religious side of the debate than the scientific and that the press are so biased towards the scientific that they will print anything as long as it is anti-religious.

Eric Hobsbawm, Michael Sandel, Nina Raine, Azzam Alwash 17 Jan 11

2011-01-18T18:58:00.001Z

Start the Week 17 Jan 2011

I would recommend this programme on justice and fairness, discussing Marxism, Aristotle and ethical dilemmas.

Journey to the end of the night

2011-01-16T11:52:00.000Z

I have started to read 'Journey to the end of the night' by Louis-Ferdinand Céline. A controversial classic, it starts in the carnage of World War I. The writer is disgusted with the waste of life and the futility of war. It is strongly written, gritty even. Although the writing is not perhaps as elegant or polished it is real and you are in turns disgraced and laughing, it is also humorous and I am enjoying reading it. At times you are left gasping at the harshness of the reality and then laughing on the next page.

On the battlefield he is sent out at night to search out how far the enemy has approached. He describes his heart as follows:

"My heart, a rabbit, warm in its little rib cage, fearful, cowering, bewildered."

Engels and Marx differ on morals

2011-01-16T11:31:00.001Z

I have re-started 'The Frock-Coated Communist' by Tristram Hunt on the life of Engels and I have been emerged in the start of the communist league. A little bit before the start of communism we find Engels and Marx have a slight difference of opinion concerning Engels bringing his 'good time girls' to meetings with Marx in Brussels.

Although it is hotly disputed, it is reported that marx and his wife would frown on Engels as he paraded a string of lovers. Hunt tries to make an issue of the fact that one of the world's greatest revolutionaries had moral issues with Engels. I think it is interesting but it was most probably the society they were involved in, Brussels was quite conservative compared to Paris.

Stephen Born was there in Brussels and reports:

"Among those present were Marx and his wife and Engels and his ... lady friend. The two couples were separated by a large room. When I approached Marx to greet him and his wife, he gave me a look and a meaningful smile that let me know that his wife strictly refused all contact with this ... lady friend. The noble woman was intransigent when it came to honouring mores. If anyone had the impertinence to demand of her that she make a concession in this regard, she would have refused indignantly."

Happy New Year 2011 to all my readers!

2011-01-02T09:48:00.000Z

Thailand cautionary tale

2010-12-29T19:59:00.000Z

Prisoners Abroad Thailand blog

I think all those reading this blog should have a look at this blog. It is a warning note to all those who know someone or might be planning on travelling to Thailand themselves. I must admit I am tempted to travel there but would rather be aware of some of the traps highlighted in this blog.

Basically the police and the local people are out to get troublesome tourists who want to get drunk or high quick. We might consider the punishments a bit harsh but we need to remember it is the tourists who have invaded their beautiful country.

Teilhard and the Question of Suffering

2010-12-29T00:00:00.000Z

Teilhard and the Question of Suffering

I was quite pleased that Global Spiral placed an article on Teilhard by John Haught on their front page. Unfortunately it is slightly over-technical but worth a glance if you are interested in the problem of evil and suffering.

The Thin Man

2010-12-27T13:10:00.000Z

Happy Christmas to all my readers, I trust you were treated well and Santa arrived with plenty of book tokens(!) I have just finished 'The Thin Man' and I am a confirmed Hammett addict. This is worth more than 'of note' status. This book is truly worthy of 'good read' status, in fact I gobbled it down like a thin man eating a Christmas dinner!

Amilcar Cabral - Tell no lies, Claim no easy victories

2010-12-06T20:54:00.000Z

Amilcar Cabral

We could all learn by reading this essay.

Educate ourselves; educate other people, the population in general, to fight fear and ignorance, to eliminate little by little the subjection to nature and natural forces which our economy has not yet mastered. Convince little by little, in particular the militants of the Party, that we shall end by conquering the fear of nature, and that man is the strongest force in nature.

What is language?

2010-12-02T23:28:00.001Z

Just a small note to acknowledge that I have become a 'Top Professor'. Apparently they reckon this blog is quite good and I have added a new section to the bottom of this page with my copious number of awards.

As laughable as this is, I felt the need to point out that 'English' is not the quaint outdated Received Pronounciation that some people like to think new speakers of english should be aspiring to. My basic idea is that language is communication and the new forms of english that we see around the world are equally valid - as long as the people involved understand what is going on, rather than fussing over spelling and grammar. As you can see from my blog - I am far from perfect!

What the green movement got wrong

2010-11-12T18:59:00.000Z

Charles Moore

I think it is interesting that more people are starting to realise that nuclear energy could be worth considering.

Not often you see a cartoon about auditing!

2010-11-09T22:26:00.005Z

You need to click on cartoon to see it full size

China in data promise

2010-11-08T21:51:00.000Z

China

China is trying to convince people that if they are truthful and admit to having more than one child, they will use the data for the census and not pass it on to the other departments - involved in policing the issue. Would you trust them?

Not me either!

Teilhard on Earth

2010-11-05T21:31:00.000Z

One of the projects I have started in the last few months is the charting of Teilhard's life on Google Earth - with the new title 'Teilhard on Earth'. The idea is that all the places where he lived or spent time could be charted on Google Earth. Over the past 50 years a great deal has been achieved on his thought and the implications of his thought but we still know relatively little about his daily life, the places where he ate and slept. Perhaps this can lead to a deeper understanding of Teilhard. Google earth is quite good at giving you an overview of what a place is like, you can see photos added by other users. For example, Teilhard was born in Charcenat in the Auvergne region. You can go to Google Earth and see the woods around his house, see the surrounding towns. Google Earth is collaborative, everyone contributes and there is something Teilhardian about the idea.

One thing I hadn't really thought about was how our experiences are shaped. In 'The Human Search' Melvyn Thompson explains how Teilhard felt his life experiences were shaped by other people / external forces and therefore you can't really look at a location and say 'what does this say about Teilhard?' because Teilhard never choose to be in that location and might even have been trying to get away from there. Especially during World War I and as a Jesuit I have a found a series of locations and postings, conferences, retreats and it has definitely made me re-think the project:

"Yet much of what we experience is not of our own creating or choosing - things happen to us, events are shaped by events beyong our control, and slowly but inevitably we suffer from the physical limitations of our own bodies. These are what Teilhard calls our 'passivities', and among them we find a negative version of the same tension that affected out activities.
Should we struggle against all that moulds and controls us, or should we accept it as being inevitably the will of some all-powerful God?"

So we can see that Teilhard was fascinated by the idea of how we should live, what should be the connection between 'what we should do' and 'what controls us'. Melvyn Thompson concludes that Teilhard never came up with a solution but he cherished the tension that the dilemma creates and lived by it.

There is no simple answer, the places where he lived will not reveal the secrets of Teilhard's thoughts but that won't stop me from continuing and carrying on the search regardless.

Practising one tune for 24 hours is better than practising 24 tunes in one hour

2010-11-05T21:00:00.001Z

Bill Evans in Studio on Piano Jazz 1978

Just discovered this programme, makes good listening.

Audio recording of Teilhard in New York

2010-10-11T06:35:00.000Z

I have just discovered that the Wenner Gren Foundation have posted an audio archive that features Teilhard at one of their 'Supper Conferences'.

Teilhard in 1948

Curious George

2010-10-09T19:35:00.000Z

Don't know if anyone here is a fan of 'Curious George' but I saw this photo of 1950s New York and I couldn't help thinking, this maybe inspired H.A. Rey.

Curious George

Educational Philosophy

Curious George is a little monkey with an insatiable curiosity. Like George, children are intrigued by new things. They're natural explorers and scientists, and they're anxious to know how things work.
The CURIOUS GEORGE series takes full advantage of this natural curiosity, using George to motivate children to expand their own investigations of the world. George's memorable adventures — from dismantling clocks to rounding up errant bunnies — offer the perfect vehicles for introducing preschoolers to key concepts in science, engineering, and math.
Exploring the world around him with wonder and intrigue, George embodies the preschool child's potential in the field of science. George's desire to use his four little hands to skillfully take things apart and figure out how they work exposes children to the basic concepts of engineering. And his interactions with patterns, measurements, and geometric shapes introduces early mathematical concepts.
Did we mention that the show is funny? This isn't a series of lectures (ever try to get a monkey to sit still for a lecture?). These are comic adventures. When each adventure ends, kids will have gained some knowledge, and had plenty of laughs along the way.
And there's something to be learned by adults here, too. Many parents and caregivers know how to support language literacy development in their children: they read aloud to them, and fill their environments with letters, words, and labels. But few are aware that by embracing children's natural curiosity, they are supporting their educational potential in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics. So while George is nurturing children's innate tendencies toward inquiry and hands-on exploration, he is also motivating parents and caregivers to do the same.
Science, engineering, and mathematics are disciplines representing years of accumulated knowledge. The objective of the CURIOUS GEORGE series is to help children appreciate these disciplines and the wealth of knowledge contained in them. Appreciation and understanding begins for young children with exploration, observation, discovery, and most importantly, curiosity. Curious about the world around them, children begin to observe properties, discover how things work, and, ultimately, develop scientific thought processes.

ccccc

The writer

2010-10-04T20:24:00.000Z

The following is taken from Night 13, The Arabian Nights, the new translation by Malcolm Lyons. I think I have blogged quite a bit about the wonder of this translation. All writers should remember this:

'The writer perishes but what he writes
Remains recorded for all time.
Write only what you will be pleased to see
When the Day of Resurrection comes

...

Open the inkwell of grandeur and of blessings;
Make generosity and liberality your ink.
When you are able, write down what is good;
This will be taken as your lineage and that of your pen.

10 biases of digital media/commands

2010-09-12T19:41:00.000Z

Got this from here:
[This is very interesting, the more we use technology, the more we need to recognise the biases that we are living under.]

10 biases of digital media/commands
1. Time. Thou shall not be always on. We are turning an asynchronous net as always on. He encouraged saying “My time is mine.”
2. Distance. Thou shalt not do from a distance what can be done in person. Using long distance in short distance situations. Don’t use distance learning in localized context.
3. Scale – the Internet is biased to scale up. Exalt the particular. Not everything scales, should scale or needs to scale.
4. Discrete – everything is a choice. You may always choose none of the above. Sites like Facebook promote forced choice, you have to choose from a set of options.
5. Complexity – the net reduces complexity. Thou shalt never be completely right.
6. Non-corporeal – out of body. Thou shalt not be anonymous. Rushkoff says “work against tendency of the net to promote anonymity.” Anonymity encourages becoming part of polarized mobs with no sense of consequence, it side steps prejudices. It is liberating to promote yourself online.
7. Contact is king (not content). Remember the humans. “Social marketing is an oxymoron.”
8. Abstraction – as above, so not below. Print abstracts text from the scribe. Hypertext takes it a step further.
9. Openness. Thou shalt not steal. When there is no social contract, openness can continue until there is no one left to give things away. Nothing is free.
10. End users – technology is biased toward consumers. Programmed or be programmed.
This is a fascinating concept. Culture at large thinks about technology in terms of what can it do for us, rather than what can we make it do. Rushkoff says this is a false tradeoff. Companies are telling us, well if you want that, then we can’t really make it dependable. They try to appease us with minimal customization. He says that if we are looking at the Net as a product we consume rather than something we create with, we are doomed.
He is optimistic about digital media. We are at an important moment in time, there are new models of interaction. We need to program society, but to do that, we have to understand both the programs we use to do it and the codes and symbols we are working with, and how we relate to them.
He summed his talk with this: “If we create a society that is programmed, we will be the users and most importantly, the used.”
I was skeptical about this talk at first. I had felt the most recent documentary was a bit negative, full of too much pessimism about what technology was doing to us, and our children. But this talk was very much in line with my current philosophy, that we should use the net to create. It is an empowering time, full of responsibility. You can’t control your presentation or representation online unless you participate. And participation requires a deep understanding of the possibilities as well as the biases of technology.

Miami and the siege of Chicago

2010-09-09T21:14:00.000Z

Still reading Norman Mailer and finding it fascinating. If this was 'New Journalism' what happened to it? I certainly haven't read anything as interesting as this on a political convention - perhaps ever.

On Prayer

2010-08-26T22:02:00.000Z

Prayer is the peace of our spirit, the stillness
of our thoughts, the evenness of recollection, the
seat of meditation, the rest of our cares, and the
calm of our tempest ; prayer is the issue of a quiet
mind, of untroubled thoughts, it is the daughter
of charity, and the sister of meekness ; and he
that prays to God with an angry, that is, with a
troubled and discomposed spirit, is like him that
retires into a battle to meditate, and sets up his
closet in the out quarters of an army. Anger
is a perfect alienation of the mind from prayer,
and therefore is contrary to that attention, which
presents our prayers in a right line to God, For
so have I seen a lark rising from his bed of grass,
and soaring upwards singing as he rises, and hopes
to get to heaven, and climb above the clouds;
but the poor bird was beaten back with the loud
sighings of an eastern wind, and his motion made
irregular and unconstant, descending more at
every breath of the tempest, than it could recover
by the libration and frequent weighing of his
wings ; till the little creature was forced to sit
down and pant, and stay till the storm was over,
and then it made a prosperous flight, and did rise
and sing as if it had learned musick and motion
from an angel, as he passed sometimes through
the air about his ministries here below : so is the
prayer of a good man.
Prayers are but the body of the bird ; desires
are its angel's wings.

from 'Selections of the works of Bishop Jeremy Taylor, Hooker, Barrow et al' Ed by Basil Montagu 1829

What is now to be done ...

2010-08-19T22:06:00.000Z

" What is now to be done ? Must Truth be for ever in the dark, and the world for ever be divided, and societies disturbed, and governments weakened, and our spirits debauched with error, and the uncertain opinions and the pedantry of talking men ? Certainly there is a way to cure all this evil, and the wise Governor of the world hath not been wanting in so" necessary a matter as to lead us into all truth. But the way hath not yet been hit upon, and yet I have told you all the ways of man, and his imaginations, in order to Truth and Peace ; and you see these will not do ; we can find no rest for the soles of our feet, amidst all the waters of contention and disputations, and little artifices of divided schools .... We have examined all ways but one, all but God's way. Let us, having missed all the others, try this." Bp. Taylor, Via Intelligentae.

1979 Iranian hostage crisis

2010-08-02T21:01:00.001Z

The 1979 Iranian hostage crisis

Don't know why but I can't seem to stop thinking about this podcast. It is one of the most incredible stories I have ever heard.

Definition of hero

2010-07-29T22:49:00.000Z

Odysseus has just been challenged by Alkinoos as to why the gods have not made more of a spectacle of him. Odysseus is slightly annoyed and replies as follows:

Alkinoos, let something else be in your mind; I am not
in any way like the immortals who hold wide heaven,
neither in build nor stature, but only to men who are mortal.
Whoever it is of people you know who wear the greatest
burden of misery, such are the ones whom I would equal
for pain endured, and I could tell of still more troubles
that are all mine and by the will of the gods I suffered.
But leave me now to eat my dinner, for all my sorrow,
for there is no other thing so shameless as to be set over
the belly, but she rather uses constraint and makes me think of her,
even when sadly worn, when in my heart I have sorrow
as now I have sorrow in my heart, yet still forever
she tells me to eat and drink and forces me to forgetfulness
of all I have suffered, and still she is urgent that I must fill her.

From 'Odyssey' by Homer translated by Lattimore, p. 116-7

A hero is someone who takes all that the gods throw at him / her and keeps going. Odysseus surely took more than his fair share and he didn't spend his time trying to change things, he accepted it and all he wanted was a quiet life and a good meal.

Boxed in

2010-07-26T23:33:00.000Z

There is a particularly good article on the boxer Shane Mosley in this weeks edition of the New Yorker.

Boxed in

It is quite a balanced article on the 38 year old boxer, his life and his training methods and follows him as he goes to fight Floyd Mayweather. The trainer Richardson describes boxing as something far more than mere physical strength - 'Shane's power is more confidence than actual power, this motherfucker believe in that shot so much, to where that shot is like that.' he goes on - 'The gorilla is the strongest motherfucker in the zoo, but you ain't never seen that bitch walk by with the keys.'

Then Larry Merchant (HBO boxing commentator since 1978) captures the show with the following quote: "Floyd Mayweather is usually the most exciting fighter before the first bell, Shane Mosley after the first bell."

In the end Mayweather perfects the style of boxing and wins - the name of the sport, is also the name of the style.

Mosley trains in Big Bear Lake, California, where most of the interviews take place, hence the location of this post.

William Temple and his message

2010-07-26T22:36:00.000Z

William Temple was an Archbishop from the start of the last century. He was interested in Christian Unity and Social reform. I have written about him before and have always found him interesting. I found a book about him on Saturday and it describes one of his earliest influences when he went to visit a missionary doctor in Bermondsey (Abbey Street):

"The doctor's own methods were highly individual. The first time I visited the Club was during my second year at Oxford. I was taken to a basement room, where a crowd of some twenty people sat on benches round the wall; one corner was screened off. The doctor stood in the middle with myself just behind him, and preached with great directness for about five minutes. Then he turned abruptly and dived into the corner behind the screen, beckoning me to follow. We found a rickety table and three uninviting chairs. I sat on an end one and was given a pencil and a writing tablet; the doctor sat in the middle; on the other chair sat the patients, one after another. With each a conversation took place on the following lines. "Put out your tongue ... Where did you go to church last Sunday? ... Open your mouth ... Why not? Say ninety-nine ... Well I'll give you some medicine, but mind you say your prayers and go to church in the future." The gaps represent inarticulate replies, the patient being in an attitude prohibitive of speech; but the doctor knew the answers without hearing."

Going to doctor has changed now, can't help feeling this way would have been quite good fun.

John Henry Newman

2010-07-19T19:22:00.001Z

Cardinal Newman was much more than a reluctant saint

Good to see this book review in the Daily Telegraph to see a new look at Newman.

Have a look

2010-07-17T10:45:00.001Z

Igneos Bob Dylan blog

My personal blog

Jacques Prévert

2010-07-16T21:28:00.002Z

See his webpage.

Worthy of note, for example the following poem:

To paint a bird's portrait

First of all, paint a cage
with an opened little door
then paint something attractive
something simple
something beautiful
something of benefit for the bird
Put the picture on a tree
in a garden
in a wood
or in a forest
hide yourself behind the tree
silent
immovable...

Sometimes the bird arrives quickly
but sometimes it takes years
Don't be discouraged
wait
wait for years if necessary
the rapidity or the slowness of the arrival
doesn't have any relationship
with the result of the picture

When the bird comes
if it comes
keep the deepest silence
wait until the bird enters the cage
and when entered in
Close the door softly with the brush
then remove one by the one all the bars
care not to touch any feather of the bird

Then draw the portrait of the tree
choosing the most beautiful branch
for the bird
paint also the green foliage and the coolness
of the beasts of the grass in the summer's heat
and then, wait that the bird starts singing

If the bird doesn't sing
it's a bad sign
it means that the picture is wrong
but if it sings it's a good sign
it means that you can sign

so you tear with sweetness
a feather from the bird
and write your name in a corner of the painting.

Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues

2010-07-05T06:40:00.002Z

Just thought you might like to read these lyrics. Quite funny by Bob Dylan. If anyone wants to listen to the song, I can send them the mp3.

Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues

I saw it advertised one day
Bear Mountain picnic was comin’ my way
“Come along ’n’ take a trip
We’ll bring you up there on a ship
Bring the wife and kids
Bring the whole family”
Yippee!

Well, I run right down ’n’ bought a ticket
To this Bear Mountain Picnic
But little did I realize
I was in for a picnic surprise
Had nothin’ to do with mountains
I didn’t even come close to a bear

Took the wife ’n’ kids down to the pier
Six thousand people there
Everybody had a ticket for the trip
“Oh well,” I said, “it’s a pretty big ship
Besides, anyway, the more the merrier”

Well, we all got on ’n’ what d’ya think
That big old boat started t’ sink
More people kept a-pilin’ on
That old ship was a-slowly goin’ down
Funny way t’ start a picnic

Well, I soon lost track of m’ kids ’n’ wife
So many people there I never saw in m’ life
That old ship sinkin’ down in the water
Six thousand people tryin’ t’ kill each other
Dogs a-barkin’, cats a-meowin’
Women screamin’, fists a-flyin’, babies cryin’
Cops a-comin’, me a-runnin’
Maybe we just better call off the picnic

I got shoved down ’n’ pushed around
All I could hear there was a screamin’ sound
Don’t remember one thing more
Just remember wakin’ up on a little shore
Head busted, stomach cracked
Feet splintered, I was bald, naked . . .
Quite lucky to be alive though

Feelin’ like I climbed outa m’ casket
I grabbed back hold of m’ picnic basket
Took the wife ’n’ kids ’n’ started home
Wishin’ I’d never got up that morn

Now, I don’t care just what you do
If you wanta have a picnic, that’s up t’ you
But don’t tell me about it, I don’t wanta hear it
’Cause, see, I just lost all m’ picnic spirit
Stay in m’ kitchen, have m’ own picnic . . .
In the bathroom

Now, it don’t seem to me quite so funny
What some people are gonna do f’r money
There’s a bran’ new gimmick every day
Just t’ take somebody’s money away
I think we oughta take some o’ these people
And put ’em on a boat, send ’em up to Bear Mountain . . .
For a picnic

The Yacoubian Building

2010-06-30T21:38:00.001Z

Alaa Al-Aswaany

I would like to recommend this podcast. I listened to it first before reading the above book and it certainly proves to be just as compelling as it sounds on the podcast.

It is quite interesting to read something where the characters live according to their flaws and receive what is expected and probably according to the Muslim world - what they deserve. There are many different characters, some pleasant, some unpleasant, with some humorous moments, some very sombre moments. One question we must ask ourselves is - is the west really very different, especially with some of the scandals and corruption that we find even today.

That is all apart from one unfortunate character who certainly deserved the best of all possible outcomes and received nothing but unhappiness.

As a pure and honest insight into life in Cairo we are assured it is genuine and for that if nothing else it is worth reading.

Architecture of decency

2010-06-30T21:18:00.002Z

Architecture of Decency from Speaking of Faith. This episode with Andrew Freear from the Rural Studio, Alabama is very interesting.

Chandler

2010-06-28T20:27:00.002Z

I must give a mention to Raymond Chandler and Philip Marlowe who have become quite a phenomena. I have read two of his books over the past three weeks and the way things are going I will probably read all seven relatively quickly. Brilliant writing, ultimate thriller storylines, dark characters. Thankyou to Jose who first strongly recommended Chandler to me quite a while ago.

Ion

2010-06-28T20:11:00.003Z

Another short note from me to recommend searching out 'Ion' by Euripides - bound to be a couple of copies in your local secondhand bookshop. It is worth the effort, I found the Vellacott translation and found it compelling with a very contemporary appeal. The story still feels as if it could have been written in relatively modern times.

Woody Allen

2010-05-27T10:21:00.002Z

Will the Real Avatar please stand up?

This article is a classic, I laughed outloud. Worthy of note!

We were soldiers once ... and young

2010-04-22T19:24:00.003Z

I read the book by Harold G Moore this year in Peru and it is a sign of how good a book is that in one moment you can be transported back to the vivid horror of the battle of Ia Drang and the bravery of the Americans in the 7th Cavalry Regiment.

There are repeated references to 'garryowen'. The soldiers whould shout 'garryowen' when they charged against the enemy and I only discovered today by chance that Garry Owen is an Irish 'air' and the quickmarch of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). The song originated with the lager louts of Limerick in the 18th century and I very much doubt that the Viet cong understood what the Americans were shouting at them when they attacked(!).

I found the following video

The lyrics are as follows:

GARRYOWEN

Let Bacchus' sons be not dismayed
But join with me, each jovial blade
Come, drink and sing and lend your aid
To help me with the chorus:

cho: Instead of spa, we'll drink brown ale
And pay the reckoning on the nail;
No man for debt shall go to jail
From Garryowen in glory.

We'll beat the bailiffs out of fun,
We'll make the mayor and sheriffs run
We are the boys no man dares dun
If he regards a whole skin.

Our hearts so stout have got no fame
For soon 'tis known from whence we came
Where'er we go they fear the name
Of Garryowen in glory.

Engels and the conditions of the working class

2010-04-01T21:25:00.003Z

I am still reading my biography of Engels by Tristram Hunt and he has just arrived in Manchester in the 1840s. I always knew the conditions were bad in that time but they were 'very bad'. In fact even in terms of Europe, Manchester was renowned as being considerably bad and attracted a favela tourism by traveling writers. Alexis de Tocqueville described it as a 'new hades':

"fetid, muddy waters, stained with a thousand colours by the factories they pass' and yet, 'from this fould drain the greatest stream of human industry flows out to fertilize the whole world. From this filthy sewer pure gold flows."

Dr Richard Baron Howard, Assistant Poor Law commissioners describes it as follows:

"whole streets were unpaved and without drains or mini-sewers and were so covered with refuse and excrementitious matter as to be almost impassable from depth of mud, and intolerable from stench."

One of the districts of Manchester decided to name a block of flats after Engels. In November 2007 the Salford Star went to interview the residents of Engels House to ask their thoughts on the man who gave his name to their tower block. Resident Gordon Langlands was having terrible problems with the damp. 'The Council just seem to be deafing me on it, they're just a bunch of commedians. But it's getting beyond a joke now. Someone told me to move out but I've built this place up. This Engels, he would have sorted it.' Salford Star 6/11/07

Organisational Development

2010-04-01T21:09:00.002Z

I have been reading a book on 'Organisational Development', merely because it is something that I know very little about. I was quite shocked to find that this book was written in 1984 and one of the most basic assumptions and aim that it writes about is still a problem even though it is now 26 years after this book has been written.

There are two basic assumptions that OD makes about individuals:

"The first assumption about people is that most individuals have drives toward personal growth and development if provided an environment that is both supportive and challenging. Most people want to become more of what they are capable of becoming."

I think most people would agree this is still quite difficult to find and I would like to see it framed above the door of every single office and factory in the whole of the UK.

The second basic assumption is even more applicable today and I would think is still attempted but largely ignored I would say by most employers:

"The second basic assumption, related to the first, is that most people desire to make, and are capable of making, a higher level of contribution to the attainment of organisational goals than most organisational environments will permit. A tremendous amount of constructive energy can be tapped if organisations recognise this, for example, by asking for and acting on suggestions to solve problems."

I completely agree and this is why everybody should read about organisational development!

90 Degrees South

2010-03-19T20:23:00.002Z

90 Degrees South: Interactive Experience of Antarctica

I have been exploring Google Earth the last few weeks. This tour of Antarctica is an interesting insight to the scientific world of Antarctica.

Law of Love

2010-03-07T11:18:00.003Z

I came across this quote from Tillich over the last few days and it strikes me as being quite profound and at the very least gives a new insight into the ideal of 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself':

"The law of love is the ultimate law because it is the negation of law; it is absolute because it concerns everything concrete ... The absolutism of love is its power to go into the concrete situation, to discover what is demanded by the predicament of the concrete to which it turns. Therefore, love can never become fanatical in a fight for the absolute, or cynical under the impact of the relative."
Paul Tillish, Sytematic Theology, vol 1, p.152

Joseph Kempner Teller

2010-02-27T12:38:00.003Z

I have just come across this interview with Joseph Kempner Teller. Teller was an undercover DEA agent and a defence lawyer and now writes crime novels. Very entertaining and certainly someone to look out for!

Also listen to live to WBGO, New York's premier jazz radio station. Cool!

Cyber War

2010-02-25T17:19:00.003Z

I don't know if people are aware of it but there is an excellent podcast from the International Spy Museum in Washington DC called 'Spycast'. You can access it here.

In a recent edition they have an interview with Herbert Lin, an expert in cyber war. The podcast is fascinating and it is definitely worth reading his book -
' Technology, Policy, Law, and Ethics Regarding U.S. Acquisition and Use of Cyberattack Capabilities (2009)
The summary is available free of charge from National Academies Press which is alo a very interesting organisation. Although the books are quite academic you can usually download a free copy of each book which is really useful.

King Sindbad

2010-02-18T22:09:00.001Z

The story below is from night 4 of 'Tales of the Arabian Nights vol 1' the new translation by Malcolm Lyon.

The story of King Sindbad and his falcon

You must know that there was a Persian king with a passion for enjoyment and amusement, who had a fondness for hunting. He had reared a falcon which was his constant companion by night and by day, and which would spend the night perched on his wrist. He would take it hunting with him and he had a golden bowl made for it which he hung round its neck and from which it could drink. One day the chief falconer came to where he was sitting and told him that it was time to go out hunting. The king gave the orders and went off with the falcon on his wrist until he and the party reached a wadi, where they spread out their hunting cordon. Trapped in this was a gazelle and the king threatened that anyone who allowed it to leap over his head would be put to death. When the cordon was narrowed, the gazelle came to where the king was posted, supported itself on its hindlegs and placed its forelegs on its chest as though it was kissing the ground before him. He bent his head towards it and it then jumped over him, making for the open country. He noticed that his men were looking at him and winking at each other and when he asked his vizier what this meant, the man explained: ‘They are pointing out that you said that if anyone let the gazelle jump over his head, he would be killed.’

The king then swore that he would hunt it down and he rode off in pursuit, following the gazelle until he came to a mountain. There it was about to pass through a cleft when the king loosed his falcon at it and the bird clawed at its eyes, blinding and dazing it, so that the king could draw his mace and knock it over with a single blow. He then dismounted and cut its throat, after which he skinned it and tied it to his saddlebow. As this was in the noonday heat and the region was desolate and waterless, both the king and his horse were thirsty by now. The king scouted round and discovered a tree from which what looked like liquid butter was dripping. Wearing a pair of kid gloves, he took the bowl from the falcon’s neck, filled it with this liquid and set it in front of the bird, but it knocked the bowl and overturned it. The king took it and filled it again, thinking that the falcon must be thirsty, but the same thing happened when he put it down a second time. This annoyed him and he went a third time to fill the bowl and take it to his horse, but this time the falcon upset it with his wing. The king cursed at it, exclaiming: ‘You unluckiest of birds, you have stopped me drinking, and have stopped yourself and the horse.’ He then struck off its wing with a blow from his sword, but the bird raised its head as though to say by its gesture: ‘Look at the top of the tree.’ The king raised his eyes and what he saw there was a brood of vipers whose poison was dripping down. Immediately regretting what he had done, he mounted his horse and rode back to his pavilion, bringing with him the gazelle, which he handed to the cook, telling him to take it and roast it. As he sat on his chair with the falcon on his wrist, it drew its last breath and died, leaving its master to exclaim with sorrow for having killed it, when it had saved his life. So ends the story of King Sindbad.

Historical Curiosity

2010-02-05T19:21:00.001Z

Click on the above pic to find about David Hartley for those of you interested in historical curiosities.

Limeno

2010-02-05T19:19:00.003Z

Couldn't help but notice this slightly sinister pic on my slideshow that appeared randomly. I will change the slideshow settings today(!)

What is faith? #2

2010-02-04T19:12:00.005Z

As normal I have the canny ability to come across other books that reflect on my last post.

Mario Vargas Llosa in 'Conversation in the Cathedral' has the following to say about doubt. This is typical of the irreverent Limeño.

"They should have invented a pill, a suppository to work against doubts, Ambrosio," Santiago says. "Just think how beautiful, you stick it in and there you are: I believe."

Can't help laughing at this - surely there could be a punk song about this.

Alternatively Thomas Carlyle in 'Signs of the Times':

"so that reasonable men deal with it, as the Londoners do with their fogs, - go cautiously out into the groping crowd, and patiently carry lanterns at noon; knowing by a well-grounded faith, that the sun is still in existence."

What is faith?

2010-01-23T13:26:00.006Z

As Armstrong has pointed out belief was something strikingly different in the beginning. Theodore, Bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia from 392 to 428 wrote of faith as something that was purely a matter of committment and practical living, he did not require his candidates to believe any mysterious doctrines.

(p. 101 'The Case for God', Armstrong)

Faith

2010-01-23T13:12:00.005Z

As Armstrong points out the idea of 'One God' is shared by three religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Not just as Dawkins would like to criticise - Christianity. The history of the three religions is something new to me. I have found it fascinating.

I was not aware that when Isam started it was known as tazakka ('refinement'). The followers were uneasy about even creating a new religion. It was a way of life and you could follow the bible as a Christian or Jew and still practise the commitment of Isalm. In the Qu'ran the people who opposed Islam are called Kafirun, This has been mistranslated as infidel or unbeliever, it should be translated as 'blatant ingratitude', a discourteous and arrogant refusal of something offered with great kindness. There was no sense of aggression or dislike the attitude to those who were aggressive towards them was to be as follows:

"Muslims are commanded to respond to such abusive behaviour with hilm ('forebearance') and quiet courtesy, leaving revenge to Allah. They must 'walk gently on the earth', and whenever the Kafirun insult them, they should simply reply: 'Salam' ('peace')."

The case for God

2010-01-23T13:05:00.003Z

I bought Karen Armstrong's 'The Case for God' thinking that at last someone has decided to take on Dawkins. The book is heavy going - definitely not easy and it doesn't seem to be trying to counter Dawkins but if he does have the sense to read it - and read it the whole way through perhaps it could work as such.

Armstrong goes back to the very beginning, asking 'who is God', 'what is faith' and to be honest I have found as many new ideas and startling insights as anyone. For the ordinary person looking for some ammo to go against Dawkins they will probably come out more confused than when they started. Remember as Armstrong has said 'it is not easy, because religion is not easy' - I think that is a cautionary note for ordinary people as much for the 'brights' such as Dawkins.

Checking in

2010-01-23T13:01:00.002Z

Hi All!

Good to see I have picked up a few new fans, (and a few unwanted fans). I have been away for a few weeks, comments are welcome. I will try to keep the blog updated regularly from now on.

All are welcome, just don't expect the normal book reviews. I am more convinced than ever that books for review aren't read by the writers - that it is a back slapping exercise and perhaps this is why the book industry is suffering so much.

Expect nothing but the unexpected on this blog!

What are mortals?

2010-01-23T12:58:00.002Z

Job 7:17-21 (Message translation)

^17-21 "What are mortals anyway, that you bother with them,
that you even give them the time of day?
That you check up on them every morning,
looking in on them to see how they're doing?
Let up on me, will you?
Can't you even let me spit in peace?
Even suppose I'd sinned—how would that hurt you?
You're responsible for every human being.
Don't you have better things to do than pick on me?
Why make a federal case out of me?
Why don't you just forgive my sins
and start me off with a clean slate?
The way things are going, I'll soon be dead.
You'll look high and low, but I won't be around."

Memory of Running by Ron McLarty

2009-12-13T15:34:00.005Z

Just finished reading this book - it is incredible!

Ron McLarty had finished this book about 10 years ago but no publisher would accept it so he placed it on the internet as an audio book - with him reading it. Stephen King found it and proclaimed it 'as the best book you couldn't read'. Then there was a bidding war for someone to publish it and when he asked the publishers why they refused it before no one would give him an answer.

Lost Parasol

2009-11-19T19:24:00.001Z

Lost Parasol by Sandor Weores

You must read this.

Read Read Read Read Read, listen to this podcast first

2009-11-18T19:36:00.003Z

Prof Goldberg on Conspiracy Theories

This podcast from the International Spy Museum makes for scary listening. Very interesting though.

San Martin - Super Saint

2009-11-08T13:22:00.002Z

"The Dominican prior had to forbid Martin from continuing to miraclify (please excuse the verb). And to show the dutiful, obedient spirit of this servant of God, the biographer relates how, just as Martin was passing by a scaffolding, a bricklayer fell from thirty or forty feet above. Our lay brother stopped in his tracks and yelled - "Wait a second, brother!" And until Martin got back with permission from the prior, the bricklayer was suspended in mid-air."

Ricardo Palmer, 'Peruvian Traditions'.

Terra Sigillata

2009-11-03T22:56:00.002Z

These few verses are from the above poem by Sandor Weores described as Epigrams of an Ancient poet. I find it difficult to understand these verses but perhaps they are something about being a poet:

"A red-fingered child pats grey cakes at the seaside,
I ask fo one, he says no, not even for a real cake, no.
Well now, old prophets, what do you want from me? the twenty four
sky-prisms, when I look blind into hearts and read them.

. . .

'You say you're God's offspring: why do you scrape along like paupers?'
'Even Zeus himself, when he takes human steps on earth,
begs bread and water, parched, starved as a tramp.

. . .

Crime has majesty, virtue is holy; but what is the troubled heart worth?
There, crime is raving drunk and virtue is a jailer."