Really cool artwork.
I found it here.
For more by the same artist (Alexandra Pacula) check out her website
.
Really cool artwork.
I found it here.
For more by the same artist (Alexandra Pacula) check out her website
.
I just finished reading "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams, which was fantastic. Very haunting. Which is kind of the point of Williams's work. Even down to the stage notes, everything in "The Glass Menagerie" is meant to portray a specific feeling. Music, lighting, even projected captions all create a sense of memory.
Also included in the edition I was reading was "The Catastrophe of Success", an essay by Williams about how the success of the play changed her life and the reflections it has led her to.
I like essays. They're brief, and eloquent in their brevity. I also like plays. They also tend to be quick reads, and serve to portray a brief period of time very accurately. Particularly the feel of the moment, which can easily be lost in a different medium.
It's hard to tell which work I enjoyed more. The play has a darker feel, whereas in the essay, Williams is speaking directly to the reader, informing them of her opinions and their causes. I would highly recommend both.
This comic is a personal favorite. The original can be found here.
"the bourgeois is a bourgeois-- for the benefit of the working class." Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Within this one phrase is an argument used in countless situations when one group is oppressed by another. It calls to mind the rationalization of slavery in the 1850s and of racism for long afterward. Marx and Engels use it in reference to the oppression of the proletariat by the bourgeois. It is used to defend today's school system.
This argument rationalizes oppression by claiming the oppressors oppress to help the oppressed. Yes, this is rather counterintuitive. Yet this argument is still being used today even while it has been proved false in other circumstances.
In explanation of my comment referring to America's schools, I would ask you to examine the language used in debates about schools and school reform. No matter what position is held and what action is taken, it is always for the sake of the children. However, how can contradicting views both claim to support and care for the students? Furthermore, how can a system that was not designed with the well-being of students as its primary goal now be defended in such a manner?
Elementary schools were originally designed to educate a future work force. Long hours spent sitting at desks, often doing repetitive work, was supposed to prepare children for life in a factory. High schools, on the other hand, were used to keep adolescents out of the work force to keep unemployment down as workers began to live longer, more productive lives. True, adjustments have been made as times have changed and high school has become an important step towards further education for some students, but the framework remains the same. The design of the school system was meant to create a proletariat, but as America is a capitalist society, that is hardly in the best interest of its students.
The argument for oppression for the sake of the oppressed is nothing more than politicalized hypocrisy. Ideally, we wouldn't have to shroud our motives in lies to get ideas heard. Motives may be completely valid, but unless they are follow the "for the sake" formula, they are not politically correct enough to get positive attention. When honest motives and their ideas are heard, democracy will be able to develop beyond the overly political state it is in.
http://www.marcandangel.com/2010/02/08/29-semi-productive-things-i-do-online/
The title of the post says it all: 29 Semi-Productive Things I Do Online When I'm Trying to Avoid Real Work
I stumbled upon this little list the other day, and I couldn't help but grin as I read the intro. This applies to me. And everyone else with a pulse and an internet connection. This particular compilation of internet habits is quite thorough and I found several that certainly apply to me. However, there were some that I'd never before fathomed, and thus represented countless future hours of non-productivity. And there are yet other ways I spend my time on the internet, the most obvious of which is this blog.
A good part of the list consists of things that I mean to do, but often I don't actually get around to it. Watching TED videos and reading e-books take more time than I'm generally willing to spend on semi-productivity. My conscience gets me too quickly. I do use eHow and similar sites, but mostly when I have a problem I'm trying to solve, not when I'm just cruising the web. Similarly, I use OpenCourseware more while I'm studying.
The list suggests using a site to keep track of a to do list, and while I have nothing against Remember the Milk, I'm personally a fan of TeuxDeux. I also often do numbers 17, 19, 20, 24, and 27. The rest were unknown to me, though I will certainly be devoting some time to check them out soon.
There are some things I spend time on that were grossly ignored. First of all would be web comics, specifically XKCD and Surviving the World. The post also failed to mention the 50 most interesting articles on wikipedia and wikipedia racing (reference misplaced), both of which are enjoyable pastimes. However, beyond these oversights, the article in question is certainly worth the semi-productive time it takes to read it.
In case any one is at a loss for the perfect gift, Out of Print Clothing has you covered. The only downside is that its a bit pricey. But they donate books through Books for Africa... so it kinda evens out.
I'm currently reading My Forbidden Face, a book by a woman who lived in Afghanistan while the Taliban were in power. Its a very interesting story, due to the personal details. Readers learn about Latifa's family, including her brother with extremist tendencies. By the time the Taliban took control, she had already lived through Soviet and resistance regimes with varying degrees of freedom. I personally find the historic details interesting, and their differences from the history we learn in the United States. Relatively recent history, from the Cold War on, isn't usually taught very well, at least in my experience in American public schools. My advanced placement US history course barely got to the Vietnam War before the end of the year. I've done a bit of reading on my own about more recent history, but even that is hazy at times. Latifa's personal account of her own history makes a stark contrast to the ambivalent pieces I've gleaned. Its really too bad that public schools don't spend a bit more time covering recent history, especially that with so much significance today.
Another book similar to My Forbidden Face is a long time favorite of mine. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is an autobiographical graphic novel about growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Also available as a movie, Persepolis shares a lot of themes with My Forbidden Face. Both are coming of age stories filled with personal anecdotes. Both take place against the backdrop of a revolution and a loss of freedoms. The biggest difference is how the protagonists deal with oppression. Marjane is stubborn and struggles against the new restrictions. In contrast, Latifa falls into a depression, requiring medical attention. However, she eventually fights back too, in the form of a secret school for younger children. However, even that is brought about through her despair of ever using her knowledge for herself again.
I would encourage anyone to read Persepolis, My Forbidden Face, or a similar book. A basic understanding of current events would well be supplemented by a more thorough understanding of the history of the Middle East. Beyond that, these books promote understanding of other people, not just their countries.
Today: A pieces from the world of literature
A recent bit on hilobrow.com discussed the archetypal science fiction narrative. The author decided that, rather than the bold explorer, which is also frequently found in the genre, refugee stories are the most common. "District 9" certainly comes to mind, but I was curious what other examples could be found. My curiosity was definitely satisfied with references from Superman to Doctor Who.
Having been reminded of all of these instances of the science fiction refugee, it struck me that these were not obscure characters or stories. Many of the examples are a part of the collective imagination. Yet despite their familiarity, I had never really thought much of the science fiction refugee narrative until "District 9" made it blatantly obvious. One thinks of Superman as a hero; his refugee origins merely fill the function of a back story.
Why is it that even when it is familiar to us, it is easy to overlook the refugee? Perhaps part of it is that refugees don't necessarily stay refugees forever. As in Superman's case, they assimilate and lose the distinction. Another factor is that our schema for refugees is not broad enough. Refugees are "supposed" to be in a foreign country, wearing rags, and look worn out. Superman and Doctor Who hardly fit into these categories. Maybe, if we expand our understanding of what a refugee is, we will recognize them more easily, whether they are found in science fiction or our home town.
Topic of the day: why this is so true.
The article covers one big reason why Spain should win the world cup. I'm a pretty big soccer fan, and I love to watch international games (far more than any US game, for obvious reasons). I've been cheering for Spain since the last European Cup, which they won. Obviously, its easy to cheer for Spain now because they're good. Maybe I'm just a person who would rather cheer for the winner than the underdog. But really, my love for Spain goes beyond their record. Since the European Cup, where they were fantastic, they've lost a few games, and generally not been quite as spectacular. That doesn't mean I've stopped cheering for La Furia Roja. I've kept with them til now, where they're looking nearly as good as they did two years ago.
The slate article really gets the reason behind my devotion, though you have to read through most of the article to get to it. Most of the article was a brief history of the Dutch team in the 70s, led by Johan Cruyff and playing "total football". While reading it, I was really drawn in, to the point of wondering if there was some footage from the old days I could get my hands on to see this "total football" for myself.
Before I started calling up local libraries though, the last two paragraphs summed up why I love Spain and the attraction of this previous Dutch team. Style. Soccer is a stylish sport. Teams like Spain and the Netherlands circa 1970 have a style all their own that is distinctive and effective. An amazing soccer team, one I want to watch, makes the sport beautiful. Great teams play with complete control over themselves, as much as the ball. They play in sync, knowing where each teammate will be at any given time and trusting each other to get things done.
I haven't seen the old Dutch team, but Spain plays with this kind of confidence. Furthermore, they're style is an exciting one to watch. Some teams (Germany comes to mind) can be very good, but are too stoic for my taste. They can be almost mechanical, getting things done as efficiently as possible. Spain manages a balance between confidence and sheer joy when something works out well. Its hard to explain, their style is made up of as much enthusiasm as methodical passing.
I can't wait till the game. GO SPAIN!