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Well...my boy FarooqM has finally brought me out of my lethargy (via threats of violence) and "persuaded" me to post...So...

Just got through Howard Zinn's 'A People's History of the United States'. Zinn amasses and presents an impressive amount of research (everything from personal reflections to poetry to lyrics to quotes) from major figures throughout the American history. The extensive list of figures includes Malcolm X, J. Edgar Hoover, members of the Carter administration, Bob Dylan and Chief Running Wolf...The list is nearly endless. I think he even quotes Richard Pryor at one point. But Zinn's excellent retelling of American history is hardly a boring read. His prose is excellent and the pacing is near-perfect.

The book truly lives up to its name (and its author's reputation) by presenting...dissenting (and usually ignored) perspectives on major events. These include the Native-American views on Columbus's cruelty towards them, the formation of the constitution as seen by the black slaves, the civil war as seen by the New York Irish and the Vietnam War through the eyes of black soldiers.

Perhaps Howard Zinn says it best when he states that his "focus is not on the 'achievements' of the heroes of traditional history, but on all those people who are the victims of those 'achievements', who suffered silently and fought back magnificently." The book is excellent and I recommend that anyone with even a passing interest in History pick it up.

I’ve also managed to finish the rest of ‘Ciudad de Deus’ (‘City of God’). I must say…The movie is…Breathtaking. No jokes about it.

The cinematography, the acting, the scripting, and the pacing: all of them are top notch. Every scene is near perfect. I would definitely not recommend it for those of you with a weak stomach. But everyone else must see this film. Its eye-opening and it contains more psychological reflection than you can shake a stick at…That’s all that can be said. I don’t want to ruin it for anyone…but nothing can prepare you for it.

I finally...managed to dig out an old article from Wired's bowels for any of you environmentalists out there. It has to do with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology in regards to agriculture, power generation and a whole slew of other uses.

This is truly a wave of the future (pardon the pun). Too bad nobody's investing . I really do believe stable (or relatively stable) and rich oil nations are doing themselves a disservice by ignoring these up and coming technologies. Sure, current oil resources are projected to last for the next 30-50 years (depending on who you ask)...but that's just about the amount of time it would require for such alternative technologies to 'pay off' with ready-to-apply solutions to the green power problem. Well whatever... I've gone on too long. Have to get ready for Frosh tomorrow... 0_o ...

Words pour from my soul
Stopping is impossible
It takes no talent
________

TWS out