On Shattered Selves and Young Communists
My article, “The Shattered Self of Komsomol Civil War Memoirs,” has come out in the Fall 2012 issues of the Slavic Review. You can download it here (PDF). Here are the opening paragraphs: Komsomol literature in the 1920s repeatedly evoked the memory of the civil war as a means to inspire young communists to sacrifice themselves [...]
From Mao suits to Polo Shirts
Recently, while reading an unofficial report on the proceedings of the trial of Gu Kailai, I noticed something that has long fascinated me about modern China. Those following the news may have seen that Gu, the wife of fallen Communist chief Bo Xilai, has just received a suspended death sentence for poisoning a British businessman. [...]
Heathen Songs of the natives
These songs of ours always get us into trouble. When we want peace we sing. When we want to be heard we sing. Sound permeates our lives and like Fela Kuti said; music is a weapon. Pipe smoking elders in Zimbabwe who spend lazy afternoons playing Mbira say a grunt in a chant spells trouble. [...]
Simple Elegance to Wonderful Complexity – A journey (Part 1) (VIDEO)
Clouds are not spheres, mountains are not cones, coastlines are not circles, and bark is not smooth, nor does lightning travel in a straight line. —Benoit Mandelbrot, The Fractal Geometry of Nature When I was a 5 year old kid, there used to be a popular brand of barley sold under the name ‘Purity Indian [...]
The Costs of AFCON 2013
South Africa will be hosting the African Cup of Nations, the biennial African football competition that will be changing from even to odd-numbered years in 2013. In many ways this is probably good news — South Africa has the best infrastructure in terms of stadiums and roads, it has the media facilities and the wherewithal [...]
« go back — keep looking »
Palestinian children testify about cruel treatment by Israeli soldiers in new short film (VIDEO)
Heart-to-Hearth on the Drug War
Harry Wu and the Quality of Labor
.jpg)
Palestinian-Dutch “Disarming Design” project inspired by artwork in captivity
Execution of at least 10 prisoners postponed until Saturday
Aeras, GSK deal to Advance TB Vaccine research
CPN Maoist says a new war has begun (VIDEO)
Doubts Raised About the Alleged Assassin of Marisela Escobedo
Urgent: 10 prisoners scheduled for execution today
Kenya’s Professionals call for a supreme natural resource law
Africans innovators called to participate in Project Incubator Award
Israel goes to the polls in two or three months
Morsi’s 100 days, a performance which is viewed with mixed feelings
Syria: Arrest of prominent human rights defender Mr Khalil Matouk
Tanzania: Miners plead for time to make positive contribution
