Reading 7-14-6

I've been reading some Vonnegut of late. Player Piano is the first of the Vonnegut I've found here.  An interesting read, as always, andapparently Vonnegut's first book, written in the early fifties.
I've started Another Vonnegut book, Jailbird, which has many illusions to Watergate, which wasthe subject of another book Irecently read.
And also been reading the The Complete Short Stories of Flannery O'Conner.

Books 7-5-6

Finished reading The Octopus by Frank Norris. A good book with decent flow and good subject matter.   Definately a nice distraction from the warm atmosphere here.
I've also read The Prince by Machiavelli.  Definately full of political theories, basically built upon the precept of the end justifies the means, and the superiority of the state and its leader over citizen. Much political theory has been built upon the foundation of the thoughts and insights of Machiavelli. How deception is ok, when it serves the purposes on the greater good.
And I've also read Born Again by Charles Colson. The autobiography of the 'Hatchet man' of the Nixon whitehouse, and his trials and travails during the watergate scandal. How Colson expereinced first hand the fallout of Machiavellian politics, and that the selfisness of man , and the supposed glory of the state was in fact not to the service of the populace, but treading the rights of those it was created to protect.  What a difference in perspective in two books, between The Prince, and Born Again.

June Reading

I've finished up several books, A book of protestant Saints By Ernest Gordon. An interesting read of biographies, many who were involved in the Salvation Army. And also, Puritan Profiles by William Barker. Biographies of those involved in the making of the Westminster confession. I finished up Alexander the Corrector and am still working through The Battle for God: A History of Fundementalism. I've started The Octopus by Frank Norris. Good literature set in nearly ancient California.

Anyigba

I've arrived in Anyigba, and had some fun times getting acclimated to the local culture. The locals speak pidgeon english here, but many things are very different.  A colloqial greeting is "Well done."  People that sell things are called "customers."  It's very hot and humid, much like Israel was at the end of summer.  The rainy season is just starting, and lasts till the middle of October.

Wie Gehts

I've been in Deutschland here for three days now.  Visited Frankfurt and Heidelberg, and  to the scenic boat to Neckar.  Lots of cool stuff to see at the castle and awesome bavarian food, etc.

World of Warcraft

I've still been playing World of Warcraft, getting my computer gaming done before I head to Africa for three months.  It's been alot of fun, as I've got to participate in a bunch of fun raids, and other multiplayer content.  Recently, one of my main characters hit  level 60, and since that time I've been working on getting the character decked out with cool stuff.  It's been alot of fun playing with people from my guild, finishing bosses like Hakkar and Ragnaros.

Reading 5-1-6

I picked up several books to read this summer today.  I picked up one Saddam's Secrets , by an Iraqi General Georges Sada.  I hadn't heard anything about this book and then saw it in the bookstore, and it looks really intriguing.  It should have some interesting information and perspective in it for sure.  I also got the Davinci Code, by Dan Brown.  It's coming out as a movie this summer with Tom Hanks.  I think most people realize it's fiction, and I'm hoping to enjoy it on that level.  I also grabbed A History of Fundementalism, by Karen Armstrong.  This looked interesting and should make for a fun, thought provoking, and perhaps agitating, read this summer.  Oh and Alexander the Corrector, by Julia Keay.

I also finished Sun Tzu's Art of War.  Read more for some choice quotes.