So, however flawed Vollmann’s Imperial might be judging by 20th century (sic! Twentieth Century) Standards of Literature, and I personally have a hard time keeping my mind focussed reading Vollmann on Water Politics, … I, currently on p. 1011, wholeheartedly agree with Thomas McGonigle’s ‘rant’ (is it a rant, no, not really): http://abcofreading.blogspot.com/2009/09/into-america-on-not-reading-of-imperial.html.
I missed this earlier: HUO interviews Raoul Vaneigem: http://e-flux.com/journal/view/62.
Reading the 1300 pages long study of the border area between California and Mexico by William T. Vollmann now. 200 pages on the way and until now it is simply … stunning. Much, much better than expected, with some breathtaking ‘excursions’.
Of course, the repetition starts now, the excessiveness, the too much and too long. But I have good hopes that he will keep my interest going.
Well, I hope to write more on it at some point, later.
Two reviews that look good – I haven’t read them yet, and won’t until I’ve finished the book -:
http://nymag.com/arts/books/reviews/58062/ and
http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/booksliterature/story/751879.html.
Blog on translation / weblog over vertalen. Good stuff / goed spul. http://www.tirade.nu/.
Brief history of social media, yes, and starting with the phone phreaks. Sure one could go before that? Conference calls? Chatboxes on landlines? As this is an American history Minitel isn’t mentioned either. I can think of a few things more even. Yet, good as an overview: http://socialmediarockstar.com/history-of-social-media.
Reinder Rustema – a.o. ex-Mediamatic, and the former user of the garage-box of my former appartment in return for me reading his NRC, and a very nice person – is a candidate for the European election of June 4th, for the Newropeans, a pro-Europe party: http://www.newropeans2009.com/Nederland/.
See also his own website: http://rustema.nl/ and blog: http://www.newropeans2009.com/reinder_rustema/ — from where you can find the Facebook-stuff too.
He of course is asking if I’d vote for him. We had a few interesting discussions about politics in the past.
I tried the ‘stemwijzer’: http://www.stemwijzer.nl/
(with all the stupid questions about animals), and guess which party came up first?
The Newropeans.
(still, I think I’ll vote again for the same party I voted for the last 3 or so times.)
But this result is enough reason for me to put in this little effort to make Reinder’s party more known. Take a look at their program, they have good points.
On sunday I’ll have the pleasure of talking about cycling at the Impakt Zondagsschool: http://www.impakt.nl/.
F. works with schoolkids (7 to 8 year olds) of Amsterdam-Noord on an art/education project. They are developing a story and invent a character (Cloney). The groups had to think about for instance where te character lives, what its supernatural powers are, what its goal is, what keeps it from attaining its goal, et cetera. Answering the question what keeps Cloney from attaining its goal one group said: “Geert Wilders!”. “So, what will Cloney do about that?”. Answer from the excited kids: “We’re going to kill Geert Wilders!!!” F. didn’t allow that, “then Cloney has to go to prison” and asked them to come up with another solution. They gave it a little tought and just as excited they then screamed” “We’re going to shave off all of his hair so he loses his powers!!!”.
Note for the non-Dutch reader: Geert Wilders is the ultra right-wing radical anti-Islam pro-police state populist politician who’s following amongst whites in the Netherlands seems to be growing.
Btw: I’m blogging live at the Print / Pixel conference at the Piet Zwart, in Rotterdam: http://blog.wdka.nl/communication-in-a-digital-age/.
Polis is this, documentary about poet Charles Olson is available on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch&c.. Haven’t seen it yet, will soon. (Via http://transversalinflections.wordpress.com/).