Logjammin'
Jul. 20th, 2005 01:33 amOne of the things I've been spending too much time on since landing back in the Midwest has been my computer. I was fiddling around with the Ubuntu Linux (Warty Warthog release) system that I use for day to day activities and found that there was a program called "logjam" that works as a client software so I can do editing and posting of the LiveJournal site via it rather than the website. I'm really liking it. Unfortunately for non-Linux or free BSD type users, I don't think there's a Mac or Windows version. (smug look here)
http://logjam.danga.com/
On the reading list lately... Finished up Frank Herbert's "Dune" a couple days back. Still holds up okay as a story but frankly I think there are some contemporary writers that have put out better work. Still I'm glad I took the time to re-visit it. It was a groundbreaking book for its time and respect is due it and Herbert for that.
Have started in on the recently deceased James Weinstein's "The Long Detour: The History and Future of the American Left". It's got some interesting ideas in it although there's a lot I'd probably argue with the fellow on if he were still alive. As many know, I'm much more interested in cooperative based political economics in a market system than in this old school of thought. Still, you never know what you might discover when listening to the other side make their case.
http://www.thelongdetour.com/
I had started up on Christopher Hitchen's small book on Orwell, "Why Orwell Matters" but kind of got turned off by some of what seemed to be hypocritical cheap shots by Hitchens early on in the book. It's weird when you see an attack on academics and intellectuals by someone using the language of academia and intellectuals. Not very Orwellian of Hitchens in that sense.
http://www.yalereviewofbooks.com/archive/winter03/review08.shtml.htm
Orwell was the ultimate non-elitist when it came to his writing style. That's one of the reasons I admire Orwell along with the political nature of his writings. For what it's worth, my favorite book of Orwell's is his "Homage to Catalonia". It's one of my all time favorite books period. Highly recommended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Catalonia
Speaking of Spanish Civil War books, the optimist and book fetisher had me picking up a copy of Ernest Hemingways "For Whom The Bells Toll" from the discount shelf as I was leaving "A Novel Idea". Cost me less than a dollar for a nice readable trade paperback. Ah, bargains will be the death of me.
http://logjam.danga.com/
On the reading list lately... Finished up Frank Herbert's "Dune" a couple days back. Still holds up okay as a story but frankly I think there are some contemporary writers that have put out better work. Still I'm glad I took the time to re-visit it. It was a groundbreaking book for its time and respect is due it and Herbert for that.
Have started in on the recently deceased James Weinstein's "The Long Detour: The History and Future of the American Left". It's got some interesting ideas in it although there's a lot I'd probably argue with the fellow on if he were still alive. As many know, I'm much more interested in cooperative based political economics in a market system than in this old school of thought. Still, you never know what you might discover when listening to the other side make their case.
http://www.thelongdetour.com/
I had started up on Christopher Hitchen's small book on Orwell, "Why Orwell Matters" but kind of got turned off by some of what seemed to be hypocritical cheap shots by Hitchens early on in the book. It's weird when you see an attack on academics and intellectuals by someone using the language of academia and intellectuals. Not very Orwellian of Hitchens in that sense.
http://www.yalereviewofbooks.com/archive/winter03/review08.shtml.htm
Orwell was the ultimate non-elitist when it came to his writing style. That's one of the reasons I admire Orwell along with the political nature of his writings. For what it's worth, my favorite book of Orwell's is his "Homage to Catalonia". It's one of my all time favorite books period. Highly recommended.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Catalonia
Speaking of Spanish Civil War books, the optimist and book fetisher had me picking up a copy of Ernest Hemingways "For Whom The Bells Toll" from the discount shelf as I was leaving "A Novel Idea". Cost me less than a dollar for a nice readable trade paperback. Ah, bargains will be the death of me.