Update: This book is now on the short list of six for the 2008 Booker Prize. In celebration I bought a second copy.
by Aravind Adiga
What a wonderful read! The story is written as a letter to the Premier of China who will be coming to visit China. This sets the stage for a very funny novel indeed, as the writer compares how these two tigers match up in their new found wealth. A particularly funny line was when, addressing the Premier, the writer says “I gather you yellow skinned men, despite your triumphs in sewage, drinking water, and Olympic gold medals, still don’t have democracy. We Indians…may not have sewage, drinking water, and Olympic gold medals, but we do have democracy. If I were making a country, I’d get the sewage pipes first, then the democracy.”
In 276 pages I felt that I had lived a life time with the driver Balram Halwai the narrator of the story alias The White Tiger. The book was both extremely funny and at the same time a bitter critic on how the rich and the poor live in India today. It is one of the few books that I wanted to reread immediately. The need to read it again was because I had been so swept up in the tale that I wanted to make sure that I had not over looked some of the social issues that come to play in the tale. As I put the book down to go to sleep I suddenly realized that although Balram had murdered his employee he was in some ways better than him. For when his employer’s wife did a hit and run they had tried to put the blame on him, their driver. Later in the story, when one of Balram’s (now Ashok Sharma) driver’s runs over a child and kills him, Balram immediately goes to the scene of the accident and takes responsibility. Of course, I realize that he does this because he has paid off the Assistant Commissioner to ensure that nothing gets in the way of his success; lessons that he had learned well from his former employer. And so in the dog eat dog world of India, injustices abound, and everything is possible if you grease the wheels of those in charge.
This book is now on the Man Booker Dozen List. Visit the site at
http://www.themanbookerprize.com/>
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Are you a Runner or Cyclist?
If so, what did you forget this morning?
Benji is in need of a home right NOW and he would love to be your loyal companion and friend on your bike rides or daily runs. ++++Update Benji has been adopted. September 2008++++
Benji is approximately 2 .5 yrs old. He is a Black Lab/ Retriever Mix. He was found as a stray - skinny, afraid and hiding under an abandoned trailer. After he was rescued he became a happy young boy BUT he has been crated for far to long now and we are very anxious about his well being under these circumstanes. Benji tells us that he would like a gentle and committed leader who appreciates consistency as much as he does. He is a smart dog who gets along well with other well mannered dogs but would be equally content being the only dog. Benji loves long hikes in the woods and loves being outside. He has excellent house manners. No cats for Benji (he likes to chase them).
If you are interested in adopting Benji or have any questions please feel free to contact Raeann email: ahimsadogwalker@yahoo.com or call 978-808-4994. Benji is currently living in a foster home. You can find an application at www.ahimsahaven.org
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Dreaming Up America
by Russell Banks
If ever there was a timely book to read this is it for it is the Story of America and we came to where we are today. The first half of the book argues that the mythology portrayed by American movies does us a disservice for the fantasy these movies project do not match reality. Our nation was founded for materialistic gain based on the backs of “Others” to produce the American Dream. Others are anyone not Christain and white for there were three distinct groups who populated America. Thus West Africans who arrived here in droves as slaved having never been referred to as immigrants. were originally black slaves rather than black immigrants and yet immigrants they were. So starting with the march across the contintent where we eliminated the American Indian was the beginning of our feeling that we were following a Manifest Destiny which led to Nationalism which led to the invastion of Iraq and on and on.
I have a feeling that many people will take offence at what he says for we do not cope well when people disagree with our general ideas of what makes an American.
For information on Russell Banks and a listing of his books and other writings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Banks
If ever there was a timely book to read this is it for it is the Story of America and we came to where we are today. The first half of the book argues that the mythology portrayed by American movies does us a disservice for the fantasy these movies project do not match reality. Our nation was founded for materialistic gain based on the backs of “Others” to produce the American Dream. Others are anyone not Christain and white for there were three distinct groups who populated America. Thus West Africans who arrived here in droves as slaved having never been referred to as immigrants. were originally black slaves rather than black immigrants and yet immigrants they were. So starting with the march across the contintent where we eliminated the American Indian was the beginning of our feeling that we were following a Manifest Destiny which led to Nationalism which led to the invastion of Iraq and on and on.
I have a feeling that many people will take offence at what he says for we do not cope well when people disagree with our general ideas of what makes an American.
For information on Russell Banks and a listing of his books and other writings http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Banks
Credit Card Debt
Is another shoe about to fall in the U.S.; most likely. Who will bail out the credit card companies; tax payers no doubt and just as the folks who created the sub-prime mess were not prosecuted, I doubt one credit card executive will be held accountable for the practices of the companies they lead. Now you may say that those who spend money they don’t have are at fault and that is true, but what about the companies who send cards to folks in the mail who did not ask for them, who are not credit worthy, and in some cases who are not really old enough to have a card. What about the high interest rates that the government allows the card companies to charge? What about the length of the card agreements that are getting to be the size of a mini bible? Why is this necessary if the business is upfront, clear and honest? For me personally there is only one thing I need to know. What is the interest rate and how does the card company treat their customers who are late with their payments. I am not interested in “and”, “buts,” “maybe’s" or any other ambiguous language, I just want a straight forward agreement.
Some time ago I received an offer of an American Express Blue to go with my Green card. The first is a credit card and the latter is not. I read the agreement with the Blue and was shocked. The fees for being late were what I considered of a usury nature and so I called them. The conversation went in circles. There was a large increase the first time you were late. The second time you were late there was also another large increase to the point that you were paying close to 28% at a time when the banks are offering 3% on your savings. They tried to say that the increased interest was only assessed to their bad customers. Of course, when could ask why do you renew cards to your bad customers! This was certainly not the American Express of the old days when you could only get the card if your earnings were above average and your income was checked. If credit card companies no longer do this then who do you think is responsible? I would say the credit card company. I think that anyone who has a credit card should ensure the card is working for them otherwise cut it up, you don’t need it.
Some time ago I received an offer of an American Express Blue to go with my Green card. The first is a credit card and the latter is not. I read the agreement with the Blue and was shocked. The fees for being late were what I considered of a usury nature and so I called them. The conversation went in circles. There was a large increase the first time you were late. The second time you were late there was also another large increase to the point that you were paying close to 28% at a time when the banks are offering 3% on your savings. They tried to say that the increased interest was only assessed to their bad customers. Of course, when could ask why do you renew cards to your bad customers! This was certainly not the American Express of the old days when you could only get the card if your earnings were above average and your income was checked. If credit card companies no longer do this then who do you think is responsible? I would say the credit card company. I think that anyone who has a credit card should ensure the card is working for them otherwise cut it up, you don’t need it.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The Shaming of America
**Since I wrote this article I heard that a fund had been established to help these and other immigrants**
www.imigrateusa.us>
Also email the senators for Iowa
Chuck Grassley www.grassley.senate.gov>
and Tom Harkin www.harkin.senate.gov>
they are both big names on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The Representative for the Pottsville area is Bruce Bailey who on all accounts seems to be very socially conscious and active can be reached at www.bailey.house.gov>
Also to keep upto date on events visit the National Immigration Law Center at www.nilc.org>
First we had Katrina, then the Abu Grav prison scandel, followed by the ongoing saga at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and now this immigration scandel. It seems to me that economically and morally, America is falling apart at a spectacular pace.
I have posted the first part of article by a court translator Erik Camayd-Freixas who I thank from the bottom of my heart for bringing the issue to our attenton. The entire artilce is on the WBUR link along with much more.
When I figture out what protest group is trying to close down the factory, or if you know of one let me know and I will post it. IF you are an American, email your sentors and representatives that this is not the behaviour we expect from business in our country. Lastly make a connection between production and consumerism - think; It is your responsibliity.
Quote
Interpreting after the Largest ICE Raid in US History: after the Largest ICE Raid in US History:
A Personal Account by Erik Camayd-Freixas, Ph.D.
Florida International University 0 June 13, 2008
On Monday, May 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., in an operation involving some 900 agents,Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a raid of Agriprocessors Inc, the nation’s largest kosher slaughterhouse and meat packing plant located in the town of Postville, Iowa. The raid –officials boasted– was “the largest single-site operation of its kind in American history.”
At that same hour, 26 federally certified interpreters from all over the country were en route to the small neighboring city of Waterloo, Iowa, having no idea what their mission was about. The investigation had started more than a year earlier. Raid preparations had begun in December. The Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Court had contracted the interpreters a month ahead, but was not at liberty to tell us the whole truth, lest the impending raid be compromised.
The operation was led by ICE, which belongs to the executive branch, whereas the U.S. District Court, belonging to the judicial branch, had to formulate its own official reason for participating. ...
We arrived at the heavily guarded compound, went through security, and gathered inside the retro “Electric Park Ballroom” where a makeshift court had been set up. The Clerk of Court, who coordinated the interpreters, said: “Have you seen the news? There was an immigration raid yesterday at 10am. They have some 400 detainees here. We’ll be working late conducting initial appearances for the next few days.” He then gave us a cursory tour of the compound.
The NCC is a 60-acre cattle fairground that had been transformed into a sort of concentration camp or detention center. Fenced in behind the ballroom / courtroom were 23 trailers from federal authorities, including two set up as sentencing courts; various Homeland Security buses and an “incident response” truck; scores of ICE agents and U.S. Marshals; and in the background two large buildings: a pavilion where agents and prosecutors had established a command center; and a gymnasium filled with tight rows of cots where some 300 male detainees were kept, the women being housed in county jails. Later the NCC board complained to the local newspaper that they had been “misled” by the government when they leased the grounds purportedly for Homeland Security training.
Echoing what I think was the general feeling, one of my fellow interpreters would later exclaim: “When I saw what it was really about, my heart sank…” Then began the saddest procession I have ever witnessed, which the public would never see, because cameras were not allowed past the perimeter of the compound (only a few journalists came to court the following days, notepad in hand). Driven single-file in groups of 10, shackled at the wrists, waist and ankles, chains dragging as they shuffled through, the slaughterhouse workers were brought in for arraignment, sat and listened through headsets to the interpreted initial appearance, before marching out again to be bused to different county jails, only to make room for the next row of one of my fellow interpreters would later exclaim: “ They appeared to be uniformly no more than 5 ft. tall, mostly illiterate Guatemalan peasants with Mayan last names, some being relatives (various Tajtaj, Xicay, Sajché, Sologüí…), some in tears; others with faces of worry, fear, and embarrassment. They all spoke Spanish, a few rather laboriously.
www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/07/the-postville-raid
www.imigrateusa.us>
Also email the senators for Iowa
Chuck Grassley www.grassley.senate.gov>
and Tom Harkin www.harkin.senate.gov>
they are both big names on the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The Representative for the Pottsville area is Bruce Bailey who on all accounts seems to be very socially conscious and active can be reached at www.bailey.house.gov>
Also to keep upto date on events visit the National Immigration Law Center at www.nilc.org>
First we had Katrina, then the Abu Grav prison scandel, followed by the ongoing saga at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and now this immigration scandel. It seems to me that economically and morally, America is falling apart at a spectacular pace.
I have posted the first part of article by a court translator Erik Camayd-Freixas who I thank from the bottom of my heart for bringing the issue to our attenton. The entire artilce is on the WBUR link along with much more.
When I figture out what protest group is trying to close down the factory, or if you know of one let me know and I will post it. IF you are an American, email your sentors and representatives that this is not the behaviour we expect from business in our country. Lastly make a connection between production and consumerism - think; It is your responsibliity.
Quote
Interpreting after the Largest ICE Raid in US History: after the Largest ICE Raid in US History:
A Personal Account by Erik Camayd-Freixas, Ph.D.
Florida International University 0 June 13, 2008
On Monday, May 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., in an operation involving some 900 agents,Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed a raid of Agriprocessors Inc, the nation’s largest kosher slaughterhouse and meat packing plant located in the town of Postville, Iowa. The raid –officials boasted– was “the largest single-site operation of its kind in American history.”
At that same hour, 26 federally certified interpreters from all over the country were en route to the small neighboring city of Waterloo, Iowa, having no idea what their mission was about. The investigation had started more than a year earlier. Raid preparations had begun in December. The Clerk’s Office of the U.S. District Court had contracted the interpreters a month ahead, but was not at liberty to tell us the whole truth, lest the impending raid be compromised.
The operation was led by ICE, which belongs to the executive branch, whereas the U.S. District Court, belonging to the judicial branch, had to formulate its own official reason for participating. ...
We arrived at the heavily guarded compound, went through security, and gathered inside the retro “Electric Park Ballroom” where a makeshift court had been set up. The Clerk of Court, who coordinated the interpreters, said: “Have you seen the news? There was an immigration raid yesterday at 10am. They have some 400 detainees here. We’ll be working late conducting initial appearances for the next few days.” He then gave us a cursory tour of the compound.
The NCC is a 60-acre cattle fairground that had been transformed into a sort of concentration camp or detention center. Fenced in behind the ballroom / courtroom were 23 trailers from federal authorities, including two set up as sentencing courts; various Homeland Security buses and an “incident response” truck; scores of ICE agents and U.S. Marshals; and in the background two large buildings: a pavilion where agents and prosecutors had established a command center; and a gymnasium filled with tight rows of cots where some 300 male detainees were kept, the women being housed in county jails. Later the NCC board complained to the local newspaper that they had been “misled” by the government when they leased the grounds purportedly for Homeland Security training.
Echoing what I think was the general feeling, one of my fellow interpreters would later exclaim: “When I saw what it was really about, my heart sank…” Then began the saddest procession I have ever witnessed, which the public would never see, because cameras were not allowed past the perimeter of the compound (only a few journalists came to court the following days, notepad in hand). Driven single-file in groups of 10, shackled at the wrists, waist and ankles, chains dragging as they shuffled through, the slaughterhouse workers were brought in for arraignment, sat and listened through headsets to the interpreted initial appearance, before marching out again to be bused to different county jails, only to make room for the next row of one of my fellow interpreters would later exclaim: “ They appeared to be uniformly no more than 5 ft. tall, mostly illiterate Guatemalan peasants with Mayan last names, some being relatives (various Tajtaj, Xicay, Sajché, Sologüí…), some in tears; others with faces of worry, fear, and embarrassment. They all spoke Spanish, a few rather laboriously.
www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/07/the-postville-raid
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Beautiful Cat for Adoption
Hello Everyone
I occassionally foster cats. At the moment I have a mother cat and her three kittens. If I had seen a picture of the mother cat or seen her in a shelter, I probably would not have picked her because she looks like a thousand other cats.
However, after only having her for one hour I knew she was a special cat. She is so gentle and nice and a wonderful mother that I want her to go to a very special and loving home. All my friends have made the same comment about her and hope she finds a good home too. So if you are in the market for a cat this is the one. You have to obtain her from Pet Connection in Waltham, MA an incrediable organization whose members work very long hours every day saving cats and finding them homes.
http://www.thecatconnection.org/
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Wild Apples
Today I bought a wonderful new journal called Wild Apples. The journal bills itself as a Journal of Nature, Art and Inquiry and indeed it is. It is one of those rare things in life that lives up 100% to expections. The first issue was lauched May, 2008 and it will be published two times a year. http://www.wildapples.org/master/currentIssue.php
The photographs are the most stunning thing about the journal and are what make you ponder life in general and how we relate to our enviornment. They are much better than what they appear on the website. This journal is highly recommended and like none that you have seen before (in the U.S. anyway). The first issue was primarily about the land around the western suburbs of Boston where the journal was born.
Get a copy, you won't be disappointed.
The photographs are the most stunning thing about the journal and are what make you ponder life in general and how we relate to our enviornment. They are much better than what they appear on the website. This journal is highly recommended and like none that you have seen before (in the U.S. anyway). The first issue was primarily about the land around the western suburbs of Boston where the journal was born.
Get a copy, you won't be disappointed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
