The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

In this brilliant new book, The World is Flat, the award-winning “New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman demystifies the brave new world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering global scene unfolding before their eyes. With his inimitable ability to translate complex foreign policy and economic issues, Friedman explains how the flattening of the world happened at the dawn of the twenty-first century; what it means to countries, companies, communities, and individuals; and how governments and societies can, and must, adapt. “The World Is Flat is the timely and essential update on globalization, its successes and discontents, powerfully illuminated by one of our most respected journalists.

Interested in posting your news item, business announcement or view point on this blog. Send me an email at readingonwalden@att.net just by clicking send me an email. Looking forward to hearing from you. John Presta.

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The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization by Thomas Friedman

The Lexus and the Olive Tree
If you haven’t read any of New York Times reporter Thomas Friedman’s book, now is the time. Friedman gets it.

One day in 1992, Thomas Friedman toured a Lexus factory in Japan and marveled at the robots that put the luxury cars together. That evening, as he ate sushi on a Japanese bullet train, he read a story about yet another Middle East squabble between Palestinians and Israelis. And it hit him: Half the world was lusting after those Lexuses, or at least the brilliant technology that made them possible, and the other half was fighting over who owned which olive tree.

Friedman, the well-traveled New York Times foreign-affairs columnist, peppers The Lexus and the Olive Tree with stories that illustrate his central theme: that globalization–the Lexus–is the central organizing principle of the post-cold war world, even though many individuals and nations resist by holding onto what has traditionally mattered to them–the olive tree.

Interested in posting your news item, business announcement or view point on this blog. Send me an email at readingonwalden@att.net just by clicking send me an email. Looking forward to hearing from you. John Presta.

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The definition of Judgment

The definition of judgment – (alternate spelling B-a-r-a-c-k O-b-a-m-a): the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions.
John Presta.

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Loving Her Was Easier

Back when I was a punk teenager, I thought poetry “really sucked,” as we would say. Yet, my love of music and lyrics even then, I can tell you there was the one common thread. Music helped me keep my sanity and grow into the person I wanted to be.

So when someone says that they don’t enjoy poetry, I say, “What do you think music is?”

Here is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite songwriters, Kris Kristofferson, (accompanied by Willie Nelson). And frankly, while I am a country music fan, I must say it is not my favorite style of music. But Kris Kristofferson, the singer/songwriter, transcends the genre of country music. He is simply a great poet. I’d live to hear what you think about this great poet. John Presta.

Verse 1:
I’ve seen the morning burning golden on the mountains in the skies
Aching with the feeling of the freedom of an eagle when she flies
Turning on the world the way she smiles upon my soul as I lay dying
Healing with the colors of the sunshine and the shadow of her eyes

Verse 2:
Waking in the morning to the feeling of her fingers on my skin
Wiping out the traces of the people and the places that I’ve been
Teaching me that yesterday was something that i never thought of trying
Talking about tomorrow and the money love and time we’d have to spend
Loving her was easier than anything I’ll ever do again

Verse 3:
Coming close together with a feeling that I’ve never know before,in my time
She ain’t afraid to be a woman or afraid to be a friend
I don’t know the answer to the easy way she opens every door in my mind
Dreaming was as easy as believing it was never gonna end
Loving her was easier than anything I’ll ever do again

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Viet Numb

In a fiery patriotic speech Wednesday, the
President demonstrated that battling on in
Iraq is just as important as it was in Vietnam….

If that is so, let’s come home now….for he and Dick (5 deferments) Cheney sure showed us the way back then!

(It’s easier being Mr Patriot when
sending other people to do the dying.)

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Order the new book about Senator Obama today

The book, Obama: From Promise to Power, is written by David Mendell, a journalist who has covered Obama since 2003. Mendell paints an intimate portrait of the Senators life, from behind-the-scenes political tactics to his chances of winning the presidency in 2008.

Order it today from Reading on Walden Bookstore.

And if you haven’t read Sentaor Barack Obama’s classic memoir, Dreams from my Father, now is your chance to order it and read it.

The book traces Barack Obama’s life as a child to his emergence into manhood. His life is then transformed and he at last reconciles his divided inheritance. This book will echo far into the future. The universality of its message will resonate with serious readers for many generations to come. John Presta.

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Michelle’s Summer Reading List – Volume One

It’s that time of year again, the middle of August. For many, it’s time for those last-minute vacations before school begins. For me, it’s time to read more so I can get through my summer reading list. Here’s a sample of what I’ve read this summer.

Homeland and Other Stories by Barbara Kingsolver. If you like Kingsolver and/or short stories, this is a good choice. Strong Women, Strong Bones by Miriam E. Nelson, PhD. This book contains helpful information to prevent and treat osteoporosis. The Innocent Man by John Grisham. What can I say, I like Grisham.

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama, author of The Samurai’s Garden. This wonderful novel, scheduled for publication September 2007, is about two brothers, the women they love, family ties and traditions. Freshwater Road by Denise Nicholas. My book discussion group’s selection for August is a novel about the civil rights movement in Mississippi during Freedom Summer 1964.

I just started reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner. So far, so good. I’ve been told it is actually better than The Kite Runner. What’s on your summer reading list? Tell me about it. Michelle.

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Obama Experience Ad – A Lone Voice in the Wilderness

What truly matters is judgment. And Senator Barack Obama has oodles and oodles of great judgment. He was the voice in the wilderness when he preached in 2002 that this war was “poor judgment.” Some “experienced” people showed “poor judgment.” John Presta.

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News about the 3rd Congressional Campaign

This from fellow blogger, Sandra Verthein, published on Tuesday, 08/14/07. Sandra is a member of the Northside DFA blog.

1. At last Thursday’s meeting the endorsement vote for Mark Pera, Congressional Candidate in the 3rd CD, did not pass. One reason was the fact that a new challenger candidate, Jim Capparelli, has announced he is running, and there was a feeling that we did should get more information about this person before making a decision. If anyone would like to volunteer to help with this research, please let me know.

If any of our readers have any information, please let us know or relay to Sandra. John Presta.

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The Bourne Ultimatum – 4 Stars

Four Stars. A great action packed adventure. John Presta.

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