Comments on "No Higher Honor" - A Memoir of My Years in Washington by Condoleezza Rice
The world might be divided into 2 parts, or, more correctly, 2 collections or areas. One collection is in a relative state of movement or change; and the other collection is in a relative state of little movement or change. The 2 collections of areas do not always remain the same, but over periods of time one, or any area, can turn into the other opposite state. And those areas that are moving or changing might be in various states of disaster or catastrophe, or seem to be wobbling on the brink of disaster or catastrophe.
The author of this book, the National Security Adviser and then the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, might be described as an African-American Republican "Wonder Woman". And some people might say that she all but seems to be able to "walk on water"!
The many lessons, or histories, in this overwhelming book, about 735 pages, are far too numerous to try to enumerate.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Experimental Blog #92
Comments on "Don Quixote" - a play by Mikhail Afanasevich Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov signed a contract with a soviet theater in December of 1937 to write a play based on the classic novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha" by Miguel de Cervantes. Bulgakov was far from being the first, even first Russian author, to write a stage play on this famous book; and he rewrote, or abridged, his play about 7 times to obtain the approval of the soviet censors. The notes to this play, "Don Quixote", say that each revision generally made the play less comic and more tragic.
The approval of the soviet censors was finally given in January of 1939, but Mikhail Bulgakov died in March, or April, of 1940; right before his play was actually published. However, Bulgakov's "Don Quixote" was performed within a year, or so, in at least 4 cities. In spite of being "safely sovietized", Mikhail Bulgakov's play, which is one of his last works, is still quite interesting, and even funny.
Mikhail Bulgakov signed a contract with a soviet theater in December of 1937 to write a play based on the classic novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha" by Miguel de Cervantes. Bulgakov was far from being the first, even first Russian author, to write a stage play on this famous book; and he rewrote, or abridged, his play about 7 times to obtain the approval of the soviet censors. The notes to this play, "Don Quixote", say that each revision generally made the play less comic and more tragic.
The approval of the soviet censors was finally given in January of 1939, but Mikhail Bulgakov died in March, or April, of 1940; right before his play was actually published. However, Bulgakov's "Don Quixote" was performed within a year, or so, in at least 4 cities. In spite of being "safely sovietized", Mikhail Bulgakov's play, which is one of his last works, is still quite interesting, and even funny.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Experimental Blog #91
Comments on "The Dragon and the Foreign Devils - China and the World, 1100 B.C. to the Present" by Harry G. Gelber
The previous publications by this author, Harry Gelber, suggest that he is from Australia. This particular book, which came out in 2007, was an up-to-date generally British view of China and the rest of the world. Besides being a very good defense of the English side of events, this book could be called very "politically liberal"; and it contains what might be called certain "gaps", or "historical oversights".
Harry Gelber describes and emphasizes America as the world's only "hyperpower" at the end of the 20th century, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This description and emphasis seem rather exagerated, even artificial; although the author goes on to say that these times are changing; as they always are.
Throughout the book Harry Gelber writes about the "differences" between China, on one side, and Europe and America on the other. He does not suggest that both sides are responding to, or "acting out", the same "intellectual fashions" of their times, but in their own ways.
The previous publications by this author, Harry Gelber, suggest that he is from Australia. This particular book, which came out in 2007, was an up-to-date generally British view of China and the rest of the world. Besides being a very good defense of the English side of events, this book could be called very "politically liberal"; and it contains what might be called certain "gaps", or "historical oversights".
Harry Gelber describes and emphasizes America as the world's only "hyperpower" at the end of the 20th century, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This description and emphasis seem rather exagerated, even artificial; although the author goes on to say that these times are changing; as they always are.
Throughout the book Harry Gelber writes about the "differences" between China, on one side, and Europe and America on the other. He does not suggest that both sides are responding to, or "acting out", the same "intellectual fashions" of their times, but in their own ways.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)