Showing posts with label Cultural studies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cultural studies. Show all posts

4/09/2010

Review of Culture-on-Demand: Communication in a Crisis World (Hardcover)

Fundamentalists of all types beware!This is a fresh argument that doesn't just repackage the usual tired critique of media and globalization but offers much more to consider. Highly recommended for readers of all cultural, political, and religious persuasions. Lull is right.We are living in a crisis world and we have to deal with that reality directly.Lull analyzes how religious fundamentalism, the media, and cultural and political loyalties induce global and local conflicts.But he also shows how communication technology is changing our shared destiny for the better.Like all his work, Lull's position on these matters is original, tough-minded, and hopeful but never naive.A blueprint for the future and a must read for the open minded.



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4/05/2010

Review of e-topia (Hardcover)

All in all, Mitchell's vision of urban life in the industrialized nations is compelling. He weaves a convincing mosaic of The City of "real soonnow", where the design elements of architecture are extended toinclude the additions of Bandwidth, telepresence, conduit and storage.Indeed, as a network engineer myself, I believe he pretty much has it spoton, for those of us who are fortunate to live in the Northern Hemisphere.But what of the rest of the planet who won't have OC-48 cables running downtheir main streets? (80% of humanity have never come in contact with acomputer, let alone a network infrastructure).He paints a picture of aglorious brave new cyberworld for the top 5%, but ignores the implicationsof this technology on the other 95% of the people on this rock we callearth. Still, if you are one of the fortunate ones (or wish you were) to beable to take part in this vision, the book is well worth reading. Earth:E-topia or Borg Planet, YOU decide!



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1/31/2010

Review of America's Trillion-Dollar Housing Mistake: The Failure of American Housing Policy (Hardcover)

Tough but good arguments. If you are a pro low-income housing advocate do not pass up an opportunity to read this book. Admittedly told from a conservative's (ideological) perspective, this book presents many ideals advanced by former Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Chairman Vince Lane, who was once on the Clinton administration's short list for HUD Secretary, as well as former(CHA) public housing residents.



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12/27/2009

Review of Where Have All the Leaders Gone? [IMPORT] (Hardcover)

Iacocca comes out with both guns blazing from page one, and never stops til the last page.Iacocca provides readers with a clear, concise summary of our major problems - escalating healthcare costs and deficits, a border that is a sieve, an energy crisis, losing manufacturing to Asia, leadership that doesn't face these key issues (instead the Senate debates flag-burning for three days, while giving no time to Iacocca's concerns), and a President given a free pass to ignore the Constitution and tap our phones after leading us to war on a pack of lies.

Iacocca then goes on to provide clear and credible recommendations for each of these problems, and along the way offers his own framework (eg. curiosity, creative, courage, competent, common sense) for describing/evaluating leadership and then uses that framework to succinctly assess Bush II and the major candidates vying to take his place.

Another major "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?" suggestion is that Congress take a year off and pass no new legislation - instead evaluate programs that already exist.Iacocca points out that the "War on Drugs" has consumed about $1 trillion, while little, if anything has been accomplished.And what has been accomplished, he asks, of maintaining an on-going decades-long feud with Castro?

The "bad news" is that Iacocca once considered running for President, but was talked out of it by then House Speaker (and friend) Tip O'Neill.O'Neill told Iacocca that the job would drive him nuts - too hard to get anything done (basically the same comment President Truman offered then General Eisenhower).Nonetheless, the "good news" is that Iacocca's lessons in leadership skills couldn't help but be invaluable to moving America forward.



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12/05/2009

Review of The Encyclopedia of Louisville (Hardcover)

This wonderful volume covers people, places, events and things in the Louisville metropolitan area from a historical and cultural perspective in encyclopedia style entries written by Louivillians.As a native Louivillian I am finding it a delight to browse thru the entries learning delightful details about my birthplace and its history.It takes many more universal topics and relates how they have impacted the city and its people.A must for Louisvillians that want to learn more about our rich history and cultural legacy.



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