An inside view of what really goes on in the Presidency of United States of America starting from the final days of Trump to the first year of Biden aAn inside view of what really goes on in the Presidency of United States of America starting from the final days of Trump to the first year of Biden administration. How did Trump react to his loss, how his most trusted vice president refused to follow his last command, how Biden is still living in the Shadows of Trump legacy, and finally will Trump be back?...more
I am glad I eventually decided to read this book as I generally tend to avoid the movie industry. Book turned out to be a real page-turner although quI am glad I eventually decided to read this book as I generally tend to avoid the movie industry. Book turned out to be a real page-turner although quite technical most of the time which is a challenge for laypeople to follow. Oliver used movie scripts and directing to deal with his former bad experiences of a difficult childhood, adolescence and Vietnam tour to great effects. He put his heart and soul into his projects supported by fringe investors. But that's exactly one point he fails to mention; whatever his complaints about the American movie industry, especially in their reluctance to fund realistic projects, he was still able to find investors to fund his projects which would have been almost impossible to enlist in many other countries....more
A fascinating study on the history and evolution of the modern form of fascism. Modern fascism is a by-product of democracy, it thrives in cultures whA fascinating study on the history and evolution of the modern form of fascism. Modern fascism is a by-product of democracy, it thrives in cultures where democratic traditions are ignored and where leadership is poor. The author's background in high powered government roles has given her a unique insight into various modern fascist governments, from Iran, Turkey to Russia and North Korea, eventually explaining the rise of Donald Trump and it's worldwide implications which frankly are pretty frightening. Democracy has evolved and moved rapidly towards the dreaded fascist era with horrific flashbacks to the Nazi era. The question is, what sort of horrific set of events will result with this latest version of fascist age?...more
Jon has produced an absolutely riveting audio documentary on the current state of the porn industry. An environment where young girls who are casuall Jon has produced an absolutely riveting audio documentary on the current state of the porn industry. An environment where young girls who are casually encouraged to please men at a cost of their own emotional selves. The men in the porn industry are generally middle-aged but haven't really mentally aged beyond their teenage years. They are still watching porn and playing video games and are social recluses, whom working girls mistakenly assume to be father figures will look after their welfare.
The documentary is emotionally painful to listen but gives a unique insight into the darkest corners of human behaviour. I am looking forward to the day when real porn stars are replaced by lifelike anime characters which is the only way to finally kill off this industry....more
its a book about trying to figure things out, in this new world of politics where facts don't exist, a world in where all news is jaundiced, all politits a book about trying to figure things out, in this new world of politics where facts don't exist, a world in where all news is jaundiced, all politicians lie, where some pain is normal, history has ended, ideas don't matter, where we are innocent and its the outsider who takes undue advantage of our innocence, but it is our job to make the world right again, in the image of God again, because God did create the world but got it wrong, that's why facts we consider as true are in fact not true, the only thing which is true is God's totality, and the only way to restore God's totality is creating a successful Totalitarian state. The biggest problem with a Totalitarian state is the question of succession, what happens when Putin dies? That is where spectacle is introduced, which is the concept of Eurasia. Eurasia is pitted against the vulnerability in the concept of EU, the vulnerability that Europe was composed of nation-states which fought the Great War's and learned to trade amicably instead. There were no nation-states, only Empires, who fought each other lost their colonies and landed in Europe to form a new empire called EU. If you believe that you were a nation-state then you are vulnerable to the idea of a Brexit. Putin armed with his Eurasia has not only taken on EU, but also the USA in a new kind of propaganda war, in which they are winning, much more against the US than EU, because US resembles Russia in terms of economic disparity with a small number of rich people and large poor people. Can democracy rise against this new form of politics of inevitability?...more
The book is an interesting read for a 'solid' case for collusion, based on money and sex. But the trouble is why would Trump worry about a sex tape whThe book is an interesting read for a 'solid' case for collusion, based on money and sex. But the trouble is why would Trump worry about a sex tape when he has already survived numerous sexual allegations publically?
Putin and his popularity in Russia are connected to the fall of USSR, which justifies Russia's quest to enlist their own guy at the top. They want to revenge for the breakup and they are following the American method by convincing Trump to do their bidding like the Americans used Gorbochov to effectively breakup USSR.
What comes goes around comes around I guess....more
This great political analysis is mainly focussed on UK but also considers the Trump win in USA and the European electoral scene. Although the author sThis great political analysis is mainly focussed on UK but also considers the Trump win in USA and the European electoral scene. Although the author seems to be a staunch Labour supporter but has managed to produce quite a balanced view of the social faultlines faced by the British society. It seems that we are about to enter a new industrial age for which we are ill-prepared.
The book is a must-read for anyone interested in UK politics and social evolution. ...more
Hillary is very bitter, right from the start till the very end which makes the book a tough read. There is a lot of repetition of basically the same aHillary is very bitter, right from the start till the very end which makes the book a tough read. There is a lot of repetition of basically the same argument, Trump was vile a mindless buffoon, complete unworthy of standing against her. So when he eventually scraped a win against her she was naturally bitter. The trouble is that both Trump and Clinton were equally unpopular with the undecided electorate. And the main reason for her unpopularity was her self appointed role as the leader of the feminist movement, failing to notice that Obama had never played the race card in all of his campaigns. Moreover her role of playing a suffragette queen was rejected by the urban white women voters because she failed to convince them of her self appointed leadership role of the movement.
The most interesting part of the book is the very last bit, where she dishes out free advice on how to get into politics and succeed. The whole advice seems artificial and superficial way of succeeding in politics. If Hillary followed her own advice then she managed to create an artificial acquired political role for herself which never really convinced the American electorate. ...more
A panoramic view of the shady world of Arms trade. What really impressed me was the candour with which the author dissected both the Developed and theA panoramic view of the shady world of Arms trade. What really impressed me was the candour with which the author dissected both the Developed and the undeveloped countries. He took no prisoners and was not shy to name names of the big players. It has become clear to me how much dependence is placed on arms industry by the Western countries. They are desperate to keep investing this bottomless industry in the name of national security for the immense profit of a select few.
It is also frightening to read about the state of some dysfunctional African nations where bullets and guns have become the currency of choice. It almost gave me a sci-fi movie image when I read about the way Israel was planning to use drones to shoot anything getting close to its wall with Palestine.
The book is a must read for anyone interested in politics. It will explain how inter country relationships work and when they don't work. Why certain dictators become acceptable leaders and others are considered as pariahs. How governments use our money to invest into defence projects which were never meant to work....more
I have been racking my brain without much luck ever since the wise people of America choose Donald Trumpster as their president. I mean the signs wereI have been racking my brain without much luck ever since the wise people of America choose Donald Trumpster as their president. I mean the signs were there. After all, they did put up with first version another Donald Rumsfeld with his famous known unknown ......... 'There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know'.
I think this love of the irrational, illogical type of personality demonstrated by the general population can be attributed to the popularity of social media websites like Facebook, twitter etc which has provided almost anyone the ability to become popular as long as they can gather some sort of popularity. No wonder Trump has managed to attract massive support in the world's most social media crazy country.........more
I am a narcissist. I pigeon hole women. I avoid people who criticise me. I cringe from difficult situations. It's never my faultThere is Trump inside me.
I am a narcissist. I pigeon hole women. I avoid people who criticise me. I cringe from difficult situations. It's never my fault. I love to be always right. I crave attention. I want money. I demand privileges. I want my name in the media, I want everyone to talk about me. I already know everything about anything, don't need to read or learn. I am the best one at any sports. Everyone should talk bout me. I want to advice people to improve just like me. I will use all Social media tools to further myself.
The only difference between Trump and me is that he does it on a much larger scale and has been doing it for a long long time.
Very difficult to follow the story as it keeps twisting and turning. But it did have the effect of keeping me thinking about the end for hours after IVery difficult to follow the story as it keeps twisting and turning. But it did have the effect of keeping me thinking about the end for hours after I had finished it though. It did capture my imagination especially the protagonist who was the most likeable character. Guess broke people with no money have a certain magical charm for some reason?...more
The stories are engaging and informational. The book is very nicely edited without too many repetitions which is generally the case with books comprisThe stories are engaging and informational. The book is very nicely edited without too many repetitions which is generally the case with books comprising collections of journalistic articles from the same author. Most stories piqued my interest, some humour, and some deep sadness. Which must mean that the collection is great read. ...more
A very entertaining read about the world of reality TV in the USA. It read like an anthropological study of the seekers of fame and popularity. The foA very entertaining read about the world of reality TV in the USA. It read like an anthropological study of the seekers of fame and popularity. The focussed Kardashian family managed to make millions by managing to hog the limelight upon themselves for years with their eccentric personal lifesytles. This unique phenomenum of attaining stardom without any visible skills or any talent is only possible in the age of social media where if we choose to, we can broadcast all of our opinions and observations which reults in a very close relationship with the wider public. Their success means that this new phenomenum is there to stay, so we'd better get used to seeing similar 'stars' in future.
I dont know why but I cannot help comparing the notoriety achieved by IS who also used social media to spread their message of hate. The IS is also a regime built on social media.
That religious fundamentalism is alive and thriving in America came as no big surprise to me. Especially when you can consider that that an atheist baThat religious fundamentalism is alive and thriving in America came as no big surprise to me. Especially when you can consider that that an atheist based sceptical culture though might have intellectually won the argument for religion but has failed to address the two central needs addressed by religion which continue to this day: first, the need to live together in communities in harmony, despite our deeply rooted selfish and violent impulses. And second, the need to cope with terrifying degrees of pain which arise from our vulnerability to professional failure, to troubled relationships, to the death of loved ones and to our decay and demise. God may be dead, but the urgent issues which impelled us to make him up still stir and demand resolutions which do not go away when we have been nudged to perceive some scientific inaccuracies in the tale of the seven loaves and fishes.
Thus we have allowed religion to claim as its exclusive dominion areas of experience which should rightly belong to all mankind –and which we should feel unembarrassed about reappropriating for the secular realm. Early Christianity was itself highly adept at appropriating the good ideas of others, aggressively subsuming countless pagan practices which modern atheists now tend to avoid in the mistaken belief that they are indelibly Christian.
The challenge facing a sceptical based culture is how to reverse the process of religious colonization: how to separate ideas and rituals from the religious institutions which have laid claim to them but don’t truly own them.
In the words of the great Orwell, those who control the past control the future, and those who control the present control the past...more
I thought the chapters on successful marriages and parenting were very insightful. The book is filled with applicable day to day wisdom and clear guidI thought the chapters on successful marriages and parenting were very insightful. The book is filled with applicable day to day wisdom and clear guidelines of what to do and not do.
But the only issue is that this book is based on American experiences, and therefore very specific to the North American culture. Thus one seemingly important assertion the author makes that most old people are living alone may be true in North America but not in the Subcontinent. Which means that the another assertion made by the author that the young are bound to make mistakes if they remain detached from their elder generation is also spurious. Consider the family based culture of the Subcontinent, where the youth and elders live in close proximity, and where advice is always on hand. But even in this close culture there are issues, mainly because the elders are giving far too much guidance, which leads to stagnation. ...more
Probably the best book if you really want to understand the genesis of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in any detail. The book covers its history, itsProbably the best book if you really want to understand the genesis of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in any detail. The book covers its history, its present ideology and its future aspirations. Atwan presents a much needed view of the new revolutionary and deadly Islamic militancy from the inside. Atwan is not a Western view apologist and has refused to label ISIS a terrorist organization, and I agree with his approach. I also agree with Atwan that ISIS is here to stay, so this current Western position of refusing to engage with them is pretty baffling. After all these are the same fundamentalists which Anglo-Saxon leaders were arming and engaging since WW1. The major reason for the popularity of ISIS in countries like Saudi Arabia is because of the unpopularity of its ruling family. The Royals of Saudi Arabia have been directing this hatred against them ever since the forcefully quashing the uprising in 1979. This explains the Saudi enthusiasm in supporting the Mujaheddin in Afghanistan, as well as Syria.
ISIS is just like another revolutionary movement and like any other revolution it feeds off injustice and disenfranchisement shared by majority public opinion. Isn't it time to finally give Palestinians a viable country and withdraw all support for despotic regimes like Saudi Arabia and Qatar instead of continuously engaging with them?...more
As a Muslim, reading this book seemed liked all the conspiracy theories about Zionism becoming real. The book is a very short, actually it's not a booAs a Muslim, reading this book seemed liked all the conspiracy theories about Zionism becoming real. The book is a very short, actually it's not a book but a longish article with endnotes longer than the book itself. I guess the author needed to provide ample evidence to all the controversial statements made against Zoinists. The affect of pro Israel propaganda is very strong but unfortunately blowback is proved to be just as strong. The future peace in the World depends on addressing our history in an objective manner. This book is a vital read for anyone looking to understand the current state of chaos in the Middle East. ...more
I listened to an audible version of the book. It was fantastic interplay between a unemotional and rationalist protagonist trying to maintain his marrI listened to an audible version of the book. It was fantastic interplay between a unemotional and rationalist protagonist trying to maintain his marriage in a foreign land. The story made me laugh and wonder at times. An excellent read....more
This was a fantastic listening experience. The narrator was brilliant with a story which was both engaging and thought provoking. I thought the authorThis was a fantastic listening experience. The narrator was brilliant with a story which was both engaging and thought provoking. I thought the author's analogy of religions and the Metaverse was extremely apt, as religion for me is the Metaverse of the ancients. Religion provides a perfect excuse for all injustices in our life, the afterlife. So the more you suffer in this world, the more recompensation should you expect in the next. I also quite enjoyed the depiction of various cultures. All in all this was a brilliant listening experience, highly recommended. ...more