The Three-Body Problem, by Cixin Liu. Tom Doherty Books. 2006. I grew up reading science fiction and fantasy. I’d like to think I’ve read most of classics, but I haven’t. I have several authors I haven’t read, like Ursula K. Le Guin and Roger Zelazny. Money I made mowing yards and doing odd jobs I…
The Chinese New Year began on Monday, February 8th, which was yesterday. Sorry; I should have posted an announcement on Sunday so people could have planned parties and what-not. This is the Year of the Monkey, but not just any monkey. No, this is the Year of the Fire Monkey. Chinese culture has it’s own…
The Spratly Islands are a collection of atolls, reefs, islands, and skerries about midway between the Philippine Islands and mainland China. Navigation around and through the Spratlys can be tortuous; ships and boats have to exercise caution when traveling through them to ensure they don’t run aground on a submerged reef, or suffer damage from…
In light of recent events at Sony Pictures I thought I would offer my nickle’s worth of commentary, layout some geography, and point out some, well absurdities. Maybe the absurdities should come first. Then, I can use some of these irrational statements as fodder for later geographic tie-ins. I’m not sure even where to start,…
When China Rules The World; The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order. Martin Jacques. Penguin Paperback. 2012. $20. The U.S. public needs frequent reminders other places outside of the Middle East exist. Maybe I should not generalize. Perhaps I should say, “The U.S. media and news outlets need…
Comic books and the related publishing industry have been a serious form of cultural expression since before the days of Clark Kent and Superman. Superman, created by Jerry Siegal and Joe Shuster in 1933, was sold to the publisher who would later evolve into DC Comics. Superman became an iconic part of America culture in…
On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks. Simon Garfield. Gotham Books. Paperback. $17. Mr. Garfield’s book might also have the subtitle of, “Why you should care about the geography of Liberty City.” For those of you who are not familiar with Liberty City, allow me to fill you in. While…
This Machine Kills Secrets: How Wikileaks, Cypherpunks, and Hacktivists Aim to Free the World’s Information. Andy Greenberg. Dutton Press. Hardback. $12. A dilemma looms. How much of what an organization does should remain private? If the organization crosses the line and become corrupt, how best to protect the privacy and identity of the whistleblower? I…
Governing the World, by Mark Mazower. Non-Fiction/History. Penguin Press. Hardcover. 475pgs. $30. Governing the World is a non-linear examination of the events, people, countries, and circumstances leading to the creation and organization of today’s United Nations. I did not select the book knowing this, though. I had an option to read and review a new…
Civilization. Niall Ferguson. Penguin. Softcover. 402pgs. $18. Civilization is a book which should be read by anyone needing a refresher course in World History, American History, or World Civilizations. The last sentence of the book explains why: “the biggest threat to Western civilization is posed not by other civilizations, but by our own pusillanimity –…
Constant Geography 
You must be logged in to post a comment.