Rhona
Picks
Books:
- "Mother Nature: A History of Mothers, Infants,
and Natural Selection" by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (Pantheon Books, New
York, 1999)
A primatologist presents what we know about maternal behavior in humans
and other primates, drawing on biological research, ethnographic studies,
and the historical record. Very interesting discussions of conflicting
interests between men and women in reproduction, of maternal ambivalence,
and of the links between maternal love and sexual love. Some
provocative ideas about how the adoption of settled agriculture
was bad for women. Feminist and intellectually honest.
- "The Hearing Trumpet" by Leonora Carrington (Exact Change, Boston,
1996)
Leonora Carrington was an early twentieth-century British painter and
writer who settled in Mexico. Many of her friends were Surrealists. This
book is surreal in flavor: full of strange incidents and whimsy. The plot
is engaging: the search for the Holy Grail, to reunite the Goddess with
her Pneuma, to save the Earth and humanity. No stuffiness or New Age
pontification at all, though. Much lighter and wildly imaginative. The
Exact Change publishing company in Boston has restored to print lots
of
twentieth-century experimental books. What wonderful people!
CD: "Traditional Sufi Qawwalis, Live in London, Vol. III" by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Navras Records, London).
Superb vocalist sings this devotional music of the Sufis, members of the mystical branch of Islam. Tasty rhythms and melodies, not watered down for a "world beat" format.
Operating system: Linux
It never crashes, it's completely customizable, and its users give lots
of friendly help on the Internet and in local
user groups. It's also free. Now many vendors will sell you an Intel-based
PC with Linux already installed.
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Mahony--rmahony@leland.stanford.edu-------
Last modified: Nov 19 2000