What are you currently reading?

[Ataraxia]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

J. B. Pritchard, Ancient Near Eastern Text.
J. H. Hospers, A basic Bibliography for the study of the Semitic Languages.
K. Galling, Textbuch zur geschichte Israels.

[springrite]

Deep Simplicity--Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity (John Gribbon)

It has been a while since I read my last science book so this is toughing going and my brain is about to explode. But I enjoy it very much, like I did with all of Gribbon's other books.

[Opus106]

Deep Simplicity--Bringing Order to Chaos and Complexity (John Gribbon)

It has been a while since I read my last science book so this is toughing going and my brain is about to explode. But I enjoy it very much, like I did with all of Gribbon's other books.

I enjoyed reading many of his books during my pop-physics stage; definitely a favourite. I came across somewhere that he had tread into the multiverse territory recently, but I haven't read it.

[springrite]

I enjoyed reading many of his books during my pop-physics stage; definitely a favourite. I came across somewhere that he had tread into the multiverse territoy recently, but I haven't read it.

Yes, I know some of his books in those areas but I am not planning to read them any time soon, or ever. I want to get a bit more into complexity/chaos/simplicity because some of the things I learn in there aid in my study and personal interest in Budhism.

[Todd]

About a third of the way through David Rothkopf's Power, Inc..  It's certainly an ambitious book by a former Clintonista.  The author attempts to make the case that the struggle between corporations and states is akin to the struggle between church and state from centuries past.  Well, maybe.  While the book offers a most intriguing glimpse at the beginning of corporations – starting with the selling of shares in Stora Kopparberg in 1288 (the company still exists as Stora Enso) – the author has so far not convinced me his main idea is true.  I know some good stuff is coming about the modern world, but his historical arguments are a bit weak at times.  Beyond that, some of the writing is repetitive and not especially effective (he's no Daniel Yergin).  It's also incredibly biased toward the West.  That's certainly understandable in many regards, but it will be interesting to see how he handles the different approaches to relationships between governments and corporations in other parts of the world.  Anyway, it's still an interesting read.

[Philoctetes]

Currently reading up on my main man, David Addington.

[lisa needs braces]

I loved the first one, and so far its sequel has been gripping. The HBO series looks sumptuous, but from what I hear HBO has overemphasized sexual elements just to be HBO. 

[Florestan]

John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath

[Karl Henning]

The Grapes of Wrath

Just where are they stored, I've wondered . . . .

[val]

FRANÇOIS CHESNAYS:          "Les dettes illégitimes"

Chesnais is a well known French Professor of Economy. In his perspective, the huge debts of most countries in West, today, are the result of Bank operations against the interest of the citizens and with the only profit for the Bankers themselves. He fights the politics of austerity and is in favor of a severe control of the Bank and Finance activity.
Let's wait the result of French elections. The socialist candidate seems not far from Chesnays perspective.

[Ataraxia]

John Steinbeck - The Grapes of Wrath

[Sergeant Rock]

Alison Wonderland by Helen Smith, a detective novel, sort of.



My name's Alison Temple and I used to have this line when people asked me if I'm married. I'd say, "I'm waiting for Mr. Wonderland and when I find him I'll get married. Until then I'm staying single." The kind of people who need to know whether or not you're married don't see the humour in a joke like that.

Sarge

[Ataraxia]

I'm reading an ARC of The Void by Brett J. Talley, a science fiction/horror novel.

Also dipping into a giant noir ficiton antho. Mmm. Delish!

[The new erato]

Very useful and pretty interesting



Interesting and illuminating if you're into France. Juste finished these two.



Now reading this. Damn interesting!

[Drasko]

As an aside, could you please let me know whether there is any difference between Mletacka and Venecija and what's the origin of the former word?

There is some difference, but nothing is very clear cut. Mletačka Republika is Serbo-Croatian (Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Montenegrian) name for Venetian Republic, and Mleci, Mlečani or Mlečići for its citizens. And that would be more commonly used form in everyday speech - e.g. we are in war with Mleci (not we are in war with Mletačka Republika), you came back from Mletaka, you traded with Mlecima ...
On the other hand Venecija is the name of the city itself (and always was), and today, when there is no more Venetian Republic, when you refer to the denizens of Venice you'd say Venecijanci, not Mleci.
I don't know the etymology of the word, and I'm not even sure that there is a very clear one. The one I heard but strikes me as far-out is Latini (another name used for Venetians) -> Latte -> Mleko -> Mlečići.

Thanks for this very informative reply. Indeed that etymology sounds rather far-fetched, and this Wikipedia note isn't very helpful either. Anyway, it's interesting that Serbo-Croatian use for the historical Venetian state and its citizens a name that is not derived from "Venezia". I am not aware of any other language with this feature.

Neiter am I. Now you got me curious about the etymology of the name. Friend of mine teaches linguistics at university, maybe he'll know or know who will know. I'll ask him next time I see him.

Please do. I'm curious too. 

Well this was conversation from ages ago, but I finally remembered to ask my linguistics professor friend. Etymology is quite simple actually. Old Slavonic for Venice was Vnetia or Bnetia and then through consonant dissimilation consonant group bn turns into ml. So Vnetia > Bnetia > Mletia = Mletacka, Mleci ...   

[Florestan]

Well this was conversation from ages ago, but I finally remembered to ask my linguistics professor friend. Etymology is quite simple actually. Old Slavonic for Venice was Vnetia or Bnetia and then through consonant dissimilation consonant group bn turns into ml. So Vnetia > Bnetia > Mletia = Mletacka, Mleci ...   

Wow, you did remember it after a whole year! Thank you. 

[Drasko]

Nothing really, I was curious as well. Interesting thing is that the term developed and used in parallel with the usual standard 'Venecija' but used for different purposes: city vs state. 

[Florestan]

Nothing really, I was curious as well. Interesting thing is that the term developed and used in parallel with the usual standard 'Venecija' but used for different purposes: city vs state.

Yes, very interesting. Are there any other examples of "vn" turning into "ml" that are still in use today in Serbo-Croatian?

[Willoughby earl of Itacarius]

A few things I am reading now.

The Idea of history in the Ancient Near East, by R.C. Dentan
Geschichtsbild und Geschichtschreibung in Agypten by E. Otto.
History and the Gods by B. Albrektson.
Probleme einer politischen Geschichte des Spatbronzezeitlichen Syrien, by H. Klengel
Grundzuge der Hethitischen and alttestamentlichen Geschichtsschreibung by H. Cancik.

Just doing some research for a article I am suppose to write, very interesting though, quite forgot that.