Portfolio 2 Columns

Ulysses is a modernist novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It was first serialized in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920 and then published in its entirety in Paris by Sylvia Beach on February 2, 1922, Joyce’s 40th birthday. It is considered one of the most important works of modernist literature and has been called “a demonstration and summation of the entire movement.”According to Declan Kiberd, “Before Joyce, no writer of fiction had so foregrounded the process of thinking”. Ulysses chronicles the appointments and encounters of the itinerant Leopold Bloom in Dublin in the course of an ordinary day, 16 June 1904. Ulysses is the Latinised name of Odysseus, the hero of Homer’s epic poem the Odyssey, and the novel establishes a series of parallels between the poem and the novel, with structural correspondences between the characters and experiences of Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom, and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus, in addition to events and themes of the early 20th-century context of modernism, Dublin, and Ireland’s relationship to Britain. The novel is highly allusive and also imitates the styles of different periods of English literature. Since its publication, the book has attracted controversy and scrutiny, ranging from an obscenity trial in the United States in 1921 to protracted textual “Joyce Wars”. The novel’s stream of consciousness technique, careful structuring, and experimental prose—replete with puns, parodies, and allusions—as well as its rich characterization and broad humor have led it to be regarded as one of the greatest literary works in history; Joyce fans worldwide now celebrate 16 June as Bloomsday.

‘Straight from the horse’s mouth’, as they say. Edward Ruppelt was the first head of the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book, the official project initiated to investigate UFO reports beginning in 1952. This report from 1956 takes us inside these initial investigations, separates fact from fiction, and gives insight into who, when, where, and how sightings were reported and researched in open-minded fashion (for which Ruppelt was renowned), rather than in the typical hushed and secretive (and censored) manner most often associated with government and military reports which are released to the public. Dozens of specific sightings are recounted, although hundreds more had come pouring into the agency during the period covered (and hundreds, if not thousands more that were never officially reported). Here we go inside the workings of Project Blue Book, which had evolved from 2 earlier Air Force projects, and we are witness to interviews, press conferences, Pentagon briefings, and many reports from civilian and military pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, office workers, farmers, and the man on the street who reported their accounts with UFOs. And not all sightings that were reported were restricted to the U.S. Although Project Blue Book would continue until 1969, here we witness an in-depth account from it’s inception and it’s earliest stages, the political obstacles, the houndings from the press, the overall confusion encountered during and following many of the sightings, and the near hysteria caused during the heyday of UFO sightings, and all from the man who headed up the project in it’s earliest years. The second edition of Ruppelt’s work was supplemented with 3 additional chapters which were added in 1960, and we are fortunate that they are included here.

Two Tactics of Social Democracy in the Democratic Revolution is one of the most important of Lenin’s early writings. It was written in June and July 1905, while the Russian Revolution of 1905 was taking place. Lenin’s preface poses these questions: “in educating and organizing the working class;…where should we place the main political emphasis in this work of education and organization? On the trade unions and legally existing associations, or on an insurrection, on the work of creating a revolutionary army and a revolutionary government?” The history of social democracy stretches back to the 19th-century socialist movement. It came to advocate an evolutionary and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism, using established political processes, in contrast to the revolutionary socialist approach to transition associated with orthodox Marxism. In the early post-war era in Western Europe, social democratic parties rejected the Stalinist political and economic model then-current in the Soviet Union, committing themselves either to an alternative path to socialism or to a compromise between capitalism and socialism. In this period, social democrats embraced a mixed economy based on the predominance of private property, with only a minority of essential utilities and public services under public ownership. Social democrats promoted Keynesian economics, state interventionism, and the welfare state while placing less emphasis on the goal of replacing the capitalist system (factor markets, private property, and wage labor) with a qualitatively different socialist economic system.

Twas the Night Before Christmas has been called “arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American” and is largely responsible for some of the conceptions of Santa Claus from the mid-nineteenth century to today. It has had a massive effect on the history of Christmas gift-giving. Before the poem gained wide popularity, American ideas had varied considerably about Saint Nicholas and other Christmastide visitors. A Visit from St. Nicholas eventually was set to music and has been recorded by many artists.

Ginger Baker was, without question, the foremost drummer of his generation, having formed supergroups Cream and Blind Faith. In the early 1990s, author Geoffrey Giuliano received a call from Baker asking if he would be interested in writing his autobiography. From there, a turbulent, yet fruitful relationship ensued between the two. While the book they wrote together has yet to be published, here, at last, are the exclusive, in-depth, upfront, and highly personal conversations the two unlikely friends recorded in a Clarence, New York studio all those years ago. Ginger speaks his mind, holding forth on the particulars of his amazing life and work and in so doing reveals something he has always ardently tried to hide – that he is really a lovely, caring, sensitive man. For everyone interested in the history, art, and cultural significance of the popular music of the 20th century, this bold series is a once in a lifetime, must have audio event. Perfect for universities and all educational media as well as music fans everywhere, Contains adult language and mature themes. Not recommended for children. Parental warning – graphic content.

Treasure Island is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of “buccaneers and buried gold Its influence has been popular on its perceptions of pirates, including such elements as treasure maps marked with an “X”, schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen bearing parrots on their shoulders.

Noted internationally known Self-help advocate and teacher of devotional yoga Prana Govinda Das was born in Liverpool, England in 1968 admittedly a pretty good year for all things bright and beautiful. He says, “From as early as I can remember I had a unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and a desire to understand the true nature of man and this world we live in. I was also always seeking out people who could answer all the questions I had about life, the universe and everything.” After studying film production in the early nineties Prana was able to fulfill his lifelong desire to travel to India. admittedly his first trip changed his life completely and forever. “At that point,” He recalls, “my thirst for material knowledge turned to desire to understand the spiritual side of life. For the next six years I returned frequently to, where I studied many different paths of Hinduism, Buddhism and other forms of yoga and meditation. However, even after learning and experiencing so much I was still left incomplete.” in 2001 during the young man’s sixth trip to India, he travelled to Vrindavan, a holy town associated with Lord Krishna south of Delhi. It was there he met his spiritual guide, and mentor Srila Bhaktivedanta Naryana Goswami. Some twenty years on, Prana has been resident in his teacher’s temples all over the world, particularly India, Australia, America, and Europe. Welcome then to the inspirational, engrossing, all-inclusive teachings of Prana Govinda Das.

The Grateful Dead remain a touchstone band for successive generations the world over. Although they have been playing together for decades, they seldom grant interviews, but we have them here in all their never-ending counterculture glory. A must for any serious fan of the art and music of the 1960s and beyond.