Weekly Reading List 1.18.13

Mali, Mali, Mali...

Background/Context/Additional Info.

• MASS RAPE, AMPUTATIONS AND KILLINGS -- WHY FAMILIES ARE FLEING TERROR IN MALI
• BEHIND MALI'S CONFLICT: MYTHS, REALITIES & UNKNOWNS
• FRENCH STRIKES IN MALI SUPPLANT CAUTION OF U.S.
• FRANCE IN MALI: THE END OF THE FAIRYTALE
• MALI: ANOTHER CHANCE TO LEAD FROM BEHIND
• CARTER CENTER: GUINEA WORM COULD MAKE A COMEBACK IN MALI
• MAP OF NORTHERN MALI: FRENCH INTERVENTION

The battle that rages on.

• FRANCE GETS DEEPER IN MALI WAR: ARE THEY READY?
• ISLAMISTS PROMISE FIGHT ACROSS SAHARA, BUT RESPONSE DISJOINTED
• AS RESCUE OPERATION CONTINUES IN ALGERIA FATE OF HOSTAGES REMAINS UNCLEAR
• HOPE IN MALI RISES WITH INTERNATIONAL MILITARY INTERVENTION
• I hesitate to put up too many articles about the battle itself because it seems to change daily if not hourly. If your interested I'd recommend following a couple of people on twitter for more up-to-the-moment information - 
• @BlogsofWar
• @joshuafoust
• @DaveedGR
• @SarahJSchles
• @texasinafrica

Weekly Reading List 1.16.13

Religious Freedom

• STATE DEPARTMENT EXPRESSES "SERIOUS CONCERNS" ABOUT AMERICAN PASTOR SAEED ABEDINI'S IMPRISONMENT
• THE WEEKLY NUMBER - "...nearly one-in-seven countries (15%) were affected by current religion-related wars or the continuing displacement of people from previous religion-related fighting."
• NORTH KOREA CONFIRMS ARREST OF "KENNETH" BAE, an American citizen, on charges of committing "hostlie acts against the republic."
• PAKISTAN: MINORITY RIGHTS DAY -- YEAR 2012 PROVED TO BE A NIGHTMARE FOR RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
• RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF BLASPHEMY LAWS

Anti-Trafficking

• SLAVERY'S GLOBAL COMEBACK
• WALMART'S HUMAN TRAFFICKING PROBLEM
• HOW MOBILE PHONES AND THE INTERNET FIGHT (AND HELP) HUMAN TRAFFICKING
• IS DELHI SO DIFFERENT FROM STEUBENVILLE?

Fun!!

• Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum OBJECT OF THE DAY - "Discover a different object from the Museum's collection every day of the week!"
• SCIENCE OF PERSUASION -

Obsession Part II

Last year I did a series of posts on my little obsession with books. You can read them HERE, HERE, and HERE. In one of those posts, I shared what books I read by mid-January. As the year is coming to a close, it's time to share the entire 2012 reading list.

1. The Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini- Eragon
   - Eldest
   - Inheritance
2. Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life by Brendan Brazier
3. Gang Leader for a Day: A Rogue Sociologist Takes to the Streets by Sudhir Venkatesh
4. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Steig Larsson
6. Game of Thrones Series by George R. R. Martin - A Game of Thrones
   - A Clash of Kings
   - A Storm of Swords
   - A Fest of Crows
   - A Dance with Dragons
7. My Smart Puppy: Fun, Effective, and Easy Puppy Training by Brian Kilcommons and Sarah Wilson
8. How to House Break your Dog in 7 Days by Shirlee Kalstone
9. St. Bernard: a Comprehensive Owner's Guide by J. Radford Wilcock 
10. The Hobbit by J.R. Tolkien
11. Taking Charge of your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement and Reproductive Health by Toni Weschler
12. Working for Yourself: Law and Taxes for Independent Contractors, Freelancers & Consultants by Stephen Fishman J.D.
13. Night by Elie Wiesel
14. Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin [started]

I would say, it's been a great year! 19 books! Unfortunately, I made almost zero progress on my list of half-read books, maybe that's my first New Year's resolution for 2013.

WEEKLY READING LIST [12.15.12]

THE FISCAL CLIFF

• Fiscal Cliff Calculator - "What it means for me."
• "Why might Republicans cave in Fiscal Cliff talks"
• "Raising Medicare's age: Saves fed $5.7 billion, costs you $11.4 billion"
• "Raising Medicare's eligibility age: How much would it save?"
• "Pessimism About Fiscal Cliff Deal, Republicans Still Get More Blame."
• "Why is Big Business Supporting Obama?"

SYRIA

• "All about the Benjamins"
• "Congress moves to bar Pentagon from deal with Russian arms exporter"
• "U.S. Weighs Bolder Effort to Intervene in Syria"
• "Syrian Christians targeted for their faith or their politics"
• "Britain eyes arms embargo changes to help Syrian Rebels"
• "Is Syria's Civil War Entering it's Final Act, or Poised for a New Phase?"
• "Did Russia Just Throw Assad Under the Bus?"
• "Assad Regime to fall within weeks, says Iraqi Minister"

NORTH KOREA

• "North Korea Threatens with Successful Missile Launch"
• "Satellite images reveal snow may have slowed North Korea's Rocket Launch"
• "North Korea Launches Rocket, Hell Breaks Loose"
• "Rice's new Chinese sparring partner"
• "Defiant North Korea holds mass rally, vows more launches"

Our thoughts are also with the community of Newtown, CT. 

Weekly Reading LIst 11.27.12

THE FISCAL CLIFF

• CORKER TOUTS FISCAL PLAN says, "...It's time to rip the band aid off and reach a deal..." 
• LINDSEY GRAHAM, PETER KING BREAK WITH GROVER NORQUIST
• NORQUIST PLEDGE: ARE GOP TAX REBELS START OF A TREND OR JUST TALK?
• NORQUIST: GOP WON'T BREAK TAX PLEDGE
• WHY THE FISCAL CLIFF MATTERS TO THE MIDDLE EAST
• THE FISCAL CLIFF IS THE FIRST HUGE TEST FOR THE U.S. RECOVERY

EGYPT

• SHOWDOWN SET OVER MORSI DECLARATION
• ABSOLUTE POWER: MORSI DECREE STUNS EGYPTIANS
• SYRIA IS CENTRAL TO HOLDING TOGETHER THE MIDDLE EAST
• MORSI TRIES TO CALM EGYP AFTER HIS EDICT

ISRAEL/GAZA

• ISRAEL AND HAMAS AGREE TO CEASE-FIRE, AFTER U.S.-EGYPT PUSH
• CLINTON ROLE SHOWS U.S. STILL DOMINATE IN TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD
• BY THE NUMBERS
• HAMAS WINS OVER DOUBTERS IN GAZA WITH BATTLEFIELD PROWESS
• FOR ISRAEL, COSTS AND BENEFITS OF STRIKING GAZA

EXTRA!

• VOTING BY SEX, AGE, RACE, MONEY AND EDUCATION
• THE BOND VILLAINS LAIR: SKYFALL'S ABANDONED ISLAND
• MY 13 FAVORITE TED TALKS: BILL GATES

[video] Clearing Landmines in Afghanistan - "Hauntingly Beautiful and Low Cost"

Weekly Reading List [11.9.12]

1. PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH & TEXT OF MITT ROMNEY'S CONCESSION SPEECH - Regardless of who you voted for, or how you feel about the election results, I think we can all agree we're glad it's over. Until next time....

2. BACK TO WORK, OBAMA IS GREETED BY LOOMING CRISIS & OBAMA'S NEXT ECONOMY: THE DANGER OF THE FISCAL CLIFF & CBO: GOING OVER THE FISCAL CLIFF ISBAD, BUT SO IS IGNORING THE NATIONAL DEBT - Fiscal cliff. Need I say more?

3.  HOW KARZAI COULD MAKE HIMSELF A HERO -  A good reminder that Afghanistan has elections coming up in 2014, and just how good we have it here in the U.S. If your looking for some good Middle East blogs check out the Al Monitor's list of Top 35 Middle East Blogs.

4. DOD CONFIRMS IRANIAN ATTACK ON U.S. DRONE - This happened on Nov 1, and has just been released by the Pentagon. 

5. THE 13TH WITNESS & THE WOOSTER COLLECTIVE - Two photography blogs.