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The Library
Welcome to my collection of essential reading that together forms much of my global outlook. You'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view most of these articles so click on the link at the bottom of the page to download the application.

Technology

Abandoning the News: What's the Future of the News Business (Carnegie Reporter, Spring 2005): A must read analysis of the troubled future of the news business both from technology and content perspectives.

Peer to Peer Terrorism by James Grimmelman (Salon, September 26, 2001): This is by far the most definitive article for me on how the growing power of decentralized networks will erode the power of incumbent technologies and bureaucracies. This is a fantastic read!

The Long Tail by Wired Editor, Chris Anderson (Wired Magazine, December 10, 2003): This is the latest of the "BIG" theories on how media will evolve in the coming era that is far more decentralized than any of us can comprehend.

U.S. Politics

The God Racket by Frank Rich (The New York Times, March 27, 2005): The United States is now a country run by fundamentalist mullahs and sadly, Frank Rich is essentially the only voice in the corporate owned media that has anything to say about it.

Is this a new dark age? by Mark Moford (The San Francisco Chronicle, March 25, 2005): Why beat around the bush (no pun intended, really), it is hard to argue that the United States is now on a downward trajectory from its once lofty heights.

Bill Moyers interview with Jon Stewart (July 11, 2003 transcript from PBS' weekly news magazine show "NOW"): Stewart brilliantly breaks it all down in this interview why journalism and the news media are useless in an era when the political establishment is so fluent in manipulating the media system.

China

Chinese labor policies mar African welcome (August 9, 2006, Reuters): The rise of Chinese represents an entirely new paradigm. China is not intent on projecting its power in the same manner that Europeans and Americans did in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. They are playing by an entirely new set of rules.

Show me the money! by Steven Irvine (March 2004, Finance Asia): An incredible exploration of the consequences of China's economic development in a moral vacuum (I know it's sounds like a dull topic but Irvine did a great job in explaining why this is so important).

Chinese move to eclipse U.S. appeal in Southeast Asia by Jane Perlez (New York Times, November 18, 2004): It's just so hard for Americans to understand how fast their influence is waning in Asia and what effect China is having on re-shaping Asian international relations based on Beijing's interests.

International Relations

Paying a Deadly Price for U.S. Global Hubris (Roger Cohen, The International Herald Tribune, May 4, 2005): A cogent summary of how U.S. arrogance and poor policy making are unnecessarily dividing the international community.

Fourth Generation Warfare (Defense and the National Interest, March 23, 2005): Technology and globalization are having a similar impact on warfare as they are on technology, politics and entertainment. Power is rapidly decentralizing.

War is a force that gives us meaning (Chris Hedges, 2004): This was a truly moving book for me and each of my friends who has read it. You don't have to read the entire book though to feel its impact. Just read through the first chapter and tell me if you become unavoidably moved.

Dogs

How could you? by Jim Willis (2001): A touching essay on what it means to make a commitment to your dog. Get the Kleenex out before you read this as it will no doubt affect you.

A Dog's Prayer by anonymous: A similarly sweet poem about the bond between and dog and his/her guardian.

TO: GOD | FROM: THE DOG: A cute memorandum from dog to god enquiring about a few of life's critical details.

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our village idiot

""Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

"I want to thank the astronauts who are with us, the courageous spacial entrepreneurs who set such a wonderful example for the young of our country."

"Had we to do it over again, we would look at the consequences of catastrophic success, being so successful so fast that an enemy that should have surrendered or been done in escaped and lived to fight another day."