Newsletter 241

[1]The Arab World's Looming Water Crisis
Links:
1. http://b.rw/e7lhFp

John Vidal | Guardian | 20 February 2011

From the Maghreb to Iraq, water supplies are dwindling fast. Many Arab
rulers rely on subsidies for social stability, but rising food prices and
growing populations mean tough decisions ahead. Yemen may have to move its
capital

[2]BBC's Passive Ignorance
Links:
2. http://b.rw/fIdPyz

Geoffrey Pullum | Language Log | 22 February 2011

Evisceration of BBC style guidance on passives. "Journalists who believe the
drivel about passives being bad are just imbibing tired old nonsense
repeated by generations of usage-pontificating idiots plagiarising from each
other"

[3]Don't Call Me Comrade
Links:
3. http://b.rw/edfy7W

Mark Mazower | National Interest | 23 February 2011

Cold War historians gradually understanding, incorporating Russian
perspective. For Russia it was less a conflict with America, more a struggle
to control continental Europe. So why didn't Stalin annexe more of Europe
into USSR?

[4]Most Decadent Emperor
Links:
4. http://b.rw/ihnfTm

Mary Beard | TLS | 23 February 2011

Elagabalus took power at 14, married three times by 18, ate camels' heels,
and cocks' combs torn from living birds, suffocated guests at one dinner
party with an avalanche of petals, fed others 600 ostrich brains. Or so
legend holds

[5]Who Owns Kafka?
Links:
5. http://b.rw/ig3I2W

Judith Butler | LRB | 23 February 2011

Thoughtful essay on current trial that will decide ownership of very
valuable early Kafka manuscripts. National Library of Israel claims the
works are an Israeli asset. German Literature Archive meanwhile takes a very
different view

[6]Neo-Feudalism Explained
Links:
6. http://b.rw/hZ2NHT

Vladislav Inozemtsev | American Interest | 22 February 2011

Smart, persuasive account of Russian political system. No bombshells, but
shows beautifully how everything holds together, with corruption as the
binding agent. "The weak pay tribute up, and the strong provide protection
down"

Today's FiveBooks Interview

[7]Mathew Prichard on =AGATHA CHRISTIE=
Links:
7. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/mathew-prichard-on-agatha-christie

Mathew Prichard’s selection of his late grandmother’s literature reveals a
master storyteller. His own family memories — and a definitive biography —
show Agatha Christie as kind, shrewd and sensitive. [8]Continue reading…
Links:
8. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/mathew-prichard-on-agatha-christie

Topic

[9]Espionage
Links:
9. http://thebrowser.com/topics/espionage

The irresistible subject - spies. Who are they? What do they really do? Are
today's spies that different from the heroes of the Cold War? Read on to
find out. [10]Continue reading…
Links:
10. http://thebrowser.com/topics/espionage

Book of the Day

[11]Brilliant Orange The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer
Links:
11. http://thebrowser.com/recommended/brilliant-orange-neurotic-genius-dutch-soccer-by-david-winner

-by David Winner -

_As recommended by Simon Kuper:_ When I finished this book, I just wanted to
break into applause. It’s completely original. [12]More recommendations…
Links:
12. http://thebrowser.com/fivebooks

Browsings

From [13]Canvas8: don't panic! Thought Leader @[14]Ruby_Pseudo smashes a few
media-instated myths around the UK's youth - [15]bit.ly/dF2xIP _#browsings_
Links:
13. http://twitter.com/Canvas8
14. http://twitter.com/Ruby_Pseudo
15. http://bit.ly/dF2xIP

[16]More user recommended #browsings…
Links:
16. http://thebrowser.com/browsings

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