Ten Myths About Israel by Ilan Pappe - Non-Fiction

The myths and reality behind the state of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—from “the most eloquent writer on Palestinian history” (New Statesman)

The outspoken and radical Israeli historian Ilan Pappe examines the most contested ideas concerning the origins and identity of the contemporary state of Israel.

The “ten myths”—repeated endlessly in the media, enforced by the military, and accepted without question by the world’s governments—reinforce the regional status quo and include:

• Palestine was an empty land at the time of the Balfour Declaration.

• The Jews were a people without a land.

• There is no difference between Zionism and Judaism.

• Zionism is not a colonial project of occupation.

• The Palestinians left their Homeland voluntarily in 1948.

• The June 1967 War was a war of ‘No Choice’.

• Israel is the only Democracy in the Middle East.

• The Oslo Mythologies

• The Gaza Mythologies

• The Two-State Solution

For students, activists, and anyone interested in better understanding the news, Ten Myths About Israel is another groundbreaking study of the Israel-Palestine conflict from the author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.

Source:  https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/549129/ten-myths-about-israel-by-ilan-pappe/9781804297049

Personal Commentary: The audiobook version of Ten Myths About Israel by Ilan Pappe highlighted the challenges facing Israel and Palestine.  I gained a significant amount of knowledge and recognition of the crisis that is facing these two groups of people. It is indeed a difficult situation.  

The Use of Semiotics - A Study of Signs and Symbols: Non-Fiction

Semiotics is the theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication. Common examples of semiotics include traffic signs, emojis used in electronic communication, and logos and brands used by international corporations to sell us things—"brand loyalty," they call it.

It is a key study into the evolution of human consciousness. English philosopher John Locke (1632–1704) tied the advancement of intelligence to three steps: understanding the nature of things, understanding what to do to achieve whatever you wish to achieve, and the ability to communicate these things to another. Language began with signs. In Locke's terminology, signs are dyadic—that is, a sign is tied to a specific meaning.

Source: https://www.thoughtco.com/semiotics-definition-1692082

Professor Danesi, renowned for his groundbreaking work in semiotics and youth culture, has made remarkable contributions to our understanding of popular culture and its role in social evolution. His extensive publication record includes influential textbooks on linguistics and semiotics and a fascinating series on advertising as a sign system.

The image on the left shows Professor Danesi with Professor Paolo Granata.  Professor Danesi was presented with a Semiotics T-shirt and the Semiotics Award. 

It was an informative lecture that indicated the importance of studying signs and symbols, evident everywhere and used by everyone.

Reconciling History: A Story of Canada by Jody Wilson-Raybould - Non-fiction

This event was a powerful hour of conversation with The Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould. The moderator posed the questions from the audience as well as questions she presented to the former Attorney General of Canada. 

Ms. Wilson-Raybould, in a conversational style and in a story format, answered the questions. It was a way of sharing her views and interpretations of being Canadian. As an audience member, I found it to be an inspiring session for gaining new knowledge and a profound appreciation of different perspectives.

Book Synopsis:

From the #1 national bestselling author of 'Indian' in the Cabinet and True Reconciliation, a truly unique history of our land—powerful, devastating, remarkable—as told through the voices of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

The totem pole forms the foundation for this unique and important oral history of Canada. Its goal is both toweringly ambitious and beautifully direct: To tell the story of this country in a way that prompts readers to look from different angles, to see its dimensions, curves, and cuts. To know that history has an arc, just as the totem pole rises, but to realize that it is also in the details that important meanings are to be found along the way. To recognize that the story of the past is always there to be retold and recast, and must be conveyed to generations to come. In the act of re-telling, meaning is found, and strength is built.

When it comes to telling the history of Canada, and in particular the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, we need to accept that how our history has traditionally been told has not been a common or shared enterprise. In many ways, it has been an exclusive and siloed one. Among the countless peoples and groups that make up this vast country, the voices and experiences of a few have too often dominated those of many others.

Reconciling History shares voices that have seldom been heard, and in this ground-breaking book, they are telling and re-telling history from their perspectives. Born out of the oral history in True Reconciliation, and complemented throughout with stunning photography and art, Reconciling History takes this approach to telling our collective story to an entirely different level.

Source:https://alumni.utoronto.ca/events/jody-wilson-raybould-reconciling-history-story-canada

Author Presentation: Climate Hope: Stories of Action in an Age of Global Crisis by David Geselbracht - Non-fiction

Climate Hope, written by journalist and author David Geselbracht, outlines his extensive research, interviews with experts, and reporting on the various initiatives and efforts by individuals worldwide who are tackling climate change issues. It gives readers hope that, with determination, climate change can be addressed. 

Geselbracht discovered, through extensive research, interviews with experts, and on-the-ground reporting across Canada and many countries, that there are important ways to address climate change. 

 

The author takes the reader to the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow and to giant heating ducts below the city of Copenhagen to illustrate the remarkable efforts being made to confront climate change issues.  

Climate Hope illustrates the stories of hope that various individuals worldwide are focused on resolving climate change issues with purpose and possibility.  It is incumbent on each individual to actively participate in defusing climate change.  

The image on the right shows David Geselbracht reading some of the hopeful stories about individuals making a difference by addressing climate change issues.

This presentation was held on October 31, 2024, at the North York Public Library, in Toronto, Ontario. It was an excellent presentation. 

Source:

https://douglas-mcintyre.com/products/9781771624268?srsltid=AfmBOoqmsTH9r_jvuMxirE5DYoCnXR_BKUEDWvbhvFNuJE2Ux2gnrc0u

Shades of Mercy by Bruce Borgos

Shades of Mercy: A Porter Beck Mystery.  This novel is set in the desert of Nevada.  Sheriff Porter Beck has returned home and has joined the local Sheriff's office. He is part of a twelve-person department that covers a large area.  It is usually very quiet.  But it has changed lately; one of his childhood friends met his death through the use of strong illegal opioids. 

And another childhood friend—now a very successful rancher—is targeted by a military drone. Beck discovers that this military drone was hacked and commandeered by an unknown source. The hacker is apparently local—local enough to call out Beck by name—and that means they are Beck's problem.

Beck's investigation leads him to Mercy Vaughn, the one known hacker in the area. The problem is that she's a teenager, locked up with no computer access at the secure juvenile detention center. But there's something about Mercy that doesn't sit quite right with Beck. But when Mercy disappears, Beck understands that she's in danger and time is running out for all of them.

 

Source: A significant portion of this review is taken from the Indigo website at the following link:

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/shades-of-mercy-a-porter-beck-mystery/9781250848093.html

The Natural Beauty of our Canadian Fall Season

The Fall Season brings in the beauty of nature in Canada. Before the trees shed their leaves, we witness the stunningly beautiful change of colours of the leaves, which I observe and enjoy during my walks in my favourite park, David Balfour Park, Toronto. Below are a sample of photographs:

         

                           

The Art of the Printed Word: Celebrating Italian Printmaking Heritage: Show-and-Tell Session

For the International Week of Italian Language in the World 2024, I was invited by Paolo Granata,
Associate Professor in Book & Media Studies, University of Toronto, to attend a talk on a captivating journey through the centuries-old history of Italian printmaking.

This talk was held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, 496 Huron St., Toronto. It focused on the evolution of typography from the pioneering work of Aldo Manuzio, the inventor of the Italic type, to the masterful creations of Italian printmaker Alberto Tallone.

Professor Paolo Granata presented the evolution of typography from the pioneering work of Aldo

Manuzio, the inventor of the Italic type, to the masterful creations of Alberto Tallone, whom Pablo Neruda was hailed as the “hero of the book”.

Prof. Granata’s lecture was followed by a unique show-and-tell presentation by Enrico and Elisa Tallone, son and granddaughter of Alberto Tallone, who continue to honour the legacy of legendary printers and typographers like Aldo Manuzio and Giambattista Bodoni.

Attendees explored the world of typography, its beauty and anatomy, and the historical significance of type in shaping the modern book and the Italian language. Samples and artifacts were displayed for the attendees to review, absorb, and touch. It was an interesting experience, and I gained new knowledge. Two pictures of samples are included as shown above and below.