Ghosts of Empire: Book Review

The other day, the Wall Street Journal had a fascinating book review on Kwasi Kwarteng's Ghosts of Empire.

Since my studies in international power politics at Oxford, I've had a growing fascination with the historical study of imperialism and the rise and fall of Empires, especially that of Britain.

Does imperialism and consequential colonialism help those civilizations? does it contribute to human happiness by either material or philosophical means?

What strikes me as alluring is that Kwarteng seems to approach the subject from what seems a relatively unbiased perspective. Almost as if he is trying to approach the subject from a fresh perspective, untainted by the opinions on either side of the controversy that have been debated for decades. He seems to address evenly both the downsides as well as benefits of imperialism.

One reason why imperialism always fascinates me is that America is a dying empire. What are we in danger of becoming? Are our politicians handling the current situations in a way that will help or harm the survival of our empire?

Well, I think I may add this book to my summer reading list. And the Forsyte Saga. Watching the miniseries with Holly right now - I've been told for a while I'd love it. It has Ioan Griffudd and Damien Lewis in it, so I like it already!

The Russian Novel

Today is a perfect snow day. If only it weren't Saturday, because I have the day off already. If only I didn't have a 6" stack of papers to grade. I'm serious, I do!

Last night and this morning, I sat down and watched a movie that's been on my Netflix instant queue since I subscribed: Tolstoy's War and Peace. It was the perfect accompaniment to a cup of hot chocolate, a warm fuzzy puppy snuggled up in my blankets and the quietness of a new blanket of fallen snow.

I've always had the best intentions to read melodramatic and complicated Russian novels, but I haven't had the motivation to make it past the first chapter. Hence, watching the 1956 production of War and Peace has succeeded in giving me an appetizing taste for the real, yet much more convoluted novel by Tolstoy.

Auburn and Fonda

I liked the movie more than I imagined I would. Hepburn sometimes annoys me - I think she's far too overrated an actress at times, but her style is iconic, I'll give her (or her costumers) that credit. What really inspired me were the deep characters of the male protagonists. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky played by Mel Ferrer, was so serious, sensitive and sad, yet honorable. One couldn't help but want the best for him. Pierre Bezukhov, played by Henry Fonda, was a little more complicated in that he would switch his idealistic outlook on an off throughout the film. I can only imagine how much more intense these characters would be in the novel itself.

Auburn and Ferrer

It was a long movie, comparable to GWTW, also another excellent classic that I've enjoyed time and time again.

So now I've added War and Peace to my summer reading list... I have 2 months to read 5 books. Piece of cake! (No seriously, I read Vanity Fair in 2 weeks. It is entirely possible for me to do this. I am a reading fiend!)

Summer 2012 Reading List

1. The Hunger Games (because everyone else seems so excited for the movie coming out soon)

2. War and Peace, Tolstoy

3. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

4. The Guns of August, Barbara Tuchman

5. TBD

Have a happy & snowy weekend!

New Years (one week late that is)

Long time, no see friends.

I have been busy as usual with work and finals week coming up at Vanguard, but I have at least found some time to think about resolutions for the new year. I often struggle with the concept of New Years' resolutions because they are a little cliche I think. They often consist of things out of the ordinary. Sometimes they are ordinary things like "losing weight" but lower on the list of priorities, or, they are severely lacking in enjoyment but are on the resolution list anyway because we'd feel bad if it wasn't.

Then I got to thinking, how many people make resolutions that don't exactly coincide with our long term visions or goal planning? Spontaneity is great and all, but should it significantly distract us from the steps we need to take to achieve our life goals? I only say this because when I think about the resolutions I made last year, I achieved about half, all of which I am proud of. The other half, I most likely didn't persist with because they were too vague, which is another mistake most people make when creating resolutions. Number one lesson in goal setting - make it quantitatively achievable!

So this year's resolutions aren't wishful thoughts, they are my short term goals for a long term life plan I have been working to build upon. I actually wrote them all in this blog, but then I re-read them and saw how it was probably more than you all wanted to read. It was also a bit, well... personal. I love sharing my hopes and dreams with you all, but there is a point when it may seem a bit boring and even intrusive. So here is an extremely edited version of 5 from 20-some little goals "to-do" in 2012 which will help drive me toward some of my greater life goals.

1. Take a Yoga Class. Maybe not on a regular basis, but at least once or twice this year.

2. Drink 1 new wine a month and record it in my wine journal.

3. Read 8 or more books on subjects pertaining to the history classes I teach.

4. Economize my car, or in other words, sadly trade in my beloved Rover for a more frugal sedan-like vehicle with better MPG.

5. Become an official resident of Colorado! On the assumption that my contract with Vanguard will be renewed and which I have 90% confidence/unofficial discussions with administration of this happening.

So cheers to you all as you too make your goals and here's hoping that 2012 becomes a far better year than 2011 had shown itself to be!

Procrastination

I really shouldn't be blogging right now. I should be reading Hesiod's Theogeny. Or Machiavelli. Or grading essays. Or creating lesson plans. Or maliciously snickering as I create yet another quiz on Herodotus for the poor kiddos.

But I need a creative outlet right now. I need to distract my mind from other nagging thoughts. Thoughts of sad teacher salaries, prolonged anticipation for home and personal shortcomings. Including thoughts like jealousy that my roommate gets to come home to play with her dog and watch endless hours of Law & Order SVU because she teaches music. And we all know how music teachers get the fun part of the job.

I guess I should look at the silver linings.

I have my first Gingerbread Latte for the Christmas season sitting right next to me.

I reconnected this weekend with a friend who also happens to be new to the Springs.

I have my Landie back. I missed her terribly.

I finally laminated some of my history pictures and began decorating my drab classroom.

One of my students, Ramon, surprised me with a mini pumpkin loaf. He is such a sweetheart.

I received 5 history books in the mail today. They were all free thanks to my credits on paperbackswap.com.

I have a cute little hedgehog face snuggled in the folds of my blanket next to me. Something like this.

I am blessed in so many ways. Proverbs 3:5-6.

Okay. I think I've sufficiently relieved myself of pent-up angst. Time to hit the books, make a quiz on Malleus Maleficarum for the sophomores and one on Archaic Greece for the freshies!

Cheers, Lindsay & Thistle

p.s. praying for a snow day tomorrow. I need a day off!

Not at all bad, for a Monday

I've been pretty productive today - which is most surprising as I have been craving a day of R&R lately. Had the day off, so its been busy with errands, business calls, organizing my mess of papers, et cetera.

One such important errand includes making a trip to the local Borders. As you may know the entire corporation is folding up, hence uber discounts at store liquidations! I had to slap myself on the wrist when I almost bought the entire series of "The Pacific" on Blu Ray for $40. Amazing deal, but God, will you please mark it down even further before I go back again??

I decided I'll wait till after Thursday (to be explained) and treat myself after my important meeting. So today I settled for Laura Inghram's latest book, "Of Thee I Zing," ($9 for a $30 book? Yes, please!) It's a social commentary on the decay of our American civilization today, from "Muffin Tops to Body Shots" as she wittily describes it.

As per Thursday, I am looking forward to driving out to the Springs and meeting with the director of a Charter High School that is classically focused much like Hillsdale. I'm really excited to meet with people intimately familiar with Hillsdale, its mission and values. As my fellow graduates would testify, it is extremely difficult to explain and have people understand the concept of Hillsdale and the Liberal Arts. So in short, this is a very special opportunity for me - I long to re-immerse myself with academia.

On another note...

Here is a long-forgotten story about American generosity to our troops during WWII. Incredibly touching!

Recently saw this documentary on how big our government has become since the Reagan administration ended. It was pretty helpful actually, and it simplified some principles that seem to get lost in political jargon. The documentary also pointed out this Obama faux pas. I'm surprised that A) I haven't heard this till now (then again, I did live under a rock at college) and B) who would elect a guy that doesn't know how many states make up the USA?!?!?

Nevertheless, if you wish to be patriotically inspired, Noonan's "When Character Was King" is an incredible portrait of Reagan's character and the American optimism of the time. I've only read one chapter and I'm already emotionally drawn in.

Speaking of Reagan, if you ever find yourself vacationing in Southern California, you simply MUST visit the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. It was a gorgeous facility and a wonderful experience!

Wino Wednesday | What would you pay for an old bottle of vinegar?

Better late than never, right?

Today's post was inspired by my latest read, The Billionaire's Vinegar. What a fascinating book! A brief summary for you all... In 1985, a cache of wine was found walled up in a Paris basement. The bottles were old and engraved with "Lafitte, 1787, Th. J."

Now here's some Wine 101. The old spelling "Lafitte" refers to one of the premier crus in Bordeaux, Chateau Lafite. To give you an idea of its value on the market, recent vintages from 2009 or 2010 can go for as high as $4k. Another thing to know about some of these prestigious Bordeaux growths is that they are most often made with the intention to age. Why age a wine? Have you ever had a red that was much to big for your palate to handle. It may be overly strong on the tannins leaving a "furry" feeling on your tongue. Well, over time, the minor amount of oxygen in the bottles will temper the wine giving it a completely different taste and softening out those harsh tannins. In fact, back in the 18th and early 19th centuries, European aristocratic families would constantly be stocking their wine cellars, not for themselves, but for their progeny. The wine you drank was what Dad bought.

The date 1787 on the bottle obviously made this Lafite extremely valuable. The question was - has it exceeded its prime time? Bottles left to age too long will start to lose their flavor. The engraving most important to this bottle was the "Th. J." Can you guess what that indicated? The wine hunters of that day had uncovered a treasure trove of bottles of Lafite, Yquem, Petrus and other prestigious vintages once belonging to Thomas Jefferson, well known for leading the American discovery of fine wine.

To make a long story short, Christies first auctioned one of the Jefferson bottles and sold it for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. Wallace narrates the story from there, the history around the bottle, Thomas Jefferson, the elite circles of antique wine collectors, and ultimately the dark mystery of its origins. What I loved most about this book is it takes a complete 180 halfway through - it kept me mesmerized the entire time!

The Expat in Me

Sometimes I wonder why I can't fully express my strong desire to live abroad and become a part of British culture (not permanently, but at least for several years at least.) I know a good part of it is because the History nerd in me romanticizes much of it, but after one year living in England, I'm still not dissuaded. The desire courses in my veins and re-inspires me every now and then.

I came upon this portion of C'est la Vie in which Suzy really seemed to capture some of those similar feelings I have on the matter. In lieu of France, read "England".

In America's large population, it's harder to find your way and to make your own place. I had often felt lost in America...if you are not young and rich and hot to trot, you are invisible.

As an American who stepped into this new world, I think I was able to adjust more easily than some because I have always had an interest in history and a passion for a way of life that is all but gone from the United States. My university degree is in history; my favorite books are historical fiction and historical biography. I am truly interested in how life was lived int he past, which, believe it or not provides information for daily life in modern France.

I have a personal theory that many of the Americans who like living in France share an inner craving to return to a way of life from times past; they don't mind that many things in France don't work... that France is behind the times in just about everything. They prefer the slow pace and the social structure of another era. The trade-offs are worth it. Sure, these expats have mobile phones and computers and enjoy modern modem life, but they are also offended by the hustle and bustle of a world of yield management, crime in the home as well as on the streets, drive-by shootings and corporate unaccountability without employer loyalty for the working guy...

It's my bet that expats also like the challenge of things being a little bit harder within the structure of their lives; they are as tough as pioneers and can take the stress of doing business - and living life - in a different code. They like the rules and the manners; they like the quaint thinking that passes as marketing in France. They like a country that is about bad television and good magazines and even better conversation.

3 for 5

Yay! 3 books down, 2 to go for my summer reading goal. So far I've read:

1. The Alienist

2. In the Heart of the Sea

3. The Zookeeper's Wife

Perhaps, I should have set a higher goal. It doesn't take me very long to become absorbed in a book and choose reading over anything else at the time.

If you haven't had your hair cut & styled at a professional beauty school, you should try it. When I say professional, I mean top brands like Redken, Paul Mitchell, etc. There's an Aveda school here in Denver and it's ammaaaazzzing! $15 for a scalp massage, hair cut (supervised by instructors, so no big worries about nasty mistakes) and aromatherapy. They have other services at a small cost too like full body massage (90 min for $50!), waxing, etc.

I met this adorable couple registering at work; he had an Australian accent. What a lucky girl! I could listen to that forever. Hmmm, perhaps I should reconsider wine grad school at Curtin... Wouldn't it be hard to get mad at a hubby with an adorable accent? Or would you get so used to it, he no longer has his accent as a trump card? Here is Adam Hill's clever take on Aussie accents.

Cheers for tonight, still have lots to do before its too late! Love, L

Organize Your Library

I normally am so serious when I organize my library by either author or genre - though I don't go so far as Dewey Decimal system. Well today I felt a little creative and decided to organize my books by color. The thought must have remained in my subconscious after watching this really fun video several months ago.

I have just enough books to fill my fireplace mantle, plus organizing them by color looks neat, organized and stylish. It's a great statement piece in lieu of any artwork. Looks like I need more brighter green and blue books...

Most designers I see tend to organize in the following pattern: white, creams, tan, brown, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, gray and blacks. The color system is best for visual people, or those with a photographic memory - otherwise you might spend a good while looking if you have more than 50 books.

BTW, I was leafing through an old magazine and stumbled on this adorable DVF retro bikini. (minus the ghastly shoes) Who wouldn't feel like Marilyn Monroe in this piece and a pair of classic Wayfarers.

Goodness, does this picture make me long for the Cali beaches and our family's annual summer retreat to Carpinteria. It's no fun being a grown up at times. Something new called responsibility & work, sheesh...

Creature Comforts

Had a great day off today. Made some productive steps in networking for my wine career pursuits which has been incredibly inspiring. (Something I've needed a bit more of lately) The rest of the evening has been a pleasant night off so far. Here are some fun things I stumbled upon tonight:

Check out this claymation series, "Creature Comforts" It's a hilarious adaptation of real life interviews into claymation characters.

Finished book one of my summer goals. Into the Heart of the Sea was a great narrative of the sinking of the whale ship Essex. The additional research on psychological stages during starvation, dehydration and other survival sciences gave an interesting perspective to history and the interpretation of Philbrick's research.

I'm looking out for a couple of quirky old cafe type chairs to outfit my porch with - something like these, but more original than a PB product. I was pointed in the direction of Antique Row off Broadway. Defs a trip on my next day off.

Went to a really fun "Denver Wine Geeks" meetup the other night at this really neat Wine Bar. I must go back some other time and try their menu items as well.

Finally, I am so so so so excited for this to come out!!!!! Only 1 month away! I get goosebumps every time. Disclaimer: if you don't understand the extreme anticipation we all feel, you probably never read the books. And you should. They offer so much more than the movies can.

Lo-Do

The nice thing about having two part-time jobs is getting random days of the week off as your "weekend." This week for example, I work through Memorial weekend and yesterday, Wednesday, was my day off. I actually liked having a weekday off - I had a greater sense of productivity and adventure because the world was awake and open for business.

So yesterday, I ventured to Downtown Denver, more commonly referred to as "Lo-Do." My time was limited however (partially due to unpleasantly high parking costs), so I restrained my wanderings to 16th street. You know what's amazing?? They have a free public transit line that runs all the way up and down 16th. It definitely helped make my time more efficient, though I do prefer to walk outside and soak up the culture around me. It'll take a couple more times for me to fully figure out the vibe of Lo-Do, but for my one brief visit it showed great potential.

I have the unfortunate habit of comparing every major American city I visit to the wonderful experiences I had in European cities such as London, Oxford, Paris and Vienna to name a few. Perhaps I need to revisit some cities like San Francisco, Chicago or NYC and experience them anew through the eyes of an independent adult without parents or siblings around (college years don't count - you're still somewhat dependent at that point and still growing in many ways). Well then, I guess Downtown Denver was my first foray into my beginning adult metropolitan experiences. Though I technically live in Denver, I'm on the outskirts of the city limit and its more suburban than anything with mass amounts of traffic, big box stores and chain restaurants. Lo-Do offers the things I look for living in a big city: privately owned businesses with unique themes, a higher class and quality of living than you find in Target or Walmart, and the sidewalk population is a blend of modern commercialism with indie and artsy threads woven throughout.

On this first visit I patronized a couple of unique establishments. Wines off Wynkoop is a small wineshop that you can only access by alley-way. I felt so "in on the know" walking back to the shop doors. Bonus, Wednesday happened to be a special discount day - save 15% off domestic whites when you buy 2 or more! Next door, past the alley, is the Tattered Cover Book Store. It reminded me so much of Blackwell's in Oxford! The place is so characteristic of a family owned bookstore with well worn hardwood floors, a mix of used and new books, leather furniture just begging you to sink into with a hot Mocha Cappucino. It's a good thing I don't live anywhere nearby, otherwise I'd be spending hours relaxing there. I simply must bring my camera next time to take some pictures of my own & share with you all! They also have a really great line-up of events and visiting authors on a regular basis.

Both of these stores show what makes small privately owned businesses so characteristic of downtown areas. In order to stay in business, they have to work incredibly hard to attract new customers and retain loyal customers with different promotions, events or rewards programs. They don't have the automatic clientele loyalty to a brand such as Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or Beverage More may have, so these small businesses make up for it in other ways. In all honesty though, its those personal touches and going the extra mile for the customer that makes me so much more loyal than to any chain store.

So I'll have many more small business experiences to share with you next time I go Lo-Do. What are some of your favorite unique downtown shopping experiences?

Glitter and the Gold

An author has always held my captivated audience when describing scenes of aristocratic elegance at the turn of the century. Depictions of society's pomp and tradition, the scintillating jewels and satin gowns women displayed at evening balls, the glimpses of wit and intellect from within the rigid mores of conversation, all invoke a sense of modern romanticism in me. Balsan's autobiographical account growing up within this cultural framework is far from the monotonous recitations of her social soirees that one would expect. Rather, it is a unique unveiling of an independent woman's thoughts, passions and innermost desires often suppressed at the time by social expectations. It's a great dichotomy between the concepts of American Democracy and European Plutocracy, the lingering Victorian conservatism versus the emerging modernism of a new century, and presents a unique vantage of the evolving role of women in Great Britain and America at the time.

The dwindling prominence of Nouveau Riche families and the rise of the middle class in our contemporary society has perhaps encouraged a negative opinion of those in history who "monopolized the economy" of the day and hindered the rise of the average American citizen, while the Vanderbilts and Carnegies built grand estates on Fifth Avenue. I am of the opposite opinion, not because of the romantic images that come to mind, but because of the depth of character we can learn from their personal lives. There are many different lessons that can be taken from their example; entrepreneurship or philanthropy are some of the most recognizable, but in reading Balsan's personal memoirs I come away with more personal illustrations of character.

As a young girl, her involuntary marriage to the Duke of Marlborough is instructive of the importance of virtues such as love, respect and trust in relationships, rather than the convenience of money. The sympathy one feels for her descriptions of the limitations of women at the time imbue a sense of gratitude for the freedom and opportunities we are blessed with today such as the right to vote, the ability to embark on a career or gain an education. Consuelo's life stories highlight the beauty and social benefit of inculcating personal virtues such as perseverance, patience, respect, integrity, selflessness, sincerity, tact and continued intellectual growth. She presents herself honestly and humbly, describing both her achievements and downfalls in life. Consuelo Balsan is a remarkable woman and most worthy of emulation.

If you ever get a chance to travel to England, I would highly suggest visiting Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. As the Marlborough family palace, Consuelo played a vital role in its history, which is where my intrigue with this American heiress began. Its a gorgeous structure with beautiful rooms, a rich history, and acres of Capability Brown's landscape parkland to explore - a full day's entertainment!

On Books

The first thing you should ever know about me is how much I love books. Don't ever expect me to walk into a Barnes & Noble, Borders, local bookshop or even a garage sale without taking a good look (1 hour minimum), let a lone leaving without buying one! Even better, I'll take books for free. One of my latest acquirements I found lying in a trash can in one of Hillsdale's classroom buildings after finals. Guess they must've really hated that class, but I've always wanted to learn more about the Reformation! My favorite activity in college? (OMG, I'm such a nerd...) Buying books before the semester begins. I'd even buy books for classes I was auditing and really didn't need to keep up with the reading. On the other hand, I won't spend my relatively hard earned money on just any book. I'm all for history, the classics, cultural studies, novels and the like. No Sci-Fi or Anime Comic books for me please.

Two things about myself & books lately. First, now that I need to prepare to move my stuff at a moment's notice for any odd reason, I figured it'd probably be wise to undertake the daunting task to catalog all of my personal library in an excel spreadsheet. All 260 of them. Books are actually quite compact. Looking at my shelves, I'd estimate maybe around 150, but 260?? How did I acquire all those? I'd hate to think how much money I spent on books that I could've used for a new pair of winter boots. Then again, I think I'm better off having read A World at Arms and empathizing with the U.S. 290th Infantry before the Battle of the Bulge than having toasty toes. I'm proud of my library and look forward to continue to see it grow, but I know full well that its going to be a bitch to pack and lug about when I have to move it all someday.

Second, As food, rent, insurance, hedgehog care and other life essential payments now become unavoidable, the cost of books has become ever present in my thoughts. My friend Mary, however, suggested a wonderful and free solution to my book addiction! Paperback Swap is possibly the most genius online book club that I have ever come across. I've saved over $30 so far on books and acquired 6 new ones in the last month alone. A definite fav of late! I'm reading A Year in the World right now, which is a great literary and cultural travelogue, but at the same time I can't wait to crack open my new ones. Looking forward to starting The Professor and the Madman, The Glitter and the Gold and Eat, Pray, Love. Sometimes I'll give in and have 7 or more books going at the same time...then it's a little overload. How many books have you had going at one time?