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House of Cards, Sleight of Hand –Ed.
I re-read this old post in light of today’s widely reported allegations against Kevin Spacey. Now I know why the opening credits are so creepy. Think the opening credits for House of Cards is just some anodyne tour around the nation’s capital? Not so. One minute into the 90 second clip the camera pans desolate Read more
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Walden in Africa & Other Diplomatic Readings
Among the 53 titles compiled in this Month’s Foreign Service Journal is Dan Whitman’s Answer Coming Soon. Whatever else it provides to those who read it, Answer undeniably will provide this: a reflection on the power of books. The power is especially profound for those who spend their lives in places where electricity can be spotty Read more
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The Polyglot Archipelago
Seven islands form the area now called Mumbai (Bombay until 1995). Marathi, Hindi, and English are just a few of the languages spoken there, including Bambaiva, a blend of Gujarati, Konkani, Urdu, Indian English, and more. Its home to 18.5 million, India’s most populous city. Rudyard Kipling, Salman Rushdie, and Fareed Zakaria all were born Read more
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Halloween Specials
Trust me, this is way better than the animated version of David S Pumpkins. Does Tom Hanks really get to get away with that? Podcasts return to BenEastBooks! First up, Mohan reading The Spider and the Fly, a spooky birthday gift from his aunt. Next up, Vikram reads Poe’s unsettling chiller, The Raven. Listen up! Read more
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Gutman!
My sons are psyched Dan Gutman’s coming to town! So am I. They used Barnes & Noble gift cards to pick up something for him to sign. The youngest snagged My Weird School Fast Facts: Space, Humans, and Farts. I can’t wait to read it with him! The oldest went for Flashback Four #2: The Read more
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The Mars Boycott
Halloween is here and I’m taking a stand. I will eat nothing wrapped in orange, brown, yellow, or gold. I declare Mars and the rest of Candy Corp America persona non grata in my home! Here’s why: The average child eats about 3 cups of sugar and 7,000 calories on Halloween. They’d have to walk approximately Read more
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