Book Review -- The Birds That Audubon Missed

Title: The Birds That Audubon Missed - Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness
Author: Kenn Kaufmann
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

My Review: Pending...

Description (Audible): Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world.

Description (ChatGPT): The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness is a flight through the margins of natural history, where the birds are elusive, the explorers obsessive, and the wilderness wilder than anyone bargained for. It's a tale of what happens when science meets longing—and not all feathers are catalogued.

Happy Earth Day! - Limerick

Happy Earth Day!

The Earth is an amazing planet

A home for all life that's on it

But if we abuse it

We will certainly loose it

So protect the planet damn it!

TILOTD - Kumbaya

Things I Learned On This Day - The old folk song, Kumbaya was actually a black spiritual song that originated in the coastal regions of southeast United States sometime before 1926. According to Wikipedia, the song was originally sung by enslaved blacks in an appeal to God to come to the aid of those in need. The title, Kumbaya is thought to be a translation of "Come by here" in the creole Gullah language. While the song began as a spiritual, it later took on new meanings. During the folk revival of the 1950's and 1960's, Kumbaya became a popular campfire song and eventually became a protest song in support of civil rights and other causes. Ironically, during the 1980's, the song began to take on the meaning of being too  unrealistic and touchy-feely. According to an article by Mental Floss, "the backlash against “Kumbaya” may have started because it had become a staple at children’s summer camps, which sometimes led to it being thought of as saccharine and silly." So now "Kumbaya" is synonymous with naïvety as in the cynical phrase kumbaya moment. From a a spiritual, to a campfire song, to a protest anthem, to a derisive phrase, “Kumbaya” is a song with a complicated history.

       

Book Review - Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism

Title: Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
Author: Sarah Wynn-Williams
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
My Review: Careless People is a tell-all book by Sarah Wynn-Williams who  worked for seven years as Facebook's global public policy director. I'm not a big fan of Facebook and have a healthy distrust of most social media. Unfortunately, this book confirmed my distrust and helped me see how powerful Facebook and social media is in controlling people and spreading false information. What's interesting and not surprising is Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is pursuing a legal case against Sarah Wynn-Williams and trying to block the distribution of the book.  I highly recommend this book.

Description (Audible): From trips on private jets and encounters with world leaders to shocking accounts of misogyny and double standards behind the scenes, this searing memoir exposes both the personal and the political fallout when unfettered power and a rotten company culture take hold. In a gripping and often absurd narrative where a few people carelessly hold the world in their hands, this eye-opening memoir reveals what really goes on among the global elite. Sarah Wynn-Williams tells the wrenching but fun story of Facebook, mapping its rise from stumbling encounters with juntas to Mark Zuckerberg’s reaction when he learned of Facebook’s role in Trump’s election. She experiences the challenges and humiliations of working motherhood within a pressure cooker of a workplace, all while Sheryl Sandberg urges her and others to “lean in.” Careless People is a deeply personal account of why and how things have gone so horribly wrong in the past decade—told in a sharp, candid, and utterly disarming voice. A deep, unflinching look at the role that social media has assumed in our lives, Careless People reveals the truth about the leaders of Facebook: how the more power they grasp, the less responsible they become and the consequences this has for all of us.

Description (ChatGPT): Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams is a sharp critique of Facebook's rise and the perilous intersection of power and technology. Through an incisive analysis, Wynn-Williams reveals how Facebook’s founders, initially driven by idealism, ultimately became entangled in a web of greed and influence. The book serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the ethical compromises that accompany immense power in the digital age. With its timely relevance, this book is a must-read for anyone questioning the true cost of social media’s dominance in modern society.