Many thanks to Charles Pearson for his generous financial contribution.
Forgive our editorial brevity (or welcome it, if you will) -- but Swans headquarters, along with most of the world, was engrossed in the World Cup final, which irrespective of our deadline went into extra time. Viva España! It's been a wonderful four weeks of the true sport of football, and one of its most impassioned fans, Gilles d'Aymery, commentates on the sport in general and the South African tournament in particular. While this was a highly successful first for an African nation to host the World Cup, it is hard to identify much else in the way of progress on the continent. Femi Akomolafe considers the decades-old problems that continue to confront its citizens, turning to the second-place football team's country, the Netherlands, as an example of how things can work if the political will exists. Unfortunately, all too often, and it's nothing new, political will is manipulated by philanthropy and cultural imperialism -- consider the two 1986 book reviews by Joan Roelofs on the matter that we republish here, and the continuing research by Michael Barker, who conducted a series of interviews with authors and scholars on philanthropy including Robert Arnove, Dennis Buss, Peter Seybold, Mary Anna Colwell, and Edward Berman. In this context, it is refreshing to remember a genuine man with a political will that was true to the class struggle: Peter Camejo. Louis Proyect recounts his introduction to Camejo, one of the major influences on his political evolution over the past 30 years.
In cultural matters, Michael Doliner posits that mathematics is sometimes applicable, sometimes not, and we have to know where to use it. Peter Byrne shares a travelogue that takes him to Kumdanbaron, India, where he finds the opportunity to observe small-town life unclouded by self-consciousness. Charles Marowitz considers actor Frank Langella and the gravitas of his dedication to acting, beyond almost everything else in his life, that enables him to create versions of himself which are often wonders to behold. Fabio De Propris and Peter Byrne collaborate to create Italian and English versions of a poem on the Trojan War, and Byrne provides a Demotic translation. Guido Monte and Francesca Saieva talk about existential reflections of confusion and deterioration of our world, and we close with your letters and one final thought.
Just as we got down to work on finishing this edition, smoke began filling the sky from our neighbor's property up the hill, and just as quickly controlled mayhem ensued with firefighters rushing in, spotter planes circling, a fire-retardant-dropping plane doing its work, followed by a helicopter with a water bucket making good use of all the vineyard ponds that suck the life out of the local rivers. We are grateful that Wallen and Elisabeth Summers and their home are fine, and we send kudos to the Anderson Valley volunteer firefighters and the California Department of Forestry personnel who work relentlessly to keep us safe in the hot and dry season.
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Gilles d'Aymery: The Golden Ball: Thank You South Africa!
A review of World Cup 2010, Africa's first and highly successful hosting of the games, with thoughts on the beautiful sport of football and human errors. More...
Femi Akomolafe: Licensed To Rip Us Off
African leaders continue to ignore the needs of their citizens, from water to electricity, health care and education, to affordable cell phone service and decent Internet access. More...
Joan Roelofs: Golden Donors And Cultural Imperialism
Review of two books on philanthropy by Joan Roelofs (first published in 1986 in Telos). More...
Michael Barker: An Interview With Robert Arnove
Foundation focused interview with Robert Arnove the editor of Foundations and Cultural Imperialism (GK Hall, 1980). More...
Michael Barker: An Interview With Dennis Buss
Foundation focused interview with Dennis C. Buss. More...
Michael Barker: An Interview With Peter Seybold
Foundation focused interview with Peter Seybold. More...
Michael Barker: An Interview With Mary Anna Colwell
Foundation focused interview with Mary Anna Colwell. More...
Michael Barker: An Interview With Edward Berman
Foundation focused interview with Edward Berman. More...
Louis Proyect: North Star: A Tribute to Peter Camejo
Louis Proyect recounts his introduction to Peter Camejo, one of the major influences on his political evolution over the past 30 years. More...
Michael Doliner: Mathematics
Mathematics is sometimes applicable, sometimes not, and we have to know where to use it. More...
Peter Byrne: India Ajog
Peter Byrne shares a travelogue that takes him to Kumdanbaron, India where he finds the opportunity to observe small-town life unclouded by self-consciousness. More...
Charles Marowitz: Langella In Close-Up
Charles Marowitz considers actor Frank Langella and the gravitas of his dedication to acting, beyond almost everything else in his life, that enables him to create versions of himself which are often wonders to behold. More...
Fabio De Propris: Metamorfosi Del Cavallo Di Troia
Transformation Of The Trojan Horse
English translation: Fabio De Propris & Peter Byrne
Fabio De Propis and Peter Byrne have been working on a little project in Italian and English that readers who fancy language will appreciate. Appended to the poem and translation is a demotic version written by Peter Byrne. The entire exercise could easily be named, "Trusting Greek Gifts.". More...
Guido Monte & Francesca Saieva: Impression
Monte and Saieva talk about existential reflections of confusion and deterioration of our world. More...
Michael Doliner responds to criticism of his stereotypical use of "Satchmo," and Kenneth Rexroth's San Francisco Examiner columns are reposted for those wanting to recall the 1960s. More...
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