I love to read and to share information about books. Here are some that I enjoyed in 2024 and why.
2024 Reading List: Highlights and Reviews
Cash transfers from Meta class action explained
Meta, the company owning Facebook, is paying out $725 million in a class action suit for sharing its users' personal data without their knowledge to third party users. I received a direct cash transfer into my bank account for thirty-six dollars. I found it creepy. Â
Understanding the Roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Many supporters of Israel in the current war upon Gaza claim that Jewish people are indigenous to the region and have a right to claim it as their homeland. Author Rashid Khalidi, whose ancestors were a prominent family in Palestine prior to the creation of Israel, reminds us there were Palestinians living there long before the creation of Israel in 1948.
Gideon Levy criticizes Israeli media
Gideon Levy is a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaertz and a fierce critic of his country's media, especially its reporting on Israel's longtime occupation of the West Bank, and now of its conduct in the war on Gaza. On November 13, speaking online from Tel Aviv, Levy delivered the annual Peter Stursberg Foreign Correspondent’s Lecture, sponsored by the School of Journalism and Communication at Carleton University.
Dying to tell the story
Shrouq Al Aila, a young Palestinian journalist, spoke to us directly from Gaza recently. She told us that she could hear explosions from Israeli bombs nearby. It has been a deadly year for journalists in Gaza, not to mention the rest of the people there. Hearing Shrouq talk was a disturbing and enlightening experience.
A Communist for the RCMP
Frank Hadesbeck was a long-time civilian informant for the RCMP over a span of 35 years. In this and future blog posts, Dennis Gruending, author of A Communist for the RCMP, explains how he researched and wrote this unique book.
Israeli settler violence
Armed and violent Israeli settlers are attacking the homes and fields of Palestinians with the support of the Netanyahu government.
Brian Mulroney, envelopes stuffed with cash
Brian Mulroney, who died in February, 2024, is being widely feted as a great prime minister. But after he left office, he also took envelopes stuffed with cash from a lobbyist and had no credible explanation for it.
Digital gorillas threaten Canadian news
The giant digital gorillas Google and Meta are threatening to block Canadian news links from their sites because the federal government has passed Bill C-18, which would make them pay those who create the news for using their material. While that debate rages, I have practical advice about how to access Canadian news without relying on the tech giants at all.
Finland and Estonia under NATO eyes
Finland and Estonia are beautiful Baltic countries to visit. But they share land borders with Russia and are anxious about the invasion of Ukraine. Both countries have cast their lot with NATO.
Pulpit and Politics 