Blog — Page 139 of 277

Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O’Neill

Penguin / William Heinemann

I think it is safe to say that Charles Manson, the case around him, the man, the myth, the legend will always have a place on the firmament of Western pop culture.

While there have been a myriad of books on his story and its implications – some more reliable than others – this solid tome by the journalist Tom O’Neill is based on decades of research on the fraudulent Manson trial, shedding light on the covert influences of the 1960s and how the shaping of a nation was manifested through the manoeuvring of intelligence agencies.

The book continues where Sanders’ The Family and Vincent Bugliosi’s Helter Skelter stopped and while there is a good share of what could be considered conspiracy theories apart from the known facts about Manson’s unholy odyssey, the attention to detail and interpretation of events gives reason to believe that Manson had a lot more going on in than anyone ever could fathom and that there was more to what was portrayed as motiveless murders.

Tom O’Neill examines the involvement LAPD and the FBI, and microscopically analyses how they not only contributed to muddying the waters but – as with the CIA – played an integral role in creating fertile ground through experiments with hallucinogenic drugs.

Even for the initiated, there should be an array of new facts and theories to discover that give Tom O’Neill’s approach credibility, yet it at times borders on the fantastic and sensationalism, a e.g. when details are shared about characters that were involved in the lead up and the trial itself.

Needless to say that Tom O’Neill does not resolve all the mysteries and unanswered questions, but his fascination, meticulous research and obsession raises a lot of interesting questions about facets and the narrative of the Manson case that so far have been largely and perhaps deliberately ignored, which makes for an intriguing read.

Adventures in Quantumland: Exploring Our Unseen Reality

World Scientific Publishing

I have been following philosopher and physicist Ruth Kastner explorations on what constitutes and lies underneath of what we refer to reality for quite a while.

This tome of hers is divides into two components: While the first half follows a stringent thread, the second one is collection of essays and treatises authored by herself and other contributors, each zeroing in and elaborating on a distinct issue previously covered in the first half.

What makes Kastner’s book an enticing read is that it is accessible without the need to having completed a master’s degree on the sujet: The language is not plagued with technical terms and the way Kastner makes her cases are relatable, clear, succinct and brief without the subject matter being “dumbed down”.

Now, quantum theory has always intrigued me and the way Kastner moves us through the subject is captivating and if I was pressed to simmer it down to its essence, I’d say that it focuses on the fact that a transfer of measurable energy, i.e. a “quantum” requires an interaction between an emitter and absorber with the interactions being present, incipient and actual, with every incipient potential occurring instantly and simultaneously throughout the universe.

In a nutshell, Dr. Kastner theory means that no real photon can leave an emitter until a real absorber is selected out of the incipient possibilities. If you follow her train of thought, it is an interesting yet debatable conclusion.

I found Kastner’s musing on quantum mechanics and mind or more specifically the possibility of free will interesting, i.e. quantum mechanics not only freeing us from determinism but is being volitional, as well as the analogies she draws between her take a quantum mechanics and ancient Greek and Hind metaphysical phenomena. Now these might be pure speculation, but it adds another layer to her theory.

Summa summarum, I’d recommend this book to anyone remotely interested in quantum related theories, as it explains the notion of transaction theory from different angles and offers food for both the initiated as well as the ones with in-depth knowledge.

Water of Life - Wolfburn

With a name like Wolfburn and a marketing department that has calibrated it approach to achieve a result oriented outcome, expectations were high right out of the gate for the this fairly new kid on the block  – partly due to the fact word around the campfire had that they use casks that previously housed the nectar from the mecca of peat, i.e. Islay.

The first Wolfburn expression that hit my palate was their Northland, which on the nose only is slightly astringent as it has hints of smoke embedded in more dominant fruity, sweet and nutty aromas.

The top of the roof is tickled by what I would like to describe as a wave of honey that is riding on a spicy, malty and peppery foundation, which again only hints a peaty nuance. It is that subtle melange of flavours that makes one lust for more and the elongated, crispy finish, again heavy on the honey and sweet and fruity side of things, only enhances the experience. Not bad at all and imminently drinkable for such a youthful whisky - a gently satisfying dram despite being slightly ethanolic and grappa-like.  

Given that this expression is merely three years old, it would make an amazing one in nine years’ time.

Wolfburn’s Langskip hits a bit harder in every aspect with an ABV of 58% and having matured in first-fill bourbon casks.

Flavour forward, the nostrils are tickled by rich nutty, floral and peppery nuances that hint at what is about to dance on the palate: More nutty flavours that run the gamut from almonds to macadamia, which are framed by gingery and cinnamon accents, only to culminate in an elongated finish that hits all the right notes as it navigates the chasm between fruity sweetness and peppery earthiness.

Wolfburn Morven is a recent addition to the distillery’s portfolio and got me excited because out of the three expressions, I found it the one most infused with a very subtle peaty character.

What materialized on the nose is already a beauty as it is crisp, grassy, juicy and fruity, anchored by a light peatiness, only to continue its journey on the palate by incorporating nutty flavours that sit in wafts of vanilla and fruity phenols and an oaky, peppery foundation.

The finish is sweet in every aspect and unexpected given its young age.

Another interesting, solid single malt, intense in taste and one that has again the potential to mature into a fantastic one if given more years to unfold its potential.

Water of Life – Absinthe Friends

I’ve danced with the ever elusive green fairy many a times and sometimes in more profound ways than other – be it in Berlin or Prague.

There is certainly no shortage of myth, folklore and fabrication around la fee verte and its qualities and facts that are proved and documented scientifically are less publicly known.

Now, when you first sample Artemisia absinthium, you might expect the exact equivalent of what was indulged in during the Belle Époque, i.e. the liquid that inspired Rimbaud, Baudelaire and Verlaine’s poetry and in its more extreme incarnations inspired van Gogh to trim his ears.

However, more recent incarnations of the position have seen many contemporary variants, some of which depart from the common perception of what absinthe should look like in terms of appearance, louche, aroma, flavor and mouthfeel.

Enter Winsome Spirits, i.e. Absinthe Friends, whose emissions’ hues, depth-of-colors, and clarity derive from the trademark green shading resulting from the chlorophyll extracted during the infusion.

Absinthe Friends’ emissions are natural and organic-looking even with the variants that are not the traditional colours, i.e. verte (green) and blanche (clear white, colourless).

Heavily inspired by Greek mythology, each of their creations is themed after the rivers of the ancient underworld, i.e. the river of woe, the river of fire, the river of death, and the river of regret.

Based on the artemisisa plant and fennel, Absinthe Friends infuse their creations with up to twenty additional herbs that give their expressions an idiosyncratic, alpine subtle and complex twist.

Take for example Phlegathon, an homage to the river of fire and flavoured this with a hint of Tasmanian pepper berry, set in scene by the fire colouring that comes courtesy of the calyces of the Hibiscus roselle.

Acheron comes with rather exotic colouring, which comes from butterfly pea flowers and flavoured from four different mints.

All of the expressions carry a rich and vibrant hue and are well-calibrated, i.e. they are not watery or “over-finished”.

The fact that Winsome Spirit’s libations are free of haze is testament to the expert finishing, which results in perfectly clear and gemstone brilliant potions.

When it comes to the ouzo effect or "louche", i.e. the final clouded effect and condition after ideally three to five parts of chilled H2O is added, both the Phlegethon and Archeron variations are rich, but translucent and opal with interesting refractory effects.

The mouthfeel is heavily informed by anise and fennel yet balanced by the myriad of herbs, which add an interesting, slightly dry and astringent character. There is a sense of weight, but it is not overbearing on the palate and certainly not heavy and chewy – au contraire, texturally, it is smooth, silky, clean, and dry-ish.

Summa summarum, Absinthe Friends stand for balanced, interesting and refreshing drinks with a non-tongue numbing lingering finish and I do not even mind sipping them neat, a quality rarely found in absinthes.

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Photo from company website

The Simpsons: A Cultural History

Rowman and Littlefield

Using a flipchart to outline the immense influence The Simpsons have had and still have on the fabric of our cultural DNA would hardly to justice to the impact of the show that once derived from The Tracey Ullman Show.

What started as a countercultural and alternative experiment arrived in the middle of society decades ago and it is astonishing to see what a fictional primetime series can achieve on different levels of the collective mind that underpins popular culture.

The elaborately thought through characters of the show have not only become icons but also archetypes that are informed by so much more than an accumulation of stereotypical traits.

The Simpsons: A Cultural History does not only shed light on the show’s roots and its development but also dissects the characters with surgical precision from a variety of angles – be it subversion, pop cultural phenomena, comic strip traditionalism, comedic lineage and histories, transcending boundaries between worlds through carefully orchestrated cameos and the influences and sources of inspirations along the way.

The fact that the book caters to both hardcore aficionados as well as the uninitiated by not only relying on trivia and rehashing its glory by elaborating on its episodes, but also a borderline scientific and never not unentertaining approach, is testament to the ground-breaking nature of the show.

The Simpsons: A Cultural History offers an in-depth look at how the times influence and have been influenced by this powerhouse of a show and brilliantly captures the background and impact of the hilariously dysfunctional, quintessential American cartoon family that became a tremendous force in pop culture.

As someone who has read quite a few books on the show, I’d recommend this one as it goes in depth without lacking entertainment and also without paying attention to the criticism the show has been exposed to.