Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Dover Thrift Editions)

Here's my copy, below.

And also available at Amazon, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Dover Thrift Editions).

Thomas Pakenham, The Scramble for Africa

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Thomas Pakenham, The Scramble for Africa: White Man's Conquest of the Dark Continent from 1876 to 1912.

Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

Two paperback versions, at Amazon, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Dover Thrift Editions), and Heart of Darkness and the Secret Sharer (Signet Classics).

Martin Meredith, Diamonds, Gold, and War

*BUMPED.*

At Amazon, Martin Meredith, Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa.

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At Amazon, Gold Box Deals.

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Also, BLACK+DECKER LHT2436 40V Cordless Hedge Trimmer, 24".

More, GreenWorks MO40L410 G-MAX 40V 20-Inch Cordless 3-in-1 Lawn Mower with Smart Cut Technology, (1) 4Ah Battery and Charger included.

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More here, FYLINA Beach Blanket Huge Picnic Blanket Water Resistant Sand Free 7' 9' Oversized Nylon Outdoor Blankets with 4 Stakes Lightweight Portable Picnic Mat Machine Washable.

BONUS: Martin Meredith, Diamonds, Gold, and War: The British, the Boers, and the Making of South Africa.

Niall Ferguson, Empire

At Amazon, Niall Ferguson, Empire: The Rise and Demise of the British World Order and the Lessons for Global Power.

Viacheslav Morozov, Russia's Postcolonial Identity

Here's a work of political science that might be of interest, especially considering all the leftist fake news about Russia.

At Amazon, Viacheslav Morozov, Russia's Postcolonial Identity: A Subaltern Empire in a Eurocentric World.

'The Battle of Algiers' — It's Excellent

I took my older son with me yesterday. He loves hanging out in L.A.

Here're my earlier posts, "Going to See 'The Battle of Algiers' Today," and "At the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles: 'The Battle of Algiers' — 50TH ANNIVERSARY NEW 4K RESTORATION (VIDEO)."

I remember from years ago, although I can't remember where (probably the LGM homos), how leftists praised "Battle of Algiers" as THE cinematic exegesis of the revolutionary experience. It was the radical left's "in" movie.

And I can see why. It's practically a do-it-yourself instructional video on how to mount an insurgency against the hegemonic colonial capitalist ruling classes.

See for example the review, at A.V. Club, from 2004 (when he movie came out on DVD):

In the current political climate, between the war in Iraq and the looming election, topical documentaries and fiction features have flooded the marketplace. But none are more relevant to the times than Gillo Pontecorvo's masterpiece The Battle Of Algiers, which was made nearly four decades ago. Throughout the years, the film has been tagged as a terrorist textbook, an inspiration for the Black Panthers and other radical organizations, yet its startling verity has recently proved useful for Pentagon officials eager to understand how networks like al-Qaeda operate. Still smarting from their moral and tactical failures in colonial Algeria, the French banned the 1965 film for several years, and some countries excised scenes revealing the systemic torture of National Liberation Front (FLN) operatives. But even though The Battle Of Algiers ranks among the great works of revolutionary cinema, Pontecorvo depicts insurgent warfare with a stark, evenhanded realism that feels like history painted on the screen. In fact, many prints actually come with the disclaimer that the film doesn't include a single frame of documentary or newsreel footage. And that's not a boast: It really does seem that real.

 Plus, I missed this earlier, at the New York Times from 1967, "MOVIE REVIEW - Screen: Local Premiere of Pontecorvo's Prize-Winning 'Battle of Algiers': Gripping Re-enactment Opens Film Festival."

And here's a good piece on the conflict altogether, at the World Socialist Web, "Torture in the Algerian war (1954-62)."

More here, from an interesting blog post by a leftist academic, "What was the Algerian War/Why should you care."

Related: James D. Le Sueur, Uncivil War: Intellectuals and Identity Politics During the Decolonization of Algeria. And, General Paul Aussaresses, The Battle of the Casbah: Terrorism and Counter-terrorism in Algeria, 1955-1957.

Going to See 'The Battle of Algiers' Today

"The Battle of Algiers" opens today at the Nuart Theater in West L.A.

I blogged the press release a few weeks ago, "At the Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles: 'The Battle of Algiers' — 50TH ANNIVERSARY NEW 4K RESTORATION (VIDEO)."

The L.A. Times posted a write-up, "Once banned, 'Battle of Algiers'' smart, compassionate take on terror and rebellion resonates today."

And here's one from 1993, "'Battle of Algiers' Captures Emotions in Both Camps."

Years ago, when I was an undergrad at Fresno State taking a course on modern France, I read John Talbott's, The War Without a Name: France in Algeria, 1954 - 1962. What I remember most about the book is how much the conflict roiled French society, and how the French military attempted a coup d'etat that led eventually to Charles de Gaulle's return to power with extraordinary constitutional authority under a new regime, the Fifth French Republic. So, it'll be interesting to see "The Battle of Algiers," particularly from the point of view of the revolutionaries who changed the world.

See also, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962.

Israeli Flag Burners at #DemConvention (VIDEO)

Yes, but it's not just Israeli flag burners. It's leftists altogether.

Radical leftists, of all stripes, form a common enemy to the U.S., to Israel, and to our shared Western culture and humanity.

Don't ever forget it. The hatred's been on display, in the streets and in the hall, at the Democrat Convention in Philly.

From William Jacobson, at Legal Insurrection, "Israeli flag burners at Dem Convention are our common enemy."

And related, from earlier, "The Face of the Democrat Party #DemsInPhilly #DemConvention."

Cornel West Calls for End to Israeli Occupation of Palestine at Democrat Platform Meeting in Orlando

At the Orlando Sentinel, "Sanders backers frustrated by defeats at Orlando platform meeting."

The hateful anti-Semitic Rania Khalek was on hand:

Cornel West calls 4 end to Israeli occupation. He says it's South Africa of today & Dem party has been "in denial for too long" #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Clinton supporters opposes calling for end to Israeli occupation in #DemPlatform. Room erupts in boos.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Mayor of Columbia, South Carolina Steve Benjamin is arguing against opposing Israeli occupation and settlements in #DemPlatform.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

What is with South Carolina politicians' staunch support for Israel?

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

"Democrats, you've been in denial too long." -@CornelWest on #Palestine our "generation's Vietnam, South Africa." #DemPlatform

— Katie Halper (@kthalps) July 9, 2016

The amendment is defeated, supporters of Palestine are shouting that Democrats are in bed with AIPAC. #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

New amendment proposed asks #DemPlatform to call 4 "international effort to rebuild Gaza, which UN warns could be uninhabitable by 2020"

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Wow, there will be someone speaking in opposition. What kind of person argues against rebuilding an uninhabitable ghetto? #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Cornel West says over 500 babies were killed by Israel in Gaza and our elites said nothing. #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

If we can't pass this amendment "we're in the same condition this party was in 80 yrs ago" when it denied Jim Crow, says West #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

"Nebraska Democrats believe the people of Gaza need salvation," says another supporter of the amendment #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Hillary Clinton supporter says Israelis are not to blame for Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe & amendment "distracts" from 2-states. What?

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Another Hillary Clinton supporter argues that talking about Gaza in #DemPlatform distracts from Israeli suffering. Unbelievable.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

These people are being recorded. They will go down in history as blaming an occupied people for their ghettoization. #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

The amendment to rebuild the Gaza ghetto was defeated. People began chanting but I couldn't make out what they said. #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Water in Gaza's undrinkable. Nearly 2 million ppl are under air/land/sea blockade 4 crime of not being Jewish. Shame on Clinton #DemPlatform

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

It was Marc Stanley, chairman of National Jewish Dem Council, who opposed rebuilding of Gaza bc it "distracts" from Israeli suffering.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

To Hillary Clinton & her base, merely entertaining the idea that Palestinians are human beings is anti-Israel. https://t.co/kKDRTDDbv2

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Cornel West: "We're in same condition party was in 80yrs ago when they didn't wanna deal w Jim Crow" #DemPlatform pic.twitter.com/1Yb5CaePTo

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) July 9, 2016

Pope Francis Apologizes for 'Grave Sins' of the Catholic Church

He's a freakin' communist.

At the New York Times, "In Bolivia, Pope Francis Apologizes for Church’s ‘Grave Sins’":

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia — Pope Francis offered a direct apology on Thursday for the complicity of the Roman Catholic Church in the oppression of Latin America during the colonial era, even as he called for a global social movement to shatter a “new colonialism” that has fostered inequality, materialism and the exploitation of the poor.

Speaking to a hall filled with social activists, farmers, garbage workers and Bolivian indigenous people, Francis offered the most ambitious, and biting, address of his South American tour.

He repeated familiar themes in sharply critiquing the global economic order and warning of environmental catastrophe — but also added a twist with his apology.

“Some may rightly say, ‘When the pope speaks of colonialism, he overlooks certain actions of the church,’ ” Francis said. “I say this to you with regret: Many grave sins were committed against the native people of America in the name of God.”

He added: “I humbly ask forgiveness, not only for the offense of the church herself, but also for crimes committed against the native peoples during the so-called conquest of America.”

Francis, an Argentine, is the first Latin American pope, and his apology comes as he is trying to position the church as a refuge and advocate for the poor and dispossessed of his native continent.

During his visit to Ecuador, and now Bolivia, Francis has made broad calls for Latin American unity — on Thursday mentioning “Patria Grande,” the historic ambition to make the continent a unified world force — even as he has sidestepped some local controversies.

Bolivia suffered stark exploitation during Spanish rule, as silver deposits helped finance the Spanish empire, bankroll European colonialism elsewhere and also fill the treasury of the Vatican. Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales, is a longtime leftist critic of the church, yet on Thursday he spoke before the pope and praised him.

Francis’ criticism of multinational corporations and global capitalism has already brought him criticism and suspicions among some who question the leftist tint of his ideas.

Mr. Morales, a fierce critic of American corporate influence, wore a white shirt and a dark jacket bearing a picture of the Communist revolutionary Che Guevara on the left breast.

“For the first time, I feel like I have a pope: Pope Francis,” Mr. Morales said.

Francis has filled four consecutive days with appearances, but other than an environmental critique offered in Ecuador, the pope had hewed mostly to theological topics or broad themes like family, service and mission.

His appearance on Thursday night was at the Second World Meeting of Popular Movements, a congress of global activists working to mobilize and help the poor. Some people wore Che Guevara T-shirts while some indigenous women wore traditional black bowlers.

Francis drew cheers when he called on the activists and others to change the social order: “I would even say that the future of humanity is in great measure in your own hands, through your ability to organize and carry out creative alternatives, through your daily efforts to ensure the three Ls — labor, lodging, land.”

Francis repeated his condemnation of an economic system rooted in pursuit of money and profits, but in an aside he criticized “certain free-trade treaties” and “austerity, which always tightens the belt of workers and the poor” — a likely reference to Greece.

“Human beings and nature must not be at the service of money,” he said. “Let us say no to an economy of exclusion and inequality, where money rules, rather than service. That economy kills. That economy excludes. That economy destroys Mother Earth.”

But if Francis again called for change, he also offered no detailed prescription...