Recent reading and some music

Although it is hard to resist blogging, I've been taking a sort of reading break to catch up on my reading. Here's the last two books I've read.

• How Mumbo-jumbo Conquered the World: A Short History of Modern Delusions by Francis Wheen - A collection of mostly political and economic stories of mumbo jumbo. I was surprised to learn the double talk by Al Gore on the Tobacco question. No holds barred and no holy cows. Good reading.
• Quantico by Greg Bear - An engrossing and disturbing novel set in the near future with rogue states going nuclear and terrorists routinely using bio-weapons. The climax happens in Mecca. Needless to say, a complex science fiction story with many religious and political undercurrents. A fine novel.

Currently reading Kate Fox's Watching the English - an anthropological excursion into the englishness of the people I've come to live with. Amusing to read about the understated nuances of English (as opposed to big and brash American preferences). Listening to Pure Classical Chillout.