The Militarization of U.S. Police: Finally Dragged Into the Light by the Horrors of Ferguson

The Militarization of U.S. Police: Finally Dragged Into the Light by the Horrors of Ferguson



The harrowing events of the last week in Ferguson, Missouri – the fatal police shooting of an unarmed African-American teenager, Mike Brown, and the blatantly excessive and thuggish response to ensuing community protests from a police force that resembles an occupying army – have shocked the U.S. media class and millions of Americans. But none of this is aberrational.



It is the destructive by-product of several decades of deliberate militarization of American policing, a trend that received a sustained (and ongoing) steroid injection in the form of a still-flowing, post-9/11 federal funding bonanza, all justified in the name of “homeland security.” This has resulted in a domestic police force that looks, thinks, and acts more like an invading and occupying military than a community-based force to protect the public.

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting and bloody confrontations. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen's rule remains absolute, enforced by her dread Claw assassins.

For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, surviving cadre mage of the Second Legion, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities of Genabackis, yet holds out. It is to this ancient citadel that Laseen turns her predatory gaze.

However, it would appear that the Empire is not alone in this great game. Sinister, shadowbound forces are gathering as the gods themselves prepare to play their hand . . .

Nerd Fest 2014 - Brevard Busking Coalition - Fanga Alafia

Nerd Fest 2014 - Brevard Busking Coalition - Fanga Alafia



Brevard Busking Coalition performs 'Fanga Alafia' at the 1st Annual Nerd Fest in Melbourne, Florida.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8A2fw1sHMY

Neal Stephenson's Next Book - Seveneves

On occasion I'll do a little snooping around the net to see what my favorite authors are working on and when their next book might be out. Some of my favorite authors, like Tolkien and Dickens, are dead so I don't really expect to find much in the way of new material. For others, like George R. R. Martin, the question isn't usually "what" but "when" and that's usually a mystery until you have it in your hands.

Then there are those like Neal Stephenson, author of such incredible books as Snow Crash , Cryptonomicon , Anathem and the The Baroque Cycle (among others). It always seems to be a bit of a mystery as to what he is working on. However, after clicking on an obscure PDF in a footnote for his Wikipedia entry I found the following:

Stephenson, Neal / SEVENEVES
Morrow, ed. Jennifer Brehl, Winter 2015
AGENT: LD. WORLD RIGHTS, AUDIO, FIRST SERIAL = DVA
When the moon blows up, the earth’s atmosphere is predicted to go through changes that
will eventually lead to a Hard Rain, a meteorite storm that could last for thousands of years,
rendering the earth’s surface uninhabitable. In preparation, the nations of the earth send an
ark of humans to an International Space Station. But the Station isn’t immune to the
galactic catastrophe and many of its people are lost, mostly men. When stability is reached,
only seven humans remain, all of them women. Jump forward thirty thousand years. Two
peoples exist: those who survived on Earth, living rustic, primitive lives; and those who
derived from the Seven Eves of the space station, affluent, sophisticated, organized sects
looking to colonize the surface of earth. Stephenson’s next novel is an epic potboiler, with
political and military intrigue, and plenty to say about evolution, genetic engineering, and
civilization as we know it.

(http://www.graal.com.pl/sites/default/files/katalogi/project-list-fall-2011.pdf)

That of course led me to google for "Seveneves" and I found the following:

Noah’s Ark . . . 30,000 years after the flood.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anatham, Reamde, and Cryptonomicon comes an exciting new science fiction epic that tells of global disaster, the near-extinction of all life on Earth, and the seven valiant survivors who battle against all odds to save the human race.

(http://harpercollins.earlyword.com/fall-2014/books/seveneves/)

And it seems to even be available for pre-order on Amazon (though it doesn't show up as an entry on his author page): Seveneves

Some more info gleaned from above:

On Sale Date: 4/14/15

Imprint: Willaim Morrow

Print Run: 250K

Format: HC

Pages: 1056

Price: $35.00

ISBN: 62190377

ISBN 13: 9780062190376

Other Formats

Ebook 9780062190413

So it looks like we another epic science fiction (or speculative fiction if you prefer) masterpiece coming from Neal Stephenson next spring! If it is half as good as those mentioned above it will be outstanding.