[Missouri-l] [blind-side] Accessibleworld Presents A World View of history on may 20

[peter altschul]

News Wire



The book selection for our next meeting on May 20this   The Last 
Apocalypse: Europe at the Year 1000 A.D.  by James Reston Jr.  
See below for details.

Summary of last meeting on April 15th



The session began with the playing of part of an interview from 
C-Span's BOOKNOTES series by Alan Lamb and the author, Bernard        
A.  Weisberger regarding the Book, "America Afire: Jefferson, 
Adams and the Revolutionary Election of 1800".  Everyone said 
they liked the book.  Don Queen began the discussion by quoting a 
reviewer, James Kirschke from H-net (see below)who although he 
thought the book "outstanding" felt the title "America Afire" was 
a case of hyperbole in view of the fact that four presidents were  
elected without winning the popular vote.  They were John Q.  
Adams, Rutherford B.  Hayes, Benjamin Harrison (?) and George W.  
Bush.  It was generally agreed that the 1800 election, with the 
possible exception of the Hayes, Tilden election of 1876 was 
America's most critical contested election.  The character of 
Hamilton and Burr and the duel was discussed at length.  The XYZ 
incident was also discussed, SEE BELOW.  The peccadilloes of 
Hamilton and Jefferson were mentioned and it was agreed that a 
reading of history shows that what seems new and different, even 
outrageous has inevitably happened before.  It was finally 
concluded that it was the integrity and commitment of some of the 
major players such as Jay and John Marshall along with the checks 
and balances which saved the Union.



Below is the link to the entire BOOKNOTES INTERVIEW.

http://www.booknotes.org/Program/?ProgramID=1602



Review of America Afire from H-net by James Kirschke.

http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.php?id=5680





Our next book is: The Last Apocalypse: Europe at the Year 1000 
A.D.

Reston, James Jr.  Read by Gary Telles.  Reading time 12 hours 40 
minutes.
NLS eligible patrons: RC46386

Download the Last Apocalypse: Europe at the Year 1000 A.D., 
DB46386

Note: it is marked up for chapters.



FROM THE BOOK JACKET

Enter the world of 1000 A.D., when Vikings, Moors, and barbarians 
battled kings and           popes for the fate of Europe.  As the 
millennium approached, Europeans feared the world would end.  The 
old order was crumbling, and terrifying and confusing new ideas 
were gaining hold in the populace.  Random and horrific violence 
seemed to sprout everywhere without warning, and without apparent 
remedy.  And, in fact, when the millennium arrived the apocalypse 
did take place; a world did end, and a new world arose from the 
ruins.  In 950, Ireland, England, and France were helpless 
against the ravages of the seagoing Vikings; the fierce and 
strange Hungarian Magyars laid waste to Germany and Italy; the 
legions of the Moors ruled Spain and threatened the remnants of 
Charlemagne's vast domain.  The papacy was corrupt and decadent, 
overshadowed by glorious Byzantium.  Yet a mere fifty years 
later, the gods of the Vikings were dethroned, the shamans of the 
Magyars were massacred, the magnificent Moorish caliphate 
disintegrated: The sign of the cross held sway from Spain in the 
West to Russia in the East.  James Reston, Jr.'s enthralling saga 
of how the Christian kingdoms converted, conquered, and 
slaughtered their way to dominance brings to life unforgettable 
historical characters who embodied the struggle for the soul of 
Europe.  From the righteous fury of the Viking queen Sigrid the 
Strong-Minded, who burned unwanted suitors alive; to the 
brilliant but too-cunning Moor Al-Mansor the Illustrious Victor; 
to the aptly named English king Ethelred the Unready; to the 
abiding genius of the age, Pope Sylvester II--warrior-kings and 
concubine empresses, maniacal warriors and religious zealots, 
bring this stirring period to life.  The Last Apocalypse is a 
book rich in personal historical detail, flavored with the nearly 
magical sensibility of an apocalyptic age.  James Reston, Jr., is 
the author of ten previous books, including Galileo: A Life and 
Sherman's March and Vietnam.  He has written for The New Yorker, 
Esquire, Vanity Fair, T
ime, Rolling Stone, and many other publications.  His television 
work includes three "Frontline" documentaries, including 
"Eighty-Eight Seconds in Greensboro." The Woodrow Wilson 
International Center for Scholars provided him with a Visiting 
Fellowship during the course of his work on this book.  Reston 
lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.





The group will meet at the same time the third Wednesday of every 
month and will be facilitated by Don Queen,  (Email:  
queens at pacbell.net



Date: Wednesday, May 20th



Time:  6:00 p.m.  PDT, 7:00 p.m.  MDT, 8:00 p.m.  CDT, 9:00 p.m.  
EDT

          and elsewhere in the world thursday 1:00 GMT.


Where:  A World View of History Room:



Approximately 20 minutes prior to the event start time; go to A 
World View of History at:



Historyhttp://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf0c95f4
74b43



Or, alternatively,



Select A World View of History Room at: 
http://www.accessibleworld.org.  Enter your first and last names 
on the sign-in screen.



All online interactive programs require no password, are free of 
charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet 
connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card.  Those with 
microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others 
in the virtual audience or text chat with the attendees.


If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online 
conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program 
that you need to download and then run.  A link to the software 
is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online 
rooms.



Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and 
discussion lists are also available at our website 
http://www.accessibleworld.org.



Accessible World Contacts:



Robert Acosta, Chair

Accessible World

818-998-0044

Email: boacosta at pacbell.net

Web: http://www.helpinghands4theblind.org



Joann Becker, Events Coordinator

Accessible World

617-969-1213

Email: joannbecker at pcomcast.net



George Buys, CEO

Talking Communities

Email: buys at talkingcommunities.com



The Accessible World, a division of Helping Hands For The Blind, 
a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, seeks to educate the 
general public, the disabled community and the professionals who 
serve them by providing highly relevant information about new 
products, services, and training opportunities designed 
specifically to eliminate geographic and access barriers that 
adversely affect them.






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