'1491', Music, and Microwave Cookin'

I've been spending the last several days reading, running, and relaxing around my pueblo.

Reading
The main focus of my reading was Charles C. Mann's 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. I enjoyed the book from the perspective of a former history student and an interested reader for pleasure. 

To be sure, Mann is a journalist working in the world of ethnographic history, archaeology, and anthropology, leading to some mistakes and an uncharacteristically stylized form of writing for the genre. His undertaking is also a bit extreme: he includes two entire continents under the ideological umbrella of "Pre-Columbian Indian societies" and sets to work spinning his narrative, trying to help a reader picture what life was like "before contact". 

The organization of the book is at times problematic. Rather than following a chronological or geographical organization, he follows a more journalistic-line of thematic ideas, jumping between eras, societies, and vast geographical regions. This leads to sometimes concentric, sometimes overlapping circles of narrative. He also attempts to give both sides of the modern academic debate surrounding various issues, but with somewhat tenuous segues, so at times he seems to be deconstructing a wall as he is building it. This organizational pattern can leave a reader thinking, "Wait, didn't I just read that?" or "I thought he just dismissed that theory as inaccurate..."  There are also some easily avoided errors which I easily found during my reading, (a quick example: he calls Extremadura, Spain a town for example,) but the intention and the overall content made for a nice read.

When considering the intention of the author, I believe 1491 was pretty successful. This book is an attempt to address modern, mostly American interpretations of native peoples. Though not necessarily "dispelling myths", it's an interesting way of perceiving cultures which are often marginalized or discredited as being true "civilizations". My incredibly Euro-centric education has often minimized the impact of Indian groups, and it was nice to see things from a different point of view. At the very least, it's increased my interest in reading more about many of these groups on my own.
You can read an excerpt from the book at Charles Mann's website.


Music
NPR's First Listen has really impressed me lately with their musical selection. Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas, Ana Tijoux's La Bala, Gotye's Making Mirrors, and Kayhan Kalhor's I Will Not Stand Alone are all worth a serious listen. For free. Each in its entirety.
Old Ideas                                                                                              3 pairs of mirrored sunglasses
Cohen's dirty old man image remains preserved in his latest album. His crusty voice with gospel-inspired lyrics and accompaniment are reminiscent of the good ol' "Hallelujah" days. Check out "Amen" specifically.

La Bala                                                                                                             A glass of fine vino tinto
This album includes a lot of what was refreshing about M.I.A.'s work, just in Spanish. Great beats, forceful lyrics. The best part: I can understand a lot of what Tijoux's saying now, but I must warn that it's very political.

Making Mirrors                                            8 obscure candy bars you've probably never heard of
Gotye's album is sort of an eclectic mess, but a fun listen for a lighter mood. Synth, pop, and catchy melodies in a slightly high-pitched voice make his work pretty unique. (And I'll admit, maybe a bit hipster.)

I Will Not Stand Alone                                                       1 comfy couch and endless cups of tea
Kalhor's work is of an entirely different animal. It's Iranian sounds, sans-lyrics, often combining various string instruments such as a kamancheh in a free-formed shape of the audible. Something perfect for a more meditative mood or just quiet relaxation. Beautiful.

Health
In one of my earliest posts, I mentioned my goal of running a half-marathon at some point. The past few months, I've actually been training for it. I'll be going home for Easter break, and I've signed up to participate in my hometown's running festival.
I've been using Adidas's free miCoach application on my phone to prepare, and I've really been enjoying it. Of course, we'll see how well I've actually been prepared at the end of March...
I've also been doing a little yoga following my runs to keep my muscles loose. I found a free video podcast that I kind of like on iTunes: YOGAmazing. I'm feeling more fit and have noticed some of the benefits of regular exercise.
Both sites are careful to mention that they're no replacement for professional consultations, so be sure to do what's right for you and get advice from a doctor.

Recipe 

Following my long runs as a mini-celebration, I have a little recipe which has allowed me to indulge my ridiculous sweet tooth and love of molten lava cakes, even though I don't have an oven in my apartment.

Chocolate Molten Lava Cake from Instructables
I decrease the sugar and flour a bit, and use part of the butter called for to grease the inside of the mug rather than directly including it in the batter. From my own calorie checking, this cake is probably really enough for two, (about 900 calories I think,) but if you decide to half it, the cook time would need to be adjusted.