Cloisters Summer 2007

Summer Reading

At the New Curiosity Shop we are concerned that our readers' brains may not continue working over the summer break. Especially when deprived of your regular Cloisters. So, how do we keep the grey matter functioning while still relaxing and recharging our virtual batteries? Well, no effort has been spared and we have found some entertaining and educational web sites for you to visit. These are guaranteed to keep you going until our next student intake and a chance to take one of our highly educational courses.

The Links

http://www.opendemocracy.net/ A clear, unbiased and critical view of the world. It’s mission statement is clear, offering: “stimulating, critical analysis, promoting dialogue and debate on issues of global importance and linking citizens from around the world.
openDemocracy is committed to human rights and democracy. We aim to ensure that marginalised views and voices are heard. We believe facilitating argument and understanding across geographical boundaries is vital to preventing injustice.”
It’s not a campaigning site: it’s a publication that provides a place to reflect clearly on what’s happening in the world.

http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/ “Oxford Research Group (ORG) works to promote a more sustainable approach to security for the UK and the world. We combine detailed knowledge of root causes of conflict with an understanding of political decision-making, and we build trust through facilitating constructive dialogue between policy-makers, academics, the military and civil society.”

http://www.metvuw.com/ One for the southern hemisphere - a great kiwi weather site.

http://www.badscience.net/ This is the blog of Guardian columnist Ben Goldacre. He likes to encourage rigour in our thinking.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/ "Melvyn Bragg and guests investigate the history of ideas." A really good BBC site, with a regular podcast too.

http://www.futurehorizons.net/ Why not take up a practical project over the summer? This site has plans for some great home-engineering projects. Build the kids a hoverboard, or what about a flying saucer, or a ray gun? Strangely enough, there is some real science to learn on this site and you pick it up painlessly as you peruse the wacky gadgets.

http://www.minionsatwork.com/ These guys probably shop at Future Horizons. Why not look through the archive of Minions At Work cartoons and just enjoy a good laugh? You can also get to writer J Steven York's writing page from here where he'll probably try and sell you one of his novels. They're pretty good too.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page Of course, no Internet reading list would be complete without Project Gutenberg. This collection of eBooks has been compiled over many years and contains the best collection of public domain literature available. Treat yourself to some of the classics this summer.