#pete garceau

[casualoptimist]

Book Covers of Note April 2024

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Norton Reader: Fifteenth Edition

Edited by Melissa A. Goldthwaite, Joseph Bizup, John Brereton, Anne Fernald, and Linda Peterson.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[rhartdepartment]

Book cover for Random House Trade Paperbacks  |  Art Director: Joe Perez  |  Designer: Pete Garceau  |  Published 2018

[5mincolumns]

5min books review #10

Michael E. Mann: The New Climate War. The Fight to Take Back the Planet

Value for money

8/10

Year, Price, Pages, Cover design

2021 by PublicAffairs; EUR 25,45; 368 pages (The content itself 267 pages; Acknowledgements 3 pages; Notes 63 pages; Index 14 pages); Hardcover

Cover design by Pete Garceau, Cover image by iStock/Getty Images, Print book interior design by Linda Mark. Nice jacket and book design. Good paper quality and reading experience (However, considering the cover, I would have expected a better quality paper).

5 sentences about the book

The book is more about language and narrative, about how we speak, when we speak about environmental change than about climate change itself. Mann’s book is optimistic and he believes that man can save the planet only when recognizing the tactic used by the movement of climate change deniers (fuel fossil corporations, right-wing media, Russians trolls, etc.)

The author recognizes old and new climate wars in science. The old one was about climate change denial and according to the author, it was defeated. Currently, even the right-wing agrees that climate change is happening. A new climate war is about action — what steps should we take — and it is still being actively waged by climate change deniers. (230)

In the beginning, the author provides historical context of the architecture of misinformation and misdirection toward such products as guns, tobacco, beverage. On top of that, he describes the tactic of responsibility shift: moving it from corporations to the individuals and connecting it with moral choice and guilt. Mann depicts the strategy of conservative media and shows examples of Russian trolls’ attacks on scientific society. This book presents the weak side of discusses geoengineering (164) and climate doomism (182) as forms that mislead us from systemic changes.

What did I learn?

I’ve learned that climate deniers’ narrative is a derivation of similar historical experiences with the gun lobby, tobacco industry or beverage companies. The author calls it “a deflection campaign” and describes mainly the historical context in the USA (the story about “The Crying Indian” was completely new for me).

I’ve learned the omnipresent power of discourse: who owns and leads the narrative can easily manipulate with it not only the masses but also bias critical thinking individuals in the society

One example shows the strategy of shifting responsibility from corporations to individuals — “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” I came up with my own example: “”Enjoy Heineken Responsibly” is our commitment to encourage the enjoyment of beer, responsibly and in moderation, as part of a healthy lifestyle.”

Similarly — in climate change discourse — there is a tendency to shift responsibility from corporations to the individuals in order to avoid system changes and regulations that are costly for corporations: “The fossil fuel disinformation machine wants to make it about the car you choose to drive, the food you choose to eat, and the lifestyle you choose to live rather than about the larger system and incentives.” 6

I’ve learned how the individual choice (what we eat, how we travel, overall daily lifestyle) becomes (unnoticed!) a moral choice with the tendency to blame others and self-blaming.

By the way, did you know that beef consumption is responsible for only 6 percent of total carbon emission, air travel only accounts for about 3 percent of global carbon emission?

I’ve learned that individual action is good, but is not sufficient: “We must change the system. Individual efforts to reduce one’s carbon footprint are laudable. But without systematic change, we will not achieve the massive decarbonization of our economy that is necessary to avert catastrophic climate change” 81 and this: “We should all engage in climate-friendly individual actions. They make us feel better and they set a good example for others. But don’t become complacent, thinking that your duty is done when you recycle your bottles or ride your bicycle to work. We cannot solve this problem without deep systemic change, and that necessities governmental action” 97 [my emphasis]

What was missing?

Very minor issue. If you expect that you will learn more about climate change itself in this book, then you can be a little bit disappointed. The New Climate War is focusing on discourse and language, and how the main protagonists behave when speaking about climate change.

Favorite quotes

“Here’s the point, though. Unlike microbes, human beings have agency. We can choose to behave like a virus that plagues our planet or we can choose a different path. It’s up to us. Our response to the coronavirus pandemic shows it’s possible for us to change our ways when we must.” 250

“Unlike coronavirus, we cannot look forward to a literal vaccine for the planet. But in a metaphorical sense, knowledge is the vaccine for what currently ails us — denial, disinformation, deflection, delayism, doomism, you know the litany by now. We must vaccinate the public against the efforts by inactivist to thwart climate action, using knowledge and facts and clear, simple explanations that have authority behind them. That’s empowering because it means we can all contribute to the cure.” 262

[ice-cream-books]

The Crowdsourceress: Get Smart, Get Funded, and Kickstart Your Next Big Idea by Alex Daly with a heavily sprinkled scoop of Ben & Jerry’s Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream in a Pink Joy Color Cup. Cover by Pete Garceau.

[riilsports]

What’s happening in the RIIL World: December 12, 2017

COMPILED BY CAROLYN THORNTON

RIIL Director of Multimedia Content

    News and notes from around the RIIL . . .  

PHOTO/CAROLYN THORNTON, RIIL

     Cumberland wrestling coach Steve Gordon shown accepting the 2017 R.I. Interscholastic League Team of the Year award last spring, has announced that this will be his 50th and final season as the Clippers’ head coach. 

 From InterMat: The coach and his wife: Steve and Judy Gordon together have become face of Cumberland wrestling...Full Story.

"The Gordons are special people. The lessons they taught us go beyond wrestling,” former wrestler, now high school math teacher Kyle LaBranche says of Judy Gordon and her husband Steve, who has embarked on his 50th and final season as Clippers coach.

From The Call: FROM CHEERS TO LEADER: Former Patriots cheerleading captain, Woonsocket's Brittany Dickie is named dance trainer for squad...Full Story.

“If it wasn’t for the Patriots, I wouldn’t have been able to do the types of things or visit the places that I did,” Dickie told The Call. “It’s helped me grow as a woman and I guess allowed me to become a leader now.”

PHOTO CREDIT/THE CALL

 From The Call: Former New England Patriots fullback Patrick Pass enjoying role as Woonsocket High's defensive coordinator...Full Story.

     “I didn’t have this type of leadership growing up, but I know it’s important to go back in the neighborhood and give these kids love, appreciation and respect,” Pass told The Call. “It’s about getting them on the straight and narrow now because there’s a lot of distractions.”

PHOTO CREDIT/THE VALLEY BREEZE

From The Valley Breeze:  Short calls it a career at Brown...Full Story.

     Before her 25-year stint as Brown women’s volleyball coach, Diane (Garceau) Short was a four-sport star at Woonsocket High School, earning All-State in basketball and volleyball, and also spent six years as an assistant girls volleyball coach at her alma mater.

Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame inducts six; honors Voice of the Rams’ Norman

     The Providence Gridiron Club Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017, included six individuals with strong RIIL ties: Jack Jordan, an All-State football and baseball player at St. Raphael in the mid-1950s, who went on to play and coach at the collegiate level; Mike Salomone, a player at Central Catholic of Norwalk, Conn., then coach at Narragansett High School, North Kingstown High and Bryant College; Michael Gibbons, a two-time All-Stater at Rogers High School and now Hope High coach; Frank Iannetta, longtime football coach, as well as a high school and collegiate football and basketball official; John Abbate, a star at Woonsocket High School in the early 1970s, who has been a longtime football official in Rhode Island and is Burrillville’s athletic director, as well as an active member of several boards and commissions, including the National Federation High School Football Rules Committee and the R.I. Interscholastic Injury Fund; and, Tom Milewski, Cranston West’s defensive coordinator, as well as an active member of both the R.I. High School Football Coaches Association and the Providence Gridiron Club.

     At the induction, held last month in Quonset, the Gridiron Club also presented a Meritorious Service Award to Jim Norman. The longtime “Voice of the Rams,” Norman served as past President of the Gridiron Club four times and has been named one of the 40 "Most Influential Persons in Sports" in Rhode Island, serving as URI Sports Information Director and a high school sports columnist for the Providence Journal among his many roles in the R.I. sports community.

PHOTO COURTESY/BRUCE MASTRACCHIO

Providence Gridiron Hall of Fame Class of 2017 pictured from left to right, Mike Salomone, Mike Gibbons, Jeff Jordan, Frank Iannetta, John Abbate and Tom Milewski.

 Ponaganset Hall of Fame inductS seven

       The Ponaganset Athletic Hall of Fame inducted seven student-athletes at its seventh annual banquet this fall. Honored for their “significant contributions to athletics,” the 2017 Induction Class included: John Donovan, Jack Ferns, Jacob T. Keeling, Stephen Robin, Josh Smith, William Tenaglia and Joseph Zajac.

PHOTO COURTESY/PONAGANSET HALL OF FAME FACEBOOK PAGE 

Portsmouth inducts inaugural Hall of Fame Class

      Portsmouth’s first class of inductees into the PHS Athletic Hall of Fame featured the following individuals and teams: Ray Sullivan (posthumous), Jimmy Martin (posthumous), Dick Thibault (posthumous), Pete O'Hara (posthumous), Richard Heisler (posthumous), Ray Ainsworth, Richard Travers, Ray Sabourin, Joe Narcizo, George McGaw, Joseph Flood, Maureen Ford, Roger Vierra, Ed Akucewich, Peggy Matteson, Sandy Reynolds, Del Martin, 1968 Golf Team and 1968 Football Team.

From The Newport Daily News: TRUE PATRIOTS Portsmouth High School announces inaugural class of athletic hall of fame

Several individuals, 1991 football team inducted into Johnston Hall of Fame

    Former Johnston football coach Tony Centore and his 1991 Class B Super Bowl Champion team were among those inducted into the Johnston High School Athletic Hall of Fame this fall. The Class of 2017 also included: Patrick Ryan, William Pike, Michael Morsilli, Brittany Valentine, and Victoria St. Angelo.  Michael Crawley and Matthew DiIorio were presented with the inaugural Gary V. Mazzie Lifetime Achievement Award.

From the Johnston Sun Rise:  JHS Athletics Hall of Fame 2017 induction class announced

Eight individuals, ’01 girls soccer team inducted into Cumberland Hall of Fame

        The Cumberland High School Athletic Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 featured the following standout athletes and coaches: 2001 Division II Champion Clippers girls soccer team, All-State swimmer and soccer player Valerie Grow, All-State field hockey standout Michaela Murray, All-State track and field athlete Dana Skorupa, All-State baseball player David Rodrigues, longtime coach Varnam Elliott, All-State soccer and track and field star Stephanie Ferreira, All-American hammer thrower Matt Campanelli and All-State basketball player Sandy Perry.

 EG Wall of Honor’s Class of 2018 announced

    The East Greenwich High School Wall of Honor Committee has announced its selections for the Class of 2018: John Chandler (Class of 1966), Diane McDonald (Class of 1969), Dr. Bernice Pescosolido (Class of 1970), Guy Asadorian (Class of 1982) and Matt Plain (Class of 1994).

      The Wall of Honor ceremony will be held at East Greenwich High School in April at a date to be announced. For more information or to recommend someone to be considered for "The Wall,” contact Committee Chairman Bob Houghtaling at (401) 230-2246 or Bruce Mastracchio at thebrooker23@yahoo.com.

[robotcosmonaut]

The World Without Us

[bookscover-blog]

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Norton Reader: Fifteenth Edition

Edited by Melissa A. Goldthwaite, Joseph Bizup, Anne Fernald, and John Brereton.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[casualoptimist]

Book Covers of Note, May 2024

[casualoptimist]

Book Covers of Note, October 2023

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Last Hack

By Christopher Brookmyre.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Unused cover for

Underland: A Deep Time Journey

By Robert Macfarlane.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

The Lightest Object in the Universe: A Novel

By Kimi Eisele.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[judgingbooksbycovers]

Pathological

By Sarah Fay.

Design by Pete Garceau.

[rhartdepartment]

Book cover for Random House Trade Paperbacks  |  Art Director: Joe Perez  |  Designer: Pete Garceau  |  Published 2018