(And if, as per
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.2){kind=small}
london_calling's warnings, I've got some perfectly snarky responses ready to pull out for a follow-up. "So. We've got the same GDP per capita as Portugal, Slovenia, and Greece. They've had brutal dictatorships and nasty wars in their recent history. What's our excuse? Oh, and they're catching up. We aren't.")In connection with adolescent ambassadors to Sweden, I've gotten involved in a minor comments dispute here. (On a side note, it can't be a good thing that a lot of nominally pro-Israeli writers increasingly remind me of Greater Serbian propagandists screaming about the West's innate anti-Serb bigotry and Serbia's millennial contributions to Western culture and the Muslim Threat (tm), et cetera ad infinitum. All that remains to be done is to call me "Mr. Junkburger.") Still, all good fun.
Incidentally, it turns out that it wasn't a vein bursting in my right eye, but rather conjunctivitis. At least the Health Centre has a quick turnaround time, so I'll have my appointment at ten to 2. The bloody dorm air is so dry that it was probably only a matter of time. A humidifier, or something, would be nice.
(BTW, Scott Martens has some excellent posts, including a brief history of Bakongo and a comparison of Islam and Judaism, on his blog.)
On the academic front, work proceeds nicely. I'll be doing a summary of the educational histories of a few Henrician statesmen--Thomas More and Nicholas Bacon will feature prominently--over the weekend for Wednesday the 4th. On the 7th, I'll be taking the LSAT, and on the 11th will be a presentation on Locke's influence on Laurence Sterne. This should be fun.
Finally, on the blogging perspective, I've a couple of books that I want to review, one post on the false spectre of an imminent Muslim majority in France and Europe that needs to come out, a historical survey of Laibach, and an idea (still germinating) to do surveys of pairs of countries (Romania and Moldova, South Korea and the North, et cetera) far from reunification on the German (or Vietnamese) model.
Anonymous
January 30 2004, 17:25:47 UTC 8 years ago
In connection with adolescent ambassadors to Sweden, I've gotten involved in a minor comments dispute here. (On a side note, it can't be a good thing that a lot of nominally pro-Israeli writers increasingly remind me of Greater Serbian propagandists screaming about the West's innate anti-Serb bigotry and Serbia's millennial contributions to Western culture and the Muslim Threat (tm), et cetera ad infinitum. All that remains to be done is to call me "Mr. Junkburger.")
Er, yes, after you used the word “adolescent” I could see that things were going to go downhill from there on. Well, there isn’t much to say on this issue, you know my opinions already; I think at some point one needs to realise that serious debate or rational discussion, is really not going to happen when there is a distinct lack of interest in it from the opposite quarters. After a certain stage, it just isn’t worth being dubbed as some sort of closet racist or apologist for chauvinism, terrorism, etc. I think you made your point quite cogently without giving in to any provocations and put a very reasonably case forward and can exit with credibility and dignity intact.
Incidentally, it turns out that it wasn't a vein bursting in my right eye, but rather conjunctivitis.
Crikey, hope you get this cured without too much hassle; I understand it can be somewhat painful condition in its extreme manifestations.
one post on the false spectre of an imminent Muslim majority in France and Europe that needs to come out
Sigh, another one of these ‘works’ out already?! I am tempted to say you could more fruitfully direct you attention and skills elsewhere. The paired surveys sounds more interesting, if a bit more time-consuming.
January 30 2004, 22:50:39 UTC 8 years ago
Re:
Yeah, I won't be placing much energy in these projects, or in that comment thread. I am supposed to be a grad student, after all, in English no less. ;-)Anonymous
February 1 2004, 16:35:22 UTC 8 years ago
Re:
Yeah I should make clear that the *sigh* was directed at the book and not your potential, but I am sure devastating and comprehensive, review of it.I am supposed to be a grad student, after all, in English no less
You have got to be kidding me, everytime I go into a pub here, there is bound to be either and English grad or Physicist already getting stuck into some serious drinking by lunchtime. The rest of us frequently wonder what exactly does go on in those English 'seminars' and Physics 'labs' :)
January 30 2004, 19:29:50 UTC 8 years ago
January 30 2004, 22:09:05 UTC 8 years ago
Re:
They didn't, no, but I hope shortly.January 31 2004, 07:53:11 UTC 8 years ago
Re:
it's in todays paper!! looks very good. you got the guest spot with a little doodle of a grad all dressed in robe and hatAnonymous
January 31 2004, 05:06:38 UTC 8 years ago
I've now seen the artwork (the photo exhibit on genocide it is connected to is quite moving) and I must say I feel the same as one of our more prominent (with a Jewish background, too) journalists, stated: How one seriously can think this artwork glorifies terrorism is incomprehensible, and it makes the various attempts to deface the artwork - someone threw in a picture of the Lindh murderer, as an example, absurd. I can't say I think Feiler has made great art, but honestly...
Even without taking into account the text calling her a murderer, how is it flattering to have your picture floating in a pool of blood? Imagine it was a smiling picture of Ariel Sharon instead, would that be glorifying him? Randy, would any of the people you debate this with feel flattered to have their picture or the picture of someone they respect in the terrorist's place?
Thankfully Mazel leaves this spring, so I suppose this was his farewell show.
/Tyge