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Nothing positive about another country having problems, whatever ones political background or “nationality” if one is into such things further instability is the LEAST one should wish for in ones own region or in other parts of the world.
PEACE!
The VoidMan The World Would have BEEN a better place without NATIONS, TRIBES, RELIGION and whatnot!
interesting question. It'd cast a pall on the Iranian influence in the Levant, certainly.
Though I wonder if an Aoun/Nazrallah political “unity” hasn't proved to be a lesson in the complexity of the situation for the US. By looking and learning rather than exacting (or encouraging) a military action perhaps we'll begin to understand the region. Lessons from the PA Hamas bit, I suppose. And hope.
“Ignorance of science and the preference for confirming “evidence” is widespread.”
Of course, but this case is one of a kind since Thorpe managed to catch these guys red handed when a simple Google search to confirm the names of people and institutions alone could have sufficed to disprove the paper.
[...] All of this begs one of the great questions in international relations: how far will Chinese policy evolve as it gets further entwined in Africa? Will it participate more in UN peacekeeping operations? Will it give direct aid rather than soft loans? Will it start to take sides in African politics, as has happened in Zambia? Africa could be the anvil on which a new Chinese foreign policy begins to be forged.
Mr Alden is also good on some of the more obscure aspects of China's engagement with Africa. It is, for instance, not just big state-owned companies that are piling into Africa: small and medium-sized ones are there too. Much of the investment and trade is directed from the government in Beijing, as one would expect. But individual Chinese provinces have also been forging their own ties and doing their own deals with African countries or regions. Fujian and Zhejiang have been encouraging emigration to Africa as a source of remittances and of new jobs.[...]
Folks, when reading about the “emigration,” don't “Texas” or “Hawaii” come to mind? Massive foreign investment and trade is one thing, but emigration?
I couldn't help but recall how Texas and Hawaii became American. In the same way, might at least some African countries become Chinese?
Is there a Chinese Stephen Austin on the horizon? Maybe even, in an extreme case, a Chinese William Walker?
political legitimacy may push Hezbollah beyond it's current militant operational core. Think Sin Fein and IRA. The pivot point for this, however, will likely be a semblance of political cohesion in Lebanon.
Damn but what a runaround! I've contacted Feedburner and have, through correspondance, narrowed the problem down to that of blogger. Via feedburner, my feed setting was set at “partial” so only a paragraph (and no links) shows up in a reader. The pain here is that the feed has always been set to that of full. So now I await the blogger Gods almighty advice.
BTW, on the off-chance I'm not the only fanboy on here, I found this collection of Evanescence videos viewable for free- no scrounging through YouTube.
I wonder what effect a promise of citizenship to Palestinian refugees would have on the stalemate?
One the one hand, it would legitimize Hezbollah as a political party. On the other, the militancy of Hezbollah wouldn't be as needed because the Lebanese state as a whole would protect them against Israel– room would open for other parties to represent individual Lebanese Palestinians, notably the parties pushing for the citizenship.
To tie it back to a focus of this blog, we need some form of universal health insurance. A major function of government is pooling risk. This is the whole idea behind having a police and army, for example. That we do not pool risk against health mishaps makes little sense in this day…
Jayson,
While I don't smoke, the “Truth” ads are so poorly done, that I imagine getting addicted merely to foil their clumsy propaganda campaign…
On the Pakistan article: I think I was intrigued more by the audacity than the potential. I agree with making peace with India, but the others assume more power and/or more benevolence than most dictators have.
ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2007) — An important new study appearing in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research finds that it is rarely the case that highly influential individuals are responsible for bringing about shifts in public opinion. [...]
by way of Evangelical Outpost's “33 Things” post for 11/19/07:
“As a current paid Xbox LIVE member using an original Xbox console (not Xbox 360), you're more than ready for Halo 3, and here's a great reason to step up. Buy your Xbox 360 between November 21 and December 21, 2007, move your existing paid Xbox LIVE account to an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription and then register on this site, and we will send you a copy of Halo 3*. Finish the fight in high definition, with new weapons and challenges.
Free Halo 3? It doesn't get any better than that.
Current Paid Xbox LIVE Members on the original Xbox console (not Xbox 360), here's how to get your Halo 3 game:
1. Buy an Xbox 360 console between November 21 and December 21, 2007. 2. Convert your current paid Xbox LIVE account to an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription. 3. Register here between November 21 and December 21, 2007 with promotional code XBX7777, with your new console serial number, and a valid mailing address. 4. Look for your copy of Halo 3 in your mailbox! “
Ignorance of science and the preference for confirming “evidence” is widespread. We saw that during the attack on James Watson, where ludicrous claims on racial identicality were made in the mainstream media. We see a more fringe version of this in the story you link to above.
(A note: I realize that profanity is used as a rhetorical device on Kos and other blogs. I discourse such discourse.)
Michael & Jayson,
The collapse of Islamic civilization, which appears to be occuring in the continuous belt from the Pillars of Hercules to Turkestan, is a problem I do not know how to fix.
Catholicgauze & Jay,
To the extent that Islamabad focuses on stability, it needs to re-establish the status quo ante of “home rule” in the tribal areas. To the extent that it is an ally in the war of al Qaeda, it needs to route al Qaeda out of those areas. The Pakistani Army, an arrogant but thoroughly defeated force on every other front, may not be up to the task.
And what contrarian advice it is! IMSHO, remarkable stuff. Any particular reason why Mr. Moldbug's suggestions should be considered *particularly* absurd?
And check out the essay before that:
” Musharraf's rebellion, or: how to read a newspaper”
Jay@Soob, Warizistan may not have a history of being controlled by the Pakistani government, but there is a huge difference between local tribal control and one of a Taliban and al Qaeda (expansionist) control.
Dan, the “funny” thing (well, at least *one* of them) is that the “memory palace” is an old thing that has a strange kind of cultural staying power, even though the concept has rather declined since the advent of the modern age. Partly, it's because of what you said–it “works”; but there seems to be more to it.
My interest was re-awakened by mention of “augmented reality” during a discussion of future technology on a sci-fi list.
On a whim, I googled around for memory palace, and came across this *recently* published novel:
Hmm….Well, I got dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of things to say, but, one must be orderly about it. There's only so much one can ask/answer/opinionate/bloviate/etc.
Catholicgauze has an excellent summary. [1] Pakistan's two westernized factions, the elite and the military, are turning on each other at their weakest moment while the Islamists sit back and see who remains. The collapse of Islamic civilization generally since the World War, and of Pakistan particularly, is breathtaking.
Jayson,
Remembering is improved the more mental structures are related to each other. Memory palaces, which also enable the use of the visuospatial sketchpad of working memory [2], would seem to be a neat trick to do this.
Somehow, I thought this would all work out to be in Waziristan's favor. So, what to you think about the present security and future security of their nuclear stock?
When has Waziristan been an area of governmental control in Pakistan?
I think the alarmist “fundies git da nukes” bit is a tad overplayed and ignores the more realistic event that should Mushi fall the military won't. Additionally it assumes that the healthy opposition we're seeing now (which extends from the Supreme Court to various non-fundamentalist elements of the populace) will somehow fold should a fundie platform gain any ground.
Sidenote: If I were India I'd shake up Kashmir (in a small sense) for the sake of regional stability. Though I don't believe it will be necessary. But it'd be a nice insurance policy.
The author describes inventiveness in the narrow terms of engineering. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but it is deceptive. Take America and Japan. For a variety of reasons, including a more open economy and greater tolerance for failure, the U.S. is the undisputed leader in business process innovation. Whereas, Japanese creativity (outside of consumer electronics) is largely focused on quality improvements. Both of these are forms of creativity, but insisting that only R&D focused on engineering leads to innovation is odd.
“I couldn't help but recall how Texas and Hawaii became American. In the same way, might at least some African countries become Chinese?”
Seems possible to me– IF enough Chinese move to one part of Africa to become a dominant power in that region. If they scatter over the continent, taking over becomes much harder, if not impossible.
Why is it, with so many people giving up landlines altogether for cell phones, that my provider no longer carries phones with batteries that can be charged separately from the phones?
Recall mass emigrations, such as the violent removal of Indians from Uganda, the softer cleansing of Afrikaners from South Africa, etc. Even a significant presence does not guarantee that presence remains.
I'm sure you can pay more for a battery charger… seems like market segmentation to me
Everyone!
http://www.youtube.com/user/patcondell
No matter who you are, you need to listen to this man!
Jeffrey, why?
Jayson, fascinating!
The Cedar Revolution may be about to burn:P
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21940024/
Michael,
Nothing positive about another country having problems, whatever ones political background or “nationality” if one is into such things further instability is the LEAST one should wish for in ones own region or in other parts of the world.
PEACE!
The VoidMan
The World Would have BEEN a better place without NATIONS, TRIBES, RELIGION and whatnot!
I wonder if not taking out Syria wasn't as much of a mistake as trying to prevent federalism in Iraq…
Voidman, I'm not rejoicing in Lebanon's difficulties.
Dan,
interesting question. It'd cast a pall on the Iranian influence in the Levant, certainly.
Though I wonder if an Aoun/Nazrallah political “unity” hasn't proved to be a lesson in the complexity of the situation for the US. By looking and learning rather than exacting (or encouraging) a military action perhaps we'll begin to understand the region. Lessons from the PA Hamas bit, I suppose. And hope.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lopez_Watson
Is this the Watson you are talking about?
“Ignorance of science and the preference for confirming “evidence” is widespread.”
Of course, but this case is one of a kind since Thorpe managed to catch these guys red handed when a simple Google search to confirm the names of people and institutions alone could have sufficed to disprove the paper.
Nope, another James Watson… (Dewey by middle name, a Nobel prize winner)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_D._Watson#Statements_about_race_and_intelligence
Tell me this ain't agreat idea!
http://www.tankmagazine.com/tankbooks/
Via
http://www.goodmagazine.com/section/Marketplace/these_can_be_yours_007
“Still Scrambling”
http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10170440
EXCERPT:
[...]
All of this begs one of the great questions in international relations: how far will Chinese policy evolve as it gets further entwined in Africa? Will it participate more in UN peacekeeping operations? Will it give direct aid rather than soft loans? Will it start to take sides in African politics, as has happened in Zambia? Africa could be the anvil on which a new Chinese foreign policy begins to be forged.
Mr Alden is also good on some of the more obscure aspects of China's engagement with Africa. It is, for instance, not just big state-owned companies that are piling into Africa: small and medium-sized ones are there too. Much of the investment and trade is directed from the government in Beijing, as one would expect. But individual Chinese provinces have also been forging their own ties and doing their own deals with African countries or regions. Fujian and Zhejiang have been encouraging emigration to Africa as a source of remittances and of new jobs.[...]
Folks, when reading about the “emigration,” don't “Texas” or “Hawaii” come to mind? Massive foreign investment and trade is one thing, but emigration?
I couldn't help but recall how Texas and Hawaii became American. In the same way, might at least some African countries become Chinese?
Is there a Chinese Stephen Austin on the horizon? Maybe even, in an extreme case, a Chinese William Walker?
Yeah, the micro-posts on the RSS feeder are annoying. Your articles are always thought out, but the two sentences don't reflect this at all.
Hi mike,
political legitimacy may push Hezbollah beyond it's current militant operational core. Think Sin Fein and IRA. The pivot point for this, however, will likely be a semblance of political cohesion in Lebanon.
@Dan, re: rss feed and links.
Damn but what a runaround! I've contacted Feedburner and have, through correspondance, narrowed the problem down to that of blogger. Via feedburner, my feed setting was set at “partial” so only a paragraph (and no links) shows up in a reader. The pain here is that the feed has always been set to that of full. So now I await the blogger Gods almighty advice.
BTW, on the off-chance I'm not the only fanboy on here, I found this collection of Evanescence videos viewable for free- no scrounging through YouTube.
http://www.rhapsody.com/evanescence/videos/goodenough
I wonder what effect a promise of citizenship to Palestinian refugees would have on the stalemate?
One the one hand, it would legitimize Hezbollah as a political party. On the other, the militancy of Hezbollah wouldn't be as needed because the Lebanese state as a whole would protect them against Israel– room would open for other parties to represent individual Lebanese Palestinians, notably the parties pushing for the citizenship.
Canadian public service announcement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noFCekWiUGE
Warning: Graphic Content
Jeffrey,
Certainly a striking ad…
To tie it back to a focus of this blog, we need some form of universal health insurance. A major function of government is pooling risk. This is the whole idea behind having a police and army, for example. That we do not pool risk against health mishaps makes little sense in this day…
Jayson,
While I don't smoke, the “Truth” ads are so poorly done, that I imagine getting addicted merely to foil their clumsy propaganda campaign…
Dan, I think you misunderstood the Tankbooks….
For those of you whose psyches were irretrievably shattered by Black Eyed Peas “My Humps”, healing is at hand: Alanis Morissette did a parody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W91sqAs-_-g
On the Pakistan article: I think I was intrigued more by the audacity than the potential. I agree with making peace with India, but the others assume more power and/or more benevolence than most dictators have.
I loved that video the first time around
http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2007/04/16/alanis-morissette-my-humps-cover-video.html
D'oh! I totally forgot you'd already seen it– probably because I wasn't in a position at the time to see it myself:P
Life consultant: I'd hire her, but a) I don't live in NY, b) I probably can't afford her, and c) I'd probably burn her out trying to get me life:P
Unqualified reservations: Interesting approach to things. I'm in the process of reading more of his stuff.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/10/160/92202
http://www.desmogblog.com/spoof-website-touts-global-warming-death-were-you-duped
http://lowcarbonkid.blogspot.com/2007/11/that-geoclimatic-studies-hoax-and-what.html#links
What can I say? LOL and LMFAO! This is just pure fucking genius.
“Social Change Relies More On The Easily Influenced Than The Highly Influential”
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ysfklg
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112133759.htm
ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2007) — An important new study appearing in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research finds that it is rarely the case that highly influential individuals are responsible for bringing about shifts in public opinion. [...]
by way of Evangelical Outpost's “33 Things” post for 11/19/07:
http://www.evangelicaloutpost.com/archives/004092.html
Whaaa…? Where did you see that?
“As a current paid Xbox LIVE member using an original Xbox console (not Xbox 360), you're more than ready for Halo 3, and here's a great reason to step up. Buy your Xbox 360 between November 21 and December 21, 2007, move your existing paid Xbox LIVE account to an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription and then register on this site, and we will send you a copy of Halo 3*. Finish the fight in high definition, with new weapons and challenges.
Free Halo 3? It doesn't get any better than that.
Current Paid Xbox LIVE Members on the original Xbox console (not Xbox 360), here's how to get your Halo 3 game:
1. Buy an Xbox 360 console between November 21 and December 21, 2007.
2. Convert your current paid Xbox LIVE account to an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription.
3. Register here between November 21 and December 21, 2007 with promotional code XBX7777, with your new console serial number, and a valid mailing address.
4. Look for your copy of Halo 3 in your mailbox! “
http://kotaku.com/gaming/halo-3/buy-a-360-get-halo-3-for-free-323892.php#c3011698
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/h/halo3/promotions/buyxboxgethalo.htm?WText.camp=Games&WText.campSrc=RSS
http://kotaku.com/gaming/halo-3/buy-a-360-get-halo-3-for-free-323892.php
Sadly, the XBOX 360 + Halo 3 bundle is only good for those with xbox live classic accounts
Jeffrey,
Ignorance of science and the preference for confirming “evidence” is widespread. We saw that during the attack on James Watson, where ludicrous claims on racial identicality were made in the mainstream media. We see a more fringe version of this in the story you link to above.
(A note: I realize that profanity is used as a rhetorical device on Kos and other blogs. I discourse such discourse.)
Michael & Jayson,
The collapse of Islamic civilization, which appears to be occuring in the continuous belt from the Pillars of Hercules to Turkestan, is a problem I do not know how to fix.
Catholicgauze & Jay,
To the extent that Islamabad focuses on stability, it needs to re-establish the status quo ante of “home rule” in the tribal areas. To the extent that it is an ally in the war of al Qaeda, it needs to route al Qaeda out of those areas. The Pakistani Army, an arrogant but thoroughly defeated force on every other front, may not be up to the task.
” UR's advice for President Musharraf”
http://unqualified-reservations.blogspot.com/2007/11/urs-advice-for-president-musharraf.html
http://preview.tinyurl.com/3bjey9
And what contrarian advice it is! IMSHO, remarkable stuff. Any particular reason why Mr. Moldbug's suggestions should be considered *particularly* absurd?
And check out the essay before that:
” Musharraf's rebellion, or: how to read a newspaper”
http://unqualified-reservations.blogspot.com/2007/11/musharrafs-rebellion-or-how-to-read.html
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2qanza
Jay@Soob,
Warizistan may not have a history of being controlled by the Pakistani government, but there is a huge difference between local tribal control and one of a Taliban and al Qaeda (expansionist) control.
An interesting profession:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/08/fashion/08storr.html?em&ex=1194757200&en=d9e94cfd8f38ca70&ei=5087
Dan, the “funny” thing (well, at least *one* of them) is that the “memory palace” is an old thing that has a strange kind of cultural staying power, even though the concept has rather declined since the advent of the modern age.
Partly, it's because of what you said–it “works”; but there seems to be more to it.
My interest was re-awakened by mention of “augmented reality” during a discussion of future technology on a sci-fi list.
On a whim, I googled around for memory palace, and came across this *recently* published novel:
http://www.seasonofthewitch.com/books/sotw/synopsis/index.php
Haven't had a chance to read it yet, but its premise seems interesting….
So, what do you all think of recent events in Pakistan?
Hmm….Well, I got dozens (maybe even hundreds!) of things to say, but, one must be orderly about it. There's only so much one can ask/answer/opinionate/bloviate/etc.
I will tell you this much though–for some reason, I've felt compelled to re-visit the notion of “memory palaces.”
Google or Ask it.
Jeffrey,
Catholicgauze has an excellent summary. [1] Pakistan's two westernized factions, the elite and the military, are turning on each other at their weakest moment while the Islamists sit back and see who remains. The collapse of Islamic civilization generally since the World War, and of Pakistan particularly, is breathtaking.
Jayson,
Remembering is improved the more mental structures are related to each other. Memory palaces, which also enable the use of the visuospatial sketchpad of working memory [2], would seem to be a neat trick to do this.
[1] http://catholicgauze.blogspot.com/2007/11/martial-law-in-pakistan.html
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baddeley's_model_of_working_memory
Heck, I'm still trying to understand why Pakistan even WANTS Waziristan! Or why Sudan wants Darfur. Or. . .
How much blood d'yall suppose has been spilled the past few years alone in the name of territorial integrity for its own sake? Blech!
“…Islamists sit back and see who remains.”
Somehow, I thought this would all work out to be in Waziristan's favor. So, what to you think about the present security and future security of their nuclear stock?
When has Waziristan been an area of governmental control in Pakistan?
I think the alarmist “fundies git da nukes” bit is a tad overplayed and ignores the more realistic event that should Mushi fall the military won't. Additionally it assumes that the healthy opposition we're seeing now (which extends from the Supreme Court to various non-fundamentalist elements of the populace) will somehow fold should a fundie platform gain any ground.
Sidenote:
If I were India I'd shake up Kashmir (in a small sense) for the sake of regional stability. Though I don't believe it will be necessary. But it'd be a nice insurance policy.
Getting the Chinese into Africa in a political way is the one thing I would change for Africa…. [1]
[1] http://www.tdaxp.com/archive/2007/11/28/if-i-could-change-just-one-thing-per-continent.html
“America's Creativity Conceit”
by Eamonn Fingleton
11/21/2007
http://fingleton.net/view_art_un.asp?Prod_ID=18
Agree? Disagree? Opinions/comments being sought…
The author describes inventiveness in the narrow terms of engineering. There is nothing wrong with this per se, but it is deceptive. Take America and Japan. For a variety of reasons, including a more open economy and greater tolerance for failure, the U.S. is the undisputed leader in business process innovation. Whereas, Japanese creativity (outside of consumer electronics) is largely focused on quality improvements. Both of these are forms of creativity, but insisting that only R&D focused on engineering leads to innovation is odd.
“I couldn't help but recall how Texas and Hawaii became American. In the same way, might at least some African countries become Chinese?”
Seems possible to me– IF enough Chinese move to one part of Africa to become a dominant power in that region. If they scatter over the continent, taking over becomes much harder, if not impossible.
Why is it, with so many people giving up landlines altogether for cell phones, that my provider no longer carries phones with batteries that can be charged separately from the phones?
Recall mass emigrations, such as the violent removal of Indians from Uganda, the softer cleansing of Afrikaners from South Africa, etc. Even a significant presence does not guarantee that presence remains.
I'm sure you can pay more for a battery charger… seems like market segmentation to me
Dan,
Seeking opinion:
http://feedjit.com/
Would like your opinion on this; was actually thinking of trying it. What do you think?
Would it be something you'd try?
Generally, I stay away from widgets after removing sitemeter and technorati from my pages (they increased the time it took a page to load).
Hey Dan, here's something up that might be up your alley–
ANNEXING MEXICO Solving the Border Problem Through Annexation and Assimilation
by Erik Rush
http://www.erikrush.com/booklink2.htm
Only stumbled across this site recently.
Looks like you're not alone.
Apparently a new book–Amazon only carries 3 customer reviews, but at least they're all positive.