Blogcritics Comments on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Comment by Dan Miller on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:49:58 EDT

Re #33: If you go to the cited link, you first have to find "Perspective" and then, once there, go to "No, We give Him back to Colombia." Sorry about that, but it is an interesting article and one well worth reading. Dan

Comment by Dan Miller on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:17:03 EDT

One of the points I should have made in the article is free trade. It is an important topic, and one being watched with interest in foreign countries, including of course Colombia and Panama. Here is a link to a very poor, internet-computer generated, article in today's La Prensa, one of Panama's leading daily newspapers. It is interesting, because it shows substantial awareness of what is going on in U.S. politics, and points out the stupidity (a word I rarely use) of it. Dan

Comment by Alessandro on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:46:06 EDT

#7 - Funny. I thought we already were already chirping and barking. After a while, listening to candidates sounds like, "Bar, bar, bar..." Now I know what the Romans felt when they first met the Germanic tribes. Chivius I: "What the fuh? Why do they speak like they're from Saskatchewan?" Flivius: "Move along. I don't like the look of these guys. Head for the forest." As for elitism, I was an elite once. I played AAA/Provincial soccer. Insert Vaudeville cane here. Great article.

Comment by El Bicho on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:34:42 EDT

Grok is actually from Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land."

Comment by Dr Dreadful on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:41:57 EDT

Clav, If they're Latino cats, shouldn't that be: "�KAAAAAAAAAK!"?

Comment by Jet in Columbus on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:15:38 EDT

You know "Bloom County's" Bill the cat???

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:12:26 EDT

No, that's more like: KAAAAAAAAAK!.......HAAAAAK..PTUI (at least, that's how my Miami Latino cats sound).

Comment by Dr Dreadful on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:06:51 EDT

Sounds like the noise our cats make right before they throw up on the laminate flooring...

Comment by Jet in Columbus on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:58:21 EDT

Is it legal to circumsize a cedilla on the international date line without a permit?

Comment by Jet in Columbus on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:56:06 EDT

God knows what sinister thing it means nowadays

Comment by Jet in Columbus on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:53:12 EDT

Grok is a Trekie term from the 60s. "I grok Spock" or I like Spock or I dig Spock.

Comment by Matthew T. Sussman on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:34:57 EDT

What if the word "cedilla" is dissected by the International Dateline between the C and E?

Comment by Dr Dreadful on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:06:48 EDT

Clav. Yup... now I've got to figure out what 'grok' means... Matt: Because the c before e and i is always soft, as I explained above. Pay attention at the back there!

Comment by Matthew T. Sussman on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:51:20 EDT

Why does the word "cedilla" not have one?

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:40:52 EDT

BTW, Doc, Did you ever grok the meaning of my cryptic little inquiry that looked like this: Doc, RK? If not, it is of little consequence, as I was able, in the end, to determine that your answer (had you indeed grokked), would have been: Yup.

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:34:52 EDT

As you know, being the assistant comments editor I can go back and fix any such bollocks I may spout... But you, like Brutus, are an honorable man, and therefore would never do such a scurrilous and dishonorable thing. Would you?

Comment by Dr Dreadful on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:14:48 EDT

Mister Clavos the Mexican Viking: I realized after I'd posted my response that the cedilla (and yes, if I'd been responding to you in French rather than merely correcting your French I would have called it a cédille) denoted a soft c rather than missing letters. As you know, being the assistant comments editor I can go back and fix any such bollocks I may spout; I was, however, in a hurry, being summoned as I was to clean the patio and plant the two dwarf citrus trees we just bought. So, here is my revised correction: the cedilla denotes a soft c before an a, o or u where it would normally be hard (�a, Besan�on, per�u). In front of e or i it is always soft and no cedilla is needed. (The hard k sound before those letters is always written qu.)

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:44:01 EDT

Did one of you guys guarding the wine cellar fall for the Bishop's tired old story about sacramental wines again???

Comment by Dan Miller on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:19:13 EDT

Clav, re #s 12 - 15 I was turning it into an article, but one of the dogs ate my copious Amazon links and a horse pooped on the subhead. Just then, I got an urgent request from the Nigerian financial institution and internet cafe where I am setting up offshore accounts for my Temple, see comment #6 to the cited article. They needed, ASAP, the addresses of all of my e-mail correspondents in order to check my references and those of my Temple. Although I had yours readily at hand, I realized that compiling the others would require much loving labor. Not wanting to delay the work to which I have been called, I had no choice but to drop everything else and set about the work of Mani, may his holy name be praised. Hence, the comment rather than an article. You and my other correspondents should be very pleased to learn that my good friends and co religionists in Nigeria will soon be favoring you with a stupendous financial opportunity, beneficial to my Temple as well as to you personally in exchange for your favorable references. Yours in the holy name of Mani, may his blessed name be praised. (Bishop) Dan

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:14:03 EDT

Second try: Doc, Right on the second count, but: (Ahem...) only partly so on the first: en Fran�ais it's a cédille, and, From Aboutdotcom: The cédille � (cedilla) is found only on the letter C. It changes a hard C sound (like K) into a soft C sound (like S), e.g., gar�on. The cedilla is never placed in front of E or I, because C always sounds like an S in front of these vowels. Aaaaahhh...strolls into the sunset, a self-satisfied smile ("smirk?") lighting up his features...

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:07:42 EDT

OK, Doc... What have you done to Akismet? I had a great reply for you, but Akismet says it's spam!

Comment by Dr Dreadful on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:01:38 EDT

Clav - ahem... 1. No cedilla under the c in ce, only in �a. (It denotes missing letters - it's a contraction of cela. 2. No hyphen necessary between ce and pas. You're welcome!

Comment by Clavos on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:13:05 EDT

That comment's worth an article, n'est-�e-pas?

Comment by Dan Miller on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:42:21 EDT

Obnoxious, You asked, perhaps rhetorically, why is a big city liberal mindset considered more elite than any other? First, as I mentioned in a previous article, I neither understand nor like the way in which the word "liberal" is commonly used today and try to avoid that usage; accordingly, I shall put the word in quotes when used in that fashion. Here are two people, both of whom I much admire and consider to be liberal and elite: Bill Buckley and Bertrand Russell. On most substantive issues they were at opposite ends of the political spectrum, but both were very well educated, came from wealth -- Buckley from much more than Lord Russell, who actually had to work for a living -- and were prolific writers. Most importantly, both seemed to enjoy lively debate with those holding opposing views. Coming from even moderate circumstances is not the sina qua non of receiving a good education, but it helps. So does coming from a family which, even if not well educated, respects education and strives to help its children to obtain it. As I recall, both Buckley and Russell had presences in the city and country. Russell, in his 1950 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, commented that when he was young, two little girls from Estonia lived with his family and had plenty to eat. They nevertheless spent their leisure time visiting neighboring farms and stealing potatoes, which they hoarded. Their mindset was one of extreme poverty, and even when they no longer faced poverty, they retained that mindset. All of this begs the question about a big city mindset, and why it is considered more elite than any other. Possibly there are more "elite" people in big cities than elsewhere, because that's where they can find congenial employment and the cultural amenities they enjoy. Perhaps since they live in big cities, they become more aware of the problems there (which are generally not the same as the problems faced elsewhere), and conclude that Government is the best solution to them. It is easier to pose governmental solutions, because that puts the monkey on someone else's back while still generating a feel-good sensation. The solutions don't necessarily have to work to generate that sensation, or to be transplanted to places which are not big cities. When those solutions fail, obviously more of the same is called for because of their mindset – not unlike the poverty mindset of Russell's two little girls from Estonia. "Elite liberals" also seem to be attracted to (and created by) large universities, which tend to be located in large or at least mid-size cities, and such places more often than not are hotbeds of "liberalism." We have all seen statistics and read anecdotes about how difficult it is for "conservatives" to exist at most large universities. Having tenure at a prominent university and writing books and articles give prominence to the views expressed by the "liberal elite" authors. The views may be those of an elite vocal minority, but they tend to be better and more frequently expressed than those of others not similarly endowed. The views of those "elite liberals" gain a certain currency, and are frequently seized upon by folks in government, who like to consider themselves fellow members of the "liberal elite" club. Many members of the press do the same, perhaps for the same reason. These are the best answers I can think of at the moment; they certainly are not the only answers, but I think they are significant ones. Quite possibly, they may throw a bit of light on the origins and persistence of "political correctness" as well. Dan

Comment by Dan Miller on What's Not to Understand About Politics?

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:48:30 EDT

Baronius, Yeah, it is a tad bleak, and I am open to being convinced that I am wrong. As to Akitas, for my money they are the best dogs ever. Highly intelligent, extremely loyal, and they seem to sense my moods and what is going on around them. I have learned how to interpret their barks (and those of our other four dogs) and generally have a pretty good idea of what they are trying to say: friendly intruder, unknown intruder, possibly hostile intruder, and all that sort of stuff. Actually, I wouldn't want Sunshine (our Akita pup) to become president. Going to Washington would probably ruin her presently beautiful doganality. Best, Dan