March 2010
58 posts
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Serbia Apologizes for 1995 Massacre →
“We are taking a civilised step of politically responsible people, based on political conviction, for the war crime that happened in Srebrenica,” said Branko Ruzic, whose Socialist party was led by strongman Slobodan Milosevic during the 1990s.
This is a major step by Serbs, to be sure. But, as many have pointed out, an apology for Srebrenica — even using the “war...
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“What do you do?”
“I’m a philosopher.”
“What are some of your sayings, then?”
– This excellent little conversation comes from an interesting article, “What Do Philosophers Believe?”
Basically, it provides a concise answer as to why I try to read books with very unpleasant titles when I’m on a airplane. Also, why I never, ever answer the question, “What...
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Izzo wins. Also, water is wet. →
So true. So true.
Keep in mind:
The man is 28-9 in the NCAA Tournament since 2000. His Spartans have been in 13 straight fields, reaching nine Sweet 16s, five Final Fours, and winning a national title in 2000.
More on this topic tomorrow.
Full article here.
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The Best Email Exchange Ever?
You get to decide. This is the back and forth I’ve had with a “travel associate” in the University’s accounting department. The receipt in question is for $7.51 from a quick lunch I had at a conference in Philadelphia at the beginning of February.
Pay attention, please, to how many emails it takes before my tone gets even moderately less than pleasant. I am a saint.
On Mar...
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Michigan's Attorney General Ordered to Fight Own... →
Michigan’s Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat and secret Canadian, has directed Mike Cox, Michigan’s Republican Attorney General, to intervene on behalf of Michigan against the lawsuits, brought by Cox (and the Attorneys General of several other states), that contend that the new health care reform law is unconstitutional.
Granholm’s letter says, in part:
I certainly do not...
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“[E]very indication is that the messages are being sent by Mr. Jobs himself, and...”
– Just when you thought Apple fans couldn’t love the company any more than they already do:
Messages From Steve Jobs Are Making Recipients Swoon
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Rwandan Opposition Leader Arrested
Unsurprisingly, on Tuesday Rwandan security forces arrested Victoire Ingabire as she attempted to flee the country. As discussed last month, Ingabire represents a challenge to the reelection of the current president, Paul Kagame, and — since her return from exile — she’s been accused by Kagame of divisionism and genocidal ideology.
Of course, the government suggests that...
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Human Rights Alliance Demands Inquiry into UK... →
I don’t for a moment believe that the U.S. will see the writing on the wall and launch some sort of serious investigation into torture and rendition. Not our style.
But it will be pretty fascinating to see how things shake out in Britain, where a group of human rights organizations have joined up with MPs to demand an independent inquiry:
The case for an inquiry is supported by almost...
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“All of the attorneys general in the 10 states mentioned by McCollum are...”
– 10 states line up to sue over health bill, Florida AG says
What are the odds that any of these Republican attorneys general see the irony in turning to the Court to strike down a law they don’t like?
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First Day of Spring
I know it’s just a little late, but today has really felt like the first day of Spring to me. We’re back in school after Spring Break, the sun is shining, and I’m in an excellent mood.
Back when I was in college, my roommate and I used to play this song pretty much all day long to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Admittedly this isn’t a particularly good version of the...
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“Wow. Every team in the Big East seems to have made the tourney. Congrats to the...”
– Remember when I said this last week (5:40 PM Mar 14th via Nambu) during the selection show?
I’m a genius.
If you didn’t predict that conference’s March catastrophe, don’t worry: you’ll get a chance to do it again in exactly one year’s time.
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Spring Break In Music
Since I spent the week in Chicago, and since the weather was impossibly nice while I was there, I’ve had Sufjan Stevens on the brain.
Now you can too. Enjoy:
And, in brush-with-fame news, I went to high school with Stevens’ brother, Marzuki. Just so you know.
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“[I]n some classes, the tournament isn’t a complete siphon of productivity....”
– According to U.S. News & World Report, I am a pretty cool guy.
Full article: NCAA Tournament Doesn’t Keep Students From Class at Top Universities
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“A generation of young professors has grown up with the job crisis—it’s...”
– When I told my undergraduate advisor that I wanted to pursue a PhD in political theory, he told me that was fantastic … so long as I wanted to do so “for my own personal edification,” not as a means to getting a job teaching political theory.
Interesting article on graduate school...
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PhDs from an Israeli Prison
It might be a bit too soon to break out the bubbly, since the committee still has to meet on Tuesday to discuss the 341 page dissertation, but things certainly look good for the newest PhD in political science: Marwan Barghouti.
Currently serving five life sentences for his role in terrorist attacks against Israelis during the second intifada, Barghouti had been working on his degree, with a...
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Do Blog Readers Self-Segregate or Deliberate? →
Apparently, all of you people out there aren’t reading much that disagrees with positions you already hold. At least this is the conclusion reached by Eric Lawrence, John Sides, and Henry Farrell in the latest issue of Perspectives on Politics.
Are you just being lazy or did you try it for awhile and realize that reading something written from the opposite side of the political spectrum...
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New Bill Would Make Conversion Insufficient For... →
Not content to discriminate against Arabs, Israel’s right wing now sets its sights on those it doesn’t consider Jewish enough:
The bill proposes that the Law of Return only be applicable to Jews or their offspring, and not to non-Jews who opted to convert - even if the conversion follows Orthodox procedure in line with state religious courts in Israel.
My sense is that this bill is...
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Such Passion!
Spending time on Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook over the past couple of years has really been an education for me. I often talk about the way that information is shared on these sites and how the community that you build can have a major impact on how much you know and the speed with which you know it.
One thing I haven’t talked about is the amazing passion of the people — typically...
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U.K. Honors Holocaust Heroes with a New Award →
The award is a silver medallion inscribed with the words, “In the Service of Humanity.”
It is the first recognition from Britain of civilians who risked their lives to help Jews and others during the Holocaust.
Many of the twenty-seven awards were given posthumously.
Full article here.
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Texas Judge Rescinds Anti-Death Penalty Ruling →
Remember three days ago, when a Texas judge ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional because he suspected that innocent people were sentenced to death and people wouldn’t like it very much if it happened to them?
Well, he changed his mind.
Now he says he “wants more information” from prosecutors and defense attorneys about “whether the state’s death penalty...
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A Few Oscar Thoughts
Full disclosure: I don’t like award shows. I don’t care about the designer dresses, I’m not interested in the musical numbers, and I won’t like a movie any more or less because it wins an award.
Having said that, I’m always surprised by the way that people lash out against certain films or embrace certain other films. The excitement about Jeff Bridges winning Best Actor for “Crazy Heart” and...
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Michigan State Hands Michigan Another Embarrassing...
It’s been 855 days since Michigan has beaten Michigan State in either basketball or football.
Tomorrow, Day 856…
HT: Marcus Sanborn.
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Judge Declares Death Penalty Unconstitutional →
A State District Judge in Texas has ruled that the death penalty is unconstitutional and Brian Evans, over at the Amnesty International USA blog, is hopeful that the “ruling will encourage his fellow judges to take a more critical and independent look at the death penalty in Texas.”
I don’t fault Evans for his enthusiasm, nor do I disagree in any way with his position on the...
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Bears Are Big Spenders in Free Agency →
Apparently, the New York Times article is about the Chicago Bears and NFL Free Agency.
But what I thought of when I saw the headline was:
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Kigali hit by twin grenade attacks →
There were two nearly-simultaneous grenade attacks in Rwanda’s capital last night; at least sixteen people were injured. These attacks follow on the heels of three grenade attacks last month, which the government blamed on Lt. Gen. Faustin Kayumba (who was stripped of his diplomatic position for supporting the government’s political opposition, denied any involvement, and fled last...
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WatchPeter Knox posted this amusing clip from the first segment of last night’s Daily Show. After a few minutes of introductory material, Stewart blasts Fox News’ Megyn Kelly for her completed unbalanced treatment of the health care debate.
Then, in the same episode, Stewart speaks to Lynne Olson about Edward R. Murrow’s role in swaying American public opinion during WWII. Right...
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European Court Issues Strongest Decision Ever on...
William Schabas comments of yesterday’s ECHR judgement in the Al Saddoon and Mufhdi case:
The two applicants were represented by the courageous English human rights lawyer (and very dear personal friend) Phil Shiner. The Chamber found that the United Kingdom had imposed mental suffering upon the applicants sufficient to violate article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights because it...