tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post5713450759070495015..comments2024-03-29T03:19:09.227-04:00Comments on The Philosopher's Stone: AN OLD OBSERVATION ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGYRobert Paul Wolffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11970360952872431856noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-20452391716549106772012-11-03T23:22:59.763-04:002012-11-03T23:22:59.763-04:00I meant to say 'mein' host, the #111 bus i...I meant to say 'mein' host, the #111 bus is a bugger.Man From Atlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-43305813319895521872012-11-03T23:20:05.118-04:002012-11-03T23:20:05.118-04:00I think you just posted the Wikipedia definition o...I think you just posted the Wikipedia definition of 'erudite', Ben. As I made clear, I don't agree. I don't propose to debate with people who ignore the core of my argument and go off on their own tangents. It was interesting to see neon host capitulate so quickly on the issue of Maddow, who DID fit his own?<br /><br />I think I'll go back and post on Huffington Post again, at least people there are not as pretentious in their ignorance.Man From Atlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-72242665330603967152012-11-03T15:52:18.446-04:002012-11-03T15:52:18.446-04:00To the Man from Atlan: Earning a Rhodes Scholarshi...To the Man from Atlan: Earning a Rhodes Scholarship and attaining a PhD from Oxford does not qualify one as erudite? ("Erudite" simply means "learned." Perhaps you are misunderstanding the word.)<br /><br />Calling Oxford a "respectable institution," by the way, is ridiculous understatement.Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17878173130345125645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-67711094777320799412012-11-03T09:39:16.878-04:002012-11-03T09:39:16.878-04:00Man From Atlan--I think that you are missing two o...Man From Atlan--I think that you are missing two of my points. 1. A valid response to 'Maddow is X' is evidence that 'Maddow is not X', not 'that is your opinion'. 2. The 'comprehensiveness' of a theory connotes its internal structure, not how widely it is accepted. Unless you have a better criterion for evaluating opinions, that one, which is not merely my own, is superior.Don Schneierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12751277350617015241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-13199875360883168332012-11-02T17:38:00.380-04:002012-11-02T17:38:00.380-04:00Don Schneier--I know standards have dropped a bit ...Don Schneier--I know standards have dropped a bit but you're setting the bar for 'established erudition' rather low, don't you think? Yes, Ms. Maddow has a doctorate from a respectable institution and published a thesis, er, book. By all accounts she is a polite, intelligent TV program host. But I hesitate to call her erudite, not knowing of any broad, widespread scholarship or work on her part, aside from maybe she's 'read lots of books'. That is what some on the other side of the pond might call over-egging the pudding, such as when the enthusiasts call Obama a "constitutional scholar" :)<br /><br />That your opinion is more widely accepted (perhaps in America) than mine is not an objective criterion of its validity, and you might also want to demonstrate how your argument is more comprehensive or er, superior. <br /><br />Though perhaps Ms Maddow might want to say why she's never had Noam Chomsky or the late Howard Zinn on her show? Now those folk, are real examples of erudition, just saying.<br />Man From Atlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-68766044596477227822012-11-01T10:45:12.224-04:002012-11-01T10:45:12.224-04:00Man From Atlan--it is not my "opinion" t...Man From Atlan--it is not my "opinion" that Maddow has earned a doctorate from a very well-respected institution. But, even if were, that does not suffice to validate a disagreement with it. That one theory is more comprehensive than another is an objective criterion of its superiority. Likewise, with opinions.Don Schneierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12751277350617015241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-72759665824643356082012-10-31T14:31:23.194-04:002012-10-31T14:31:23.194-04:00This will be Obama's legacy. And this is why I...This will be Obama's legacy. And this is why I cannot vote for him.<br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-listChrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-56088083731877820252012-10-31T14:26:32.632-04:002012-10-31T14:26:32.632-04:00I'm a regular reader here though not a regular...I'm a regular reader here though not a regular comment-er. But I wanted to say:<br /><br />You mentioned volunteering for Obama on this blog before (and I've used your comments in the "why I work for Obama" and "response to English Jerk" posts from April to try to convince my too-radical friends that they should be supporting Obama any way they can). <br /><br />Given how close the race is likely to be, maybe you could make a plug on your blog for people to volunteer in this last week? Now is when calls to voters can make the most difference, as we can actually tell them (if they support Obama) where and when to vote. <br /><br />While it's unclear (from lots of political science research) whether, when, or how much campaign <i>messaging</i> influences electoral outcomes, it's <b>very</b> clear that contact - calls and canvassing - can increase turnout. And in an election this close, turnout is really what it comes down to. I spent an hour making calls this morning at my local (Oakland) Obama office and reached 4 people who supported the president but needed the reminder/encouragement to go vote (and appreciated the early voting information). I'm pretty sure at least one of them might not have made it out to vote otherwise. As you know, the Obama campaign has a massive, sophisticated GOTV program, but it only works if there are massive quantities of volunteers. A lot of good liberals are not as excited about Obama this time, and so not volunteering. But if love of Obama doesn't do it, I sure hope terror of a Romney administration does. <br /><br />Anyone can find places to volunteer near them at http:barackobama.com/gotv; you can make calls from home here: https://call.barackobama.com. (But if you can get into a local phonebank office, they'll have the highest-priority calls there; and if you're in a swing state and can canvass, that's the BEST way to make a difference.)Daniel Laurisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02387279807126578430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-85761944987904460142012-10-31T13:58:19.033-04:002012-10-31T13:58:19.033-04:00Excuse me, but that's just a list of opinionat...Excuse me, but that's just a list of opinionators that many 'turn to because it reflects their own (narrow) viewpoints. Rachel Maddow occupies her very own narrow niche, and fits that description of one that many turn to for that reason. <br /><br />As for an 'established erudition' and 'intellectual honesty', that is your own subjective opinion, and, not universally shared. <br /><br />She has many failings on the foreign and economic policy front, imposed on her by left liberal views, and that is fine by me, since as I said, we're discussing the rise of new, educated commentary from hundreds of thousands of new voices to contrast with the established commenters, of whom Rachel is one. <br />So thank you, Robert for pointing me in the direction of Stephen Wang's site. We need more diverse opinions, and not, that of the few who occupy various spots in the narrow spectrum of socio-political discourse.Man From Atlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08564058987138711708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-26951389721785704192012-10-31T13:38:33.623-04:002012-10-31T13:38:33.623-04:00Don, I agree completely with you about Maddow. I ...Don, I agree completely with you about Maddow. I was just fleshing out a list, and should have substituted someone else.Robert Paul Wolffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11970360952872431856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-87063058903054467162012-10-31T10:51:44.567-04:002012-10-31T10:51:44.567-04:00I don't even think we should mention Tom Fried...I don't even think we should mention Tom Friedman, for fear even an insult is more limelight than he deserves.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08250295324149056708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687347459208158501.post-44440543042121527172012-10-31T09:35:28.905-04:002012-10-31T09:35:28.905-04:00I'm surprised to see (Northampton's own) R...I'm surprised to see (Northampton's own) Rachel Maddow on that list. Her established erudition and intellectual integrity seem to sufficiently distinguish her not only from those others, but from most in the media-political complex, as well.Don Schneierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12751277350617015241noreply@blogger.com