Monthly Archives: July 2007

I should have asked you guys earlier…

…those of you on Technorati, I totally forgot that I occasionally contribute to the “Where’s The Fire” feature. You are more than welcome to check out the posts I’ve put up there and vote for me; they’re a bit self-promoting, but I do sum up my stances on things in those entries. Here’s the link:akarra’s …

July 31, 2007 – 3:48 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (0)

This Cold/Asthma Attack or Whatever Is Not Going Away

I’m sitting in front of the computer with a t-shirt on and some sweatpants and I’m about to break into a cold sweat. I was cold earlier this morning – it wasn’t quite chills and shaking, but it was annoying. Eyes are clear, phlegm is clear (!), but lungs feel like they’re in a vise. …

July 31, 2007 – 10:20 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (1)

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick

I’ve got nothing to blog about, so I might as well report that I’m sick. There’s an awful lot of tightness in my upper chest and it is difficult to speak with any power. There’s occasional coughing and some rather annoying phlegm.It could be worse, but I’m ticked: Who gets sick during the summer? This …

July 30, 2007 – 6:45 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (1)

How Does One Deal With Smart Sounding But Ultimately Thoughtless Comments?

One of the dangers of posting things dependent on prior knowledge of a subject – i.e. poetry – is that every moron who thinks he knows something comes out and says stuff that sounds very smart, and when you try to reconstruct their argument you realize it’s nothing but the insinuation that you’re wrong. For …

July 29, 2007 – 2:53 pm | By ashok | Posted in blogging | Comments (6)

On Werner Herzog’s "Rescue Dawn"

As always, spoilers below. For Jason Zola. Couldn’t say it much better myself, but I’ll try:The opening scenes of the movie seem to be archival footage taken from a bombing pilot’s cockpit. We watch huts explode slowly, almost rhythmically, as the plane flies by. At first, one thinks “wow that’s beautiful,” and the music reinforces …

July 28, 2007 – 4:49 pm | By ashok | Posted in movies | Comments (0)

Paris Hilton At Moments Has A Sweetness About Her, Or This Time I’m Really Lowering My Standards

1. An article from some time ago made the point that Paris Hilton was a celebrity – in fact, I know people who admire her – because her shamelessness can help one navigate the brave new world of creating your own cult of personality through Myspace, Facebook, YouTube, etc. Heck, if you’re using entirely new …

July 26, 2007 – 9:53 am | By ashok | Posted in media | Comments (0)

On Courage and Fear

1. A movement towards, or even against something, can be the mark of fear. Is one always kind to those who move towards one, or against one? Should one always be kind to such people?2. There are many ways to bully people, but the most prominent in a liberal society is to accuse everyone else …

July 25, 2007 – 7:36 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics | Comments (0)

Making Excuses: On Poem 224 of Emily Dickinson, "I’ve nothing else – to bring, You know…"

(224) I’ve nothing else – to bring, You know… Emily Dickinson I’ve nothing else – to bring, You know – So I keep bringing These – Just as the Night keeps fetching Stars To our familiar eyes – Maybe, we shouldn’t mind them – Unless they didn’t come – Then – maybe, it would puzzle …

July 24, 2007 – 9:36 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Is Too Much Made of the Concepts Web 1.0 and 2.0?

This map is a lot of fun (h/t Cati Vaucelle), but I just wonder whether they automatically dismiss key enterprises through the use of the term “Web 1.0.” Granted, they have an “outlook” for each web-related enterprise separate from the 1.0-2.0 terms, but still.The reason why the topic interests me is that I think sitting …

July 23, 2007 – 4:40 am | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments (1)

The Guardian Publishes One of The Best Examples of Reasoning Regarding the Iraq War I’ve Ever Seen. Seriously.

How does this differ from Sen. Biden’s “analysis?” (An analysis of Sen. Biden’s “analysis” here.) 1. It presents what it finds troubling very specifically at the beginning of the article, thus narrowing the scope of the larger problem of Iraq. If it tried to discuss more than sectarian violence, but also throw in concerns about …

July 22, 2007 – 10:45 am | By ashok | Posted in politics | Tagged | Comments (1)