Monthly Archives: April 2008

Things I Think I’ve Learned About The Internet While Blog Promoting

Karl Rove has rightly observed that images/video/audio are far more powerful on the internet than print. He asserts the news cycle has speeded up here, and as a consequence, I say that “reading” is taking a backseat to our now instinctive habit of “watching a screen flicker and being amused for hours.” I don’t have …

April 17, 2008 – 3:14 pm | By ashok | Posted in blogging, personal | Tagged | Comments (1)

How Not To Discuss Blogs You Don’t Like

Exhibit A: Via LGF – the Village Voice rips into conservative bloggers Comment: I’m not opposed to poking fun at conservative bloggers, or even declaring “this blog is dangerous and should be opposed.” The Village Voice absolutely has the right to rip into Rightists however it wants. But there’s a good way to make a …

April 16, 2008 – 2:40 pm | By ashok | Posted in blogging, media | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Remarks on Emily Dickinson’s "My Triumph lasted till the Drums" (1227)

“My Triumph lasted till the Drums…” (1227) Emily Dickinson My Triumph lasted till the Drums Had left the Dead alone And then I dropped my Victory And chastened stole along To where the finished Faces Conclusion turned on me And then I hated Glory And wished myself were They. What is to be is best …

April 16, 2008 – 1:16 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (5)

Wondering about us.

At this point I’ve met hundreds – maybe even thousands – of people online. A good number of them I’ve spoken to directly for prolonged periods of time. Some have been advised by me, fewer have gotten some sort of writing or encouragement from me, and very, very few have even asked questions to get …

April 14, 2008 – 10:43 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged | Comments (1)

For My Republican Friends: Let’s Play a Game, And See If Dividing the Democratic Party Permanently Is Possible

1. We need to assume a few things to play this game: Clinton’s voters are, more-or-less, traditional Democratic voters. Obviously, this is highly debatable, especially given Obama’s success in the caucuses (who goes out for these things anyway?) We assert also that the voters Senator Obama is getting will never vote Democrat beyond this campaign …

April 13, 2008 – 1:15 am | By ashok | Posted in politics | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Links, 4/11

The quote by Frank Donoghue is pretty blunt on what’s wrong with the University; good to know I have allies. From the above site: very engaging reading about work and study today. Jennifer’s “Evening Walk” entry has some lovely photos. Ario’s post on East Germany is really sad. I’m curious to hear opinions: to what …

April 11, 2008 – 8:43 pm | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (0)

Rant: Is a Society that Obsesses over Economic Issues in Political Decline?

This is all over the place: it ties together, but doesn’t address exactly what’s wrong with how we’re talking about the issues – something about our talk feels alien. It will need to be expanded upon later, and made much more nuanced. [Critobulus:] “But if one who is wicked is unable to acquire gentlemanly (noble …

April 10, 2008 – 5:16 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics, xenophon | Tagged | Comments (1)

Open Thread: Is It Possible To Be A Small But Influential Blog?

Every time I promote some of my work, I realize anew that despite the wonderful readership I have – y’all willingly promote this blog even without my asking – there is no chance in hell this blog will ever be popular in the way most blogs are. I’m not going to make the front page …

April 9, 2008 – 3:00 am | By ashok | Posted in blogging | Tagged | Comments (1)

In Appreciation: Glen Thurow and the Problem of Speech in Democratic Life

We have a habit of paying no attention, much less carefully considering, what another stands for until we cannot take them for granted anymore. Strange how caught up we can be: even remembering the dead is usually an indulgence in our own impressions. It is fitting that we temporarily put this problem aside, given the …

April 7, 2008 – 4:34 am | By ashok | Posted in lincoln, politics | Tagged , | Comments (2)

General Advice on Picking a College (Also: Should You Consider Academic Department Rankings?)

Disclaimer: Back when I was 17 and knew nothing, I was obsessed with College Rankings, entering SAT scores of freshman classes, school size, and departments and faculty that had a reputation. I don’t regret trying to know, I just wish I had known better. I can safely tell you that there was no one in …

April 4, 2008 – 1:33 am | By ashok | Posted in education | Tagged | Comments (5)