Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad the Red Sox are in the playoffs, but with the 12-hour time difference it really shoots to hell any semblance of Monday morning productivity.
I just got an iPod for my birthday. Loving the whole ‘podcasts while commuting’ aspect, almost makes Beijing subway/buses are pleasant experience. Almost.
The idea that Sarah Palin is qualified to be president is just insulting. As an educator, I don’t find ‘unengaged’ or ‘uninformed’ to be a sign of either authenticity or moral rigor, I find it sad and disheartening. Her blatant “I don’t know the answer to this question so I will repeat all the stuff I do remember from my cramming the night before’ debate strategy is one I’ve seen students use on exams many times over the years. Only works if you’re satisfied with a C-.
During my blogging holiday, I regrettably forgot to give a shout out to Peony’s second installment of the 21st Asian History Carnival now up at the (recently unblocked in the PRC) Tang Dynasty Times. Be sure to check it out.
10 responses so far ↓
1 The Worst of Perth // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Podcasts have transformed public transport for me. I almost look forward to it. Radio National (Australia) has many excellent programs. I only get to ride Beijing public transport in short work visit or holiday mode, so I have good memories of the Di tie. Apart from old men hawking into plastic bags.
2 jg // Oct 7, 2008 at 5:12 am
I could not agree more with your assessment of Sarah Palin. My wife, an educator and librarian (and in another life, a debater), is livid that someone as educationally unsophisticated has ‘risen’ to such a level. We were in Beijing and saw the ‘debate, ‘ and were appalled. It turned me to Edward R. Tufte’s essay “The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint,” once I realized that she is a PP presentation: low-res projection gutted of content, but loaded for bear (or perhpas that should be moose) with three bullet-pointed fuzzy facts that are repeated over and over. I am writing about this now using Tufte’s dismantling of PP as a guide, and one day soon I might actually blog it, though it is getting to be quite long.
3 jg // Oct 7, 2008 at 5:28 am
PS: Here’s hoping for a Red Sox/Phillies series.
4 Peony // Oct 7, 2008 at 9:47 am
Thanks Jeremiah! And, I’m so glad you are back. Left a recommendation for you at my place of a radio interview I think you would find interesting. Unfortunately, I cannot find a MP3 format so was stuck listening at my computer. It was very interesting in terms of Japan (as well as China)…So glad you are back online. link at the very end of long post..
5 wu ming // Oct 7, 2008 at 1:14 pm
i keep waiting for someone to nominate a horse for veep.
6 Jeremiah // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:28 am
Perth,
I actually found myself walking the long way home from the subway stop because I was listening to NPR’s Talk of the Nation and it was almost over. Go figure.
7 Jeremiah // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:30 am
jg:
Sorry about the Phils…you guys deserve it too, but the bloodbath and media hype around a Dodger/Bosox series would be too much fun to experience and mock, gotta go with LA here.
8 Jeremiah // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:31 am
Wu Ming,
I thought we bottomed out after Quayle and Dick “Sith Lord” Cheney. Serves me right for misunderestimating the GOP.
9 Jeremiah // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:32 am
Peony,
I’ll be sure to check it out. Thanks!
10 Jeremiah // Oct 8, 2008 at 8:32 am
jg,
Totally agree with your take on Palin and the powerpoint analogy is spot on.
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