Monthly Archives: September 2006

Tarnished City in a Swamp

A short time ago (but it feels very much longer than that), I wrote an essay for a journal called Global Dialogue about the African Union, the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and Thabo Mbeki’s “African renaissance”. One of … Continue reading

Posted in Africa, Politics | 37 Comments

What Do You Know and When Did You Know It?

I’m gearing myself up for a thorough look at the Spellings Commission report. Assessment is the issue that I really keep rolling around in my head, because I have such a range of different feelings and ideas about it. One … Continue reading

Posted in Academia | 19 Comments

Endless Adagio

Let’s see, today’s reading. John Holbo directs my attention to a long summary of facts about American national security and to a subsequent thread in which a critic heroically continues to believe in whatever he wants to believe in. Matthew … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 22 Comments

Go Sestak

I rarely get enthused enough about a candidate to give them money, but the last six years have definitely changed my sense of the urgency involved in getting the right people into power. I’m a registered independent. I could give … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 5 Comments

Hey!

Hugo Chavez disses Superman and Batman. I know I’d rather watch Batman Begins again than read Hegemony or Survival one more time.

Posted in Politics, Popular Culture | 11 Comments

Failure and Knowledge

A couple of people interested in my potential course, The History of Failure and Error, noted that it’s important to ask, “failure from what”, to study the kinds of thought-systems that create an expectation of success. It seems to me … Continue reading

Posted in Academia | 7 Comments

Something Norm Geras and I Agree On

Read this post from Eddie Cross, who maintains a blog called Zimpundit, detailing the last week or so of political and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe. I’m often asked, “What’s going to happen next in Zimbabwe? Are things going to get … Continue reading

Posted in Africa | 2 Comments

Quod Erat Demonstrandum

Norm Geras complains about Tony Judt’s complaint about liberal supporters of the war in Iraq. And in so doing, does a pretty fair job of underscoring Judt’s analysis. Geras’ reply is a short, concise greatest hits parade of the argumentative … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 16 Comments

The Secret of My Success

Some of you are asking, “Tim, is there some way I can be featured in Horowitzian jeremiads against insubstantial fluff courses, too?” It’s going to take a lot of work! Not every lightweight course can get a nod, because the … Continue reading

Posted in Academia | 4 Comments

Two Quotes

“What does that mean, ‘outrages upon human dignity?’ That’s a statement that is wide open to interpretation.” “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.”

Posted in Politics | 6 Comments