Heh.. nice lateral pass near the (endzone?)

Post #15,141 by Ashton 10/25/01 5:20:07 PM Reply	Heh.. nice lateral pass near the (endzone?) Yes, mine was no more than the germ - but you've gone on to a zygote at least (shall we abort it or transmute it?). Paraphrasing.. concur that our strength ever lies in process; our 'results' include Jefferson, Hamilton AND Father Couglan, Joe McCarthy. And what we need now and next is - as you point out - refinement of that process, daily modifiable with er 'targets of opportunity'. Serendipity indeed (Thanks, 3 Princes of Serendip - now immortal - but what else did they do?)! Full marks too re bin-L. Who could argue against idea that OUR best use of him [cackle] would be just as you suggest: by all means, humiliation (gradual or instant) first! Defeat (of his ideas / tactics / rhetoric?) BEFORE death! Er.. if I get that commission to trade nastiness with Da Muslim Man -- are you available for writing-up my 'invective hurling device' ? (Actually have a prior commitment: development? support of an .org for emendment of The Patriot Act, as rammed through sans ANY debate of final form and: operative today. At least when.. tryin to do Good n'stuff) Cheers, Ashton PS Y'know, that website opened today? - for sending in suggestions [kewl move for Any Govt. I thought] - should hear your above synthesis asap IMhO. No flattery intended, but neither the reverse.
Post #15,275 by gtall 10/26/01 1:38:06 PM Reply	Re: Heh.. nice lateral pass near the (endzone?) yeah, well, I have years of survival among the terrorists in academia, the most vicious I know. One doesn't go for victory, one goes for humilation, victory is only the icing you wipe in their face after the humilation. ...and I doubt you'll need my meager talents in wordsmithing with the Taliban, you hold your own quite well. Don't forget to bring a lighter with you, those beards have got to be flamable. By the way, one tactic I've always thought would be fun is the old trick with lighter fluid, blowing it out of one's mouth, while lighting it (or was it alcohol). Anyhow, when engaged in vigorous debate with Frick or Frack, I would get endless hours of enjoyment watching the look on their faces as you fry their turbans with a well aimed shot, then tell'em the Great Satan sent you... Gerard Allwein
Post #15,285 by Ashton 10/26/01 2:29:54 PM Reply	I'm certain that you know my fav academia quote (!) Attrib to Henry the Kissinger, ~ The reason that academic debate is so vicious is that, so little is at stake..* * or was it conversation? life? Now That's umm droll.. I once went with a visiting German grad student of Oriental art, whom I'd met years before in Hamburg. We went to some demi-faculty couple's house in Berkeley. The 'competition' and back-biting within every dripping phrase was .. well I'd wished mightily I'd brought a tiny tape recorder. When we left (blessedly) we looked at each other with same smirk ~ Gawd, are you sure you wanna hang out with These twits? No problem for her - she was enroute to China! (Before Nixon). What seems faster and more condensed than academic flow is.. West Wing !! I mean - do policy wonks actually swap repartee at these hypersonic levels? (I note that some of the better quips are from the Repub. loyal opposition - I'd even call that, more balance than just about anywhere on the Tube??) re face time with the Big-T, I'd imagine a quick rehearsal with some 3 Stooges flicks ... point to the Head Honcho's er shirt-front - as he looks down, raise hand up and tweak nose. These folk look literally as if.. were a smile to happen on those faces? they'd crack the concrete. OK.. we won't get this chance with the Big-T, but t'would be glorious.. Yours most faithfully in their disservice, Ashton
Post #15,395 by gtall 10/27/01 7:37:22 AM Reply	Re: I'm certain that you know my fav academia quote (!) I think politics anywhere is nasty, except that in academia there is a lot of unused brainpower that goes into making others' lives miserable. That does tend to magnify trifles. But also, academia is very intense, research is hard and very self-absorbing and a lot is not generally done in the moderating company of others. That makes one confront internal demons and sometimes one loses...hehehehe... Gerard Allwein

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