tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.comments2022-10-23T10:00:15.153+01:00Mr Chenko's MusingsArkady Chenkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-81937806464682725632013-01-12T03:57:41.416+00:002013-01-12T03:57:41.416+00:00I got it from DriveThruI got it from DriveThruThiago Rosa Shinkenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11845153848938871384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-3770405611384663852013-01-11T20:45:16.568+00:002013-01-11T20:45:16.568+00:00Apparently it's on DriveThroughFiction in pdf ...Apparently it's on DriveThroughFiction in pdf form if you want to avoid Amazon. <br /><br />http://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/106374<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-6588821362352534932013-01-10T10:54:53.975+00:002013-01-10T10:54:53.975+00:00If you can stomach buying from tax-avoiders Amazon...If you can stomach buying from tax-avoiders Amazon, the book is here:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sorrel-in-Scarlet-ebook/dp/B009F8TLMQ/<br /><br />It doesn' appear to be available at http://www.waterstones.com :-(<br /><br />Peter M B Englishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032739079250190441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-87434379514112520412012-10-08T23:31:31.284+01:002012-10-08T23:31:31.284+01:00Religious homophobia is one of the last acceptable...Religious homophobia is one of the last acceptable forms of hatred in our society. If Widdecombe made the same argument against interracial marriage she would be vilified as the hateful zealot she is; as it is she's just standing up for "family values".<br /><br />She couches her homophobia in terms of "freedom" because she'll draw fire if she's actually honest about it: the bible says gays are icky. She can't offer us anything more substantial because it doesn't exist.<br /><br />(She also wants to reintroduce the death penalty. Maybe you can call her intelligent knowing that, but to me it removes all doubt that she is a moron.)Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-10738964369568480672012-09-30T15:54:19.687+01:002012-09-30T15:54:19.687+01:00Good point that. I remember thinking it was odd th...Good point that. I remember thinking it was odd that Miranda and Bruce got jiggy, but didn't mention it because it's rather typical of Talia al Gul (Spoilers, sorry) and Batman to have that love-hate (or shag-kill) relationship so that passed.<br /><br />The Catwoman kiss was awkward as hell. I have no idea why I didn't mention it - especially as it just ruined the pacing at a climactic point for no real payoff. I probably just tried to block it from my mind...Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-3994908336617303422012-09-30T02:50:11.306+01:002012-09-30T02:50:11.306+01:00Dude, you missed the biggest flaw (maybe it's ...Dude, you missed the biggest flaw (maybe it's a WWEBUMCM thing) - in order for female characters to get screen time they had to do the squelchy with batman, even though he was meant to be mourning. There was absolutely no need for his dick to be a major character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-64611845555798289342012-07-12T14:45:37.784+01:002012-07-12T14:45:37.784+01:00Really insightful stuff: thanks for the link to th...Really insightful stuff: thanks for the link to the Male Privilege Checklist.Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-30510210276234748202012-06-07T01:16:53.637+01:002012-06-07T01:16:53.637+01:00I had typed out a long response that basically jus...I had typed out a long response that basically just agreed with you. Boiled down:<br />The most helpful way I've found to think about gender inequalities is in terms of patriarchy (that is, male domination of our culture and society). Each of the rigid gender roles which are enforced by the patriarchy has pros and cons. Unfortunately for women, it's incredibly biased towards men.<br />MRA means having a problem with the disadvantages that come with the male role. That's fine; discrimination is bad. Let's all fight discrimination. <br />But feminism is the idea of undoing the patriarchy, of stopping the male domination of our society. If they fight feminism they're fighting what will most help their position.<br /><br />An illustrative example: patriarchy says that men aren't supposed to care about their looks, and women are. <br />Men get laughed at/harassed for wearing revealing/skimpy/skintight clothes. Women get catcalled and harassed for the same thing. Both groups suffer, but in different ways.<br /><br />On being a feminist. I don't think you need to be part of a minority to be one (in fact, that would be a self-defeating system.) If you try to challenge misogyny (and, more broadly, the patriarchy) you can reasonably think of yourself as a feminist. <br />As a man, I found the male privilege list quite enlightening:<br />http://www.amptoons.com/blog/the-male-privilege-checklist/<br />And, reading around your link, I found a female privilege checklist:<br />http://www.feministcritics.org/blog/2008/06/08/female-privilege/<br />Caveats: no experience is universal, these are based on statistics and trends. I think that they do effectively demonstrate how discrimination can be traced back to gender roles. <br />(Also, don't read them and start feeling like a monster because you're a man. It's no more your fault than anyone else's.)Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-79024448473544494702012-04-08T23:18:26.882+01:002012-04-08T23:18:26.882+01:00I just read this out to Sebastian. He say's yo...I just read this out to Sebastian. He say's your right on the mark. There's more of course (as you know), but it's a great start. Will you write his funding applications?, he asks.Peter M B Englishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032739079250190441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-23400642870329058292012-03-18T19:34:33.920+00:002012-03-18T19:34:33.920+00:00Your points are good, and the arguments well put. ...Your points are good, and the arguments well put. Yes, the party should make more noise in support of its policies, and laud any successes made. Yes, the debates need to be more public. Currently the Tory right wing seems stronger than it was. Clegg needs to get more positive.<br /> <br />It is normal for parties in power to lose popular support half way through the term of office, and this is what is happening to the LDs, who see their best policies bite the dust. The idea of ditching Clegg at the end of the 5 years seems very sound. You are right to point out the ways in which he has broken his promises and lost people’s trust. We have wondered whether to stay in the party.<br /> <br />Because it’s normal to lose support at this stage, it is important for the party to keep its sights on its longer-term objectives; to have a comprehensive set of its own policies, which it should keep putting forward so that at the end of 5 years there is a crescendo of interest in them. I think that this, if anything, would be the best. And yes, let’s ditch PC. I like T Farron better. It’s an embarrassing shame that 2 of our most able people have had to resign, or take a back seat through personal problems. LDs need now to identify their best players, and to make sure that those chosen don’t look likely to have such problems.John Englishnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-57905027259099596662012-03-17T17:34:41.128+00:002012-03-17T17:34:41.128+00:00I'm not sure the lib-dems can save themselves....I'm not sure the lib-dems can save themselves. <br /><br />A breakaway party might make a go of it; it would have to distance itself from all the current cabinet members in the party. Perhaps Evan Harris and some of the other "Social Liberal" types could head it up.Peter M B Englishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17032739079250190441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-17056762797552722682012-03-03T17:27:26.766+00:002012-03-03T17:27:26.766+00:00Is it right to provide so many university places w...Is it right to provide so many university places when there clearly aren't enough graduate positions to be filled?<br /><br />It creates a buyers' market where companies can pick and choose which graduates they want, and those that aren't chosen are left with pretty awful options and poor support.<br /><br />I don't think it's right for the government to set itself such high targets for numbers of people getting degrees - it is unfair on the people who are then overqualified and in debt, but often left without significant vocational experience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-42274941453777980332012-03-03T14:32:56.460+00:002012-03-03T14:32:56.460+00:00http://isthatthenewmoon.blogspot.com/2012/03/enter...http://isthatthenewmoon.blogspot.com/2012/03/entering-debate.html<br /><br />From the disabled graduate's point of viewblackberrythornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15455730177321870990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-83123923951642296782012-03-03T13:40:37.609+00:002012-03-03T13:40:37.609+00:00Or bring back the scheme you and Em got on for gra...Or bring back the scheme you and Em got on for graduates (including the disabled ones!). That worked, you've both got jobs now.<br /><br />Also, I don't want CV support from someone who doesn't understand my skills and can't spell. The university careers service offers this tailored to us already.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-49744019236220264682012-02-27T17:49:31.648+00:002012-02-27T17:49:31.648+00:00We may be changing every single moment, but we are...We may be changing every single moment, but we are still the same person. If I take an action now, I experience the consequences. It may be at a later time, but that fact that we are changing every single moment does not make us different people moment to moment.<br /><br />In particular, actions we've taken in the past will always be part of us. We cannot change those. If someone from the past was deeply offended by my long-past love for the Spice Girls (and what reasonable person wouldn't be?) I wouldn't be able to say "I'm a different person now" and mean it literally. I would have to say "Sorry to offend, but I now recognise the error of my ways and would not make such a decision anymore."<br /><br />I hope this clarifies.Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-60235953598023600722012-02-27T12:47:19.597+00:002012-02-27T12:47:19.597+00:00Hi Arkady,
do you realise you've just tackled ...Hi Arkady,<br />do you realise you've just tackled the central theme of Buddhisnm? And come up with the same answers? As well as looking at the relationship between action-and-consequence (karma) – which Buddhism needs to work hard to discuss, as - if we are heirs to the consequences of our actions – and yet we are changing every moment (funamental tenet of Buddhism), then who is it who experiences the consequences?<br />- LocanaElizabeth (Locana)http://www.lifeatwork.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-11604640627976953122012-02-25T18:46:16.161+00:002012-02-25T18:46:16.161+00:00To give them credit, I would like to mention that ...To give them credit, I would like to mention that I really appreciate Author of the Original taking the time to address all of their responses, genuinely being open to other people's opinions and encouraging exchange of ideas. I really do appreciate debate on volatile subjects that doesn't degenerate into a flame war, and I don't think I told them that.<br /> - EmilyThe Goblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384632554395954143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-76911204924034729552012-02-12T21:29:30.358+00:002012-02-12T21:29:30.358+00:00Good post. I particularly liked the bit about conf...Good post. I particularly liked the bit about confidence. Fake it till you make it, indeed.<br />Of course, your more serious forms of acting may not necessarily do this for you. I'd say it's the comedic style we do in particular, that relies on reading audience reaction and appropriate amounts of improvisation, that impacts on a person's confidence more than anything else.HornGillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13955134443241857456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-18656031757084288952012-01-31T00:50:38.759+00:002012-01-31T00:50:38.759+00:00Yes. Now that I've read about it, the idea see...Yes. Now that I've read about it, the idea seems like a waste of money, and I'd prefer to see it go towards, say, doing more to improve the relevant sections of the Natural History museum, if that money were to be spent on something relevant. But promoting rational thinking would be good too.<br /><br />The Australian Skeptics and Western Sydney Freethinkers do similar stuff to your proposed Church of Atheism. They meet up, talk about particular issues, have dinners, have guest speakers, organise events for charity, attend conferences, give talks at conferences, and other assorted good things. If I were still in Australia I'd go every week, too. :)HornGillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13955134443241857456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-70480167439137262092012-01-29T01:20:53.027+00:002012-01-29T01:20:53.027+00:00It's a cool idea. Dawkins makes a good point b...It's a cool idea. Dawkins makes a good point but a boring one in that it'd be more useful to spend the money on other things. But meh to useful.<br /><br />I'd say that the sermons should be lectures, rather than sermons. You could invite guest speakers to tell the congregation about philosophy, evolution, literature, astrophysics, etcetera.<br /><br />Of course, you wouldn't have a mass like most churches, because those are just the mindless repetition of Church doctrine. I suppose you could cobble together a bizarre imitation by reciting the virtues of rationality and the steps in the scientific method, but it'd be a bit silly.Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-70376426760172022562012-01-23T12:17:02.396+00:002012-01-23T12:17:02.396+00:00Bunking off labs doesn't just hurt your grade....Bunking off labs doesn't just hurt your grade. It hurts the grade of your entire lab group. It's not something to be taken lightly.<br /><br />Maybe rules are needed on how many hours you are permitted to campaign for (per day) if bunking lectures is a necessity for success!Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-15196174499878798572012-01-23T12:13:09.785+00:002012-01-23T12:13:09.785+00:00If you are who I think you are, I'd be happy t...If you are who I think you are, I'd be happy to lend you the books next time I see you.Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-64329274694048331452012-01-23T12:11:14.460+00:002012-01-23T12:11:14.460+00:00I should point out that equating "I don't...I should point out that equating "I don't know" with "God did it" (i.e. "God-of-the-Gaps") is different from the "Prime Mover." There is ALWAYS the question of "what came before that?" For many people - including religious people in the scientific community - they say that eventually science will hit a point of "we CAN'T answer what came before..." They place their God wherever this point is. (The point that God transcends time is useful for them here, as time itself didn't exist before the Big Bang, so in some respects asking what happened "before" the Big Bang is like asking what's North of the North Pole...Arkady Chenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806219061783089885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-9253333314783659042012-01-23T01:17:13.388+00:002012-01-23T01:17:13.388+00:00Scientists have more to do, and less free time and...Scientists have more to do, and less free time and energy. Yes, they could "bunk off" for a week, but a missed lab session in my department meant a lab session deducted directly from your grades. I'm not sure if you can say the same thing about the contact time of a humanities student. Certainly the language lessons I had never awarded credit for attendance.<br /><br />My suggestion is this: scientists are more able to see the world as it actually is, and therefore to recognise that politics is ridiculous. <br />Futhermore, they realise that the sum impact of today's student politics upon anything of meaning is close to nothing, and decide to devote their efforts to something more worthwhile, like their degrees.Tnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1157012692672583607.post-37019102465598493222012-01-23T00:43:28.520+00:002012-01-23T00:43:28.520+00:00Regarding the wikipedian argument:
Ignoring the fa...Regarding the wikipedian argument:<br />Ignoring the fact that "great" is not defined, and taking it to mean "super special awesome", I take issue with number 2:<br /><br />2. Being is greater than not being<br /><br />This isn't inherently obvious, but it's the assumption upon which the entire argument rests. You could reverse it without it being any less true or meaningful.<br /><br />Similarly, "perfect" is undefined in your rephrasing of the argument, and 1. is not inherently obvious.<br /><br />I haven't read anything by Dawkins, although I'm starting to feel that I should (or at least his early work). Then again, it seems that to miss being able to judge The God Delusion myself would be a travesty.Tnoreply@blogger.com