Transterrestrial Musings

Comments

"But perhaps there's a more innocent explanation."

Perhaps. But coupled with the rest of his "review," I'd go with the obvious explanation.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut at August 22, 2006 04:07 PM

I'm waiting for the movie version ("Bureaucrats On A Plane"). ;^)

Posted by Jay Manifold at August 22, 2006 04:51 PM

"Death by Red Tape at 35,000 feet!"

Posted by Al at August 22, 2006 05:34 PM

The review didn't impress me any, but I suspect the author wrote "professor at UT" and the editor expanded it as the acronym he was familiar with. There's enough derangement in that piece without having to look for any more.

Posted by Karl Gallagher at August 22, 2006 09:05 PM

Gwar Captain says: "While (based on some recent commenters here) leftists (I refuse any more to dignify their beliefs with the term "liberals," which rightly belongs to classical ones) or "progressives" (another term I hate--it's kind of like Bolsheviks, in that it begs the question) hate the south, of which Tennessee is definitely a part, they seem to reserve special scorn and vitriol for Texas"

It's largely the other way around, as any sane person would instantly recognize. Republicans adore using the term "Massachusetts liberal" in the South as if it were an insult, and apparently it works down there, but I've never heard of anyone in a Union state being accused of "Texas conservatism" by their opponents.

Southerners in general still look on the North with a jaundiced eye, have largely swallowed the GOP Newspeak campaign to redefine "liberal," and display a fiercely narcissistic, envious, resentful attitude that defines "real America" as their own parochial culture and everyone else as some degree of foreigner. The rest of America is finding this bigotry increasingly odious, but even so they haven't even come close to reciprocating it. All the South can complain about is not being worshipped the way they worship themselves, and I say they're lucky to even be Americans the way they've treated this country through the years.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 22, 2006 11:27 PM

I think you totally pussed out, Rand. The correct reply to this airy smoothie chuckle:

one would assume a planeload of bureaucrats, under the same conditions, would have made the same decision as the civilians on Flight 93.

...is something like: Not if "one" had the brains God gave a goose, "one" wouldn't.

Maybe if said bureaucrats had just started their careers, or if they worked for the less emotionally-stunting branches of the government "one" could make a case for a planeload of DMV middle-managers suddenly acting like human beings...but, generally speaking, why yes, Virginia, working for the government, just like working for any tyrant, drains something vital from a man's soul. Just ask the Russians.

Were you afraid of seeming all insensitive or something?

Posted by Carl Pham at August 23, 2006 12:13 AM

but I've never heard of anyone in a Union state being accused of "Texas conservatism" by their opponents.

Instead they use the code word "racist."

Posted by McGehee at August 23, 2006 05:40 AM

And come to think of it, Swid, your use of the label "Union state" to refer to non-Southern states strongly suggests you hold that very same attitude toward the South.

Posted by McGehee at August 23, 2006 05:42 AM

All of that transparent hate is going to eat you up Brian.

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 23, 2006 06:01 AM

"the South can complain about is not being worshipped the way they worship themselves, and I say they're lucky to even be Americans the way they've treated this country through the years"

You can kiss this Southerners ass.

Posted by Cecil Trotter at August 23, 2006 06:14 AM

McGehee: "Instead they use the code word "racist.""

So if someone doesn't say what you wish they said, you just claim they're using "code words"?

Mike: "All of that transparent hate is going to eat you up Brian."

The South's transparent hate only ate up other people, and my contempt for their hypocrisy is at most a brief diversion from more interesting issues.

"You can kiss this Southerners ass."

I rest my case.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 23, 2006 06:40 AM

BS: I rest my case.

Wonderful. I suspect we won't be hearing from you then.

I have to agree with Carl. Just reading the bureaucrats review; I'm left with the sense that he would have insisted that the passengers stand down and let the government handle the situation onboard flight 93. I can just picture the author squealing at the passengers for using a cellphone during the flight and rattling off how it violated FCC, FAA, and Airline regulations and that it could result in a crash.

For the other 99% of civil servants, I suspect you are right, Rand.

Posted by Leland at August 23, 2006 07:35 AM

""one" could make a case for a planeload of DMV middle-managers suddenly acting like human beings...but, generally speaking, why yes, Virginia, working for the government, just like working for any tyrant, drains something vital from a man's soul."

Poppycock. I've met some mighty nasty people working at the DMV. I'd rather have them on my plane than some private sector accountants.

Posted by Bill Hanlon at August 23, 2006 07:53 AM

"All of that transparent hate is going to eat you up Brian."

This coming from Mike Puckett, who has used some pretty nasty language in the comments section of this site in the past and seems to hold anybody to the left of Attilla the Hun in contempt.

Mr. Kettle, meet Mr. Pot.

Posted by Bill Hanlon at August 23, 2006 07:56 AM

Hey BS, have you counted the books in your library yet?

Posted by Cecil Trotter at August 23, 2006 09:16 AM

I do wonder why Brian Swiderski bothers. Does he think that he's converting folks?

Posted by Andy Freeman at August 23, 2006 10:24 AM

"Hey BS, have you counted the books in your library yet?"

Cecil,
I probably overlooked when you first asked, but if you must know I keep them numbered: 1,109. Those are the books that, after reading, I considered worthy of keeping. If I had to guess how many I'd given away out of indifference or disgust, I'd say somewhat less than 100. The largest proportion of my books by far are science fiction, followed by traditional classics, then nonfiction, then fantasy, then horror, and a few books of poetry. I don't include technical volumes or references in the tally.

My library is an object of pride for me, not so much for any particular rarities--though I do have first edition hardcovers autographed by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Buzz Aldrin, among a few others--but because of the many wonderful experiences it commemorates. It's an inspiration to me, and I treasure every opportunity I get to build on it with another exceptional work.

But I'm sure you feel the same way about your collection of TV Guides and tractor magazines. Everyone has their own source of joy.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 23, 2006 02:32 PM

I'm sure you feel the same way about your collection of TV Guides and tractor magazines.

Do you think that unsubtantiated (and unsubstantiable) bigoted and insulting comments like this one convince anyone of anything, other than the obvious fact that you're a foolish and ignorant bigot?

Posted by Rand Simberg at August 23, 2006 02:45 PM

"This coming from Mike Puckett, who has used some pretty nasty language in the comments section of this site"

When the situation and idiocy demanded it, it was delivered. Be a man, grow up and stop whinng like a petulant child whose widdle feelings were hurt.....

"in the past and seems to hold anybody to the left of Attilla the Hun in contempt."

Hey Bill White, you are to the left of Atilla the Hun by some measure, have I ever held you in contempt?

Rand is to the left of Atilla the Hun, I haven't held him in contempt. Nor Cecil and many more.

I save my contempt for the contemptable.

I am acting as a mirror simply reflecting back what you project. If you can't stand it, it is clearly because you can't stand yourself.

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 23, 2006 04:28 PM

FWIW, the plane that hit the pentagon had 3 military officers
on board. None of them rallied the passengers and
fought the terrorists.

Posted by anonymous at August 23, 2006 06:56 PM

And why do you think that was Anonymous Coward?

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 23, 2006 07:21 PM

BS:"But I'm sure you feel the same way about your collection of TV Guides and tractor magazines. "

Wrong once again BS. I could have guessed your collection was primarily fiction, as it seems you can't separate fiction from real life.

My library (of around 300 volumes) on the other hand is (approximately) 95% history, 4% technical and maybe 1% fiction.

And thanks for proving to all, as Rand points out, that you are a foolish and ignorant bigot; not to mention arrogant, conceited and narrow-minded. All the things you accuse us evil rightwing war-mongering conservatives to be. You continue to live up to your initials.

Posted by Cecil Trotter at August 23, 2006 08:07 PM

As a footnote, anti-fascism was the stance of the Communist party in pre-WWII Germany. Also, they were using "progressive" as a buzzword to describe themselves. My source is Arthur Koestler's piece in the collection of ex-Communist reminiscences, "The God That Failed."

Posted by Jim C. at August 23, 2006 09:54 PM

I am trying to understand Brian's apparent hatred of the south. I am a former "northerner" living in the south and was welcomed with open arms, for the most part(Nebraska football was winning alot then). I'm wondering if on a trip to a backwood southern location he was forced to play Ned Beatty. Just exploring possibilities for such vitriol. But back to the post, almost any group of people, once they realize there is danger, will try to save themselves.

Posted by Bill Maron at August 24, 2006 01:34 AM

So if someone doesn't say what you wish they said, you just claim they're using "code words"?

Now you know what it's been like to be a conservative for the last thirty years. ;-p

Posted by McGehee at August 24, 2006 05:13 AM

Gwar Captain says: "Do you think that unsubtantiated (and unsubstantiable) bigoted and insulting comments like this one convince anyone of anything, other than the obvious fact that you're a foolish and ignorant bigot?"

Do you think acting like a roid-raging Wally George Mini-Me intimidates anyone, or somehow distracts others from the fact that you're an idealess empty vessel lurking in the background of your own blog's commentary because you can't respond to real discussion?

Nearly every topic you post is a link to someone else's work, and your own comments are usually just utterly stupid, pointless tidbits of snide contempt for either the authors or the targets of the authors. And if nobody says anything equally trivial in response, if what results is an actual conversation, you're MIA--your own subjects don't interest you, just the opportunity to be obnoxious. Frankly, you couldn't win an argument if your life depended on it, but you're content to regurgitate PNAC missives and act like Tom Cruise at a psychiatry convention.

But now that we've got that out of the way, did you have any comments on the first remarks above that you "overlooked"? Any clever rebuttals to the fact that "Massachusetts liberal" is used as a political cudgel in the South, and that no reciprocal bigotry is present anywhere else in the country? Of course you don't, you can only see words that are as trivial as your own, so have fun ignoring this paragraph--you have plenty of practice at not hearing what you can't fight.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 06:10 AM

I see that you don't really have an answer to my question. It must suck to be so consumed with rage and hate. Maybe you should get help.

Posted by Rand Simberg at August 24, 2006 06:19 AM

"I could have guessed your collection was primarily fiction, as it seems you can't separate fiction from real life."

A dream, a hope, an idea: These are all fiction until they're not, and I would think a space advocate would have more appreciation for the cultural importance of science fiction. I'm an unabashed SF geek, and don't care who knows it.

"My library (of around 300 volumes) on the other hand is (approximately) 95% history, 4% technical and maybe 1% fiction."

I enjoy history myself, but the problem is that most of it is meaningless. There's entertainment value in the saga, and also perspective in noticing the parallels with current events, but a lot of history is just banal repetition.

I have a pretty extensive collection on Egypt, China, Greece, Rome, Japan, England, and the US, with other works dealing with particular events of note, but I'd say I don't know a lot about the separate histories of Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, Australia, or India. Accounts of cultural and technological innovation excite me--those of endless dynastic quarrels and religious fanaticism bore and depress me. All told, my histories (not including biographies) are probably half the size of your collection.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 06:38 AM

Squidward rages: Do you think acting like a roid-raging Wally George Mini-Me intimidates anyone, or somehow distracts others from the fact that you're an idealess empty vessel lurking in the background of your own blog's commentary because you can't respond to real discussion?

Now there's an excellent example of someone who screams for attention. Squiddie, if you know these these about Rand to be true, then why post them? Once you resort to the above, you point yourself out to be a reactionist only. If you continue to post your points without the vitriol, you would show a much greater sense of maturity. I have no problem with starting every post with "Your wrong..." but including all the above hate and rage accomplishes nothing for your arguments. Present your points and move on.

I don't think anyone can second guess what went on on that plane. That, like so many other things, is a situation where your actions are defined by the moment. I could say I would have been someone to help lead a resistance, but I'll never know for sure, because I wasn't there.

Governments are more hamstrung than the general populace, so the article is as Rand says...irrelevant.

Posted by Mac at August 24, 2006 06:52 AM

"I am trying to understand Brian's apparent hatred of the south. I am a former "northerner" living in the south and was welcomed with open arms, for the most part(Nebraska football was winning alot then)."

Bill,
I referred to the political culture, not the way individuals act toward each other. As I've been there several times myself, I'm quite aware of the hospitality and community spirit you're talking about, but it becomes vicious narcissism above the personal level. Southerners don't have a problem with Northerners, they have a problem with "the North" and the values it embodies--so while not necessarily being this way themselves, they elect truly abhorrent, bigoted, corrupt people who demagogue that aversion.

That doesn't make them corrupt or bigoted as individuals, but it does speak to the profound moral weakness of their culture. An individual who doesn't share their values they can respect, but an entire community (let alone half the nation) they respond to with extreme hostility and irrational hatred.

I don't know what your politics are, but I'd propose an experiment if you really want to test my hypothesis: After living there for several years, run for state office on a slightly more moderate platform than your opponent, and make sure that you speak without a hint of a southern accent. Then count how many times your opponent refers to you as a liberal, and watch yourself be defeated in a landslide.

"I'm wondering if on a trip to a backwood southern location he was forced to play Ned Beatty."

Heh, no. Although I'll be sure to stay away if there's ever a shortage of goats.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 07:17 AM

"if you know these these about Rand to be true, then why post them?"

Because bullies and hypocrites need to be confronted. As far as I can tell, Rand refuses to discuss facts or ideas--he waits for people to make trivial mistakes, display humor of any kind, or state personal opinions so he can pounce and childishly attack their character like a midget Joe McCarthy. There are enough people like that ruining America from Washington (read: Republicans), so I have no intention of ignoring it when it turns up in conversation.

"Once you resort to the above, you point yourself out to be a reactionist only."

And that is why I followed up by restating my earlier points, which Rand has now twice chosen to ignore.

Posted by b at August 24, 2006 07:46 AM

The reason "Massachusetts liberal" has become an epithet can be explained in two words: Ted Kennedy.

And to forstall any vitriol about bigoted southerners, I'm a born and raised Massachusetts citizen (although conservative after being mugged by reality). By the way, I kinda like the newest formulation: Massholes. Fits BS to a T.

Posted by nobody important at August 24, 2006 08:28 AM

"The reason "Massachusetts liberal" has become an epithet can be explained in two words: Ted Kennedy."

The two words are "Republican Party," and it's only an epithet in the Bible belt. Everywhere else it's either neutral or complimentary, because people who aren't ignorant are aware that Massachusetts is a great state with a strong tradition of excellence and democracy. They also know the reason for that is largely due to its liberal culture, as with California and New York. But as part of the GOP's ongoing "Southern strategy," they demonize one part of the country to win another, in addition to promoting religious bigotry in exchange for the support of radical fundamentalists. That it actually works is an indictment of Southern culture.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 09:53 AM

BS writes:

"Massachusetts is a great state with a strong tradition of excellence and democracy."

Excellence as in "the Big Dig."

Democracy as in the Bulger brothers.

And BS extols liberal culture, as in a Boston youth attacking a black lawyer with an American flag for the audacious act of walking by City Hall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Landsmark

But then, that's part of the same liberal culture that welcomed desegregation in general:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desegregation_busing

Posted by Lurking Observer at August 24, 2006 10:35 AM

Squidward says: Because bullies and hypocrites need to be confronted.

Okay, but using the tactics I mentioned before, you seem to be a much bigger bully. So, if your using bullying tactics to confront a bully, that would point to hypocrisy, wouldn't it?

Posted by Mac at August 24, 2006 03:21 PM

"Excellence as in "the Big Dig."

Yes, along with Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Brandeis University, Amherst, the American Revolution, and countless other accomplishments. The Big Dig is an engineering masterpiece, if perhaps a cost management disaster, and only Japan or the Netherlands could claim to have done better.

"Democracy as in the Bulger brothers."

No, democracy as in having the most fiercely democratic culture in America. In the South, it would have been Whitey Bulger who would have gotten elected, not his brother.

"And BS extols liberal culture, as in a Boston youth attacking a black lawyer with an American flag for the audacious act of walking by City Hall."

The desperation and pettiness in your anecdotes really go off the deep end here. I note the centuries of excellence in Massachusetts, and you (presumably) refer to a slab of cement falling off a small segment of one of the largest projects in American history as a "counter-point." I cite the vigorously democratic, informed, and innovative culture of the state since before the US was even formed, and you retort by noting one racist incident in 1976. Why don't you just admit that, per my point, you simply hate Massachusetts and everything it stands for, and have no rational basis for feeling that way?

"But then, that's part of the same liberal culture that welcomed desegregation in general:"

Nevermind that Massachusetts has never been segregated in the first place. Southerners had to be forced at National Guard gun point to even let a black person set foot in their schools, so there's nothing you can say to twist reality enough to make MA seem racist. Next you'll be combing fifty years of police blotters looking for racially motivated attacks in Southie--"Oooh, apparently a black man was beaten in South Boston in April of 1963 by Irish thugs. Where's your "liberal culture" now, BS?" What utter fatuousness. This must be just another example of the Southern inferiority complex rearing its ugly head.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 07:21 PM

"Okay, but using the tactics I mentioned before, you seem to be a much bigger bully."

That doesn't follow at all. If a bully picks a fight with a prize fighter and gets knocked on his ass, their moral positions are not reversed. Now, if the fighter held a grudge and used every other chance to make his assailant pay, even if the bully declined to fight, then you might have a point--but I don't do that.

"So, if your using bullying tactics to confront a bully, that would point to hypocrisy, wouldn't it?"

What bullying tactics am I using? Do I seize on minor subpoints to demagogue while ignoring the main thrust of his statements, like he does with others? Do I attack other people's character or intelligence without provocation? Of course not.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 24, 2006 07:34 PM

Obviously you are a Massachusetts Liberal.

If you think it is a badge of honor anywhere but the south, you should have heard a good buddy of mine from Colorado use the term as well as the phrase "Peoples Republic of Masssachusetts".

Brian, Occam's Razor. The reason Massholes are held in contempt is because of the contempt they give. Your ilk weren't simply annointed, you earned it in spades and under bridges.

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 24, 2006 08:15 PM

"Obviously you are a Massachusetts Liberal."

I'm a California liberal, but I admire Massachusetts as a towering spire of American civilization.

"If you think it is a badge of honor anywhere but the south"

I think it's a badge of honor no matter where you are, but the issue is how various state cultures view it. And no, I don't think it's seen that way "anywhere but the South"--it's neutral or complimentary in most places outside the Bible belt, but that doesn't mean there's a border drawn with a drafting pencil between the three viewpoints. It's a matter of relative prevalance and strength of the opinion.

"you should have heard a good buddy of mine from Colorado use the term as well as the phrase "Peoples Republic of Masssachusetts"."

I'm aware there are conservatives in many states outside the South who use the phrase, but it's not a substitute for campaign issues anywhere but the Bible belt. Janet Napolitano's critics tried to use the phrase against her in Arizona, but it just made them look weak and stupid. She's from New York, Pennsylvania, and California--and slightly more than half of Arizonans voted for her as their governor. Could you imagine someone with that background being elected governor of Alabama?

"Brian, Occam's Razor. The reason Massholes are held in contempt is because of the contempt they give."

The reason Southern conservatives (and their fellow travelers) hold Massachusetts in contempt is because it's a wealthier, far more educated, far more accomplished state that's done tremendous good for this country and the world while they are exactly the opposite.

They've hated it since before the Revolution for the same reasons, hated it even more during the Civil War, and their hatred crystallized into all but a religion when John F. Kennedy became President. There were a lot of smug expressions in Dixie on that day in 1963.

"Your ilk weren't simply annointed, you earned it"

Being hated by malignant barbarians is an honor worthy of earning.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 05:01 AM

The Big Dig is an engineering masterpiece, if perhaps a cost management disaster, and only Japan or the Netherlands could claim to have done better.

After reading this sentence I knew you do not live in Massachusetts, as I do. No MA resident, no matter how liberal, would have written that. In case you have not heard, NOBODY in MA was surprised by the ceiling panel falling, by the subsequent claims that "nothing is wrong", and by the revelation that the work was shoddy. Graft and corruption on road projects are so pervasive in MA, the surprise is when they DO NOT occur.

No, democracy as in having the most fiercely democratic culture in America. In the South, it would have been Whitey Bulger who would have gotten elected, not his brother.

Again, I recommend you actually LIVE in MA for a few years. It may be a "Democratic culture", but only with a capital D. Point of fact -- legislation routinely flouts voter-passed ballot initiatives which by the state constitution take precedence over legislation.

Posted by Ilya at August 25, 2006 05:58 AM

I won't say that BS is the first person I found that was proud of a 1000 piece collection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror; but I'll admit that I didn't take any of the others seriously either. If the books are not reference manuals (I'm not talking about the StarTrek Enterprise manual either), there is very little value in holding onto them. I'll grant the autographed copies may retain some value if properly stored, but most private collections are not properly stored.

The books of fiction should be taken to half-price books, so others may enjoy them. One could be really awesome and donate the books to a school library (and be a good liberal by ignoring the tax write off).

Posted by Leland at August 25, 2006 06:13 AM

"After reading this sentence I knew you do not live in Massachusetts, as I do. No MA resident, no matter how liberal, would have written that."

Maybe no Bostonian, given how long it's taken, but from an engineering perspective a lot of the Big Dig was a profound accomplishment--especially efforts to modify the parts of the Bay soil.

"In case you have not heard, NOBODY in MA was surprised by the ceiling panel falling, by the subsequent claims that "nothing is wrong", and by the revelation that the work was shoddy. Graft and corruption on road projects are so pervasive in MA, the surprise is when they DO NOT occur."

There's no evidence the fallen panel had anything to do with corruption, and I don't think the problems CAT has had are extraordinary for a project of its size and complexity.

"Again, I recommend you actually LIVE in MA for a few years."

I may not have lived there for *years*, but everyone I've ever met who did has been very intelligent, decent, and responsible, noticeably over and above transplants from other states. The literature, the history, the people they send to Washington, and the raw intellectual force of its learning institutions totally outshine any problems it still has with Old Money elitism or the Irish mob. There's an energy and focus you don't see from many other parts of the country, and I've always found it inspiring.

"It may be a "Democratic culture", but only with a capital D."

Oh give me a break. It was a Republican state in the days of Lincoln, when the GOP had humanity on its side, and it's been a Democratic state for most of the last century since the (Northern) Democrats came to represent decency and freedom. MA is a profoundly well-educated, liberal democratic state, and has been since the time of the Revolution.

"Point of fact -- legislation routinely flouts voter-passed ballot initiatives which by the state constitution take precedence over legislation."

Southerners don't have that problem. Do you know why?

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 07:13 AM

"Point of fact -- legislation routinely flouts voter-passed ballot initiatives which by the state constitution take precedence over legislation."

Southerners don't have that problem. Do you know why?

No - please tell me.

However, I do know why MA has this problem -- because its overwhelmingly Democratic legislation regards itself as the font of wisdom, and regards the voting public as ignorant serfs. Of course, judging by your posts, had you lived in MA you would share the legislation's opinion.

Posted by Ilya at August 25, 2006 07:33 AM

The literature, the history, the people they send to Washington, and the raw intellectual force of its learning institutions totally outshine any problems it still has with Old Money elitism or the Irish mob. There's an energy and focus you don't see from many other parts of the country, and I've always found it inspiring.

If MA is so inspiring, then explain why it is one of the very few states to lose population over last 15 years. More people leave it in disgust than arrive in inspiration.

Posted by Ilya at August 25, 2006 07:37 AM

"I won't say that BS is the first person I found that was proud of a 1000 piece collection of science fiction, fantasy, and horror"

Nor will I say you're the first person I've found who was proud of having no imagination, but you're mischaracterizing my collection: Only about 900 are fiction.

"If the books are not reference manuals (I'm not talking about the StarTrek Enterprise manual either), there is very little value in holding onto them."

It's the same value as keeping photo albums, heirlooms, mementos, or DVDs of favored movies: As a reminder of your experiences, and in the case of books and DVDs, the potential to relive them. Some works get better each time you read them, which you would sadly never discover if you never re-read anything.

"I'll grant the autographed copies may retain some value if properly stored, but most private collections are not properly stored."

It's purely totemic, not a business investment.

"The books of fiction should be taken to half-price books, so others may enjoy them."

They're all available at libraries if others want to read them, but these copies are mine. This edition, this publisher, this cover art, the smell of the paper and effect of the typset on reading cadence, these are all part of the experience. It's the reason people aren't flocking to abandon paper volumes for e-books.

"One could be really awesome and donate the books to a school library (and be a good liberal by ignoring the tax write off)."

They'd have a better chance of being read if I buried them in a mine shaft. "Duhhh, where do you plug in the iPod?"

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 08:03 AM

"No - please tell me."

Because ballot initiatives are far rarer in the South, if allowed at all. They proliferate only in states with democratic cultures, like California, Oregon, Washington, and Massachusetts, among others.

"because its overwhelmingly Democratic legislation regards itself as the font of wisdom, and regards the voting public as ignorant serfs."

I don't believe you've ever been to MA.

"If MA is so inspiring, then explain why it is one of the very few states to lose population over last 15 years."

It isn't.

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/25000.html

"More people leave it in disgust than arrive in inspiration."

Buddy, I've heard some whoppers, but you're clearly just making shit up. People from all over the world compete for the chance to study at Harvard and MIT, and the state doesn't grow as fast as others because (a)it's colder than many alternatives, and (b)it doesn't have a lot of undeveloped land remaining.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 08:16 AM

I don't believe you've ever been to MA.

You think?

http://cartan.cas.suffolk.edu/~taytslin/IlyaCourseInfo.html

Posted by Ilya at August 25, 2006 08:21 AM

"You think?"

Yes, I do. I see your website, and it apparently means you're a part-time correspondence instructor for a web-based course at a school in a state you detest. Interesting that such a small state has so many jobs in education, isn't it? And apparently not too "disgusting" for you to cash paychecks from it. Not so many jobs like that in Mississippi, are there?

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 10:35 AM

"The reason Southern conservatives (and their fellow travelers) hold Massachusetts in contempt is because it's a wealthier, far more educated, far more accomplished state that's done tremendous good for this country and the world while they are exactly the opposite."

....and yet the south is in the midst of a huge economic boom and is gaining population while Mass is losing population.

People are voting with their feet and it is a vote against the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts.

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 25, 2006 12:38 PM

Well, you are wrong. I live in Framingham MA, and course is not correspondent; notice that the website lists office hours distinct from on-line office hours. As the matter of fact, I am not teaching this semester, having a programming job in Westborough MA, but taught (in person) last year. If you are determined to prove me a liar, you are welcome to call Suffolk Math/CSI Dept:

http://www.mcs.suffolk.edu/faculty/staff_info.phtml?StaffID=40&onPage=staff

(not that I expect you will bother)

And I do not hate Massachusetts per se -- wreck diving here is great, for example. But after 10 years of dealing with delusional jerks like yourself, I am pretty sick of it.

Posted by Ilya at August 25, 2006 01:05 PM

I find it fascinating that Brian assumed that you were lying. This is a trait that I've noted in leftists in general (it's at the heart of the "Bush lied" campaign). Based on the history of the movement, I can only conclude that it's projection. They have to lie to support their agenda (as, for example, when they were lauding the Soviet Union), so they assume that everyone else does.

There was a time that calling a man a liar was "fighting words." Maybe we need to return to it to bash a little civility into these creatures.

I wouldn't expect an apology from him, though.

Posted by Rand Simberg at August 25, 2006 01:27 PM

"..and yet the south is in the midst of a huge economic boom and is gaining population while Mass is losing population."

Massachusetts is not losing population, as I proved to Ilya when he made the same spurious claim. As for Southern "economic booms," they really only exist on the bank statements of an affluent minority and the few professional services that benefit them. So they build another sweat shop, another business paying the federal minimum wage with no benefits and rampant violations of labor codes,and that's what a Southern conservative will call "economic growth."

Then the poorly educated, low-potential culture they perpetuate has a higher birth rate than elsewhere, absorbs the excess into trailer parks, and that's what a Southern conservative calls "a growing labor force." Maybe some naive people from other places see the cheap price of land and foolishly think it's some kind of bargain, not counting on all the added costs of shoddy infrastructure, corruption, lack of services, lack of qualified employees, and anything-goes business culture. But if they're smart, and lucky enough to realize their mistake in time to fix it, they sell out and cross the Rockies to where the real opportunities are.

"People are voting with their feet and it is a vote against the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts."

Population growth is higher in warmer states with more undeveloped land, period.

"I live in Framingham MA"

If you say so, but how do you account for your wildly inaccurate perception of its population trends?

"And I do not hate Massachusetts per se -- wreck diving here is great, for example."

Ah, so it's just the people you hate.

"But after 10 years of dealing with delusional jerks like yourself, I am pretty sick of it."

I recommend moving to Texas so you can learn the true meaning of "delusional jerk," after which you'll come to appreciate the cultural treasures of Massachusetts. That is, if you're not completely intellectually and morally bankrupt. But even if you are, you'll have found your home, so it's a can't-lose proposition--and Massachusetts will be spared your odious presence.

"I find it fascinating that Brian assumed that you were lying."

You find a lot of things fascinating that aren't true, which would explain 90% of your blogging. I [b]hypothesized[/b] that he'd never been to MA, because I've found that's usually the case of people who attack it. And as I've noted earlier about your habits, the only reason you're piping in now is because I made a mistake--you see an opportunity to be obnoxious.

"This is a trait that I've noted in leftists in general (it's at the heart of the "Bush lied" campaign)."

The fact that Bush and his fellow travelers lie on a near-constant basis is at the heart of the "Bush lied campaign."

"There was a time that calling a man a liar was "fighting words.""

There was a time when lying to someone was "fighting words."

"I wouldn't expect an apology from him, though."

Have you ever apologized here for anything? When you lied about Reuters, or uncontritely backpedaled after wishing a terrorist attack on Dearborn, I don't recall anyone asked their pardon. Your brand of sneering hypocrisy and malignance is exactly the kind of crap they don't stand for in New England, which is why I admire it.

Posted by Brian Swiderski at August 25, 2006 03:35 PM

"Massachusetts is not losing population, as I proved to Ilya when he made the same spurious claim. As for Southern "economic booms," they really only exist on the bank statements of an affluent minority and the few professional services that benefit them. So they build another sweat shop, another business paying the federal minimum wage with no benefits and rampant violations of labor codes,and that's what a Southern conservative will call "economic growth."

That is so flat out full of shit it is laughable. How much crack did you smoke to disgorge that gem of a reply?

1950 called and wants you to stop lying with its Dogma.

Go to the Research Triangle at Raleigh-Durham. Also go to Charlotte, Atlanta, Dallas-FW, Houston, Greensboro, Alexandria, and any number of other modern and progressive (in the true sense of the word) cities. Modern booming cities with modern infrastructure and modern instutions of Higher Learning.

Your view of the south is bigoted, laughable and as big of a joke as you are.

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 25, 2006 04:17 PM

BTW Brian, if you want to know why the South holds "Massachutsetts Liebrals" is such contempt, read this piece of hae filled vomit regurgitated over at the nutfarm known as "Democratic Underground" Lets call it "Cut N' rin +141":

"An open letter to the people of the great sovereign states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.

Greetings.

Nearly a century and a half ago, the people of your states started a bit of unpleasantness with the rest of the nation, and the net result was nearly half a million dead, millions of dollars in destroyed infrastructure, and hard feelings that have lasted to this day.

In light of recent events, let me offer my sincerest apologies. It turns out that all of us were on the wrong side of the question. Certainly, the argument was framed in the final years of the conflict by the noble cause of emancipation, but the main cause that we fought for, the preservation of the Union, was a mistake. Keeping your eleven states as part of the United States has turned out to be a disaster, and it’s time for us to make good on it.

The United States hereby officially apologizes for the preservation of the bonds between your states and ours.

The Union Army hereby officially, retroactively, surrenders.

The United States hereby acknowledges and recognizes the existence of, and independence of, the Confederate States of America.

Are you happy now? You get to keep your distinct culture. You get to fly your little Confederate battle flags without recrimination. You get to think you're right. But we, the North and the West, will end up with the better deal.

We won't have to deal with you any more.

You see, your new nation is composed of the former States that were literally subsidized by the rest of us. You, who complained endlessly about how your taxes were too high, were actually receiving more (in some cases, considerably more) in Federal tax revenues than you were paying out. And that’s before we factor the money we poured into your region in the past through the Tennessee Valley Authority, Rural Electrification, the CCC, the War on Poverty, and so on. Today (well, actually yesterday, since today you’re on your own) you’re still getting more from the Federal Government than you’re contributing. If we were speaking in biological terms, you’d be designated a parasite and eradicated without second thought, but we in the North and West actually have a measure of human compassion, unlike most of you, and would not stoop to that level.

True, we’d be losing access to the oil fields of Texas and the Gulf Coast, but know what? We don’t care. We still have the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to draw from, not to mention Alaska once we get the pipeline up and running, and we can keep buying oil from Canada. That will keep us going for a while. Needless to say, we might have to import some oil from the Confederacy, which you will gouge us for, but you’re already gouging us for it anyhow. The United States (well, up until we let you go) is controlled by two Texas oilmen, who have done their level best to keep the price of oil artificially inflated. You can’t do much worse to the price of oil than you already are. And we won’t need it for long, since once we get rid of your influence in our Government, we’ll actually elect some sensible leaders who will wean us off the teat of foreign oil, and invest in alternative sources of energy. And before you think you can prevent this by taking Al Gore away from us, we’ve already arranged for him to have political asylum in New York.

Economically, socially, and culturally, we’ll be much better off without you, so don’t worry about us.

There is a question of where to draw the boundaries. Certainly, the original eleven states belong in the Confederacy, but we don’t really need to stop there. After all, there are many other states that belong with you. Kentucky, for instance. It’s always aligned more with the South than with America, so while we’ll lose the big horse race and good barbecue, we’re willing to part with it. Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska belong with you, too, when you factor in their cultures. Plus this way YOU have to deal with Fred Phelps, Bob Dole, and James Inhofe.

We’ll keep Arizona and New Mexico – they’re a lot like you, but they occasionally come to their senses so we’ll keep them in the fold. Colorado is tricky. My gut reaction would be to let them go, but once you get outside of Colorado Springs, the rest of the state is actually quite sensible. One would be tempted to let Wyoming go because of Dick Cheney, but since he’s really from Texas and just registered to vote in Wyoming at the last minute to keep Texas’ electoral votes in the Republican column, we’ll hold onto it and ship him back down to you.

We’ll keep Utah and Idaho, since we’re going to need SOME insane states to keep us on our toes now that Alabama is gone, and they’ll be vastly outnumbered so they can’t do any real damage. So there's our border. Good? Good.

There is, of course, the question of people of color. We have ample evidence of how you’d treat them after Hurricane Katrina, when the Texas cowboy occupying the White House left them all to drown. But don’t worry, we’ve taken this into account. We’ll take them. All of them. They’ll be welcome with us. We’ll pay to relocate them. We’ll still have huge swaths of land in Wyoming, Montana, Alaska, and the Dakotas, whose sparse populations give them way too much political influence as it is, and we can take advantage of that. We’ll build new towns solely for Southern refugees. We’ll put them to work building these new cities and new infrastructure, and then we’ll let them have them! It would be a new homestead program! And we don’t have to limit it to blacks, either! Any free-thinking, intelligent, and sensible Southerner would be welcome to homestead with us; we’d love to have them contributing to our economy and culture! We won’t need to worry about slavery starting back up, since everyone who would have a chance to become a slave would migrate north and find a better life even than they have now!

It sounds like a great deal to me! Of course, without Northern and Western tax revenue your economies would start to dry up, and there’s a chance that within 50 years you’ll be petitioning to come back into the Union, but forget it. You’ve run things for far too long. We’ve let you get away with murder. You wanted to be on your own, so now it’s time to let you have your wish. Thanks for all the fish, don’t let the golden door hit you on the ass on your way out. Good bye, and good riddance."

Posted by Mike Puckett at August 25, 2006 04:22 PM

BS wrote: It's the same value as keeping photo albums, heirlooms, mementos, or DVDs of favored movies: As a reminder of your experiences, and in the case of books and DVDs, the potential to relive them. Some works get better each time you read them, which you would sadly never discover if you never re-read anything.

I'm constantly amused at your psychosis. This one paragraph shows quite a bit, but that one sentence sticks out. You say "as a reminder of your experience", but in fact, those 900 books of fiction are neither your experience or anyone elses.

You might consider that a trivial retort, but I've read your comments at this blog for several weeks now. You constantly report fantasy and opinion as fact. The first post I recall you writing was an effort to suggest that Rand owned a copy of the movie, "Red Dawn". Of course he didn't, but then you were projecting your own beliefs on him. You're the one that own's books which have a reality you prefer. The fact that the books are fiction is irrelevant to you.

Posted by Leland at August 26, 2006 05:05 AM

No, after he presented evidence that he had not only been there, but was a resident, you called it fake. You insinuated that he was lying.

When you lied about Reuters

Thank you for proving my point (and Orson Scott Card's). I have never lied about anything on this blog. I have never written a false statement, knowing it to be false (other than satirical pieces). I have never made a deliberately false statement with the intent to mislead. And yet, you assume that I have (as I said, probably because it's what you do yourself in some greater cause, so you expect everyone else to do it).

You really are a piece of work.

Posted by Rand Simberg at August 26, 2006 06:35 AM

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