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Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Dean Dad responds—and how!

Like so:

Berube’s post is a couple of weeks old, since I stopped reading his stuff a few years ago. I mentally consigned him to the same category as Stanley Fish, David Horowitz, and Marc Bousquet—basically, predictable caricatures of their former selves who jumped the shark some time ago. When Berube did the Punch-and-Judy act with Horowitz, I stopped paying attention. I dimly remember him ‘retiring’ from blogging, which seemed about right. Apparently, though, he’s back, and his ego has only inflated.

Anyway.

Berube, who is tenured, attempts to eviscerate my proposal for a contract-based system as a successor to tenure. I say ‘attempts’ because he never actually engages with it, or with the reasons behind it. His method seems to be to drip contempt from on high and hope that enough sophistry and attitude will make up for the lack of an actual argument. This, from someone whose job it is to teach textual interpretation.

Well, yes, that has been my method for some time now.  But as DD admits, he hasn’t been paying attention, because ... hey, didn’t the phrase “jump the shark” jump the shark in 2005?

I’m not sure how seriously I can take a provocation from someone who thinks I made my “professional name” by “duking it out with Horowitz,” so I decided to respond by simply referring Dean Dad to my lawyers (the ones with guns and money), by reminding him that the AAUP’s Garcetti report does not support the conclusions he wants to draw from it, and by wishing him and his family a happy Thanksgiving.  That’s not snark, either!  That’s a real wish.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all times, and this year we’re hosting twenty people for a couple of days.  It should be a madhouse.  I only hope that my old house’s water system holds up.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  When I’m not cleaning up, finding lost clothing, refilling drinks, and making remarks about stuff, I’ll be working on that Story of the Broken Stick.  See you soon!

_______

When Black Friday Comes update:  I was unaware that Dean Dad’s reply was also posted at Inside Higher Ed.  The IHE version of DD’s post is 20 percent more delicious, because it mocks my photo in the upper right corner.  Twice!  In fact, DD takes that photo as evidence of my great big huge ego.  Apparently I think I am saving the planet from David Horowitz.

I think this might just be the best interpretation of anything ever.  I hereby apologize for nominating DD for the Richard Cohen Award.

But the really funny thing is that I do not look like Vladimir Putin in the least.  Everyone knows that I bear an eerie resemblance to Charles Kinbote.

Posted by Michael on 11/24 at 02:59 PM
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Monday, November 23, 2009

They call it crooked Monday

I’m over there today, just because.

Update:  I’ve decided that it is not neighborly of me to send people over to CT empty-handed.  OK, here’s that song that we talked about in that thread:

Now my work here is done.

Posted by Michael on 11/23 at 01:19 PM
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Friday, November 20, 2009

Arbitrary but Resentful Friday

For the very first ARF Friday on this humble but tenacious blog, I turn you over to a Mystery Guest.  Take it away, MG!

_______

Thank you Michael.  All your blogs are belong to Sarah Palin.  But what about me?  And what happens now when I rear my giant looming head? 

America has forgotten.  Yes, you have forgotten when your Palin defends you from me and when your “major party” “Presidential candidate” says that Sarah Palin knows more about energy than anyone in America.  And she does make many energy in your media and blogs!  You say, these nuclear “starbursts” could ricochet around America! You have also forgotten when your Bush saw into my soul, and then later when your Condoleeza Rice told a funny joke about how “it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press to flourish.” It is like Alanis Morissette, isn’t it ironic?  What a country!

So.  Thanks to Michael Bérubé colleague Hannah Williams, who works in Gravitational Wave Astronomy Group keeping your homeland safe from undetectable cosmic Putinos, I am insisting to you that you have for yourself Arbitrary But Fun Friday all about me:

And:

That is all.

Posted by Michael on 11/20 at 06:08 AM
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Dang

Like a lot of people, as soon as I got my copy of Hans Robert Jauss’s Toward an Aesthetic of Reception I immediately thought of Sarah Palin.

Immediately, I say. 

Tip of hat.

I suppose this means I have to stop saying “dang” now.

Posted by Michael on 11/19 at 07:27 AM
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I have only one question

about the people who oppose a civilian trial in federal court for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other four 9/11 conspirators.

Why do they hate America?

I have a sneaking feeling that they hate us for our freedoms.

Besides, over at America’s slowest-loading website, Adam Serwer explains why this wingnut frenzy is even more farcical than their outrage at Obama’s overweening arrogance servile bowing and scraping.

Posted by Michael on 11/18 at 08:12 AM
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Sunday, November 15, 2009

From the archives

Bill Benzon posted this gem in comments back in April, but with each wingnut outrage over how Barack Hussein al-Obama has destroyed all the global goodwill George Bush worked so hard to establish, I keep coming back to it and finding more and more of Teh Funny.  Calling on the “wrong” reporters, speaking in furren enemy languages, indulging in reverse racism, trashing the honor and dignity of the office ... it’s all there, thirty-two years before the fact.  It’s almost like Richard Pryor was some kind of genius.

OK, I’m off to Marlboro College.  Yes, they invited me back!  That was very kind of them.  And it looks like I’m staying in some very nice digs.  See you all in a few days.

Posted by Michael on 11/15 at 09:13 AM
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