Recent posts

#1

Off the Record / Re: What does a BIDEN Presiden...

Last post by Valmy - Today at 09:12:50 AM

I recall a uni professor for Latin complaining about literal Bible translations, especially the New Testament which (he said) was written in colloquial Greek with Jewish influences. His example was something like, when the translations says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you", the original is more akin to, "Yo, listen up, here's the thing:"

"Verily, verily, I say unto you" was an early 17th century way of saying "Yo, listen up, here's the thing:"

#2

Gaming HQ / Re: Victoria 3

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 08:49:39 AM

What Syt said.  For small country it can be useful redress shortages because your construction and potential labor capacity is limited and you can't just build to import substitute everything. But if the partner is good at producing the same goods you are specializing in, it can be a problem.

#3

Off the Record / Re: Russo-Ukrainian War 2014-2...

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 08:42:08 AM

russia wanted recognition of their "annexations" as part of the peace treaty. It was always a non-starter.

The fig leaf of this new narrative, as reported in the Foreign Affairs article, is the claim that during the Istanbul talks, the Russian negotiators discussed a communique text in which the status of Crimea and the Donbas would be addressed during future discussions. But it's hard to see why any rational person aware of Russia's past conduct would take such a proposal seriously, with or without Boris Johnson's 2 cents thrown in.

#4

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by The Minsky Moment - Today at 08:36:38 AM

To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday. Faculty and staff who can work remotely should do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.

During the coming days, a working group of Deans, university administrators and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution. That includes continuing discussions with the student protestors and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other. I know that there is much debate about whether or not we should use the police on campus, and I am happy to engage in those discussions. But I do know that better adherence to our rules and effective enforcement mechanisms would obviate the need for relying on anyone else to keep our community safe. We should be able to do this ourselves.

Over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus. Antisemitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, is unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken. We urge those affected to report these incidents through university channels. We also want to remind everyone of the support available for anyone adversely affected by current events.

There are different ways to interpret this statement, but it certainly seems like anti-semitic harassment was an important motivating factor in the closure.

#5

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by garbon - Today at 08:30:59 AM

It's very misleading, though.  Just because some dude told the Jewish students to stay home doesn't mean that the dude had good reasons to do so.  And just because Columbia told all students to stay home in human usage of English doesn't mean that Columbia told Jewish students to stay home. 

Yes, technically they told Jewish students to stay home, just like they told antisemitic students to stay home, and just like they told all transgender students to stay home.  However, the common usage of English is different from how it's used in logic, and when you use a qualifying detail, it is presumed that it's not superfluous.

#6

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by DGuller - Today at 07:54:26 AM

It's very misleading, though.  Just because some dude told the Jewish students to stay home doesn't mean that the dude had good reasons to do so.  And just because Columbia told all students to stay home in human usage of English doesn't mean that Columbia told Jewish students to stay home. 

Yes, technically they told Jewish students to stay home, just like they told antisemitic students to stay home, and just like they told all transgender students to stay home.  However, the common usage of English is different from how it's used in logic, and when you use a qualifying detail, it is presumed that it's not superfluous.

#7

Off the Record / Re: Israel-Hamas War 2023

Last post by OttoVonBismarck - Today at 07:16:35 AM

Actually Jewish students were specifically warned to stay home because campus was not safe, by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi who works there. The later cancellation of all in person classes occurred after that.

The statements and actions of random individuals does not constitute university policy.  The university can cancel classes.  Random rabbi cannot.

No one said otherwise. Raz stated that Jewish students were told to stay off campus—and they were.

#8

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by garbon - Today at 06:45:56 AM

I realise now that it is old

Honestly the only one of those family ones I've watched has been some Friday Night Dinner so it may be a taste thing too. Maybe Catastrophe too? Although, to your point also very middle class.

I'll give Motherland a go.

Having said all that I just looked at the comedy section of iPlayer and realise I should leave this conversation because I basically don't recognise 90% of the shows there....

All fairly middle class but Motherland, Mum and Two Doors Down.

Oh and Here We Go.

Catastrophe was also good but I feel like had fewer and fewer relatable daily problems.

#9

Off the Record / Re: TV/Movies Megathread

Last post by Duque de Bragança - Today at 06:19:45 AM

The Criterion Channel had a salute to the Golden Raspberries starting last month.  Some of the previous winners have gone through critical re-evaluation as time has passed; however not:

Xanadu (1980)

Olivia Newton John is a muse who escapes from a wall painting and roller skates away surrounded by some animated lines in a not-very-special effect.  She kisses unfulfilled commercial artist Michael Beck, who pursues her throughout the day leading him to run into... uhm... wait a second... isn't that... Gene Kelly?

Why yes it is, this is Kelly's last movie (aside for some made for TV ones.)  He's a former big band leader who's lead singer may have been Olivia Newton John.  The film isn't really clear about this but they do share a dance scene; which is about the only high point of the film.  In any event Kelly lost the girl, left the music industry and became a successful builder.  He longs to return to the music industry and works with Beck to open a roller-disco club called Xanadu.  Then Beck, Olivia Newton John and Kelly go shopping for some super-fly 70's era threads to replace the squaresville mid-century suits that Kelly had been wearing; in what may be the single most embarrassing scene in all of cinema.  In any event Olivia Newton John is summoned back to Olympus, Michael Beck gets all pouty, but Gene Kelly (dressed like he just escaped from the Jackson 5) gives him the go-get-her talk.  So Beck does what any reasonable person would do, he roller skates full force into mural of muses which, fortunately turns out to be a gate to Olympus which, as you probably expected is a vast empty hall lit by neon lights.  He convinces Zeus to let Olivia Newton John return to earth and they open Xanadu to an enormous roller disco party.

Not only is the story incoherent, the acting (other than Gene Kelly) is weak and they didn't really get how to shoot a dance scene.  The film, along with "Can't Stop the Music" inspired John JB Wilson to start the Golden Raspberry Awards.

The soundtrack did pretty well, both "Magic" and "Xanadu" were top 10 hits; I don't think it's ELO's best, but it was decent.

Great "so bad it's good classic".  Classic kitsch, but not for the faint of the heart. Best Roller Disco
musical comedy?   
Soundtrack is indeed one of the fortes.  Did you end up by a karaoke of the titles songs with your wife?  It's one of the boni on DVDs and Blu-rays (edition depending).

Oh, and there is a future Conan the Barbarian actress, as a Muse (not Terpsichore of course), Sandahl Bergman.
As for Michael Beck, it was far from the Warriors, but still somewhat not as bad as Megaforce. 

Let's say it's less kitsch than Village People's Can't stop the Music, with its Riefenstahlesque montage 

#10

Off the Record / Re: What does a BIDEN Presiden...

Last post by The Brain - Today at 05:58:53 AM

I recall a uni professor for Latin complaining about literal Bible translations, especially the New Testament which (he said) was written in colloquial Greek with Jewish influences. His example was something like, when the translations says, "Verily, verily, I say unto you", the original is more akin to, "Yo, listen up, here's the thing:"

Were many of the "verily verily" translations done back in olden times when that was the way people talked, meaning that the translation was fine?