Comments for Ceasefire Magazine

Comment on Open Source: the future of science? by Frederik Fix

Frederik Fix — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:38:12 +0000

I fully agree that the scientific community would be well served by adopting more of the practices of the open source movement. Especially in view of the increasing reliance on computational methods it is imperative that the basic tools be scrutinized by a larger group of people.
I find quite peculiar that the values of open source are not more widely practiced among scientist since the free software movement originated in academia.

Comment on Fukuyama does it (wrong) again by Aini

Aini — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:45:32 +0000

Great article.

Can't help but thijk of Edward Said's wonderfully derisive reference in a lecture: "… Fukuyama's end of history, which no one talks about anymore (so the end of Fukuyama, really)." The audience piss themselves, as well they should. He's sych an awful parody of a social scientist: full of pronouncements whose grandioisity is only matched by their utter vacuity.;

Comment on Death of a genius by first and second

first and second — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:54:58 +0000

i like your news

Comment on Fukuyama does it (wrong) again by MFD

MFD — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:03:41 +0000

Great article.

Can’t help but think of Edward Said’s wonderfully derisive reference in a lecture: “… Fukuyama’s end of history, which no one talks about anymore (so the end of Fukuyama, really).” The audience piss themselves, as well they should. He’s such an awful parody of a social scientist: full of pronouncements whose grandioisity is only matched by their utter vacuity.

Comment on What the Dubai assassins did next… by Steve

Steve — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:22:19 +0000

Was this really incompetence? Or was it a nudge-and-wink, nod in the right direction, secret handshake, the scratching of backs, mutual understanding (… I’ve run out of clichés)?

Comment on Shenanigans at Prospect Magazine… by Jomblast

Jomblast — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:17:58 +0000

Noticed that too and pleased to see this analysis.The Islam Channel will surely “be keen to lay such [unfounded, crude] concerns to rest” will they? Or what? The whole thing is a cheap stab at a basically defenceless target. From Prospect, though, I wouldn’t expect anything less!

Comment on Samuel Beckett: The politics of vegetables by Bozo

Bozo — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:12:46 +0000

Pozzo,
“the French”? shurely shome mishtake!

Comment on Samuel Beckett: The politics of vegetables by Pozzo

Pozzo — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:02:51 +0000

Beckett’s humour is tragedy reconstituted as farce. (That’s what the French say. Apparently.)

Comment on Samuel Beckett: The politics of vegetables by Bozo

Bozo — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:28:47 +0000

M,
Your assumption that somehow comedy and existential excavation are mutually exclusive is rather questionable… it could be well argued that Beckett’s humour probably IS his most potent tool/canvass for moral and philosophical investigations

Re: Underrated Beckett, one must not forget that in his adopted country (France) pretty much the entire Beckett Canon is, and has always been, in very rude health..

Comment on Samuel Beckett: The politics of vegetables by M

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 06:20:47 +0000

A refreshing and incisive introduction to Beckett!

Your citation of Barthelme’s view of Beckett as pure comedian seems to be the dominant one at the moment — cf. the latest McKellen production at the Haymarket. I think this is a bit of shame. Waiting for Godot might be funny, but it damn well better make you question the meaning of existence at the same time. A lot of the recent productions are far too keen to employ gimmicks, or exaggerate Beckett’s comedy, as if they think they need to retain the audience’s attention. Play it straight, I say.

Beckett’s plays ‘Without Words’ are also hopelessly underrated (probably because they’re so difficult to stage well): ‘Act Without Words II’ is one of my favourites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvogo6gnJNU