When the kids are united...

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(via The Cull) The book every concerned parent needs, especially if they are seeking to make an emotional wreck of their child


It reminds me of that other site that every concerned parents of a similar mindset needs.

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Having returned from a pleasant few days in N'castle I feel a little refreshed and have been perusing the blogosphere to discover this anti-intellectualism debate that has been raging, in particular posts from the two Marks (Kaplan & the Kaptain). It seems that I missed most of this argument, but it was still quite enlightening as I rarely come across it in my day to day existence; the cold, dank walls of the midlands' most bland university keeps me safely from the cackles and howls of those seeking to rip out my tongue if I dare mention Deleuze and Philosophy in the same breath (which is good since I do that a lot). And, to be honest, I find the stereotypical English self-deprecation taken to it's limits in an attempt at humour far more pretentious than any "intellectuals" I have come across. What is an "intellectual" anyway? It seems to me to be someone who cares about thought, and about thinking, thinking at depth about all sorts of matters; surely that shouldn't be a problem, or are we to limit ourselves to pondering the price of bread or the intricacies of some footballer's latest haircut?

However... I must admit that there are so-called "intellectuals" who are complete twats. Their arrogance astounds me as they flounce about quoting this phrase from Lyotard or that sentence from Cavell, not so much in a critical engagement but in an attempt to say "Ha! I know more than you! Look at me, I can tell you what Heidegger had for breakfast the morning he finished writing Being and Time. I can even tell you what type of toilet paper he used to wipe his arse after taking a shit that day," .... (naming no names of course since I must be ever diplomatic). Unfortunately it is those sort of intellectuals who give those of us who have decided to spend our time engaging with thought a bad name, since it is usually they who are most apparent due to their insidiousness. I guess its just a shame that most people seek to limit language to what they know and, either being too lazy or too dismissive, are unable to accept that new terminology and new ways of thinking are being developed all the time (which should be pretty obvious).

Anyway... enough of that....

Speaking of amusing intellectual adventures, is anyone going to SEP for the spectacle of the "What is Terror?" conference. Myself and some others are planning on going, more for the three days of drinking and the fact that some friends are committed to giving papers. "Victims of Terror" at a philosophy conference... whatever were they thinking?

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Disaster Strikes!!!!! I suggest we all move to Paris.

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self-made messiahs

lenin and the kaptain on the Live8 Spectacle yesterday. Being ill and working meant that I saw the majority of the concert and I did spend all day waiting to see Pink Floyd. I was initially pleased that I had missed God's own son, Bono, as there's not much worse than watching him masturbate on a stage in front of millions of people but then it was repeated about 3 times so I managed to see the chosen one spray his filth over the multitude. But, that wasn't the worst moment.... I think that the worst moment must have been Madonna shouting "Are you ready for a REVOLUTION?!?!" It's not often I get my "feeling of rage whilst reading Heidegger's "Building, Dwelling, Thinking"", but this was one of those times when; if I hadn't have been weak and pathetic the TV could have well ended up out the window.

Update: this aggregation of people who saw through the ridiculousness of Live8 )via lenin)

Anyhow, I just needed a mini-rant on it.

So... now that I've handed my work in (although still incredibly busy with various plans) I shall attempt to post more often. 'Gluestonbary' review will not be happening as I didn't go. I gave my ticket to my sister about a week before and then cackled with glee at my shrewd ways when the entire place got flooded. (hehe)

Workshop on 'The Fold' was very successful and myself and my favourite ex-'temple ov psychic youth' member were very pleased with it all. Anyhow, this and this are forthcoming and perhaps something in Brussels but that is still being thought about.

The next three months are going to be spent reading Spinoza, Deleuze and Kant with a bit of Schelling for 'light' bed time reading but I don't know whether I'll write much about that so any suggestions about what I should write about would be appreciated.

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