On plagiarism amid recent events: we can hold up our own standards as academics AND defend ourselves from bad faith actors for whom this is only an excuse. âIt dependsâ all-views-are-valid apolitical philosophising Iâve seen are for Tuesday brown bag seminars, not for existential public debates.
Utterly exhausting term of brand new teaching at a new institution while parenting a sleep-challenged toddler. I was looking forward to a bit of a break. So of course I started feeling awful a few days ago and now tested positive for Covid too. Take care of yourselves out there, friends.
How will we explain to our children and grandchildren that unfortunately, we couldnât leave them a livable planet because a few petro-states vetoed phasing out fossil fuels?
The whataboutism in our midst is astounding. âWhy do you only talk about Gaza? What about the Congo? Or droughts/floods in Somalia? Or Tigray?â If this was genuine, such people would be talking about those important issues so they get much needed attention, instead of policing the empathy of others.
Crypto, everyone. At founding: Letâs organise alternative form of currency/exchange, different from yucky intl mega banks & centralised financial system. After making billions: Oops we have to pay billions to regulators for illegal money laundering, just like ahem HSBC, Standard Chartered etc.
Changpeng Zhao will also step down as chief executive of the world's largest crypto-exchange.
This morning I am mostly thinking about the art exhibition on Palestine I recently saw at the Institut du monde arabe in Paris, where artists showed everyday (in)humanity & imagined different realities. Like this one by Mohamed Abusal, born 1976 in Gaza, titled Un metro a Gaza.
Truly, one of the most jarring responses tonight are from supposed UK intellectuals treating Gaza as if it was yet another pawn in ongoing petty Westminster politicking & anyone who cares about humanity as deluded or ignorant. Way to show us you have never known war on your skin.
Today I'm mostly disappointed that when called to leadership, our leaders reach not for concrete action or for speaking truth to power, but for empty words aimed at muting emotions. As if emotions are the problem, rather than a perfectly reasonable response to observed horror.
Friends, I have three invite codes. Who wants/needs them? Get in touch!