The September Project 2005

by Eszter Hargittai on August 17, 2005

The September Project was launched last year to encourage libraries to engage citizens in discussions related to freedom and democracy on September 11th. This year the project continues its mission and has already attracted hundreds of libraries from 20 countries to participate. The organizers are hoping to attract even more. This map shows participating libraries in the US (e.g. the entire Chicago Public Library system has signed up), this one shows international venues (e.g. libraries in Cuba, India, South Africa, Singapore, New Zealand, etc.). Any CT readers in the vicinity of Universidad Cienfuegos? I’d be curious to hear a report from that discussion.

The site offers a description of the events that occured at libraries on 9/11 last year. The Project has a blog where people can follow updates.

Henry/Harry

by Henry Farrell on August 17, 2005

A point of occasional confusion for people linking to, or commenting on CT – “Henry Farrell” is not the same person as “Harry Brighouse” . When a post is by “Henry,” it’s written by me, and when it’s by “Harry,” it’s him. I’m not really complaining about this, as I get much the better end of the deal – while I get to “author books on political theory”:https://crookedtimber.org/2005/08/13/more-brighouse-promotion/#comment-89465 without actually having to write them, he “gets attacked”:http://www.windsofchange.net/archives/006239.php for saying rude things about Robert Conquest that he didn’t in fact say. But still, perhaps better to keep things straight.

Top-Up Fees explained

by Harry on August 17, 2005

Mike Baker (who declares an interest) explains the incredibly complex new University tuition fee system. I think he gets it exactly right (but am not sure because…it is so complicated). His final paragraph:

So it is somewhat ironic that the greatest concern over the new fees system has been on behalf of students from the poorest homes.
This is a Robin Hood-style, redistributive scheme: taking from the better-off graduate in order to give to the student from a poor home. Government ministers have always been nervous of spelling this out for fear of sounding like socialists. Yet, this obfuscation, like the terminology of “variable fees” rather than “graduate taxes”, could threaten the success of the scheme if it deters the very people it is meant to help.

The government has a big explaining job to do.

Zombie Breakfasts

by Henry Farrell on August 17, 2005

Spotted yesterday morning at the Amish Market in Battery Park, NYC.

!http://nicoleandhenry.smugmug.com/photos/32473971-S.jpg!

The de Menezes fiasco

by Chris Bertram on August 17, 2005

So “we now know”:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4157892.stm that the young Brazilian electrician gunned down by police as a suspected suicide bomber was not wearing a heavy jacket, paused to pick up a newspaper on his way to the tube, used his travelcard to pass the barrier, did not run from the police, who did not warn him, found a seat and was restrained before being shot. This, in addition to having been allowed to board a bus earlier.

What did Sir Ian Blair know when “he said that”:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1707509,00.html the Metropolitan Police were “playing out of their socks” ? If he knew at that stage that this was an disastrous catalogue of incompetence then he surely ought to resign. And who told the papers, and with what authority “that”:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1707779,00.html de Menezes

bq. decided to run away from police, vaulting the ticket barrier and running down to the platform. ?

They ought be identified and made to resign too.