Renaissance Pundit's Posterous http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com Confronting The Beautiful Mess of Adult Life posterous.com Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:12:41 -0700 In Defense of Naïve Reading - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/in-defense-of-naive-reading-nytimescom http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/in-defense-of-naive-reading-nytimescom Valuable discussion of the current state of literary criticism and why, even (perhaps especially) with the aid of the social sciences, it fails to present a valid teaching method to students at all levels. Sometimes, reading a novel for it's story and characters is greatly more valuable than generating a meta-critical chain which leads to complex abstractions entirely out of context. As fat as i'm concerned, belletristics is alive and well, even if it dares not whisper its name in academic circles.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/in-defense-of-naive-reading/

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:01:12 -0700 Trapping the Lord of War: The Rise and Fall of Viktor Bout - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/trapping-the-lord-of-war-the-rise-and-fall-of http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/trapping-the-lord-of-war-the-rise-and-fall-of Fascinating profile of the most notorious and prolific arms dealer in recent decades, Viktor Bout. Great read.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,721532,00.html

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:20:19 -0700 NYTimes.com: Structure of Excuses http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-structure-of-excuses http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-structure-of-excuses
I'd have to agree with Krugman (absolutely no relation) on this one. The evidence is pretty clear that this isn't a structural problem, but one of political will to address long-term problems with stimulating small business, which would stimulate hiring and re-entry into the workforce. Incentivizing banks to lend to businesses to expand (no small task, given the free money available to banks, given the super low borrowing rates) would also go a long way. Alas, not much strategic thinking happening in Washington these days.

The New York Times

OPINION   | September 27, 2010
Op-Ed Columnist:  Structure of Excuses
By PAUL KRUGMAN
"Structural" unemployment is a fake problem, which mainly serves as an excuse for not pursuing real solutions.

 

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:05:26 -0700 NYTimes.com: Dot Earth: 'Gathering Storm' Approaching Category 5 http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-dot-earth-gathering-storm-approach http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-dot-earth-gathering-storm-approach
I wouldn't call this "sobering," but rather "frightening" and "enraging" and " EPIC FAIL." When will the navel-gazing, power-obsessed idiots in Congress, to say nothing of those in the Executive branch, start thinking strategically, for the medium and long-term future of this country? Where is the systemic spending on math an science education? Where is the education reform we kept hearing about, the incentive pay and the broken teachers' unions we were promised? Yeah, sure - Alas, poor Yorik.    

OPINION   | September 27, 2010
Dot Earth: 'Gathering Storm' Approaching Category 5
By ANDREW C. REVKIN
The country's intellectual infrastructure is still eroding, a new report finds.


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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:03:01 -0700 Bill Clinton claims Russian immigrants obstacle to peace http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/bill-clinton-claims-russian-immigrants-obstac http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/bill-clinton-claims-russian-immigrants-obstac All right, Slick Willy. Now, you're going after my people. That's a no- no. Worse, you shot your wife's diplomacy in the foot, defamed an entire group, unprovoked, and made crazy generalizations meant to be divisive. Blame the Russians, as always! Of course Russians want peace for their children, as much or more than any other Israeli Jews. Peace doesn't mean "piece-by-piece," Mr. President. That's all.

That said, thanks for recognizing the strong and united voice and disproportionate impact of Russians on Israeli society ;)

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=188958

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:08:29 -0700 Stuxnet malware is 'weapon' out to destroy ... Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant? - CSMonitor.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/stuxnet-malware-is-weapon-out-to-destroy-iran http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/stuxnet-malware-is-weapon-out-to-destroy-iran A positively terrifying prospect come to life - a cyber weapon of mass destruction that's already gone live and has likely struck its target. Fortunately for us (but only just for now), Stuxnet, as this dangerous device is called, was apparently targeting Bushehr, Iran's main nuclear reactor. That said, on the black market, this is a runaway disaster, able to be deployed with the right amount of money to wreak havoc on industrial control systems, power grids, computer systems and just about anything else used to run electronic and actual physical infrastructure in any country. Stuxnet was clearly made by some of the top programming talent in the world, most likely in the US (although who really knows). Reminds me of the last Die Hard movie, "Live Free or Die," where precisely this scenario playa out with great fireworks. I always knew Bruce Willis was a prophet (LOL).

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0921/Stuxnet-malware-is-weapon-out-to-destr...

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:31:29 -0700 NYTimes.com: Sizing Up Consciousness by Its Bits http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-sizing-up-consciousness-by-its-bit http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-sizing-up-consciousness-by-its-bit I share the skeptical optimism of observers of this theory ofconsciousness attained through information theory. It's a great start to a much more complex theory of consciousness in humans and lower animals. Fascinating, all the same.

  

SCIENCE   | September 21, 2010
Sizing Up Consciousness by Its Bits
By CARL ZIMMER
Researchers want to build a meter that can measure consciousness as easily as body temperature. 

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Tue, 21 Sep 2010 08:28:20 -0700 The New Inquiry http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/the-new-inquiry http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/the-new-inquiry The saddest consequence of the Internet's eternally watchful eye and inifinite hippocampus (if you will) is the chilling effect it's had on intellectual discourse and the resultant self-censorship that is all too Orwellian. I've been trying for years to start a salon, but another side effect of the internet's pervasiveness - constant distraction - has proven this endeavor sadly futile. Maybe adulthood will mean Luddite impulses harnessed to this means, one day...

http://thenewinquiry.com/post/1138617930/resisting-the-chilling-effect

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Mon, 20 Sep 2010 09:22:18 -0700 NPR.org » Meet The Man Who Sneaked Into Auschwitz http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nprorg-meet-the-man-who-sneaked-into-auschwit http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nprorg-meet-the-man-who-sneaked-into-auschwit A story so remarkable as to be truly unbelievable. A Polish army captain named Pilecki left behind a beautiful wife and their child, VOLUNTEERED to be captured by the Germans in order to be taken to Auschwitz to know the extent of German depravity there. Despite his intelligence reports from there which reached the Brits and Americans, neither lifted a finger to put an end to the death of many hundreds of thousands of Jews, Poles and others from all over Europe. Please read this story of a truly immeasurable hero and pass it on!

http://m.npr.org/story/129956107

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:31:06 -0700 Manfred Gans Is Dead at 88 - Combed Wartime Europe for His Parents - Obituary (Obit) - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/manfred-gans-is-dead-at-88-combed-wartime-eur http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/manfred-gans-is-dead-at-88-combed-wartime-eur What an incredible story of a son determined to find his Jewish parents in wartime Europe! Baruch Dayan Emet, Mr. Gans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/world/europe/19gans.html?hpw

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:25:48 -0700 Op-Ed Contributor - Yom Kippur at Sea - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-yom-kippur-at-sea-nytimesco http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-yom-kippur-at-sea-nytimesco Pretty cool story of a Jewish guy who works on a lobster boat off the coast of Maine and his Tom Kippur story there. Hatzlakha and bracha to you, Sam! Gmar Hatima Tova!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/18/opinion/18kestenbaum.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=h...

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:06:18 -0700 Yom Kippur Mother http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/yom-kippur-mother http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/yom-kippur-mother >
> A Story for Yom Kippur
> On a normal Shabbat this space is usually reserved for a Torah > thought of the week. You'll forgive me for taking the liberty of > breaking with tradition to share a story I just heard a few days ago > from my colleague in Antwerp, Belgium, Rabbi Shabtai Slaviticki that > happened with anacquaintanceof his, a follower of the Belzer > movement, Mr. Feivel Schapiro.
> One of the fondest memories many have during the High Holidays with > the Rebbe, was the blessing he would give moments before Yom Kippur. > In transcripts and recordings of the early years one hears how the > Rebbe's voice chokes with emotion, as a father blessing his only > children in these sacred moments. When the Rebbe would give that > blessing he was talking as a father to his beloved children.
> Feivel Shapiro, a member of the Antwerp Jewish community, lost his > mother early on when she sadly passedaway after an illness when he > was still a young child, only a tender 12 years old, shortly before > his Bar Mitzvah. She orphaneda home full of children and he was the > youngest of the family. Under these harshest of circumstances he > grew up and as time passed on matured into adulthood becoming a > businessman and breadwinner in his own right.
> Some twenty fiveyears after his mother's tragic illness and passing, > Feivel's business pursuits found him in New York City. During one of > those hot NYC summer nights he came to 770 Eastern Parkway, the > Lubavitch World Headquarters, to pray Maariv, the evening service, > with the Rebbe's Minyan.
> After Maariv he noticed a commotion of people going in andout of the > hallway adjacent to the Rebbe's study and it was obvious there was > something going on. Asking around he found outthat this is a night > of Yechidus, personal audiences, with the Rebbe receiving peoplewho > have made appointments to come and hear the sage counsel of this > great Jewish leader.
> Feivel, a person who, perhaps by virtue of his orphaned childhood, > was not afraid of anything and alively kind of fellow, was hanging > around thefoyeroutside of the Rebbe'sroom, decides he is going to go > in and see the Rebbe even though he doesnot have an appointment. > Unassumingly he goes over to the person in the front of the lineand > says I need to go in before you, as I urgently need to leave soon, > and the person agrees.
> The door opens and the person from the previous Yechidus comes out > andFeivel walks into the Rebbe's room. The Rebbe's secretary is > shocked by hisChutzpah and follows himin, intending to shlep out > this brazen intruder. The Rebbe looksup and tells Feivel to sit > down. The door closes. Silence.
> Not having intended to be there, he did not bring along the > traditional note outlining the requests, questions or concerns one > would normally hand the Rebbe - in fact he had nothing to say at > all. For a few short, but very long, moments, the middle aged > Belgian businessman sat, opposite the Rebbe facing him, in complete > silence.
> Then, as if on cue, the Rebbe goes over to a drawer and begins > looking forsomething. The Rebbe returns to his desk with a letter > and begins to read from it, which as it turns out, is an actual > letter from Feivel's mother to the Rebbe from just over 25 years > earlier. In this letter she writes that she realizes that she is > going to pass away but I amnot concerned about myself. Rebbe, I am > only asking you to arouse Rachamim Rabim,extraordinarymercy, from G- > d on behalf of my children. She goes onwith a passionate plea that G- > d should protect and bless her children, soon to be left without a > mother in this world.
> Feivel is just in shock and overwhelmed. He was just a child when > his motherpassed away, his memories of her in his childhood were all > he really had to keep her with him, and was never aware that this > letter of hers to the Rebbe, on behalf of him and his siblings, even > existed. Twenty five years letter, her love and concern were still > alive there in the Rebbe's room.
> But the greatest revelation was yet to come. When asking the Rebbe > if he could perhaps take the letter, the Rebbe gently requested > otherwise. Before I go out to Kol Nidrei the Rebbe explained (at > which point he would first stop in the little Shul and give the > Yeshiva Bachurim the children's blessings), I read your mother's > letter.
> Perhaps, as the Rebbe began the prayers of Kol Nidrei, pleading with > our Father in Heaven that we be inscribed and sealed for a Sweet and > Good New Year, he chose to evoke the divine mercy of G-d to His > children with the selfless love of this mother to her children.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> This email is sent from Chabad for Young Professionals.

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:24:21 -0700 NYTimes.com: Tug of War Pits Genes of Parents in the Fetus http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-tug-of-war-pits-genes-of-parents-i http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/nytimescom-tug-of-war-pits-genes-of-parents-i

One of the more intriguing new bits of genetics research I've heard recently... So, apparently our mother and father are generically arguing in our brains and bodies as to how we should develop and behave. It's more than just a silly joke, I guess ;)

HEALTH   | September 14, 2010
Tug of War Pits Genes of Parents in the Fetus
By NICHOLAS WADE
It has long been suggested that a mother's and father's genes do not play exactly equal roles, and new research points to asymmetry that could be far more substantial than thought.


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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:20:09 -0700 The American Spectator : America's Ruling Class -- And the Perils of Revolution http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/the-american-spectator-americas-ruling-class http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/the-american-spectator-americas-ruling-class A coolly scathing send-up of the Ruling Class, its self-reinforcing and self-preserving mechanisms and perverse pervasiveness, which may well be beyond the point of treatment as a symptom. He sad part is that the elites are not exactly full of the best and brightest, just those most willing to conform to the prevailing ideology. Result: both major parties sound and act alike, despite the superficial animosity. Talk about taxation without representation, 21st century version. One of the best reads on the subject in a good while. http://spectator.org/archives/2010/07/16/americas-ruling-class-and-the/print

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:38:22 -0700 A JOURNEY by Tony Blair reviewed by Peter Stothard - TLS http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/a-journey-by-tony-blair-reviewed-by-peter-sto http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/a-journey-by-tony-blair-reviewed-by-peter-sto An excellent review of Tony Blair's memoir, times, foibles and successes. Quite enjoyable to read.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/art...

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:46:49 -0700 Op-Ed Contributor - Dreams of a Desk Job - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-dreams-of-a-desk-job-nytime http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-dreams-of-a-desk-job-nytime A tremendous story in itself, Grisham's long and winding path to becoming a writer after lawncare, selling underwear and politics definitely gives one hope...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/06/opinion/06Grisham.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=home...

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:22:47 -0700 Juilliard | The Juilliard Journal Online | http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/juilliard-the-juilliard-journal-online http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/juilliard-the-juilliard-journal-online William, you are a true inspiration, my friend! All the best of luck and may your mission be wildly successful! Cheers. (Readers, please feel free to
support William's organization, Cultures in Harmony).

http://www.juilliard.edu/journal/2010-2011/1009/articles/afghanistan.html

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:47:49 -0700 Op-Ed Contributor - Pakistan, Drowning in Neglect - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-pakistan-drowning-in-neglec http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/op-ed-contributor-pakistan-drowning-in-neglec Bewildering account of a nuclear-tipped Muslim nation armed to the teeth and yet unable to help hundreds and hundreds of thousands of it's people under water and in deep poverty. If you read nothing else, look at the last paragraph. Yes, all nations are inextricable knots of paradoxes, and Pakistan is no exception, but perhaps with an imagination colored by the work of Salman Rushdie, the reality in rural areas bordering Afghanistan is that much more stark.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/26/opinion/26sethi.html?_r=2

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:42:31 -0700 Does Your Language Shape How You Think? - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/does-your-language-shape-how-you-think-nytime http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/does-your-language-shape-how-you-think-nytime One of the most interesting articles I've ever read on NYT.

The extent to which our mother tongue(s) influence(s) our spatial orientation, appreciation of color, form and pitch, and other critical aspects of the human experience is truly profound . The field of cognitive linguistics is only beginning to unravel the myriad mysteries of the mind as revealed through our conception of the universe vis-a-vis language. Enjoy!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/magazine/29language-t.html

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http://posterous.com/images/profile/missing-user-75.png http://posterous.com/users/3tk5bmiq0iad Yuri Kruman Yuri Yuri Kruman
Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:02:35 -0700 Book Review - Encounter - By Milan Kundera - NYTimes.com http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/book-review-encounter-by-milan-kundera-nytime http://renaissancepundit.posterous.com/book-review-encounter-by-milan-kundera-nytime Great collection of Kundera essays on art, music, history and the downfall of aesthetic importance in Europe. Promises to be a real treat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/books/review/Simon-t.html?hp


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Yuri Kruman

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