Pochemuschka: someone who talks too much.
As in...
"Stop being such a pochemuschka and mind your own business."
Friday, March 12, 2010
Uprising 2010
Short article from Global Times site regarding arrest of Thinley Gyatso, a said 'ambassador' of HHDL, in Nepal two days ago.
The article seems to be written from a Chinese nationalist perspective citing conservative views regarding Tibet Autonomous Region. Never clearer is the understanding that Nepal is for One China.
The article seems to be written from a Chinese nationalist perspective citing conservative views regarding Tibet Autonomous Region. Never clearer is the understanding that Nepal is for One China.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Today I learned...
that Gandhi and Nehru could have agitated the British further during the beginning of WWII potentially executing their campaign for home-rule while attentions were distracted with fascist regimes in Europe. Not the case - They decided, along with the Bengali intellectual contingent (Tagore, Coomaraswamy and Nandalal Bose) that the fight against fascist regeimes was more important at the time than independence.
Others such as Subhas Chandra Bose did not agree. He wanted to take advantage of the weakened British state to gain independence. He spent time with Hitler looking to connect on the "aryan" thing - meaning the Aryans origninated in the Indus river valley civilization, thus Bose saw himself as an Aryan, yet, Hitler didn't know what to do with him - he had dark skin and didn't fit the bill. Hitler sent him to Japan. Japanese didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him in to Burma to fight the Brits. That lasted for a bit and then he was killed (more info needed). There are some that think he is still out there in a cave somewhere waiting until the time is right when he will emerge as a messianic figure to lead India on to global domination.
The dangers of developing a national identity - seems Gandhi and the Bengalis had their feet on the ground and were able to balance their inspiration from the Russian and European idealist identity writers (Hegel, Tolstoy...) with the understanding of human empathy and Truth. Bose missed the boat on that one.
One can draw an argument here from looking at the development of the nation-state theology in the late 18th c. and take Hitler's third reich as an example of how destructive (yet mesmerizing) developing national identity can be. The other example are the Indian nationalists in the middle of the 20th c.
hm.
Others such as Subhas Chandra Bose did not agree. He wanted to take advantage of the weakened British state to gain independence. He spent time with Hitler looking to connect on the "aryan" thing - meaning the Aryans origninated in the Indus river valley civilization, thus Bose saw himself as an Aryan, yet, Hitler didn't know what to do with him - he had dark skin and didn't fit the bill. Hitler sent him to Japan. Japanese didn't know what to do with him, so they sent him in to Burma to fight the Brits. That lasted for a bit and then he was killed (more info needed). There are some that think he is still out there in a cave somewhere waiting until the time is right when he will emerge as a messianic figure to lead India on to global domination.
The dangers of developing a national identity - seems Gandhi and the Bengalis had their feet on the ground and were able to balance their inspiration from the Russian and European idealist identity writers (Hegel, Tolstoy...) with the understanding of human empathy and Truth. Bose missed the boat on that one.
One can draw an argument here from looking at the development of the nation-state theology in the late 18th c. and take Hitler's third reich as an example of how destructive (yet mesmerizing) developing national identity can be. The other example are the Indian nationalists in the middle of the 20th c.
hm.
Monday, March 1, 2010
China supporting Nepali Constitution Process?
China has offered to support Nepal in the tenuous constitution writing process. Hm.
Koirala (PM of Nepal) says the HLPM will produce the desired result in three month's time.
Here's an article from Telegraph Nepal about China's patronizing involvement and Nepal's continued ability to suck-up to those who the government believe are powerful.
Koirala (PM of Nepal) says the HLPM will produce the desired result in three month's time.
Here's an article from Telegraph Nepal about China's patronizing involvement and Nepal's continued ability to suck-up to those who the government believe are powerful.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
More News on Indian Tourist Visa Fiasco
Check it out - the drama continues.
Turns out David Headley was on a business visa, not a tourist visa.
The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : It takes more than visa power to stop a terrorist
Turns out David Headley was on a business visa, not a tourist visa.
The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : It takes more than visa power to stop a terrorist
Monday, February 22, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Learning Styles
Having 24 students makes it difficult to meet everyone's needs in a cross-cultural environment. Some get it, some don't. Some voraciously take notes, some fall asleep in the back of a lecture.
Here's Wikipedia Learning Styles
Thus, research on what people think about how people learn.
David Kolb (my hero) introduced a really conplicated learning model that, even after 10 years of studying it, I still don't truly understand the difference between all of the quadrants.
I've taught the DISC method, and "What color are you?" things.
None of it really sticks, and it all seems like a cheap 'soul-searching' workshop marketed toward the same folks that fall into the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People world - that we actually have control over our environment by knowing something about it.
Makes me think of that story of the guy that gets shot with the poisoned arrow and rather than pulling it out of his chest, he starts thinking, "Who shot that arrow? What kind of duck feather is on the end of it? What type of poison was on the tip? How big is the arrowhead?" Like that.
waste of time?
Here's Wikipedia Learning Styles
Thus, research on what people think about how people learn.
David Kolb (my hero) introduced a really conplicated learning model that, even after 10 years of studying it, I still don't truly understand the difference between all of the quadrants.
I've taught the DISC method, and "What color are you?" things.
None of it really sticks, and it all seems like a cheap 'soul-searching' workshop marketed toward the same folks that fall into the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People world - that we actually have control over our environment by knowing something about it.
Makes me think of that story of the guy that gets shot with the poisoned arrow and rather than pulling it out of his chest, he starts thinking, "Who shot that arrow? What kind of duck feather is on the end of it? What type of poison was on the tip? How big is the arrowhead?" Like that.
waste of time?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
