Academics

How do people pronounce "academe"? Is it ah-kah-DEM or ack-a-DEME?

It can't be the former, or else don't they'd write it properly -- italicized and with a grave mark -- acadème?

But how could well-educated (snobbish!) people slaughter French pronunciation with the latter?

And what's wrong with "academia"?

More turning into a warblogger

I hear a raspy voice saying, "Strike me down with all your hatred, and your journey towards the dark sidewarbloggerdom will be complete." But I can't stop myself:

This Mark Steyn column is a must-read!

My favorite line was

‘Containment works’ ... given what North Korea managed to accomplish under the dozy eye of UN inspectors, not for us in the long run

Yes, he did just say that. North Korea's not the problem. North Korea is the place. The UN inspectors are the problem.

And since I'm talking about North Korea, let me say that I was very pleased with the President's remarks touching on Clinton in Thursday's press conference:

My predecessor, in a good-faith effort, entered into a framework agreement. The United States honored its side of the agreement; North Korea didn't. While we felt the agreement was in force, North Korea was enriching uranium.

That's a very polite way of saying that Clinton was snookered, without implying that Clinton screwed up.

So far, I think Bush has been successful at one of his major goals: restoring dignity to the office of the President. I hope he keeps it up. In particular, when he leaves office (whenever that will be, in 2004 or 2008), I hope he re-instates the custom of silence from former Presidents. (Yes, Mr. Carter, Mr. Clinton, I'm speaking of you.)