Interesting read

What I've been doing at Europe Endless
If you haven't switched over yet, do so now.Autonomy in the Academy
The Brussels-based think tank, BRUEGEL, is rankling some feathers with its report on the performance of European universities, “Why Reform Europe’s Universities?” (full report loads in pdf form). According to its methods (which I won’t analyze–note attention to patenting below), American universities perform vastly better than European, with some American states beating out higher education in all European nations.

Explanations focus on spending, especially the amount spent on research. What I find interesting is that the report also focuses on the governance of universities,noting that administrations of Americans universities have greater latitude in determining how to spend available funds.
There is considerable variation in university governance across states. States vary not only in the relative importance of private versus public universities, but also in the degree of autonomy granted by state authorities to public universities. Sometimes, even neighbouring states display sharp differences in governance. For instance, public universities in Illinois enjoy on average rather low autonomy, while their neighbours in Ohio enjoy high autonomy. These differences are persistent over time and often go back to the idiosyncratic origin of American universities, which in turn reflect differences in the preferences of university founders … .
Our strategy is to take US states’ differences in university autonomy as given and then ask the following question: Does a given investment in higher education produce more patenting in a US state if universities in that state are more autonomous? … The answer to our question is a resounding ‘yes’. As illustrated in Figure 2, the effect of additional spending on patenting is roughly twice as high for states with more university autonomy. Autonomy therefore greatly enhances the efficiency of spending.
Limits of Liberal Tolerance?
John Holbo, responding to Stanley Fish, wrote the following last week:
I would also like to request a moratorium on critiques of liberalism that consist entirely of a flourish for effect – with accompanying air of discovery – of the familiar consideration that liberalism is inconsistent with blanket, categorical tolerance of absolutely every possible act and attitude. That is, liberalism is incompatible, in practice, with any form of illiberalism that destroys liberalism. If something is inconsistent with liberalism, it is inconsistent with liberalism. Yes. Quite. We noticed.
Also, it might not be a half-bad idea to notice that liberalism is not incompatible with religion, merely with illiberal forms of religion. Just as liberalism is incompatible with illiberal forms of secularism.
Of course, liberalism need not devolve into a celebration of all philosophical systems, all world-views. It’s reasonable to expect that, given liberalism’s attention to the individual, aspects of any philosophy or belief that limits individual action would come under criticism. Certainly liberalism would not seek to become self-defeating. However, Mr. Holbo wants to believe that liberalism is itself intolerant of intolerance, that the compromises made in the midst of political discourse does not undermine the philosophical foundations of liberalism.
Is liberalism intolerant of intolerance? I find it hard to swallow. In practice, liberalism reveals itself as a different beast from its self-image. The history of its application reveals difficulties in accepting completely open political discourse. Liberal political parties started by introducing voting qualification or making elections indirect. Later compromises followed. (I could launch into another long exposition about Jacobins or the Kulturkampf, but I’ve decided not to write about them for the next few months.)
There are two problems: how liberalism constructs its legitimacy, and the makeup of liberalism itself. Tolerance is but one idea that liberals employ to set themselves off against other groups; the dichotomy between tolerance and intolerance is meant to empower the former at the expense of the latter. In the broader sense, liberalism tends to a singular vision of truth which only with difficulty allows plurality in the public sphere. Indeed the pattern of liberal politics, according to Pierre Rosanvallon, has been to introduce “counter-democratic” institutions in the attempt to limit the individual’s free use of political rights.
Liberalism itself is a problematic concept. Some historians have stopped approaching it as a philosophy. Instead they look at the constellation of political, social and economic interests that come to embody liberal politics. In an upcoming book, L’Empire du moindre mal, Jean-Claude Michéa argues that liberalism was primarily an economic phenomenon that developed a complimentary philosophical tradition. Market economy and democratic politics were two aspects–two “translations”–of liberalism, though the former imposed itself on the latter more forcefully. Defending property and economic rights became more central to their programs, and in nations where they were weak, liberals compromised ideals.
Unfortunately, practice must be taken seriously in understanding liberalism. The liberal critique of traditional institutions provided a powerful tool in political reform, even when applied by non-liberal groups. Liberalism itself has had a shakier history.
posted by Nathanael @ 8:02 AM

1 Comments:
At 1:57 AM, mercedo said...
Interesting read.
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~mercedo 0 seconds ago
This photo is so natural. As if it were taken out of her ordinary life.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo Posted!
I hope you keep on working a good job in photography.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 2 seconds ago
Intersting theme, also composition is nice..--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 3 seconds ago
Intereting theme and also evaluable to be experimental.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 1 second ago
Silence tells more.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo Posted!
You have a good sense in photography. Polish your talent young guy!--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo Posted!
I always browse without refering to who submitted the pictures. I click what I thought it more noticeable than others. Keep on working a good job.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 0 seconds ago
Very impressive colours! Nice.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 0 seconds ago
However often I see, this is a great shot!--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 0 seconds ago
This is one of the impressive shots. I like it.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

mercedo 1 second ago
It's so effective to have rectangular clefts on the surface of the concrete floor and the contrast between human flesh and solid floor.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

Ethereal reality

As if it were not a part of me.

~mercedo 1 second ago
This picture is so imaginative.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 2 seconds ago
Nice composition.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

I have been checking out your entry. I'm glad I found your entry tonight.
--Ancient Greek Philosophers -18c Enlightenment Thinkers -Slashdotters

Thanks for your reply. Now I am fully recovered. It's better to be considerate when it comes to asking a woman to go out with. Otherwise we might burn.
--Ancient Greek Philosophers -18c Enlightenment Thinkers -Slashdotters

mercedo 2 seconds ago
You were able to describe the soft touch of skin well.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

mercedo wrote today at 1:10 AM
ginaslove saidTHANKS FOR SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE I think...you get the message. ;)

mercedo wrote today at 1:05 AM
One thing I noticed as to the gap between pros and laymen is whether they show gracefulness in their performance. Some laymen's work is completely correct and accurate, but I must say sometimes it's too astute, there's no room for enjoyable playful mind. Pros know sagely how to show their performance more gracefully much more than laymen. We observers often enjoy the graceful and amusing ambience radiant from their performance rather than the correctness or accuracy itself in their performance.

This photo reflects the hidden truth - A woman who wears kimono wears no more inside the kimono.

~mercedo 0 seconds ago
Surrealitic! I recall Dali's pictures.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

~mercedo 24 minutes 9 seconds ago
The position of the left hand is nice.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

What is she looking at in her posture?

~mercedo 1 second ago
Very nice, since it's realistic.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

Difference between pro and amateur
Oct 30, '07 1:47 AMfor everyone
Pro tends to think evaluator couldn't evaluate him well when he was not evaluated well.

mercedo wrote today at 1:20 AM
Hi...Payton..How are you?It's a bit hard to see you, let's keep in touch on line.Of course I am interested in you. What do you do in the States?

Re:How so? (Score:2)
by mercedo (822671) * on 2007.10.29 23:49 (#21156969) (http://mercedo-works.blogspot.com/ Last Journal: 2007.10.25 4:32)
Mathematical truth is the one we question the logical consistency but not the one we question whether it is applicable to physical reality. Someone before Perelman insisted to prove that the shape of the universe consists of eight different topological types including the shape of sphere and Perelman merely solved the shape of the universe is not other seven types if we can tag the rope.Poincare conjecture consists in two parts. One is condition clause..if we can tag the rope hung over the universe, then we can generally conclude that the shape of the universe is sphere. Reality has nothing to do with 'if'. Mathematical conjecture is interesting in that it merely leads to a lot of speculations.
--Ancient Greek Philosophers -18c Enlightenment Thinkers -Slashdotters

Good night guys!!! See you again!

~mercedo Posted!
My pleasure.I'm expecting to see more.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

wrote today at 3:34 AM
He is believed to prove that the shape of universe is not 7 other types but 1 globe shape if one can tag the rope. This is a conclusion drawn negatively from negative deletion, and this does not necessarily prove the correctness of conjuncture. I am expecting to solve the conjecture in E= mc 2 type formula.

mercedo wrote today at 3:23 AM
Sorry but I like someone who thinks it's useless to prove Poincaré conjecture cannot explain this from my standpoint. It is morally wrong, and it is even more useless to explain this useless idea. However for you it must be interesting, so let me explain by using parable. We can replace his conjuncture into other expression like ' If someone is over eighty, we can say as a whole that someone is an old person.' His conjuncture merely tells the overall conclusion followed by a condition clause, but says anything related to truth. His conjuncture was a game, so I said it's useless.

I don't know you many. Tell me a bit about you.

Hey Wiktor... I finished submitting a number of shots taken in a short trip to Mojiko retro area. Hope you enjoy!

Thanks a lot...now it's my turn to take a look at your pictures...let me see...



I will send comments about your work after I browse your gallery. See you soon!!!

Oh, it's so atmospheric!

How did you take this photo?

The angle is nice!

Beautiful moment of tranquility!

mercedo 4 seconds ago
Very nice shot! You ought to be confident in this picture.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

Actress in our living room

Time of relaxation after the short trip

The Mojiko hotel

Hotel facade

Bell epoch

Old building in a dusk

Over the strait

Artist's Comments
We took on a ferry and crossed the strait. Here was the restaurant there.

In Mojiko retro area these pyrotechnics display is held every weekend, I think, because we went there only last Saturday.

One minute later

In Mojiko retro area

Cafe in Mojiko retro area

Our tranquiling hours

We visited Mojko retro area for the first time. Here was much more than our expectations. Nice spot.

Back to 1889

Artist's Comments
In Mojiko station. 1889 is the year Mojiko port was opened to foreign countries.

Poincaré conjecture
Oct 25, '07 4:33 AMfor everyone
The attempt to confirm Poincaré conjecture is a useless act.

Re:Funny you should mention that.(Score:2)
by mercedo (822671) * on 2007.10.25 4:26 (#21103881) (http://mercedo-works.blogspot.com/ Last Journal: 2007.10.20 2:39)
I think spirit is merely a derivative of body. It disappears when we die.
--Ancient Greek Philosophers -18c Enlightenment Thinkers -Slashdotters

Only one truth

Artist's Comments
Love is an eternal riddle, but only one truth is that I love her from the bottom of my heart.

Final retreat

Artist's Comments
Here is where we destined to check the last time.

The birth of super nova

Light in the dark

A shot of original photo

Artist's Comments
Taken many years ago, but it is a precious shot in association with my girlfriend.

mercedo 2 seconds ago
>See No Hear No Speak No

This had been thought to be a virtue in feudal society.There's a famous sculpture of three apes in Nikko, Japan.--Ancient Greek Philosophers - 18c Enlightenment Thinkers - deviantART Users

mercedo wrote today at 3:05 AM
briangriffith said And if I think depictions of sex are disgusting, it means I feel sex is disgusting rather than beautiful.

This is still one of the typical attitudes of some rigorous people. I think this attitude shows remains of the strong influence of the Middle Ages when only few people monopolised to enjoy having various sex conducts and the general public were banned to obtain various sexual pleasures. As a result people were forced to live under the dark side of life. I think both liberation of sex and the acquisition of economic freedom are connected very closely one another.

mercedo wrote today at 2:42 AM
Sex morality seems to have been used for a long time as a way to oppress people in general under the absolute rule of Middle Age Christendom.

mercedo wrote today at 2:36 AM
ullangoo said >A photo taken to be used as evidence in court isn't art.If I write down a conversation that actually took place between some people, it isn't literature.

I think.. any photos, any writings can be a work of art or literature when those photos or writings were taken or written under serious intension and strong conviction.

>It may become literature if I put it in a context where it conveys something of general/universal interest.

I understand you put more artistic value on laborious work than spontaneous one, but I must say the work of genius often requires no great time and energy but simply an inspiration to come up with artistic work.

mercedo wrote today at 2:16 AM
ginaslove saidI don't believe art has to say anything Art for the sake of art. Art is toward itself. Art ends up in itself.

mercedo wrote today at 2:12 AM
ginaslove saidIt was NOT a disgusting thing but beautiful.
For me, sex life is indispensable. I work hard. I love my wife more earnest than working.

mercedo wrote today at 2:06 AM
ullangoo said A work of art should have a message It's so suggestive. I've never thought about that.