More Noted Things

by Cliopatria

Carnivals: History Carnival XX is up at Tigerlily Lounge! There's a lot of good history blogging to enjoy over there. Teaching Carnival III is up at Scrivenings. More reading!

Burke Outta Control: At Easily Distracted, Tim Burke gives up on sweet reason in"Dearth of A Salesman." Therein, a little old lady yells"Fuck You" at him, but it isn't the little old lady who gets to him. It's the peddlers of unwanted deals.

*Geeks Confer:"Academic Blogger Flash Mob" at Cosmic Variance [ed.: with pictures! Yes, Manan would be the guy in the pink shirt] is the fullest report of the University of Southern California's recent conference on blogging and virtual texts. There are briefer reports at Chris Boese's Weblog, Manan Ahmed's Chapati Mystery, and P. Z. Myers' Pharyngula [ed.: with pictures! Alas, no Manan]. Juan Cole and John Holbo were also there.

Higher Ed $: We've seen various accounts of it, but when the Chronicle of Higher Education puts its report on compensation packages for college and university presidents in Margaret Soltan's hands, she's a dangerous woman. Dangerous because she speaks truthfully. The compensation of some higher education executives grows more scandalous, as they adjunctify the professorate, corporatize management, and enrich themselves. They should be held up for public shaming: Donald $5,042,315 Ross, Audrey $1,370,973 Duberstein, E. Gordon $1,330,000 Gee, John R. $1,250,000 Silber, John M. $1,210,000 McCardell, and the list goes on from there.

Reviews: Ann Morrison,"Ahead of Their Time," Time/europe, n.d., reviews"Golden Age of Arab Science," a stunning new exhibit at The Institute of the Arab World in Paris. Thanks to Alfredo Perez at Political Theory Daily Review for the tip.
James Buchan,"Liberty's Rake," The Guardian, 12 November, reviews Roger Pearson's Voltaire Almighty: A Life in Pursuit of Freedom.
Janet Maslin,"Assessing Kazan: His Life and Choice," New York Times, 14 November, reviews Richard Schickel's Elia Kazan: A Biography. Even those who recognize the enormity of mid-twentieth century Communism still have trouble forgiving Kazan.

*War Bloggers No More: Lisa Lynch at if:book notes that after the appearance of John Hockenberry's"The Blogs of War," Wired, August 2005, and Jonathan Finer,"The New Ernie Pyles: Sgtlizzie and 67cshdocs," Washington Post, 12 August 2005, American military authorities ordered soldiers in war zones to cease blogging. You should read one soldier's last post, an Orwellian retraction that Lisa reproduces.

* In comments, my colleagues, Manan Ahmed and Chris Bray, correct my misrepresentations of reality. Any moment now, I expect Tim Burke to insist that the little old lady really said:"So's yer ol' man!"

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More Comments:

Oscar Chamberlain - 11/18/2005

Ralp and I have been arguing on the connection--if any--between academic CEO and corporate CEO salaries?

Has anyone studied this? It would be interesting if there was an authoritative answer to this argument out there.

Ralph E. Luker - 11/18/2005

I disagree with you on both points. The line of political aspirants appears to be unceasing. Many are deterred only by the urge to wait their turn, party unity, etc. I think you'd have a hard time showing that any great college or university president has been lost to the higher economic incentive of the corporate sector.

Oscar Chamberlain - 11/18/2005

Two thoughts

Actually there is far less competition for governor, in part because the "interview process" (primaries and elections) is truly hellish and requires a major investment by third parties. As to whether the governshorship is more complex, I think that really depends on the state and the university system you are comparing.

As for separating out the public and the private sector and saying good riddence for those who prefer the latter: that sounds good. But I fear that is hoping for the triumph of morality over economics in a situation in which both choices are legal.

Ralph E. Luker - 11/18/2005

Oscar, I disagree with you entirely. Executives of public institutions of higher education often are paid twice or more of what the governors of their states are paid. I see no less competition for the job of being governor and no less complexity in its responsibilities because governors are "underpaid." I'm afraid that I think that you are merely repeating a rationale that is often given, but doesn't really hold water. I agree with Tim Burke's suggestion that fine executive leadership for even the most demanding position in higher education can be found for a compensation package of no more than $500,000. I'm more than willing for those who demand more to find it in corporate life. That would be an effective sorting out of vocational decisions, as far as I'm concerned.

Oscar Chamberlain - 11/18/2005

Those who think that the high salaries paid to coporate execs have no public consequences should check out the salary for University heads. Most of the latter are, in fact, paid the same or less than executives with equally complex jobs in the private sector.

I understand why you are upset Ralph, but universities compete in a market that's rigged to inflate private sector compensation for similar jobs. That's not the whole story, but it is part of the story.

Timothy James Burke - 11/15/2005

And really loudly too, as much to the other people honking as to me.

Chris Bray - 11/15/2005

The amusing thing about the purported military crackdown on blogging is that plenty of soldiers are still blogging from the war zone with no worries about getting in trouble. They tend to be 1.) vigorous supporters of the effort, and/or 2.) officers. The crackdown on war blogging is a crackdown on enlisted griping.

Manan Ahmed - 11/15/2005

I think your subheading should be "Eggheads Confer". There was nary a "Geek" in sight.