***Entry 279***
Sunday, December 15, 2002
09:58 p.m.
More Completions
As promised, I return to the blogosphere having finished two of my finals. It's a relief to finally be able to get off the computer and do something with whatever's left of the day. That said, I'm not really going to blog about anything now. See you tomorrow or possibly earlier.

***Entry 278***
Sunday, December 15, 2002
04:02 p.m.
More Contradictions
Well...I lied, of course. After writing my final essay for my Modern Western History of Women class, I needed a break before delving into the three essays due for my final in Modern Political Thought. Of course, I turned to the vast interesting world of the internet. And I immediately found this post-report about Ramsey Clark, which has served as *endless* amusement.

Prolific readers of this blog know that I have written many entries against the Worker's World Party/International Action Center/ International ANSWER "coalitions"--especially in relation to the anti-war movement in Washington, DC/the United States. I feel no significant need to delve into [yet another] diatribe against these groups. That said, I find a significant amount of humor in Clark's words about his relationship to the Worker's World Party:

"I know that there's a Workers World Party and I think they have a newspaper," he says when asked about the group. "My association with Workers World? I don't know of any. I have no formal association with Workers World. There's a Workers Party in Turkey that supported the Kurdish people, and I've always supported the Kurdish people. . . . I have no knowledge or involvement in Workers World. I should know more, I suppose."

Even the writer of the post-piece is critical of Clark's words. I, however, find them to be even more suspect. It is ridiculous to believe that Clark has no knowledge of the front group supporting "his" International Action Center. This is sheer propaganda--sheer, in that it is completely see through. Why it is propaganda should be clear and apparent as well.

Oh well...back to the theory mode.

***Entry 277***
Sunday, December 15, 2002
1:00 p.m.
Less Critique/ More Blog...Less Blog/ More Writing
I hope that after my [not so] subtle critique of blogging as less than deliberative, everything I blog about will not have the ridiculous aura of contradiction. That's not my intention at all...

John has responded to my critique of blogging with some sound insights into the positive implications for blogging. I have commented to his response, albeit slightly incoherently. I need to remember that writing in post-party mode is hardly the most efficient way of delivering my perspective. [ha...]

Critiques are most valuable if they encourage debate about a particular concept. Thus, "A Critique of Consensus Process" and my much less researched Critique of Blogging [below]. Having read a response, I see that some debate is occuring. However, debate doesn't nullify the critique, it just serves to illustrate a broader spectrum of ideas.

A writer for my school paper likes to end his commentaries with something like, "Don't let me tell you what to think." And concludes by encouraging people to submit letters to the editor in response to his work. Blogging, only encourages that multifacited response system. More readers=more potential ideas. This is what I mean by blogging as media democracy. Although that happens, my concern is that there will be little deliberation on which ideas are better because of the limited space available in the blog.

The "more" feature, available on some blogging software--which John mentions--may help allieviate that by making more words available. The question remains, will people actually read "more." As I have noted before that limited question has broader implications: Do people actually read at all? Or do they simply skim over blog entries without getting the substantive argument the blogger is trying to make? Part of me thinks that some quantitiative research would be valuable here--but I'm far more capable of theory than deducing some sort of information from numbers.

That said, I will not be blogging much today. I've got four final essays to write for two different classes. All are due tomorrow morning. All require synthesis of [sometimes] dense theoretical tracts. All require more profound writing than I usually show on the blog. I'll be back to the blog when I am finished.

***Entry 276***
Saturday, December 14, 2002
09:42 p.m.
Strange Currencies
In a google search for "A Critique of Consensus Process" [hey, I've gotta see what people are saying], I found that Paul had reposted his entry to this Ink Feed site. Strangely enough, another contributer to this site is Matt Croydon, who happens to be the brother of Elizabeth Croydon [my ex-housemate + star of Washington Interns Gone Bad]. Fun.

***Entry 275***
Saturday, December 14, 2002
03:36 p.m.
Irony Alert: Some Observations about Limited Space
I''ve written before about the positive implications [see below] for blogging; I've only nominally written [See "Insomnia or Incomparable"] about the negative ones. Inasmuch as I intend to shed some light on those negative implications, here...the irony of doing that should become apparent...

But first, a minor diversion...I should be working on the various final essays I have to write for Monday. There are a slew of reasons why I'm incapable of writing those essays today--most prominately--I woke up @ 1:30 pm and I'm going out @ 5:15 tonight. That's limited time to work on the essays...So, returning to my original idea for this entry, I'm just reading stuff on the web to distract myself from the fact that I am distracted. [Maybe this doesn't make as much sense as I would like it to...]

So I find myself reading this piece on freedom and institutionalization which is worthwhile reading regardless of your political perspective. The problem for me--and the indictment of blogging as a *habit*--is that a sufficient response to a piece like this requires more than a paragraph simply telling you to go read it.

However, the short, succient pattern of most blog entries--including my own--is simply to say--this is interesting, this is repulsive [or vomit-inducing, in Zoe lingo], etc. However, most [subjectively] valuable works have a mesh of reactions entangled within them. The freedom piece is more than just interesting or repulsive. It is a piece that deserves to be read, but deserves a substantial response to it.

Now, it should be said that some bloggers respond profoundly to substantive works. [A good example would be Paul's response to my "A Critique of Consensus Process."] However, in writing my little "A Website of Her Own: Technology, Media Democracy, Gender and 'Blogging'" paper, I realized that this kind of discourse is rare.

And, as I mentioned earlier in the "Insomnia" piece, it *is* the medium @ fault. I mean, who wants to read a *really* long response to a work on a blog? Limited Space=Limited Analysis=Limited Discourse.

So, why blog anyhow? I think I've written enough in the past [See below "Some New Bloggers"] that describes the positive implications of blogging. Blogging serves a purpose. Blogging is participatory and democratic. But, blogging is hardly the solution to the questions I ask in "A Critique of Consensus Process." It is *not* the participatory democracy that will revitalize American Democracy. Because in many cases, blogging isn't deliberative.

Call me ironic.

***Entry 274***
Saturday, December 14, 2002
3:34 p.m.
Ohhh...Political Scandals
With sound reason, Senator Lott's comments are receiving extensive coverage on the blogosphere. However, it should be noted, that he is not the only Republican facing scandal mode. This indictment doesn't bode well for Maryland's first Republican governor since *Spiro Agnew.* It will be interesting to see how long Ehrlich lasts without his own indictments. I give him no more than two years.

***Entry 272***
Saturday, December 14, 2002
03:15 a.m.
Strange But Exciting
Lemur was kinda strange tonight. The music was hot, but there weren't many people there. My friends kept encouraging me to rave on, but I wasn't interested. Honestly, I just wrote a lot while I was there, but I had a *blast* as usual. If you've never been to Lemur, you are missing out on one of the best weekly parties in the area.

And in completely unrelated news, Will Bailey is staying on The West Wing. It's strange how I'm not upset that Sam Seaborn is leaving anymore...Will Bailey's character [see fuller description below] is new...and exciting.

***Entry 271***
Friday, December 13, 2002
08:50 p.m.
Some New Bloggers
My housemate Jill has started to blog. Or at the least, I set up a blog for her. [Note the site looks *very* similar to mine. ]There's not a lot of content yet, but I think she'll become a prolific blogger someday. If you are looking for new content, another friend John has also set up a blog. He's in the midst of grading finals, so he hasn't been posting a lot. Expect more from him, if his emails are a sign, he too will become a more prolific blogger.

For me, blogging is the best example of media democracy, right now. The communicative nature of blogging often leads to a better understanding of current events, cultural experiences, etc. Although there are critics, who claim that the explosion in blogging has lead to fewer voices being heard [and, "cults of personality" ...yi...]; I say, the more bloggers--the more participation--the more democracy.

***Entry 270***
Friday, December 13, 2002
11:40 a.m.
Social Movements/Social Change
There's a lot of sound evidence that President Bush is [again] involved in the regime change scheme. Only this time, it's in Venezuela. And a lot of people are angry about it.

To credit the indymedia concept, people are posting about their disgust with the Bush administration's meddling in Venezuela: Narco news has published a protest plan and they have posted a letter demanding that the Bush administration condemn a [potential] coup government in Venezuela.

That letter, linked from Narco News has recieved 62 comments so far on the DC IMC. I'm not sure what the protest turnout was this morning [I'm leaving for the city shortly.], but there is clearly a significant disgust [again] with the Bush Administration's policies. The question is [again]: what can we really do about it? Are letters and pots and pans protests really the answer? Or...is a fully fledged social movement the only possible answer?

In this interview reposted on the DC IMC Marta Harnecker says no... PW: Do social movements replace political parties as such?
MH: I will take advantage of this question to clarify that I am not against political instruments, because sometimes when one criticizes parties, people think one is betting on the emergence of movements that will lead the struggle. Social movements are sectoral movements and require an instrument for articulation, call it party, sociopolitical movement, front, or whatever. But what's needed are political instruments that articulate and raise a national proposal, that make an ideological proposal in today's world, where the wars are fought in the plane of ideas, where the means of communication in the hands of the powerful are almost overpowering.

While she may have been referring to Venezuela here, I think that it is pretty clear that her comments are not exclusively regional. For example, if the Democrats stood for *anything* maybe regime change would be more of a local option.

***Entry 269***
Thursday, December 12, 2002
08:31 p.m.
Beyond a One-Tracked Mind/Beyond Living in a Cave
Because, at the very least, I can say I didn't miss the Trent Lott scandal...

I've been a little preoccupied [lately?] with my own political condition to deal with other important events. Although, I have tried to redeem myself through my posts about The West Wing, I admit, that my focus [lately?] has been [err...] limited/self-centered. In the spirit of revising my former sense of [nominal] understanding, I have read Ron Suskind's piece about Karl Rove. This piece has apparently been controversial; albeit, not nearly as [err...] recently as the Lott scandal. [There's no need to defend my priorities. I simply missed the Rove piece because I was [err..] busy?]

Every once in a while I make reading suggestions that I hope encourage you to go beyond my blog.[Admittingly, nearly all of those suggestions come from A&L Daily, but what can I say?] Suskind's piece is one of those. If you haven't read it yet [and I assume many of you have], read it now. It's another of those works I want to talk about.

***Entry 268***
Thursday, December 12, 2002
02:12 p.m.
I'm Done!!!
The "A Critique of Consensus Process" presentation was simple. It's amazing how easy it is to explain consensus with cookies. Fun.
But, I'm @ work, so I can't write a lot. I'll be back @ the blog shortly. :)

***Entry 267***
Thursday, December 12, 2002
01:10 a.m.
Cookies
I just finished the blog essay. *sigh* All that's left is presenting "A Critique of Consensus Process" and taking/writing my finals. In case you are interested, I will be presenting "A Critique of Consensus Process":
Thursday, December 12, 2002 [today! yi!]
in either:
a. my 8am class [if the students permit me to...]
b. Noon in Anne Arundel Hall room 107
I am going to bake cookies now and plan my presentation. Note, I have an 8am tomorrow morning. Sleep is not an option. [But, I'm almost done!!!]

***Entry 266***
Thursday, December 12, 2002
12:41 a.m.
In Preparation
Another Weekly West Wing Review
Before the important substantive stuff, I must say, I *love* Will Bailey. His anxious, self-deprecating character is exactly what is needed on a show that is full of characters exuding self-importance. I can't help but feel an affinity toward him as he is tormented by the junior staffers who are jealous of him and embarassed in front Charlie and the President. He's super intelligent and talented, but a little insecure. I like that.

And now...my analysis of the episode. Every week, I tend to start these entries off with a "there's a larger theme in every single episode..." and I'll do that this week as well.

This week's theme is: preparation/setting the stage.
1. Preparation: Danny prepares to out the administration for the murder of Abdel Sharif.
2. Preparation: CJ, Josh, and Leo prepare to act before Danny outs them.
3. Preparation: All the characters work extra hard...through the final scenes...
4. Setting the stage: Toby testifies about his ex-wife's pregnancy.
5. Setting the stage: The President has something important to say to *Zoe.* Not to mention that he admits to his shrink that he's having blackouts.
6. Setting the stage: Leo recognizes that Josh has a crush on Donna. [Y'all know how much I hate the stupid personal stuff.]
And all this preparation/setting the stage stuff was exemplified by the singing of "O Holy Night." *sigh* Since the "Christmas" episode aired tonight [err...Wed. night], I guess I should be prepared to wait until *next year* for a new episode.

***Entry 265***
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
08:53 p.m.
Shameless Promotion
Welcome all SMC students. As one of my last acts as an undergraduate, I blatantly violated my school's policy against "All Student" emails. In addition to the promotion of my SMP [read: senior thesis], I sent them here.

***Entry 264***
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
05:37 p.m.
Something Different/Something Quick
"Doing the best you can has to count."--Lisa Belkin, NY Times columnist and writer of Life's Work [A book I will probably never read.] Given the stress of my current life, hearing this statement on Fresh Air today counted for something. At least the Chemistry test is over...now back to the already late paper on blogging.

How am I supposed to enjoy the last few days of my college education, when it is *so* stressful?

***Entry 263***
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
10:45 a.m.
Exit Polls=Early Results, Some Inaccuracies
My "A Critique of Consensus Process" project is garnering more feedback than I expected. I've received over 15 emails--thanking me, agreeing with me, objecting to my perspective, pointing out inaccuracies, etc. I have not asked the writers of those emails if I can repost their words here. I want to provide my readers with some idea of how this project is being received. Thankfully, the blogosphere is on my side.

1. Chuck O writes: It's really good that some folks like Zoe are out there writing critically about the process and methods we use in our activism. It may not be as sexy as writing a report on some protest, but it is just as important. Thank you. I appreciate that. I look forward to hearing more from you.

2. Mediageek writes: I am very glad to see the question raised and these criticisms expressed, especially in such a constructive manner. Democracy is about process, and at its best consensus is a process of making the best possible decisions, not just any old decisions. To assume that consensus is unassailable and beyond question attacks the very heart of it and undermines the real goal of democracy.
However, I am less convinced that Zoe's thesis is actually a penetrating critique of the philosophy or process of consensus. Rather, I think it is a critique of how consensus--and more broadly, democracy--is actually practiced. His response is actually far too long to repost here [besides blogging is about the *links*] however, if you have read my thesis, it is important to read his analysis as well. He provides solid criticism and which is just as important [explanation below] as my project itself: What Zoe's essay does quite effectively is deconstruct the notion of unanimity, and demonstrate rather well at how difficult it is to achieve, and moreover, how it is most often a fiction -- an end in search of a means.
But consensus is not unanimity.
Unanimity is the core distinguishing feature of consensus process--anything other than unanimity would be a configuration of majority rule. I understand that "consensus" doesn't *literally* mean "unanimity" but for many political theorists, active participants in groups using consensus process, and myself, consensus process and the attempt to reach unanimity in decision making are indeliably linked.

Regardless, I'm pleased with the responses both in email and in blog form. The most important thing I think my "Critique" can do is encourage people to reconsider consensus and the implications of using consensus process. It can increase/initiate deliberation on the merits/faults of using consensus process. And, it can change the way we approach democracy. Thank you all for taking time to read my work and take it seriously.

***Entry 262***
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
08:15 p.m.
Arrested
I've been getting amazingly positive responses for my "A Critique of Consensus Process" so far. I'll have to compile them as soon as I have some "spare" time. [ha].
As for now, check out this CNN piece which features the arrest of my wonderful housemate Jill. Solidarity!

***Entry 261***
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
12:29 p.m.
A Critique of Consensus Process
I have finally published it. I have no idea what the reaction will be, but here is the link to the introduction. Chapters 1-3 are linked to the Introduction. Please read it and provide feedback. I have been working on this project for more than a year and would love to know how people are responding to it.

I'm a little nervous.

And in other school news, I was so caught up in finishing this project that I didn't even realize that the "A Weblog of Her Own" project was actually due *last* Thursday. Since it was a snow day, most of my classmates turned it in today. I will be turning it in on this Thursday. Until then, I will not be on the blog very often. If you miss me, read "A Critique of Consensus Process."

***Entry 260***
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
12:03 a.m.
The Decline of Indymedia: The Debate Rages
ChuckO has published a piece on The Sad Decline of Indymedia over at the DC IMC. It's received a rash of comments--most of which are irrelevant conspiracy theorist crap and/or personal attacks on Chuck O. I'd post my response there, but 21 comments into the piece, I'm not sure it would make any difference. The fact is, Chuck O's not the only one expressing these kinds of concerns, Rabble posted a similar analysis months ago. It shouldn't be strange to see that Rabble's piece was not subjected to the same criticism as Chuck O's was. It would be misguided to claim that the world has changed substantially between the two pieces.

What we have here is another example of the left eating itself. If some people in the no-longer-solidified "anti-corporate globalization" movement in DC have some issues with Chuck O, that's one thing. But to constantly and unconditionally criticize his work because it is *his* work is to completely disregard the substantive value of writing. And, in fact, that makes fewer people willing to contribute to the indymedia project. Do you see what I'm getting at here? When you criticize ChuckO, or Clarissa, or Matt, or Chris, or me, etc...you are in fact criticizing the indymedia project. This is not because anyone of us represent indymedia in DC or globally, but because we participate in it. Imagine the stifling effect of having everything you write subjected to attacks--not because of the words you write, but because someone doesn't like who you are. To those people, I strongly suggest a dose of Foucault's "What is an Author"--or this analysis of it by Prof. Mary Klages.

When ever someone accurately assesses the lack of community almost inherent in the left, their work is subject to attack by those incapable of seeing that the left is destroying itself. Right-wing trolls, like Soldier and Jamal do far less damage to the indymedia concept than do a bunch of misguided ideologues on the left.

If anyone has any questions on the disturbing trend of attacking each other in DC vs. other IMCs, check out the response to the *same* story from Chuck O over at the Portland IMC. It's *very* different there...

***Entry 259***
Monday, December 9, 2002
10:21 p.m.
Interpol Rox
I don't care what this post article says about Interpol. Their Saturday nite concert rocked out. It was the first show I've been to @ the 9:30 club that wasn't full o' high school students shouting out lyrics. Instead, as I mentioned earlier, the show was packed with frat boy types and *cooler* than thou hipsters that probably never listened to The Smiths or Joy Division because they weren't hip enough. Regardless, Interpol roxx and I'll be wearing a black turtleneck tomorrow just for kicks.
Now back to the Nietzsche essay...woe?

***Entry 258***
Monday, December 9, 2002
05:28 p.m.
Off the Blog, Out of Time
I'm not going to be around much this week. I have too many school projects I need to finish, etc. I currently feel that working on my school projects is useless since I'm going to graduate next week without a job. A better use of my time would be filling out job applications and going down to visit some temp agencies. I guess before I become a wage slave like the rest of my friends, I must increase my intellect for a few more days.

As for that other stuff...I deleted it.

***Entry 257***
Sunday, December 8, 2002
12:22 p.m.
Growing Fonder
If you want some profound thoughts, hit this and read ***Entry 256*** and *click on the link!* I want to discuss this with someone!

As for now, I'll provide you with some choice details of my past few days. I've had an interesting weekend. I met a cool girl named Chloe who is considering going to grad school in DC. [It's nice here, I promise!] I finished my final re-write of "A Critique of Consensus Process." [I'm planning on publishing it tomorrow.] I saw Interpol at the 9:30 club. It would have been a hotter show if I wasn't surrounded by complete morons. [And not even the typical high-school morons, these people were straight out of the frat boy club. errr...] I got into a tiff with Josh and I need to make amends today. [Which is why I'm in a time crunch...] I went to a party at Darby's house. [I miss being around Darby a lot.] I went to a super hot decatur blue show down on 7th St. [I'm in a rush, so I won't get to the link now. But check it out. I'll prob. write a longer review later...]

But, that's all irrelevant. Most readers aren't hitting my blog to learn about the details of my life. So, because I'm super crunched for time. I'll lead you over to Joanne who has posted some great entries about gender and blogging/technology. Oh Jo, I'll be using your work for the whole "A Weblog of Her Own" 12pg project of procrastination. Don't worry, you will be quoted.