Erkan's Field Diary

World music archive/ William Faulkner’s University of Virginia Lectures ETC

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:39:24 +0000

A Critique of the Cuts

July 27, 2010

“Oh be still my beating heart… I just fell in love again. Was that a shawl Eva was wearing, or a superwoman cape?”

What prompts academics to declare a scholar a superhero? The praise above is from a comment on a blog that linked to Eva von Dassow’s presentation before a recent public forum of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. Von Dassow, a professor of classical and Near Eastern studies, had only three minutes (and she was reminded with a gavel when she needed to wrap up). But the video of her talk is inspiring many of her colleagues at Minnesota and elsewhere, many of them fed up with what they view as unrelenting budget cuts, particularly of humanities disciplines. The video is already being suggested for viewing before other universities consider new rounds of cuts.

Heated transfer race in Turkish academia

from Hurriyet Dailynews

As the new academic year approaches, private universities in Istanbul are wheeling and dealing to add renowned professors to their faculties.

Can you represent the subaltern? , Anthony Faramelli

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Anthony Faramelli

sub·al·tern:

- Lower in rank, subordinate or second class

- A term that commonly refers to persons who are socially, politically and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structure.

openDemocracy’s Discourses exhibition and discussion series is currently taking artistic submissions for our next event, Subaltern voices, opening on October 7th, 2010. The event will feature 3 visual artists whose contribution will explore artistic re-presentations of ‘the subaltern’ as well as a panel discussion on the opening night exploring who the subaltern is and who has the agency to represent them.

World music archive

from Culture Matters by Jovan Maud

The folk over at Open Culture have just posted about a new “world music archive” that has just been created by the BBC. As noted in their article, the archive includes over 100 hours of recordings from 40 countries, and even includes some lesser-known traditions from North Korea.

William Faulkner’s University of Virginia Lectures Digitized

from Writerswrite.com’s Writer’s Blog

William Faulkner was the writer-in-residence at the University of Virginia for two years in the last 1950s. Faulkner gave lectures and readings and answered questions from students. NPR reports that these lectures and question-and-answer sessions were recorded on reel-to-reel tapes. The tapes have now been digitized and published online at faulkner.lib.virginia.edu. The Faulkner audio archive also includes essays, news articles, photographs and other materials.

The Art of Theft: Creativity and Property on deviantART

from Material World by Heather Ayn Horst

Dan Perkel is a PhD Candidate at the School of Information, University of California, Berkeley. His research examines new literacies and cultural practices that have accompanied the development of new social and technical infrastructure for the creation, distribution, and use of digital media.

ethics, professionalism, and standardized testing

from digital digs by Alex Reid

As reported in the NY Times, there seems to be a “slight” error in the standardized testing measures in which it first appeared that 86% of students were at “grade level” in math, when in fact only 61% were. In the article, Merryl H. Tisch, the chancellor of the state’s Education Department, is quoted as saying “Now that we are facing the hard truth that not all of the gains were as advertised, we have to take a look at what we can do differently. These results will finally provide real unimpeachable evidence about to be used for accountability.”

Top 300 US Colleges and Universities by Internet Media Buzz

from The Global Language Monitor

“Unesco denies report that Istanbul not on Endangered Heritage List

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:18:03 +0000

Unesco denies report that Istanbul not on Endangered Heritage List

from Habervesaire Haberleri

UNESCO denied a report by the semi-official Anatolian Agency that Istanbul will be kept on the World Heritage List.

Historical Galata Tower is seen in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, July 21, 2010. Turkey is facing the constant threat of a killer quake but even after the deaths of over 18,000 people in western Turkey in 1999 it has focused on rescuing people in the aftermath of an earthquake rather than implementing stricter building codes and punishing those who infringe them, a parliamentary report concludes. Experts predict that Turkey, crissed crossed by active fault lines, could be hit by a major earthquake in the next 30 years that could devastate Istanbul and cause thousands of deaths.… Read more » (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

(AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)

President Gül shares a cup of tea with İstanbul locals
Today’s Zaman
President Abdullah Gül spent some time with locals in İstanbul’s Tarabya neighborhood yesterday and chatted with them while drinking tea. …

Istanbul cultural center’s fate uncertain
Hurriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s longtime cultural center has now been closed for more than half of the city’s year as a European Capital of Culture, and its reopening remains …

Top 25 things to do on the Asian side in Istanbul

from Istanbul-pedia by Ali Akpinar

Go to Camlica Tepesi (Camlica Hill) for a nice cup of tea and a spectacular Bosphorus view.
Watch a Fenerbahce game at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. Especially a derbey between Fenerbahce and Galatasaray.
Climb up the Yoros Fortress after having a fish-raki meal in Anadolukavagi.
Go to Sile to have brakfast near the Lighthouse.
Go to Riva, Sile or Agva to swim and sunbathe.

All Turk and all play
National Post
We don’t need New York City, proclaims Istanbul. The ancient city continues to transform into a forward-thinking fashion hot spot, though modesty is …

From computer illustration to sketchs on Istanbul sites
Hurriyet Daily News
Since coming to Istanbul, Venola has filled 24 sketchbooks, including over 2500 drawings, documenting Istanbul, Antalya, Cappadocia and various other parts …

Turkey: An expert decodes where, what, and how to eat
Budget Travel
For five years now, Virginia Maxwell has spent time eating her way across Turkey on assignment for Lonely Planet’s Istanbul and Turkey guidebooks. …

Surprises around Istanbul’s corners
Toronto Sun
By SUE-ANN LEVY, QMI Agency ISTANBUL, Turkey — I’m lying nude on a slab of marble — for what seems like hours — watching my own sweat form puddles of …

Has İstanbul finally become an indispensable stop for global stars?
Sunday’s Zaman
Music lovers in İstanbul have been quite lucky in recent years. The artists they have been listening to forever on albums have been coming to İstanbul to ..

İstanbul mosques focus of Iranian photographer’s lens
Today’s Zaman
And it is for that precise reason that Berberoğlu says she is working to create a lasting artistic impression of İstanbul, a city she has a great deal of …

Istanbul properties ‘a good investment’
Safestore.co.uk
Purchasing a property in Istanbul could be a good investment for those who are considering renting it out. According to Aidan Rankin, economic analyst at …

Foreign investment in Istanbul on the rise

from Hurriyet Dailynews

The number of foreign investors in Istanbul rose 6.53 percent in the first half of the year on an annual basis.

Byzantine Palaces reveal themselves in Istanbul

from Hurriyet Dailynews

The exhibition ‘Byzantine Palaces in Istanbul’ at the Archaeological Museum illustrates the incredible size of the great palace with large, state-of-the-art posters.

Istanbul Preview
Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
ISTANBUL, Turkey – Recent months have thrown up plenty of surprises on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, and some of the key headline-makers feature in the draw …

Foreign investors’ interest in İstanbul on the rise
Today’s Zaman
The number of foreign investors planning to establish businesses or expand their operations in İstanbul was up by 6.53 percent in the first half of the year …

Analogue photography exhibit takes viewers on a stroll through İstanbul
Today’s Zaman
Titled “İstanbul‘da Gezeriken/Strolling Through İstanbul,” the show features images that were taken with an analogue camera and developed in a dark room. …

Contemporary-figurative artists provide originality in Istanbul
Hurriyet Daily News
Istanbul’s Evin Art Gallery is hosting a summer group exhibition in Bebek with an exhibition presenting the highlights and wide variety of 12 artists. …

Istanbul Slips but Holds Better than Rivals

from Mavi Boncuk by M.A.M

Istanbul slips but holds better in Travel+ Leisure Ranking than continental rivals this year with Kraków threatening with a major jump to the top 10.

Saying ‘Tel Aviv’ on the streets of Istanbul
Jerusalem Post
I met said bartender, secular, in his early thirties and from the south of Turkey, during a long weekend in Istanbul, after the most recent diplomatic …

Towards Referendum (2): PSYOPs in Dörtyol and İnegöl

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:43:12 +0000

Two towns whose populations are more intermixed due to domestic migration, Dörtyol and İnegöl have been targets of psychological operations in order to start communal strifes. This is a pattern that has been observed several times in pre-1980 coup d’etat. In the old days, Alevis vs. Sunnis tension was manipulated. Now comes Turks vs. Kurds tension. Kurdish populations increase in especially Western parts of Anatolia and this brings some social tension. There have been some other attempts to instigate strifes in recent years but İnegöl and Dörtyol cases that happened in the same week seem to be more deliberate. Mobs agitated by Turkish nationalist themes are mobilized after seemingly personal conflicts between persons that happend to be Kurds and Turks.

Unlike the previous cases, government acted swiftly this time and there have been arrrests in İnegöl and security forces patrol the city. Mobs are cowards. When they see security forces at work, they back down. In fact, in most of the cases, security forces are “called to wait” and then come the massacres. This time the government will not let this happen. It seems. Well, apparently these operations aim to destabilize the country and calls for “law and order” regime. Not more democratizations…

In the mean time, Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu who emerged as a symbol of hope for some in opposition continue to embarrass himself with ridicilous allegations.. That’s the best CHP could reach…

In the mean time, judiciary battles continue. There is a warrant to arrest 102 active and retired military officials although it is not executed yet… We will see the drama unravel in the next days…

Unrest against Kurdish Population in Hatay

from Bianet :: English

Four police officers were killed in an attack on a police car in the south-eastern city of Dörtyolu; the party building of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party was burned; shops owned by Kurds were demolished. Tension is still rising high in the region.

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Social harmony at risk

In the past several weeks tensions in Turkey have escalated with the news of street conflicts erupting between Turks and Kurds in various parts of the country. The latest incidents occurred in Bursa’s İnegöl district and Dörtyol in Hatay.

ORHAN KEMAL CENGİZ – 1915, 1934, 1955, 1978, 1993, 2010…

There were two tragic incidents in two small towns in Turkey this week. In İnegöl and Dörtyol “angry crowds” wanted to lynch some Kurdish citizens.

Pro-Kurdish party members cancel protest visit to Dörtyol

from Hurriyet Dailynews

Members of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, were stopped by police as they tried to enter the town of Dörtyol to protest the events that took place in the town on Monday.

HÜSEYİN GÜLERCE – A YAŞ test ahead of the referendum

What the prime minister and defense minister will do during the Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting, slated for this weekend, is very important. This is what Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ discussed with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a midnight meeting on Sunday.

Why is it not enough? Why Yes? (2) by ÜMİT KARDAŞ

I will continue explaining why one should vote in favor of the constitutional reform package in the referendum, which is set to take place on Sept. 12.

Former High-Ranking Military Officer Doğan Arrested

from Bianet :: English

Former 1st Army Commander Çetin Doğan was arrested on the Bodrum airport upon an arrest warrant related to the “Sledgehammer” coup plan trial. Chief of General Staff Başbuğ convoked a meeting after the court decided to issue a total of 102 arrests warrants.

Officers in Turkey coup claim face setback

from FT.com – World, Europe

Lawyers appealing a court order to arrest hundreds of military officers accused of plotting to overthrow the ruling party faced a setback when their request to replace the judges hearing the case was rejected

ŞULE KULU – Sledgehammer makes a comeback

Undoubtedly, Turkey has been passing through an unprecedented period. As the country focused on the upcoming referendum on Sept. 12, when the nation will decide whether to make the most comprehensive reform to the current Constitution yet, an İstanbul court dropped a bombshell of a ruling late on Friday.

Turkey detains 102 in ‘coup plot’

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition

A court orders the arrest of 102 people, including senior military figures, for plotting to overthrow the government in 2003.

Turkish court orders arrest of coup plot suspects

from FT.com – World, Europe

Turkish court orders the arrest of 102 people, including retired military commanders suspected of plotting to overthrow Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s government in 2003

Turkish indictment: Coup plotters offered PKK cooperation
www.worldbulletin.net
The Istanbul 10th Criminal Court accepted on Monday the indictment in the Sledgehammer plan, a suspected coup plot created in 2003 at a military gathering

Ergenekon investigators are at unease as well
Hürriyet (blog)
Those who deal with the Ergenekon case one way or another and as they state “taking our courage in both hands” while fighting this struggle are not very …

LALE KEMAL – Coups and Article 35

Following an arrest warrant issued for 102 military officers, including 28 generals, as part of a trial on an alleged coup plot code-named Sledgehammer, the Turkish Parliament is expected to eliminate or amend the infamous Article 35 of the Internal Service Law of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – A ridiculous allegation

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu astonished everyone by claiming early this week that the General Staff and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government struck a deal in 2007 for the release of a military memorandum against the government that year so that the party would benefit from a position of victimization.

What a lie

by EMRE AKÖZ- SABAH

You must have heard the reckless claim of Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who said the military released the April 27 e-memorandum against the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government in 2007 to ensure that the party secured a second term in power.

ETYEN MAHÇUPYAN – Referendum and reforms

Questions such as who is controlling or who is directing the process of change in Turkey have lost meaning as of late. It is as if the momentum of the change dynamic has become a subject of its own.

Ahmet Türk’s attacker fined by Turkish court

from Hurriyet Dailynews

The man who punched Kurdish politician Ahmet Türk has been sentenced to serve 11 months and 20 days in prison, a punishment later reduced to a court fine.

Mapping out Inequality in Turkey

from Bianet :: English

The report of the Social Policy Forum reviewed socio-economic inequality and discrimination as two problems that became permanent and started to seem natural. The report suggests public policies to remove these intertwined inequalities.

Turkey Softens Terror Law That Jailed Young Kurds

from NYT > Turkey by By DAN BILEFSKY

The Parliament passed a bill reducing the sentences of hundreds of Kurdish youths, some of them guilty only of attending protests.

METALHEAD (Part 1)- Erkan introduces a new regular post series…

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:34:42 +0000

In addition to irregular series of “Introducing Turkish Cybersphere” and weekly Sunday posts of ” Erkan’s field diary: Top posts of the week and month“, I would like to introduce a weekly post series on my heavy metal consumption. I hope to post “Metalhead” every Thursday…

METALHEAD (Part 1)

album of the week

Knights of the Cross by Grave Digger

erkan’s best of- song 001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m4D4NwTwTU

Song: A Perfect Day
Artist: Freedom Call
Album: Legend of The Shadowking (2010)

new stuff:

The Powerless Rise by As I Lay Dying
Good stuff.

Ghost Stories
~ Silent Civilian
it is ok.

special interest:

Erkan’s quest on folk metal/experimental metal:

Pale Folklore by Agalloch

tribute to the ancestors:

Physical Graffiti
~ Led Zeppelin

In Through the Out Door
~ Led Zeppelin

Dark Side of the Moon
~ Pink Floyd

Wish You Were Here
~ Pink Floyd

did not like it:
Presence by Led Zeppelin

Walk Into Light by Ian Anderson

news roundup:

When Jon Bon Jovi was younger…

REPORT: TURKEY’S INTERNET CENSORSHIP PROBLEM

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:59:52 +0000

REPORT: TURKEY’S INTERNET CENSORSHIP PROBLEM

The Media Association has released a report analyzing the various aspects of the problem of Internet access blocks in Turkey. The report, looking at the Internet as a new conduit, examines Law No. 5651, which regulates the Internet, as well as the current YouTube and Google IP bans, and makes recommendations……..

KLAUS JURGENS – Why does Turkey censor the Internet?

Has surfing the Net become a crime? Are we not entitled to live in a knowledge-based economy? We must resist the temptation to judge the Turkish civic liberties book by its cover and instead find out who the real players are behind the recent domestic crusade against the free flow of information.

Over 4 million Turks have no internet access

from Hurriyet Dailynews

A recent survey reveals that 2.6 million out of 18 million total Turkish households has neither a computer nor Internet access. The research inspires the largest Internet provider of Turkey, where ADSL connection has been available for the past seven years, to launch a campaign that would allow users to have Internet access for as little as 2 Turkish Liras per day

Blogging offers ad revenues for patient Turkish users

from Hurriyet Dailynews

Numbering 2.5 million in Turkey, blogs are offering not only the chance to express thoughts and feelings, but they also create opportunities to earn money.

USA: Interview with Mary Joyce, Editor of Digital Activism Decoded

from Global Voices Online by Claire Sale

By Claire Sale

This interview was originally published on Netsquared.org. I wrote this post about a new book called Digital Activism Decoded and followed up with editor Mary Joyce to learn more.

About the book:
Citizens around the world are using digital technologies to push for social and political change. Yet, while stories have been published, discussed, extolled, and derided, the underlying mechanics of digital activism are little understood. This new field, its dynamics, practices, misconceptions, and possible futures are presented together for the first time in Digital Activism Decoded.

Digital Natives versus brand elite?

from Editors Weblog – all postings by Dawn Osakue

Eighteen to 24-year-olds want news fast, they have little faith in established brands or corporations, and they see life as a game. BVA, a research institute in France conducted a 3-month study of youths into ‘Digital Natives’: individuals shaped by video games, computers, mobile phones and virtual systems.

EFF wins enormous victory against DRM: legal to jailbreak iPhones, rip DVDs for mashup videos

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

The Electronic Frontier Foundation drove three deep wedges into the US prohibition on breaking DRM today. EFF had applied to the Copyright Office to grant exemptions permitting the cracking of DRM in three cases: first, to “jailbreak” a mobile device, such as an iPhone, where DRM is used to prevent phone owners from running software of their own choosing; second, to allow video remix artists to break the DRM on DVDs in order to take short excerpts for mashups posted to YouTube and other sharing sites; finally EFF got the Copyright Office to renew its ruling that made it illegal to unlock cellphones so that they can be used with any carrier.

How to increase your chances of influencing social networks

from Editors Weblog – all postings by Dawn Osakue

Based on research carried out by Gartner, it has been determined that a whopping 20% of social media users are ‘influencers.’ Considering the increasing importance of such media in news dissemination and increasing website traffic, how can this information be exploited?

Facebook privacy settings: Who cares?

from apophenia by zephoria

Eszter Hargittai and I just published a new article in First Monday entitled: “Facebook privacy settings: Who cares?”

Digital Media Firms as Cultural Systems

from Savage Minds: Notes and Queries in Anthropology — A Group Blog by Adam Fish

Working with digital media producers for the past few years I’ve begun to confuse their language with my other professional nomenclature, that of an anthropologist. Is this indeed confusion or a result of finally doing my job of seeing broader cultural systems in those practices?

How Women Use the Web [REPORT]

from Mashable! by Jennifer Van Grove

Euro roundup: France working on her identity crisis: banning burqa, chains “illegal” Romas…

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:50:41 +0000

MAIN FOCUS: Catalans ban bullfighting | 29/07/2010

from euro|topics

The Catalan parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday passed a ban on bullfighting that will go into effect in the autonomous Spanish region starting 2012. The press writes that rather than being a victory for animal rights over an outdated tradition, the resolution is an expression of Catalan desires for self-determination and clear demarcation from the central power in Madrid.

See no citizens, hear no citizens, speak to no citizens – the institutional approach to the European citizens’ initiative (ECI)

from Jon Worth by Jon

Would you ban the Burka?

from Social Europe Journal by Henning Meyer

Source: Pewglobal.org

The Pew Global Attitudes Project has recently published a very interesting piece of research investigating attitudes towards the full Islamic veil. The results show a remarkable difference between Europeans and US citizens.

Funny, smart commentary about burqa bans

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

Observer columnist David Mitchell (half of the comedy team Mitchell and Webb is in fine form today with this column on the absurdity of burqa banning. It was one of those bits of the Sunday paper that had me stopping to read a passage aloud to my wife every ten seconds or so until she snatched it out of my hands and read it herself.

Egypt: Niqab ban in France stirs controversy

from Global Voices Online by Marwa Rakha

Whither EU-US Relations?

from U.S.A.K. Blog

Written by Mustafa Kutlay and Lukas Linsi

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States in November 2008 was accompanied by popular enthusiasm in Europe. During his election campaign he had been given a rapturous reception in Berlin where over 100,000 spectators gathered when he spoke at the Victory Column in Berlin. But the support for Obama in Europe was not confined to a popular movement; also the European political elites pinned their hopes on Obama to improve trans-Atlantic ties after the divisions that marked the era of George W. Bush. After all, Obama was a declared multilateralist in international politics and he seemed ideologically close to the traditions of European social democracies on priority issues on the policy agenda, such as health care reform, climate change and tax reform. At the same time, the European leaders in France, Germany and Great Britain were considered to be exceptionally “pro-American.” The moment seemed unusually ripe for trans-Atlantic cooperation and it was no surprise that Obama’s first overseas trip as US President led to Europe.

Mathew Lowry and the European online public sphere

by Grahnlaw

Martin on Europaeum launched the Twitter hash tag #bkaeb for Better Know A EuroBlog, for blog posts giving reasons for reading a specific Euroblog.

Missing policy expert Eurobloggers: Motivation and rewards?

by Grahnlaw

Sometimes we go over board when we try to explain things through clear contrasts. I did, when I described “business as usual” blogging on the European Union as petty, limited and low road, despite my intention to explore the need for subject specialists blogging on EU policies in later posts.

Kosovo, The World Court, The EU, and Splitism

from WhirledView by Patricia H. Kushlis

By Patricia H. Kushlis

Whether Kosovo is, or is not now an independent country apparently depends upon how the July 22, 2010 World Court’s advisory opinion is interpreted. On the one hand, the International Court of Justice in a 10 to 4 decision declared that Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law. On the other hand, the Court did not declare Kosovo independent under international law.

Is there a UK “deep state”?, Anthony Barnett

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Anthony Barnett

Yesterday’s Observer ran an important scoop, an account by Cairn Ross who was our expert on Iraq at the UN from 1997 to 2002, about what happened when he had to give evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry. Overall, it seems clear now that after Blair took his early decision to back Bush’s storm to war at the start of 2002, all parts of the permanent apparatus in Britain collaborated with rather than defied his recklessness. I have no doubt that a big factor in this is a whole range of personal, corporate and departmental interests in blindingly supporting the United States military-security machine whatever it does. As a result, while those like Manningham-Buller who took a different view were sidelined, no alternative strategy was seriously considered or researched. In Cairn Ross’s words,

Italy: Internet press freedom under threat, Arianna Ciccone

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Arianna Ciccone

One of the provisions of the Media and Wiretapping Bill currently being discussed by the Italian Parliament is that all “those responsible for information websites” will be required to issue corrections within 48 hours to any complaint regarding website content, whether blogs, opinion, comment and/or information in general. Corrections would need to be in the same form in which the contested content was originally put online, whether text, podcast or video. Failure to do so will risk a fine of up to 12,500 euros.

Euroblogs facing Babel: Inclusive and exclusive approaches

by Grahnlaw

If the European Union is the common theme, even our shared destiny, should discussions be confined to separate national or linguistic forums?

Euroblogs: Bursting the Brussels Bubble?

by Grahnlaw

Is the Euroblogosphere an insignificant appendix to the Brussels Bubble, or perhaps (potentially) something more? Let us offer ‘citoyen lambda (européen)’ (the average EU citizen) a complimentary tour.

Interpreting The Stress Tests

from A Fistful Of Euros » A Fistful Of Euros by Edward Hugh

Evidently there is now a considerable debate out there about the famous (or should that be infamous) CEBS stress tests. Methodologically all sorts of weaknesses have been identified, but in many cases these are decidedly beside the point. It is important to be aware what the tests were (and weren’t) designed to show. They were, it seems to me, essentially designed to free up lending in the short term European interbank market, nothing more, nothing less. This would be useful since it would enable the ECB to step out of playing this particular role. And it may well happen, since if everyone can agree that no European bank is going to fail tomorrow, or be allowed to fail tomorrow, then there should be no difficulty for one bank to lend to another for 24 hours, and so on.

MAIN FOCUS: Icelanders uncertain about EU accession | 28/07/2010

from euro|topics

The EU started membership negotiations with Iceland on Tuesday. The country applied for membership last year as it stood on the verge of state bankruptcy. But the accession is subject to a referendum and its outcome is uncertain, the press writes.

Should the EU spend money on culture?

by Open Europe blog team

There has been some confusion surrounding a story in Monday’s Telegraph. The headline, which reads “EU’s secret £400m for ‘crazy’ projects”, confuses two separate types of EU spending.

Europe’s Federalism Debate Revived

from Social Europe Journal by Jean Pisani-Ferry

This issue is of persistent concern for investors worldwide. Holders of European government bonds believed that they knew what they had bought. Sure, there was no such thing as a eurozone sovereign security. But German, French, Spanish, and even Greek bonds all carried roughly the same interest rate, so they were deemed equivalent.

Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia: after the ICJ , Florian Bieber

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Florian Bieber

“Such declarations are no more than foam on the tide of time; they cannot allow the past to be forgotten nor a future to be built on fragments of the present.”

Judge Mohamed Bennouna, dissenting opinion, para. 69 (re International Court of Justice, Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo [Request for Advisory Opinion]), 22 July 2010)

Francophonie: Like Fine Wine, Twitter Experience Gets Better With Age

from Global Voices Online by Lova Rakotomalala

By Lova Rakotomalala

An unexpected but deliciously nostalgic hash tag, #jesuisvieux, has been trending on the French speaking social media scene. Since July 26th, twitter users have been going down memory lane, posting tweets relating their memories from youth with the hash tag #jesuisvieux ( #Iamold for men) or #jesuisvieille ( #Iamold for women). The timeline for the hashtag was filled with often humorous, sometimes sweet updates and provides a good snapshot of the evolution of information technology usage and its demographics.

PISANI-FERRY : Europe’s Federalism Debate Revived

from Project Syndicate by Jean Pisani-Ferry

It is an old debate, but tensions within the euro area have revived it: can a monetary union survive without some form of fiscal federalism? If not, what kind of federalism is right for Europe?

Sarkozy orders illegal Roma immigrants expelled

from Hurriyet Dailynews

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered authorities to expel Gypsy illegal immigrants and dismantle their camps, amid accusations that his government is acting racist in its treatment of the group known as Roma.

France to shut illegal Roma camps

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition

French President Nicolas Sarkozy orders illegal Roma gypsy camps to be dismantled and illegal migrants to be deported.

Latvia: The Demographic Price Of Procrastination

from A Fistful Of Euros » A Fistful Of Euros by Edward Hugh

One of the things I think we can safely say about the impact of the current economic crisis is that the face of Macro Economic theory will never be the same again. Quite what the macro economics of the future will look like is too early to say, but what is clear enough is that the existing corpus has been tested and found wanting: it’s predictive capacity is very, very limited, and this is obviously a far from satisfactory situation.

Rethinking the EU’s media relations

from European Voice – RSS – News & analysis

Danish MEP Morten Løkkegaard on why he wants a ‘taskforce’ of EU-funded journalists to sell the Union to its citizens.

Vilnius Poker: Ideas for Eastern Europe , Chris Parton

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Chris Parton

The Lithuanian-American academic Violeta Kelertas has referred to Vilnius Poker as a postmodern ‘melange of genres’: a kaleidoscopic mongrel which operates simultaneously as (anti)hero quest, bildungsroman, murder mystery and philosophical treatise. The central, if unstable, axis upon which the novel turns is the murder and mutilation of Lolita Banyte in a Vilnius suberb, supposedly at the hands of her lover Vytautas Vargalys. It is this act which gives the novel its murder mystery dimensions, albeit without any Poirot like linearity or denouement. Indeed, characters may quest for knowledge and justice against a conspiratorially sinister and seemingly omniscient Them, held responsible for the City’s ills, but the routes they take are nebulous, un-heroic and without concrete victories.

Soviet anti-religion has returned, claim Europe’s last surviving pagans, Geraldine Fagan

from open Democracy News Analysis – by Geraldine Fagan

The clang of knife on axe blade grates through the sacred village of Pine Grove. Woodsmoke wafts from a low flame amid offerings of boiled eggs, cheesecake, steamed buckwheat and buttered pancakes. Before this altar, eight karts, or priests, chant invocations to Agavairem, the god of sowing, in rhythmic, guttural Mari. Dressed in densely embroidered black and blood red smocks, they lift their felt hats at the close of each prayer, in deference to a cluster of pine trees. Men in suits and women in festive floral headscarves bow in unison behind a huddle of worshippers. An almond-eyed gusli player provides languid accompaniment.

feeling sorry for CHP’s EU office

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:48:14 +0000

as she had to make such an irrational statement:

Kader Sevinc: The CHP is the most progressive political force in Turkey working for a truly European and democratic Turkey

from Blogactiv by admin

Asked about the CHP letter to the S&D Group, the CHP’s EU Representative in Brussels Ms. Kader Sevinc replied that “This was a private correspondence. It would be inappropriate to make it public without the consent of other persons. The letter conveyed the message of the CHP President Mr Kilicdaroglu and the party’s position on [...]

Turkish opposition wants ‘better channels’ with EU socialists

from Blogactiv by admin

Published: 26 July 2010 | Updated: 27 July 2010
Turkey’s main opposition CHP party said it was deeply disappointed by the “wrong advice” it said it had received from within the European socialist ranks to which it is affiliated, EurActiv has learned.
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Ambassador Marc Pierini, the Commission Representative in Ankara, warned that “the Commission’s position on the Constitutional [...]

‘no’ vote on constitutional reforms.

Kılıçdaroğlu sending the wrong message to Europe

from Hurriyet Dailynews by HDN

One critical area we have not been able to get a clear picture on is CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s stance on key foreign policy issues.

İHSAN DAĞI – The CHP and European socialists: Any common ground?

European social democrats seem puzzled by the Republican People’s Party (CHP). That a member of Socialist International opposes reforms for democratization and Europeanization is hard to believe, but if you just remember the history of the CHP it makes sense because this party is not a social democrat party.

Towards Referendum (1): a roundup

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:03:34 +0000

Unfortunately, I could not find an English translation of proposed changes. I am working on it. You can find a documents where all changes in Turkish are listed. Besides, AKP set up a website again only in Turkish about the changes here. I will declare my official position on referendum soon…

The list of constitutional changes (in Turkish)

Yes or no!

by HASAN CEMAL – MİLLİYET

Yes or no on the Sept. 12 referendum? Are you confused? Maybe. You may not like the Justice and Development Party (AK Party); the conservative understanding it represents or the lifestyle it adopts may not appeal to you.

Crown package with Article 35

by MUSTAFA ÜNAL – ZAMAN

Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu sidetracked the Sept. 12 debates by bringing up Article 35 (of the Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] Internal Service Law).

Settling accounts with Sept. 12

by HASAN CEMAL – MİLLİYET

The Sept. 12, 1980 coup is the source of all evil of the last 30 years. It is the reason behind many big problems we are experiencing in economics and politics.

İHSAN YILMAZ – Generals’ ‘support’ for the referendum

Our generals do not, of course, support democratization in Turkey. Even though they like to speak about every single issue under the sun, they never mention that Turkey needs democratization or transparency, and thus, the EU process.

The referendum’s tactical wars by MÜMTAZ’ERTÜRKÖNE

Since Rousseau, we have described constitutions as “social contracts.” What it means for a constitution to be a social contract is that constitutional rules belong not to the political arena, but to society.

ŞULE KULU – Analyzing the ‘no’ front

As the historic Sept. 12 referendum draws near, both the supporters and the opponents of the constitutional amendment package have begun raising their voices. Political parties have already announced the color of their votes, with the opposition kicking off its “no” campaign and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) appealing for a “yes” vote.

The referendum countdown

from Hurriyet Dailynews by HDN

Since polling firm KONDA asked me to write on the upcoming referendum for their August Barometer report, I have been immersed in their last two surveys.

Military coup memories fuel Turkish PM’s referendum campaign

from Hurriyet Dailynews

Conjuring the last words of young people executed after the 1980 coup, PM Erdoğan called Tuesday in an emotional speech for a ‘yes’ vote on constitutional reforms.

Turkish opposition chief to discuss referendum with European politicians

from Hurriyet Dailynews

The leader of Turkey’s main opposition has said he will respond to European criticisms over his party’s plans to push a

EMRE USLU – Basics of the Turkish political system: the military

In a normal democratic country, viewing the military institution as part of the political system is unthinkable. Yet in Turkey, without understanding the key role that the military plays in the political system, it is not possible to understand how this country is run. Through various mechanisms, the Turkish military assumes a critical role in the Turkish political system.

EMRE USLU – Basics of the Turkish political system: religion

from Today’s Zaman, your gateway to Turkish daily news :: Columnists by EMRE USLU

In the Turkish political system, the issue of religion has always been considered a problem. The common argument on this issue has been developed as follows: The modern Turkish state accepted secularism as one of the main pillars of its foundation; therefore, it upset religious circles; therefore, the confrontation continues.

The ‘civilian tutelage’ fiction

by ORAL ÇALIŞLAR – RADİKAL

I said to a friend that “the threat of a military coup is losing its significance day by day.” He immediately responded, “Now the threat of civilian tutelage is approaching.”

The defeatism of Turkey’s opposition

by istanbulnotes

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the opposition is correct and the AKP’s constitutional amendments have been designed to enable the party to pack the higher judiciary with its people. (Let’s leave aside the question of whether a degree of court-packing isn’t already built into Turkey’s institutional framework.) The thing that puzzles me is why the opposition seems to equate an increased role for parliament in appointments to the higher judiciary with an increased role for the AKP in particular. Have they given up on getting back into power themselves? Are they still so dazed and confused by the AKP’s electoral successes over the past decade that they believe there is now no way to overturn its parliamentary majority?

HAKPAR Leader Bozyel: Boycotting referendum is a timid no campaign

Calling the constitutional amendment a critical step in Turkey’s democratization process, Rights and Freedoms Party (HAK-PAR) leader Bayram Bozyel assessed the Peace and Democracy Party’s (BDP) call to boycott the referendum as a lack of having its own policy.

Say ‘no’ and oppose both to be called ‘pro-coup’

by YASİN AKTAY – YENİ ŞAFAK

Those opposing the constitutional changes say “no” to the abolishment of Article 15 of the Constitution, which bans the trial of coup perpetrators, but don’t want to be called coup supporters.

FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – Being anti-AK Party, opposition to reforms

A referendum to be held on Sept. 12 on a government-sponsored constitutional reform package continues to be the main topic of debate in Turkey as political parties hit the campaign trail to convince the public to vote either “yes” or “no” on the package, which is said will form the cornerstone of Turkish democracy if approved because the reforms will deal a heavy blow to Turkey’s current coup-era Constitution.

Humor circles are supposed to be more critical but they work in favor of status quo and work for NO in the referendum:

“An archive of interviews with anthropologists

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:20:54 +0000

An archive of interviews with anthropologists

from Somatosphere by Eugene Raikhel

Alan Macfarlane interviews Clifford Geertz in 2004.

As a number of anthro blogs have mentioned in the past, Alan Macfarlane, of the Department of Social Anthropology at Cambridge, has assembled a massive online archive of video materials, including a lot of in-depth interviews with anthropologists. The interviews, which were conducted over the past thirty years, range from a late-1970s conversation with Rodney Needham filmed by Timothy Asch to a recent chat between our contributor Kalman Applbaum and Jean and John Comaroff. There are interviews with such formative figures in social and cultural anthropology as Edmund Leach, Clifford Geertz, Mary Douglas, Marilyn Strathern, Sidney Mintz, Sally Falk Moore, Roy Wagner and Paul Rabinow, and also scholars from other disciplines, like historian of science Simon Schaffer and literary critic Gillian Beer.

Andrew Garfield’s Commercial Plea for War Research, and the Reality of Ethics in Human Terrain Teams

from OPEN ANTHROPOLOGY by Maximilian Forte

Two very different, but related, items have been published online this past week, related to the Human Terrain System and embedding anthropologists/social scientists in counterinsurgency. The first one I mention–unsurprisingly published by the Small Wars “Journal” –is written by Andrew Garfield of Glevum Associates, a private defense contractor that we have encountered here many times already in conjunction with the Human Terrain System (for a summary, look for entry #11).

Researching in “non-prestigious areas” – Robert Paine 1926-2010

from antropologi.info – anthropology in the news blog by Lorenz

(via anthropologyworks) British-Canadian anthropologist Robert Paine died at the age of 84. Eveybody who’s interested in the Northern and Polar areas will know his name.

He sent his most recent article for publication just weeks ago. Last year his second volume on the Saami Camps of the Tundra came out. It was nearly 40 years ago he went to Northern Scandinavia for the first time. The Far North was a non-prestigous area in anthropology at that time.

Language extinction ain’t no big thing?

from Neuroanthropology by gregdowney

Language diversity around the world is decreasing and Razib Khan of the Discover science blog, Gene Expression, doesn’t think you should care. I was going to let it slide because I don’t like getting in little blog tiffs, but then Khan went and tried to co-opt Neuroanthropology.net into the whole thing, so he forced my hand.

Canan Sadık, the 351st child to be killed accidentally by security forces

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:13:26 +0000

Human Rights Association states that 351 children have been killed accidentally by security forces between 1989-2010 in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions (mainly Kurdish lands)

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Ministry of Justice: Defending Genocide is Freedom of Speech

from Bianet :: English

The Ministry of Justice did not issue permission for a trial against Armenian Agos newspaper owner Seropyan and chief editor Arat Dink. The case had initially been filed against assassinated Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink for recognizing the “Armenian Genocide”.

Freedom of the press and Şamil Tayyar

by ERGUN BABAHAN- STAR

Those in the Turkish media are only concerned about democracy when their rights are being infringed upon. They have been indifferent to the injustice faced by Kurds, leftists and conservatives for years.