I’m a lot less interested in discussing how the police fucked up in Ferguson (because I never expected much better from them) than I am in the civilians who have exhibited such an insane degree of racism that it’s scary.

Just like I said in the case of the freaks who kept screeching “Men and women are different,” racists are empty shells where human beings could have but never did reside and who try to fill the void with “I can’t tolerate being such a nobody, so I will find individuality in being different from somebody else.” This is why they are so attached to their racism and sexism: there is absolutely nothing else there.

There are not only rights but also responsibilities attendant on being human. One such responsibility is fashioning one’s individuality. Sadly, many folks are too stupid even to attempt something like that. They do, however, perceive that something is deeply flawed in them. Nobody likes feeling inferior and damaged, so they lash out in rage against those who remind them of their emptiness.

Can anybody tell me what the point is of having a black president when we see troops deployed against black protesters and destroying black neighborhoods with stun grenades and tear gas?

Can’t Obama order them to stop? Isn’t he like the Commander-in-Chief or whatever?

We’ve been watching a live telecast from Ferguson and Florissant where peaceful, very orderly and organized protests are taking place. Every 20 minutes, several very white policemen drag out a completely peaceful black man and take him away “for failure to disperse.” This is all televised in real time.

The policemen seem completely uninterested in how bad the whole thing looks. Their behavior is very obviously aimed at trying to provoke the protesters. The protesters are showing a surprising degree of self-control. I know I wouldn’t be able to be as responsible and reasonable in their place.

So I’ve finally had a chance to look at the two Michael Brown threads, and I have to say that I’m utterly grossed out. I have a feeling that people are scared to express to me their feelings about uppity immigrants with freaky accents who dare to express opinions so they are diverting all this anger towards an innocent bystander.

Come on, people, just stop being pathetic. If you are so afraid of me, then keep your feelings to yourself. I will not play this ridiculous game where people try to say something to me in this veiled and unhealthy manner. Have the courage of your opinions. I know I’m very scary but try to get over that. Direct whatever you have to say to me at me and not at other readers.

People who don’t love themselves are eager to hand over their unwanted, disliked self to others. They call this transfer “self-sacrifice” and expect others to provide the self with the care they can’t give to it themselves. When others fail (as they can’t help doing) at this task, self-sacrificers direct towards them the rage they feel against themselves and their own basic incapacity to treat themselves well.

I joined another academic book club, and this time we will be reading the famous book on naked teaching. I’m interested in the book because I will be doing naked teaching this semester.

For those who are not in academia, I need to clarify that naked teaching is nowhere as exciting as it sounds. It simply means teaching without technology, PowerPoints, gadgets, etc.

I just did two of my first naked lectures and there are two more to come. It was really great and I loved it.

The only problem is that my classes are scheduled to go almost without breaks this semester, so I’m running from one class to another like a scared bunny. I can see that new comments are appearing. Keep discussing, folks, and I will join you later.

So the killer didn’t just shoot Michael Brown. He sprayed the teenager with bullets. AND – all of the wounds could have been survived except for the last shot in the head.

The “control” shot in the head is evidence of a conscious desire to kill. I hope this murderer rots in jail.

One of the most pernicious and stupid myths is that the West is on the side of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia because Western newspapers and magazines keep publishing cartoons ridiculing Putin. As if this were what Ukrainians wanted or needed.

If instead of these idiotic cartoons the media dropped the offensive and ridiculous screechings about “the civil war in Ukraine” and “Ukrainian rebels / separatists”, that would constitute actual support.

Putin doesn’t care about cartoons. He cares that his propaganda about the non-existent Ukrainian separatists is working. And it is.

“What a pity your book came out now!” a colleague exclaimed.

“How so??” I asked.

“You’d fulfilled and exceeded your tenure requirements without the book anyway,” the colleague explained. “If the book came out later, you’d be able to use it for your next promotion, to Full Professor.”

The irony of the situation is that the reason I do get published is precisely that I don’t see things this way. Getting published is not something I do to get tenure and promotion. To the contrary, tenure and promotion are only useful inasmuch as they will allow me to publish more.

I dislike Rick Perry as much as the next person but I’ve got to wonder if the charges that are brought against him are engineered to boost his image in time for the next presidential ejection.

I mean, the guy is being accused of trying to get rid of a Democrat who was caught driving drunk. If there was ever a noble goal, this is obviously it. A drunk driver! Who’d want to have such a creep in a position of authority? This was probably the only good thing Perry tried to do in his entire life, and now he’s persecuted for it? That just isn’t right.