A Faustian Bargain

Spengler dishes up an interesting article about the temptations of Faust versus the trials of Job in modern life. Check it out here.

Dershowitz Opines On Harvard Coup

Check out Dershowitz on Harvard president Larry Summer's resignation.

Addendum: Gerard Baker comments on the event's significance for American universities in the Times Online.

Trojans Are for Losers

Ever wonder why USC chose the Trojans as a mascot? Eugene Volokh uncovers the mystery here.

Ireland

Yes, we finally did it. It felt a little weird clicking the box, but now there's no turning back. We're off to Ireland! Now let's just hope our passports come in before we're set to leave. I know it's not very adventurous of me, but what I'm looking forward to most is visiting the Guinness Storehouse and the countless pubs that I hear litter the city center (or is it centre) of Dublin. I am open to suggestions of other places to visit, though, so let me hear them if anyone out there has been to the land of my roots.

Countdown Iran

I really hope war can be avoided in Iran. First of all, the U.S. forces would likely find it difficult to mount a significant ground attack given the geographical layout of Iran and the presence of so many of our forces in Iraq. But also the conflict would likely widen, drawing in other regional actors. Hezbollah, Iran's proxy in Lebanon, would no doubt use this opportunity to start sending missiles into Israel. And there's no telling what Syria would do.

I'm of the tentative belief that a U.S. attack could actually unite the pro-U.S. among Iran's population against us, as they rally around their flag. Still, I tend to think it's a truly bad idea for the long run to allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, and force might be the only deterent given the current leadership. I pray, though, that U.S. leaders such as Rice are exhausting all other possibilities, including attempting to exploit the fissures in Iran domestic politics that Amir Taheri points out. And I hope that the U.S. starts to give more concentrated and explicit backing to pro-democracy forces within the country. If war starts at least partly on account of their activities and then we're drawn in, our support will have an added legitimacy.

While Saddam Hussein, due to his secularist credentials, was unable to solidify completely Muslim opinion and support in his hour of peril, you can bet that the fundamentalist Ahmadinejad will have no problem convincing people of his religious fervor and conviction.

What To Do When I Grow Up: Suggestions, Please

Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot. I want to solicit opinions as to what I should do with my life if this whole Ph.D. things falls through. I'll take any ideas, really, but here are some options just to get the ball rolling:

(1) Go for the MA (if that's still an option)
(2) Apply for High School teaching jobs (ugh)
(3) Beg for Starbucks to take me back
(4) Move to Nepal
(5) Find a Coffee Plantation that needs workers
(6) Or Some Twisted Combination of (3) and (6)

Welcome Back, Me

Okay, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. Lately I've found that when I'm sick phyically, and devoid of energy, my mind feels sick as well, insofar as I feel emotionally depressed and lacking in my storied vigor (okay, kidding about that part). Now that I'm starting to feel a bounce in my step I'm determined to keep up with what's going on around me.

So as a cheery welcome-back post, here's a link by Athena to what's going on in the hunt for Zarqawi as well as an astute analysis of his position vis-a-vis other Iraqi insurgents. Nothing like a little terrorism update for a Friday afternoon, eh?