Posted 6:38 AM by Gene

And speaking of CONFORMISM, if I'm to judge by PROFESSOR's links, the whole Web is up in arms over Gregg Easterbrook's blog hit on EisnerCorp because he -- ATTACKS JEWS. A few major-league louts with big positions in show-biz can besmirch Jews, especially given the love for them internationally -- and unless you're a news hack, you have to call Mickey Mouse Michael irresponsible. Sorry, it's no more anti-Semitism to point this out than anti-black or Hispanic or Martian to point out the flaws in people of other ethnic groups. And I'm sure Mr. Easterbrook is no anti-Semite. (And the further irony is, the louts are probably all Jewish in name only.) When we start disallowing criticism on ethnic grounds, we invite the worst kind of self-censorship.

I think a lot of whatever "anger" there is over this (and I suspect few have even read it) stems from the lockstep sub-literate gamer mentality of too many on the Web, who'll worship every piece of high-tech junk that comes roaring down the pike, the bloodier the better, and Michael's hack is their guy, and Mr. Easterbrook threw them, shall we say, a bone.

And SHUT UP, MR. YASSER IS DEAD; you didn't do anything about that Foggy Bottom map except caterwaul -- and the map is far worse.