BLOG UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Kirjoitan poikkeuksellisesti suomeksi, koska päivitän parhaillaan eduskuntavaaleihin liittyviä linkkejä. EdariLinkkilistani (vasemmalla) ei ole vielä lopullinen, ja tulen laittamaan siihen kaikki vaaleissa mukana olevien puolueiden kotisivut ja, jos mahdollista, puoluejohtajien blogit tai kotisivut. Katko kestää ainakin maanataihin saakka.

U-turn on dissertation

I am seriously thinking about changing my dissertation topic. As I have previously posted, my dissertation was going to be an inspired study of Asianism, Japanese political philosophy, and Japan's current position in promoting Asian regional co-operation and integration.
But as I struggle to find the scarce sources to build my argument on, I have also become increasingly aware of the fact that I'm missing out on the Japanese side of the discussion, especially on regionalism - I have no way of researching Japanese journals and bibliography from here. And even if I did, it would naturally all be in Japanese, which is not my strongest language. I was aware of this possibly becoming a problem, but as I set out to mainly analyse the 'Western' perception of Japanese political reality and philosophy (please don't ask - I've managed to thoroughly confuse even myself), I didn't think it would matter that much. However, if I am going to analyse Japanese attitudes towards regionalism, I really do need Japanese sources.
I'm aware that anyone struggling with a dissertation will have moments of despair and loss of faith, but I think my worry is legitimate.
I still have ample time to change my topic and I am therefore inclined to do so now, sooner rather than later. Pending on how my tutor reacts to my change of heart my new topic will probably be on EU-Japan relations. I became really interested in IR theory last year in Sheffield, and would enjoy dwelving into it properly. I'll keep you posted.

Update, 18:22, 20.2: I received my tutor's blessing to change the subject - to be honest, I don't think he was too thrilled with my original subject to begin with. Anyhow, I am now developing a new thesis, on EU-Japan-relations. I'm looking forward to reading up on this! I won't abandon my love of Japanese political philosophy, but I think my new topic will be more practical for research purposes.

Perry Bible Fellowship

Now showing

Pacific Council


There might not be time to blog about the real topic of my blog, but there is always time to promote the Perry Bible Fellowship; one of the most inventive cartoons around...

Jesus Camp

Here are are couple of clips from "Jesus Camp", a recent documentary on the evangelical movement and its grip on children. I really hope it will show in a cinema near me soon. These kids are brainwashed. The mastermind behind the camp (Pastor Becky Fischer) is happy to admit that since the muslims and other faith groups are indoctrinating their young ones, then so should Christians. Listen to her radio interview below.
Trailer:



Jesus Camp: Rachel:


Jesus Camp: Trained to be God's army:


Jesus Camp: Worshipping with President Bush:



Jesus Camp: Levi:


Jesus Camp: Interview with Becky Fischer:


Jesus Camp: Sin and Harry Potter:


NBC Newsclip on Jesus Camp:


Searching YouTube on Jesus Camp clips lead me to the matter of Reverend Ted Haggard, the now former leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, who was caught with his trousers round his ankles and meth up his nostrils. I do remember him from Richard Dawkins' series on religion a year (or two?) ago and took an instant dislike to his smarmy idiocy. Here's a few clips on him:


News coverage of the scandal:


His confession. I guess it's handy being a believer; anything, including bigotry, can be forgiven. What a piece of shit this guy is:

Oh, and naturally he's now a 'cured' homosexual and preaches the importance of repentance.