Posting two entries a day with little or no personal content is: (a) time consuming and (b) seemingly uninteresting to the long-suffering readers of this blog. As such, I am declaring one post a day to be the standard, with unlimited allowance for additional posts if I feel inspired.
Sometimes, it is hard to know if anyone is even reading. If you have been, but you never leave comments, I would really appreciate if you did so here.
Author: Milan
In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford.
Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.
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I read them all. I don’t always comment because (to steal your formatting): (a) I don’t always have something to say, (b) I fear I will say something foolish, (c) I don’t see anything in the post aside from recounting of information from elsewhere.
You cannot just rip off various much more popular news feeds and expect commentary. I know you are busy, but repetition serves few people.
i read, not consistently, but then I catch up. :)
I think you are too distracted by schedules. Something original every few days is better than two formulaic posts a day.
Why would anyone really care about this site??? It is just a regurgitation of news from other places.
I read your blog a great deal and I think it is quite interesting and informative. Yet, I want to see much more of your own views on the stories you post. I want to hear some views about Ottawa as well.
I read your posts fairly often and most of the time I don’t leave comments because I feel I don’t have enough background or authority to reveal or suggest anything of consequence. I enjoy reading them, even if they are just summarizing other news. If you’re trying to bait commentary you should propose an open ended question or give a well thought out opinion.
Or, post nude pictures of controversial politicians and make outlandish claims about the birth-rights of the British royalty, and their pets.
With further thought, I have revised my opinion. While most of what you have written recently has emerged in response to stories from elsewhere, there is still value to it. Not everyone reads so many news sources.
Also, it can be helpful to have information consolidated in a place like this, even if the topics swing around randomly.
I like the mix. I don’t read everything but I find what I do read pretty interesting.
I’ve seen a couple of news stories here I would probably have missed otherwise – or at least not heard until later. I don’t always comment, but I thought your site visit stats would give you a fair idea about readers…
I comment occasionally, but not nearly as often as I read.
I am going to have to disagree with the comments above that suggest you simply collect stories from other sources; like any writer, some inspiration is required. You post about ideas you have encountered and thought about, and thus your posts tend to be examples of thoughtful synthesis, reflection, and (insert a big fancy word for linking together different ideas here). I will agree, however, that I find the more personal posts the most interesting. There is some truth to the idea that one of the only things that is here and isn’t elsewhere on the web is you, Milan.
I suppose I comment from time to time, and certainly visit every couple days.
I’d consider you an upper echelon mind and it’s refreshing to read something of intellectual value every now and again before being inundated with stories about Britney Spears and other such nonsense.
Keep it up.
One more thing: change your banner! After nearly three months in Ottawa, the ‘transition’ should be over.
change your banner!
Done. I had been meaning to do so for ages.
Like the new banner Milan!
Doh!
Due to punctuation lapses, that last comment of mine has perverse interpretations. Clearly I was referring to the newly announced Banner Milan, an interesting update on the Regular Milan.
Mark,
I am glad you like it. It is my favourite among the three candidates I dreamed up this morning.
Bridges work very well for banners, largely because they have the same proportions and often accommodate the addition of text above and below well.