links for 2010-10-25

“I’m sure I’ll take you with pleasure!” the Queen said. “Two pence a week, and jam every other day.” Alice couldn’t help laughing, as she said, “I don’t want you to hire ME – and I don’t care for jam.” “It’s very good jam,” said the Queen. “Well, I don’t want any TO-DAY, at any rate.” “You couldn’t have it if you DID want it,” the Queen said. “The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday – but never jam to-day.” “It MUST come sometimes to “jam to-day,”” Alice objected. “No, it can’t,” said the Queen. “It’s jam every OTHER day: to-day isn’t any OTHER day, you know.” “I don’t understand you,” said Alice. “It’s dreadfully confusing!”

The Queen’s rule is a pun on a mnemonic for remembering the distinction between the Latin words “nunc” and “iam” (sometimes written “jam”). Both mean “now”, but “nunc” is only used in the present tense, while “iam” is used in the past and future tenses.

Mr. Assange is guilty of one of the worst offenses in American culture: challenging deeply-held beliefs about the benevolence of American foreign policy with facts. It’s no wonder that American media outlets immediately turn the spotlight onto him, and not the actual materials themselves.