I was shocked, shocked!, to note that no economists were given awards for their bad writing. Bad writing need not be obscure. It can also be leaden or lifeless, excessively prosaic or ungrammatical. Of course, the main reason why economists were not honored by these awards is that most of our worst writing is disguised as mathematics of one sort or another. Rather than saying nothing (as the winners tended to do), economists' writing tends to simply restate common sense notions or ideological crap (a secular religion dressed up as science). Of course, I don't think the organizers of the award wanted to examine economics. miscellaneous comments (because I don't have the time or energy this week to intervene in the issue of the French election): 1. It should be noted that it wasn't Claud Cockburn who said the line about penetrating the nether regions of the masses (or whatever). He was quoting someone. 2. bill writes: >>please do not misrepresent our country to an international audience. << Please don't (knowingly) misrepresent _any_ country to _any_ audience! I also think that the author of the misrepresentation did so unknowingly. I wish I knew more about Australia. So I'm hoping that bill organizes an in-the-flesh conference of pen-l members for two or three weeks (and pays for the airfare and lodging) so that we can all learn more about that great country of his. cheers, in pen-l solidarity, Jim Devine [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Econ. Dept., Loyola Marymount Univ. 7900 Loyola Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045-8410 USA 310/338-2948 (daytime, during workweek); FAX: 310/338-1950 "It takes a busload of faith to get by." -- Lou Reed.
