Indeed.

seconded.

perhaps once she's cooled off a bit...

Pointless. You have visualized the point quite well.

ya abu l-maal,

as my (harvard ph.d.) advisor always used to say "harvard undergrads already passed the highpoint of their lives - getting into harvard."

in any case - she's a southie ...

--raf*

Hard to tell from the NYT example whether her writing was coincidentally similar "idiot-fluff" or intentionally copied. However, the Crimson seems to have a lot of detailed info:

http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=512965
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=513041
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=513047

That is, if anyone cares to go beyond mere consensus on her L appeal.

My Dear Faqih:

as my (harvard ph.d.) advisor always used to say "harvard undergrads already passed the highpoint of their lives - getting into harvard."

Amusing comment, often repeated. No worries of bedazzlement my dear Faqih, having gone to one of the Ivys myself, I have few if any illusions.

in any case - she's a southie

Yes, indeed. Fits the Lounsbury target market.

However, the pity is that this market, while rather appealing have significant drawbacks, and one has to question in the end whether (what turn of phrase to use, the standard one seems to vulgar), achieving market share is really worth while in the end.

As to the substance that drives the publication of the fine photos, eh, bloody idiot chic lit books. What the fuck do I care (although it does go for the argument the market is inherently flawed).

As long as we're correcting spelling, I think you mean chick lit, not chic lit.

ya abu l-maal,

i just came across the whole "she's a plagiatress" story ... how sad. is haaaavaaaad now gonna fire her? well, if they do - she can always go to yale: they even admit ex-taliban officials. gives "skulls & bones" a whole new meaning ...

as for bedazzlement ... that really made me laugh. i went to grad school @ u.c.l.a.: we always looked down on the ivy leaguers - most of them suck at modern mideast stuff and show up to conferences in v-neck sweaters. yaaaaawn ...

so she copied and got caught. what an idiot. but then ... i taught the "top 5% of california's highschool graduates" -- thank god for the brain drain into the u.s.

--raf*

ya abu l-maal,

a p.s., if permitted: if your target market is the south ... then we'll have no issues should we ever have to divide the world between us - you get tamil nadu & kerala & i'll take the north.

cheers,

--raf*

Faqih Raf Bey:

I prefer to develop southern markets myself. It's always been a weakness of mine.

As to the substance of the story, well, I am personally uninterested as a general matter although it i might be an interesting sociological reflexion on immigrant communities.

Or delicious chicas getting published for reasons less tied to their literary skills than their marketability.

But looking down on Ivy? That seems silly. Overdone as the rep is, no need to look down. Can't say I am familiar with MENA studies in Ivy.

Overall, the competitive uni market in the US is a damned good thing, even if there are some distortions (like some bloated reps).

ya abu l-maal,

well ... we mainly made fun of the bloated self-image that the ivy league-ers have BECAUSE of their "brand". and we enjoyed to live the "underbelly of hollywood".

as for "southern markets" - we might have to clarify what "south" means here ... the plagiatress is of dravidian extraction, not arya-turcic.

--raf*

Yes, a darkie, rather than the pale Persia princesses of the north.