today's International Herald Tribune: "French in streets, but it's not '68; Protesters seek to 'keep what we have'." That sums it up pretty nicely -- the student protesters (who I'm sure consider themselves great radicals) are, this time, protesting for the status quo, in the face of the government's efforts to change French labor law so as to allow employers to fire young workers without cause after two years. [The inability of employers to fire workers is, in much of the E.U., a primary cause of perpetually stagnant job growth statistics -- though it looks like the French government is losing its battle of trying to persuade people about that].
Incidentally -- I'm reading the IHT because I'm spending this semester over in Bologna, Italy, a truly magnificent city and a fascinating place to spend some time. I'll have postings here on the VC from time to time -- but in collaboration with a friend and colleague, David Castronuovo, who teaches in the Italian Department at Skidmore College, I'm keeping a running record of my adventures in Italy over at a blog we've set up here. I don't know if VC readers will find it to be of interest, but feel free to check it out if you do.
"Is it because these ur-verbs are used so much that, in effect, they deform because they're being used for so many purposes?" Yeah I think that’s a decent theory. I would be interested to know what the all the official theories are on that as well. Maybe some sort of "natural instinct" to diversity? In opposition to the childlike/primitive instinct to regularity? The longer/older/more used something is the more differentiated "it" becomes to us.
I for one would like to see you post here more often.
Jim Lindgren
Il mangiare in Bologna e il migliore di tutto l'Italia.
If you don't put on 10 pounds in your semester there, you haven't availed yourself of all the culinary opportunities in Bologna. Enjoy your time there! And I'm jealous reading of your soccer experiences!