Erkan's Field Diary

28/07/2024

Despite being a star academic, he was kind enough to return my emails when I was an MA student. His Weapons of the Weak was influential in political thinking, and his Seeing Like a State was a major source for me retreating from a particular radical politics. In my Rice years, my research focus changed, but he was always a memorable guide....

Despite being a star academic, he was kind enough to return my emails when I was an MA student. His Weapons of the Weak was influential in political thinking, and his Seeing Like a State was a major source for me retreating from a particular radical politics. In my Rice years, my research focus chan...

27/07/2024

A culture war is brewing on Twitter (X), but a Perplexity search does not show many negative comments: The reactions to Turkey's Olympic uniforms for the Paris 2024 Games have been varied. Many have expressed appreciation for the design, while others have made lighthearted critiques. # # # Positive Reactions 1. **Elegance and Simplicity**: Many commentators have praised the Turkish uniforms for their elegant and simple design....

A culture war is brewing on Twitter (X), but a Perplexity search does not show many negative comments: The reactions to Turkey’s Olympic uniforms for the Paris 2024 Games have been varied. Many have expressed appreciation for the design, while others have made lighthearted critiques. # # # Positive ...

26/07/2024

00:06 Origin and evolution of Unix as a time-sharing system in tech history 02:11 Transition from Multics project to new file system development 04:11 Unix became widely useful due to the ability to make changes to files on any device. 06:09 Unix's unexpected popularity and spread due to humble hardware and attractive programming language C 08:15 Unix was easier to modify and acquire 10:15 Berkeley and Bill Joy contribute to the rise of Unix 12:29 Berkeley as Unix coordinating gateway, DARPA's role 14:44 SunOS and Commercialization of Unix

26/07/2024

Such feeling of nostalgia! antropologi.info is 20 years old - some (unfinished) notes and thoughts That's how antropologi.info looked like in 2004 In June 2004, I bought the domain antropologi.info, and this website with blogs in English, German, and Norwegian soon became part of a steadily growing anthropology online community. Browsing through old posts, I get surprised by the number of discussions we have had here!...

Such feeling of nostalgia! antropologi.info is 20 years old – some (unfinished) notes and thoughts That’s how antropologi.info looked like in 2004 In June 2004, I bought the domain antropologi.info, and this website with blogs in English, German, and Norwegian soon became part of a steadily grow...

25/07/2024

There are differing views and claims regarding whether Benjamin Netanyahu can be considered a war criminal: Some politicians and human rights organizations have accused Netanyahu of war crimes: Congressman Jamaal Bowman refers to Netanyahu as a "genocidal war criminal" in his opinion piece[1]. Senator Bernie Sanders called Netanyahu a war criminal and said he should not be welcomed into Congress[2]....

24/07/2024

The official site is slightly clunky, but you can get it all there. My session is tomorrow. I have asked the chatGPT to categorize the conference topics: Top Topics at the EASA 2024 Conference Doing and Undoing Mobility: Several panels address the dynamics of mobility, immobility, and migration, often from an anthropological lens. Anthropology of Economy: Panels focus on economic behaviors, neoliberal labor markets, and financial crises....

The official site is slightly clunky, but you can get it all there. My session is tomorrow. I have asked the chatGPT to categorize the conference topics: Top Topics at the EASA 2024 Conference Doing and Undoing Mobility: Several panels address the dynamics of mobility, immobility, and migration, oft...

23/07/2024

According to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the number of people emigrating from Turkey rose significantly compared to the previous year[1][2][3]. Key points about the increase in emigration: Percentage increase: Emigration from Turkey increased by 53% in 2023 compared to 2022[1][2][3]. Number of emigrants: More than 700,000 individuals, including both Turkish citizens and foreign nationals, left Turkey in 2023[3]....

According to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat), the number of people emigrating from Turkey rose significantly compared to the previous year[1][2][3]. Key points about the increase in emigration: Percentage increase: Emigration from Turkey increased by 53% in 2023 compare...

23/07/2024

ICJ Ruling on Israel's Occupation of Palestinian Territories Summary of the Ruling On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion declaring Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, as unlawful under international law. This decision, while non-binding, carries significant political weight and has elicited strong reactions globally....

ICJ Ruling on Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Territories Summary of the Ruling On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a landmark advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip, as u...

21/07/2024

00:04 BYD has overtaken Tesla as the world's largest seller of electric vehicles. 01:14 China's extensive support has driven BYD's success. 02:25 BYD sells cheaper vehicles compared to Tesla 03:22 BYD overtook Tesla due to vertical integration capability 04:31 BYD's early entry into battery space gave them a competitive advantage 05:23 BYD's battery technology and founder's expertise give it a competitive edge. 06:35 BYD's global expansion and challenges 07:43 BYD's strategy to set prices lower than European counterparts is alarming for the European auto industry.

21/07/2024

Jihadists may not like this. There are clear signs of a rapprochement between Turkey and Syria after over a decade of severed diplomatic ties. Here are the key points: Recent statements: Both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have recently expressed willingness to restore diplomatic relations[3][8]. Erdogan stated there is "no reason why relations should not be reestablished" with Syria[3]....

Jihadists may not like this. There are clear signs of a rapprochement between Turkey and Syria after over a decade of severed diplomatic ties. Here are the key points:   Recent statements: Both Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have recently expressed willi...

20/07/2024

Whattpad is one of the platforms I never used. But I know it is especially popular with some segments of society. Lack of clear reasoning adds salt to the insult—another shameful act. Wattpad has been banned in Turkey. Here are the key details about this ban: Timing and Authority: The ban was implemented on July 12, 2024, by the Ankara 10th Criminal Judge of Peace[1][4]....

Whattpad is one of the platforms I never used. But I know it is especially popular with some segments of society. Lack of clear reasoning adds salt to the insult—another shameful act. Wattpad has been banned in Turkey. Here are the key details about this ban: Timing and Authority: The ban was impl...

19/07/2024

While talking to a student about his career plans, my mother called me and asked if I was affected by the massive cyber attack. She had watched a TV news show, and apparently, the show had that apocalyptic tone. As far as I know, some Turkish Airlines had to be canceled. In the early hours of Friday, companies in Australia running Microsoft’s Windows operating system started reporting devices showing ...

While talking to a student about his career plans, my mother called me and asked if I was affected by the massive cyber attack. She had watched a TV news show, and apparently, the show had that apocalyptic tone. As far as I know, some Turkish Airlines had to be canceled. In the early hours ... Read....

18/07/2024

A BBC report says that Rescue street dogs, or euthanise them? Turks split over its strays. However, I cannot help but think that this is an artificial polarization. For some reason, I could not figure out, there is an emergent hostility against street dogs among a group of right-winger influencers. Some legislators are happy to go along. Here is a…...

A BBC report says that Rescue street dogs, or euthanise them? Turks split over its strays. However, I cannot help but think that this is an artificial polarization. For some reason, I could not figure out, there is an emergent hostility against street dogs among a group of right-winger influencers.....

17/07/2024

Just finished Barbara Kingsolver's Demon Copperhead. It grasped my soul while reading it. Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses....

Just finished Barbara Kingsolver‘s Demon Copperhead. It grasped my soul while reading it. Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair,...

16/07/2024

Bugün sevdiceğimin doğum günü. İyi ki doğmuşsun ♥️♥️♥️

16/07/2024

Süleyman Karadeniz, the head of Special Operations, kissed Bahçeli's hand, which drew reactions from the public. CHP's Murat Bakan: “If police and soldiers start kissing hands, this country will experience more July 15ths.” DEVA Party's Mustafa Yeneroğlu: “Thinking that you are the police of a party is the biggest damage to the state.” Salih Uzun from DP: “Yerlikaya, do the necessary.” The accounts of the General Directorate of Security, Special Operations Directorate and MHP did not include the hand-kissing photo. more news here

16/07/2024

Hell yeah! 00:06 Women are making significant strides in the metal music scene. 03:28 Women pioneers in metal music 06:05 Metal women can growl, shout, and roar regardless of gender, focusing on technique. 08:57 Women in metal face challenges and discrimination 11:36 Metal scene is opening up for women musicians. 14:03 Women in metal are redefining old stereotypes 16:44…...

15/07/2024

Sinem and I have been planning a month-long trip to the US. It is all a vacation, but catch-up with friends. I will probably blog as it happens, but let me give you the outline. We will first stay in Detroit. Thanks to Jessica, who has been an early reader of this blog and has become a dear friend. We will probably stop by Chicago....

Sinem and I have been planning a month-long trip to the US. It is all a vacation, but catch-up with friends. I will probably blog as it happens, but let me give you the outline. We will first stay in Detroit. Thanks to Jessica, who has been an early reader of this blog and has ... Read more

14/07/2024

Whatever the motives, Trump has just won a new level of legitimacy. I cannot know whether Democrats are doing any good domestically, but their global policies are a mess. The democratic establishment looks like it is giving up. What do we know about the assassination attempt: On July 13, 2024, an assassination attempt was made on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania....

Whatever the motives, Trump has just won a new level of legitimacy. I cannot know whether Democrats are doing any good domestically, but their global policies are a mess. The democratic establishment looks like it is giving up. What do we know about the assassination attempt: On July 13, 2024, an as...

12/07/2024

Hep birlikte eğlendik 🎉

12/07/2024

I never liked preparing presentations, and finally, an AI-supported presentation tool made my life easier. I have already recommended Gamma.app on many occasions, but let me announce it here, too. There are a few better-known rivals, such as beautiful.ai or tome.app, but I ended up using this one. It looks more practical. The AI-based output can be edited and/or exported as PPT or PDF files....

https://erkansaka.net/2024/07/12/recommended-gamma-app/

I never liked preparing presentations, and finally, an AI-supported presentation tool made my life easier. I have already recommended Gamma.app on many occasions, but let me announce it here, too. There are a few better-known rivals, such as beautiful.ai or tome.app, but I ended up using this one. I...

12/07/2024

At the current NATO summit, Biden introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin" before quickly correcting himself. Here are some notable gaffes made by Joe Biden during his presidency so far: Mistakenly referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as "President Harris" on multiple occasions. At a NATO summit in July 2024, Biden introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "President Putin" before quickly correcting himself....

At the current NATO summit, Biden introduced Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “President Putin” before quickly correcting himself. Here are some notable gaffes made by Joe Biden during his presidency so far: Mistakenly referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “President Harris”...

12/07/2024

“Haberciler İçin Yapay Zeka” sosyalkafa webinar serimiz Orkut Murat Yılmaz 'ın “Etik ve Güvenlik” sunumuyla devam ediyor.

18 Temmuz Perşembe saat 21.00-23.00

Başvuru için: https://forms.gle/vdBboQsJoNFeqVrA9

10/07/2024

00:02 Big tech companies are facing a challenge with market saturation. 01:42 Big tech already controls virtually the entire internet. 03:19 High valuations of big tech companies are primarily based on the expectation of infinite growth. 04:47 Tech industry transitioning from hyper growth to stagnation 06:21 Market saturation causing shift in technology industry. 07:57 Gen 1 giant companies still dominate but struggle with stock returns 09:29 Tech CEOs adapting to market saturation 11:05 Big tech CEOs facing market saturation and struggling to maintain high valuations

00:02 Big tech companies are facing a challenge with market saturation. 01:42 Big tech already controls virtually the entire internet. 03:19 High valuations of big tech companies are primarily based on the expectation of infinite growth. 04:47 Tech industry transitioning from hyper growth to stagnat...

10/07/2024

I will attend the massive biannual meeting of European anthropology. I am presenting in a panel related to anthropology and artificial intelligence, where I focus on the localization of AI. Surprisingly, I have never been to Barcelona, and I hope to explore it a bit. However, I am scared of the anti-tourism movement (!). # # Anti-Tourism Movement in Barcelona The anti-tourism movement in Barcelona has gained significant momentum recently, with large-scale protests highlighting the adverse effects of mass tourism on the city and its residents....

I will attend the massive biannual meeting of European anthropology. I am presenting in a panel related to anthropology and artificial intelligence, where I focus on the localization of AI. Surprisingly, I have never been to Barcelona, and I hope to explore it a bit. However, I am scared of the anti...

09/07/2024

We are witnessing a human-caused catastrophe, whether it is called genocide or not. A letter published in the Lancet caused controversy recently. I asked perplexity about the reliability of the Lancet piece on the Gaza death toll, which estimates that the true number of deaths could exceed 186,000. This is its summary: Methodology: The Lancet report uses a combination of direct death counts and estimates of indirect deaths to arrive at the figure of 186,000....

08/07/2024

The second round of the 2024 French legislative elections has significantly shifted the country's political landscape. Here are the key outcomes and insights: New Popular Front (NFP) Victory: The leftist alliance known as the New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the winner, securing the largest number of seats in the National Assembly[1][5]. This coalition, comprising left-wing and environmental parties, won an estimated 177-192 seats[5]....

07/07/2024

I liked it so much that I subscribed to the pro version. I recently used it to gather news on the topics I wanted to blog about. I asked for a roundup of the pros and cons of using Perplexity. below. Well, it did not include a few crucial pieces written recently about it. A praiseful one: Seth Godin's Better than Google…...

I liked it so much that I subscribed to the pro version. I recently used it to gather news on the topics I wanted to blog about. I asked for a roundup of the pros and cons of using Perplexity. below. Well, it did not include a few crucial pieces written recently about it. A ... Read more

06/07/2024

Bu yılki doktora mezunlarımızla.

05/07/2024

In his defense, he equates MHP's ideology with Turkish pride. He has not just reacted to fans as he claimed, but he definitely knows what the gray wolf sign means. Unfortunately, some well-known journalists, in the heat of national pride, defend this sign usage. Here is a curation: Merih Demiral has indeed been involved in previous controversial incidents: Military salute controversy (2019): Demiral was one of 16 Turkish players reprimanded in 2019 for making military-style salutes during matches....

In his defense, he equates MHP’s ideology with Turkish pride. He has not just reacted to fans as he claimed, but he definitely knows what the gray wolf sign means. Unfortunately, some well-known journalists, in the heat of national pride, defend this sign usage. Here is a curation: Merih Demiral h...