Diary Sept. 20

Yesterday bought my ticket to Memorial University. Only way to get to Newfoundland is by plane, or face a thousand kilometer drive all around the island. Cheap flights meant staying from Wed. to Mon. so I'm in Hostels for four nights. Cheapest hostel was $22 per night! Fleas like terradactyls?

Philosophers at the university kindly offered to put me up for a couple of nights but I'm not comfortable asking for four nights. They have also asked me to read a paper at the Dept there so I get to do some philosophy of mind while I'm there. Huge morale booster.

The first session on Islam and Democracy (at SMU) lost $ 700 dollars. So making enough money to continue the Tour is becoming a big deal. I've rented out my house and will sleep at 'Mum's' and that will bring in some money. Also certain parties at my university may plead with the administration to pay some or all of the cost of the four 'guns' (Halifax Police) which the univeresity required be present at the first lecture. The lecture was totally peaceful, duh!

I speak at Dalhousie this Friday. Saved on the posters by cutting them down to 8.5 by 11 and printing on cheap paper. We'll see if the audience will pay for the room, posters and insurance. Room and security is $ 600, posters $30 or so, insurance $ 150. Half the price of SMU!

My favourite pundit Shripad Pendse who teaches management at SMU predicts I will get fewer than fifty at Dal. That would bring in maybe $ 400 - more losses. Muslims and Xians should get together and pray in two religions if they want this to go ahead - or just come to the lecture!

Prices have been lowered by ten bucks: general public is now $ 10 and student/senior $ 5. Yes, this is marketing 101. Imagine trying to sell philosophy? Break even will be a huge success. lol.

Finally, someone asked me why I was doing this. The very question seemed flattering since usually people take the general line that I'm a self-publicising egocentric idiot. Well, the answer is simple: let's see whether one can have a rational discussion on these topics. Let's see. I'm sure we can and the fear of public discussion will then be dispelled. On the other hand, I could get killed ...

What about the Pope and then Lord Carey! It does seem like the boys are fixing for a fight. And I don't think that saying the Pope's words were accurate and intelligent is to the point. The Pope is an academic and academics have the simple rule that you don't quote a highly controversial value statement without making it clear to what extent you accept or reject it. Context could be enough but the context here did not indicate what was needed. My intuition is that the Pope, like Carey, is dying to say that there is a problem with violence in Islam - and he tried to get away with saying say so without facing the issue. It didn't work.