Word: distracting
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...inconsequentiality, and the national disenchantment that follows in its wake. A task of this weight and ambition, however, is not met easily. Gavelis’ quicksand-like prose, while in and of itself an effective literary device in the surrealist tradition, constitutes a difficulty in reading which can distract from the author’s immense talent. However, Gavelis’ narcotic narrative flow still manages to render this story’s surreality seamless, and “Vilnius Poker” is a fascinating read. —Staff writer Erin F. Riley can be reached at eriley@fas.harvard.edu...
...when people say, "How many planets are there now?" I say, That's the wrong question. Do not distract yourself over the answer to that question, because that question contains no science. Now I am partly to blame, as an educator, because to third-graders you teach the planets in sequence, and books celebrate this, and kids boast about memorizing planet names, thinking that they've accomplished something. But it would be much more effective intellectually if you tell me what Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars have in common. Or why they are different. That's a much more useful...
...solicitations in which approximate age is known. Also, many acts of solicitation online are harassing or teasing communications that are not designed to seduce youth into offline sexual encounters; 69% of solicitations involve no attempt at offline contact. Misperception of these findings perpetuates myths that distract the public from solving the actual problems youth face...
...probably feels he has much to gain by trying to jack up gas prices and [get] badly needed revenues flowing into state coffers again," says Fabio Liberti, an expert on Russo-European affairs for the Institute of International and Strategic Relations in Paris. "Meanwhile, picking a fight abroad to distract and provoke public opinion when things look bad at home is a common political ruse - especially by Putin...
...Iraq is a country with many problems, and the travails of one angry journalist can't distract people from government corruption, the absence of basic services and the continuing bombings and suicide attacks. The arrests of dozens of officials in the Interior and Defense ministries - allegedly for plotting the overthrow of Maliki's government - have already replaced Zeidi as the biggest story of the week. Baghdad is awash with rumors of an impending coup...