Rick Rowden wrote an article.

I wrote an 800 word response.

Rick wrote a 1000 word response to my response (the first comment).

I wrote a 1200 word response to Rick’s response (my response is directly below his comment).

It’s like an intellectual arms race, only with really, really tiny stakes.  But I think it is educational for those who wonder where modernization theory went, and why nobody has warmed it over yet.

UPDATE 1-12-11

Rick comes back with 1450 words (second comment).

I respond with 2200 words.

We are starting to agree on a few things, at least.

Stop the madness.