Tuesday, May 07, 2013
Ender's Game Trailer
I have friends who read the books, but I never got into them - child geniuses tested to become strategoi... that didn't pique my interest.
Looks like another movie with F/X done by ILM.
"Natural Conservatives"
As if we already didn't know that David Brooks is, at his intellectual core, a liberal.
VDare: David Brooks Goes Beyond Self-Parody
David Brooks promotes the meme about immigrants being natural conservatives - family values, socially conservative, traditional values, religious etc. He may be repulsed by the idea that some form of "ethnocentricism" is part of conservatism or "traditional" values, but preferring to be with one's own "kind" (or ethnic group) because one has more in common with them and identifies with them more is a natural inclination, even if it is weaker than the inclination to associate with those who are of the same "kind" and culture.
What is basic to human nature? "Real" conservatives acknowledging reality, human nature and its inclinations, rather than seek to impose their utopian vision on reality because they adhere to some Cartesian/dualist heresy, even if they happen to be materialists. ("Blank slate" and all that.)
If one's community is defined primarily by one's ethnicity then is not the love of one's ethnic group part of conservatism? Brooks believes in America the abstraction. Consistent liberals may acknowledge that family is important (and thus psychologically beneficial) if the individual makes that choice. But do they scoff at the notion that individuals have 'natural' duties to their kin?
At any rate, the traditional values that Brooks lauds only goes as far as the love of family; Brooks has very little understanding of what authentic community is--otherwise he would understand how admitting people with different cultures, identities, and loyalties would undermine community.
VDare: David Brooks Goes Beyond Self-Parody
David Brooks promotes the meme about immigrants being natural conservatives - family values, socially conservative, traditional values, religious etc. He may be repulsed by the idea that some form of "ethnocentricism" is part of conservatism or "traditional" values, but preferring to be with one's own "kind" (or ethnic group) because one has more in common with them and identifies with them more is a natural inclination, even if it is weaker than the inclination to associate with those who are of the same "kind" and culture.
What is basic to human nature? "Real" conservatives acknowledging reality, human nature and its inclinations, rather than seek to impose their utopian vision on reality because they adhere to some Cartesian/dualist heresy, even if they happen to be materialists. ("Blank slate" and all that.)
If one's community is defined primarily by one's ethnicity then is not the love of one's ethnic group part of conservatism? Brooks believes in America the abstraction. Consistent liberals may acknowledge that family is important (and thus psychologically beneficial) if the individual makes that choice. But do they scoff at the notion that individuals have 'natural' duties to their kin?
At any rate, the traditional values that Brooks lauds only goes as far as the love of family; Brooks has very little understanding of what authentic community is--otherwise he would understand how admitting people with different cultures, identities, and loyalties would undermine community.
Supply Shock
Supply Shock: The Journey by Brian Czech
New Society: Guest Post - Brian Czech - Supply Shock
Jubilee Society
New Society Publishers
Misc.
An Evil Means to a Good End? – Another Reflection on Hilaire Belloc’s “An Essay on the Restoration of Property” by John Creech
Small vs. Big, Local vs. Global by Nancy Folbre
New Society: Guest Post - Brian Czech - Supply Shock
Jubilee Society
New Society Publishers
Misc.
An Evil Means to a Good End? – Another Reflection on Hilaire Belloc’s “An Essay on the Restoration of Property” by John Creech
Small vs. Big, Local vs. Global by Nancy Folbre
Someone commented how disturbing he found a newsmagazine cover photo of Obama - seeming to confer upon him a divine aura. "The One" or "the Messiah." I think it was this cover, from Newsweek:
Game theorists will talk about how one should hold one's chin up to convey a sense of confidence/superiority [arrogance] and give the illusion of greater height in order to attract women. This may work on unsophisticated women, but does it work on men? I think men who see someone facing them like this would be offended, even if that man had proven himself to be superior in some way. Wasn't Mussolini known for posing in such a manner? I don't consider such a pose to be statesman-like or even regal, looking at it from the side or from the front.
Game theorists will talk about how one should hold one's chin up to convey a sense of confidence/superiority [arrogance] and give the illusion of greater height in order to attract women. This may work on unsophisticated women, but does it work on men? I think men who see someone facing them like this would be offended, even if that man had proven himself to be superior in some way. Wasn't Mussolini known for posing in such a manner? I don't consider such a pose to be statesman-like or even regal, looking at it from the side or from the front.
Michael Pollan's Latest
Cooked. (His website)
NPR: Michael Pollan: You Are What You Cook
It’s the End of the World Unless We All Start Cooking
Michael Pollan on How Reclaiming Cooking Can Save Our Food System, Make Us Healthy & Grow Democracy - dl vid
How Author Michael Pollan Fell in Love With Cooking
How Michael Pollan Learned to Make Traditional Korean Kimchi
More:
Colbert Grills Michael Pollan on 'Locavore Flim-Flam'
Fire, Water, Air, Earth: Michael Pollan Gets Elemental In 'Cooked'
Reclaiming the Kitchen: In Conversation with Michael Pollan
The Wendell Berry Sentence That Inspired Michael Pollan's Food Obsession
Michael Pollan wants you to cook
Related:
NPR: Michael Pollan: You Are What You Cook
It’s the End of the World Unless We All Start Cooking
Michael Pollan on How Reclaiming Cooking Can Save Our Food System, Make Us Healthy & Grow Democracy - dl vid
How Author Michael Pollan Fell in Love With Cooking
How Michael Pollan Learned to Make Traditional Korean Kimchi
More:
Colbert Grills Michael Pollan on 'Locavore Flim-Flam'
Fire, Water, Air, Earth: Michael Pollan Gets Elemental In 'Cooked'
Reclaiming the Kitchen: In Conversation with Michael Pollan
The Wendell Berry Sentence That Inspired Michael Pollan's Food Obsession
Michael Pollan wants you to cook
Related:
Monday, May 06, 2013
Went to solemn vows on Saturday afternoon; I am still planning to go to the ordinations later this month, but that may be the last Dominican event I attend. Some photos here.
Admiral McRaven on C-Span
U.S. Special Operations
"Admiral William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations, outlined his vision for the role of special operations forces. Afterward, military policy experts responded to his speech."
He's also pushing for the inclusion of women in special operations.
"Admiral William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations, outlined his vision for the role of special operations forces. Afterward, military policy experts responded to his speech."
He's also pushing for the inclusion of women in special operations.
What if we all enjoyed meaningful social connections?: Lisa Cook at TEDxMahtomedi
Something that might seem obvious to a traditionalist, who has no intellectual commitment to explaining the world in terms of evolution -
Survival of the ... Nicest? Check Out the Other Theory of Evolution
A new theory of human origins says cooperation—not competition—is instinctive.
Men have the drive to do both - compete and cooperate, within their community. Competition for the sake of improvement, status, and establishing some hierarchy, cooperation for their own benefit and for the benefit of the group.
Something that might seem obvious to a traditionalist, who has no intellectual commitment to explaining the world in terms of evolution -
Survival of the ... Nicest? Check Out the Other Theory of Evolution
A new theory of human origins says cooperation—not competition—is instinctive.
Men have the drive to do both - compete and cooperate, within their community. Competition for the sake of improvement, status, and establishing some hierarchy, cooperation for their own benefit and for the benefit of the group.
Vocaloid Opera
I didn't think this could get any more extreme or weird, but the Japanese mass entertainment industry must be meeting some sort of demand for this.
Hatsune Miku’s Vocaloid Opera "The End" to Debut in Paris
TRAILER / VOCALOID OPERA “THE END” ARTIST INTERVIEW
Louis Vuitton Designs Hatsune Miku's Costume for Opera
Official site
wiki - Hatsune Miku
Hatsune Miku’s Vocaloid Opera "The End" to Debut in Paris
TRAILER / VOCALOID OPERA “THE END” ARTIST INTERVIEW
Louis Vuitton Designs Hatsune Miku's Costume for Opera
Official site
wiki - Hatsune Miku
Functional Strength and Fitness
The Telegraph: Children 'getting weaker because they don't climb trees'
Children have become weaker and unable to do physical tasks that previous generations found easy, a study has found.
Children have become weaker and unable to do physical tasks that previous generations found easy, a study has found.
A New Book by Lauren Pristas
Which will feature much of her previously published material on the collects of the Roman rite. Chant Cafe: An Item for the Book Budget
St. George, Patron of a Men's Group
Why not? OLF will be getting a pastor and everyone is praying for a growth in parish life. I think that a future creation of a men's group would be beneficial.
Pravmir: Courage and Cowardice: On St. George the Trophy-Bearer
Pravmir: Courage and Cowardice: On St. George the Trophy-Bearer
Soompi: Jang Yoon Jung: “Mom Spent 10 Years of My Savings Racking Up $1 Million in Debt”
Patriarchy gone wrong? One notes that it is the mother who apparently was favoring the son, not the father - she was the one managing her finances. An unmarried daughter may need to contribute to the well-being of the family while she is still living with them, but to have her savings used unwisely by her mother on her brother specifically? Does she not have a future too, should she not be financially prepared for marriage and having a family of her own? Is this a case of patriarchy being wrongly enforced by the mother, favoritism, or just multiple errors of judgment?
Patriarchy gone wrong? One notes that it is the mother who apparently was favoring the son, not the father - she was the one managing her finances. An unmarried daughter may need to contribute to the well-being of the family while she is still living with them, but to have her savings used unwisely by her mother on her brother specifically? Does she not have a future too, should she not be financially prepared for marriage and having a family of her own? Is this a case of patriarchy being wrongly enforced by the mother, favoritism, or just multiple errors of judgment?
Sunday, May 05, 2013
The Foundation to Freedom of Association?
The Most Basic Freedom Is Freedom to Quit by Peter Gray, Ph.D., research professor at Boston College
podcast
If we move our minds out of the quagmire of competition (indeed, we can’t win tennis matches by quitting) and think of life’s broader goals—the goals of surviving, avoiding injury, finding happiness, and living in accordance with our personal values among people whom we respect and who respect us—then we see that freedom to quit is essential to all of these goals. I am talking here about the freedom to walk away from people and situations that are harmful to our wellbeing.
Freedom to quit is a foundation for peace, equality, and democracy in hunter-gatherer bands.
podcast
Христос воскрес.
Last night I saw the greatest number of blonde women I've seen together, in California, for a while at... Holy Virgin Cathedral last night - Russians, not Anglos. It was packed for the Divine Liturgy when I went inside a little bit past 11 P.M. Sarge suggested that a lot were probably "Easter Orthodox," who showed up only for important feasts. Maybe; it would explain why some of those young women did not have headscarves. (I was actually surprised that someone didn't pass some scarves out to the women. I heard Holy Virgin Cathedral had the reputation for being rather strict - women are supposedly directed to the vestibule to borrow a headscarf. Perhaps they ran out?)
Maybe next year I'll stay at Holy Virgin Cathedral - I heard that's where a couple of Dominicans went; but it was good to be at OLF.
Russian or French women...
KoC: "Our Eastern Brothers"
An interview with Archbishop Stefan Soroka about Eastern Catholicism, Orthodoxy and traditions by Alton J. Pelowski
Today it is Pascha on the Julian calendar.
Today it is Pascha on the Julian calendar.
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