Author's posts
Aug 03
Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature by Janine M. Benyus
I picked up Biomimicry and was inspired by the many contemporary sounding examples, only to realize the book was originally published in 1997! Eventually the book dates itself by references to projects that have failed, moved in different directions, or by reporting as astounding facts that are now taken for granted, like multi-layered network models …
Sep 18
Loving Capitalism or Communism: Are You a Stalker?
Here are some simplistic reflections about the fairly common black and white characterization of capitalism vs. communism/socialism. Sometimes simple perspectives, if we keep in mind that the omitted details are what people actually live, can provide some useful insights. The core ideas of capitalism are that unrestrained supply and demand will naturally lead to lower …
Jun 17
Logic Videos More Popular Than I Am
My Youtube.com logic videos have gotten over 13,500 views and nearly 54,000 minutes of viewing time in 110 countries. This is tiny traffic compared to commercial sites but I only have 12-20 students a semester in my logic class so I was surprised that even a handful of other people noticed them. Logic has become my favorite class to …
Aug 01
Prison Perspectives on Philosophy
I’m once again teaching a philosophy course to inmates of California State prisons. It is literally a correspondence course. We write to each other. The students get textbooks, a course packet, assignments, and the college arranges regular delivery cycles between students and instructors. The course beings like many introductory philosophy courses. We talk about Plato’s …
Aug 01
Robots as Religious Zealots
It’s getting old by T.V. scifi standards, but I want to watch the whole series again it was soooo good. The Blueray set of the entire series is out and is getting affordable (in other words I found an excuse to buy it). The new-ish Battlestar Galactica is a far cry from Loren Green’s day …
May 17
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a Brit Masterpiece Theatre drama about a semi-Royal and rich aristocratic family in the early 1900’s and their servants. It’s as much or more about the servants as the family who employs them. I watched a few episodes and could hardly turn it off. Don’t wait in hopeful suspense that the …
Apr 09
Farscape starts slow ends big
Farscape is a joint U.S.-Australian production by Jim Hanson, originator of the muppets. There are tons of bizarre looking aliens and a plot-line that connects most of the episodes. There are muppets in the show, but they are designed and acted to be serious characters (well, most of the time). Ben Bruder plays the male …
Apr 09
Everybody lives…and it is horrible!
I’ve been watching Torchwood, a UK spinoff of Dr. Who although none of the Dr.s are in it and the show is very different. Dr. Who would never turn as dark as Torchwood, even given the many times the earth, solar system, or galaxy has been barely saved by the Dr. Brutal! But season four has …
Nov 09
Prometheus – Prequel to the Alien Series?
Prometheus directed and produced by Ridley Scott couldn’t decide if it was a prequel to the Alien series or not. The comments I’ve read by Scott seem to indicate he wasn’t sure either. Movies involve so many different people that the end result always expresses a blend of interests. In this case it wasn’t a …
Nov 09
Morality and Not Having a Past
Things have happened in the past, right? But the past isn’t a container or a place. Its the current traces of events that are over and out, done, traces of events no longer happening. Memories are like tree rings or a gully. They may mark our growth or changes but they don’t exist anymore than …
- 1
- 2
Recent Comments