This year and last, I showed this 2005 film to my AP Language and Composition class, I suppose for two reasons. First (the less noble reason) - this time of year is extremely busy because of the Debate team travel schedule, and the movie itself takes almost 5 full class periods to show. Second (hopefully … Continue reading The New World
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top 5 rock & roll songs of all time
this top is absolutely objective.any objections to it are bound to be ureasonable: 1.metallica-for whom the bell tolls 2.led zeppelin-when the levee breaks 3.pantera-walk 4.slayer-seasons in the abyss 5.the rolling stones-sittin on a fence
A totally absurd generalization I’d like to discuss
I was listening to the two guys from Sound Opinions talking about their new book, which is apparently a book-length conversation between the two of them about the relative merits of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. While listening to them talk about this for a little bit (it was during the recent WBEZ pledge … Continue reading A totally absurd generalization I’d like to discuss
A Gauntlet
Anyone (I'm looking at you, Nates) care to defend Kant against these charges: http://schwitzsplinters.blogspot.com/2010/03/kant-on-killing-bastards-on.html I must confess that it's hard to square conventional wisdom that Kant is one of if not the greatest moral philosopher ever with moral beliefs like the ones expressed in these passages.
Failures of TV
We’ve occasionally talked on this blog (and its predecessor) about how great the last decade of TV has been. Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Mad Men: that’s a remarkable string of thoughtful, engaging, original drama. I’m sure there are a lot of reasons why it’s happening now, and I imagine luck plays a role as well. … Continue reading Failures of TV
about movies
1.i remember that in a discussion with hitchcock,truffaut was comparing the way hitchcok shot a scene in one of his movies,and the way the same scene was shot by some american director who remade that movie.the scene was two guys talking in the street.bad guys probably.hitchcock shot it from inside a room, from above,so you could … Continue reading about movies
Movie Review: The Box
Some movies, despite whatever virtues they possess, suffer from a fatal flaw that leads the reflective viewer to judge the movie an artistic failure. It's hard to articulate the point precisely but I expect readers of this blog have experienced what I am alluding to--that moment during a movie, or afterwards, when you think: "Well, … Continue reading Movie Review: The Box
A Secular Version of Original Sin?
It's Columbus Day, which led to the following thought. 1) I suppose we can all agree that the European settlers committed immorality on a massive scale--the word 'genocide,' which is not used lightly, is often used to sum up the European program with respect to Native Americans. 2) Now if we agree that the European … Continue reading A Secular Version of Original Sin?
Suicide and Moral Blame
Suppose that you hear about two cases in which a physically healthy 30-year-old man is killed. All you know about the two cases is that in Case 1, the killing was a suicide, and that in Case 2, the killing was a homicide. If you're like me, it will seem natural to think that, absent … Continue reading Suicide and Moral Blame
Singer and Slote on Famine Relief
Check it out. http://www.philostv.com/peter-singer-and-michael-slote/
Original Positions 