Monthly Archives: June 2011
“Democracy beyond anatomy”
Yet another brilliant TED talk. Bioethicist and social activist Alice Dreger talks about the fuzzy boundaries between our disconcertingly unstable biological categories; the shift from supernatural to natural explanations for the world; the basis both within and beyond biology for … Continue reading
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The case for optimism, cont’d: “Isn’t pessimism necessary? Isn’t optimism complacent?”
Paul Gilding, author of The Great Disruption, is optimistic about climate change. The coming crisis will be catastrophic, he predicts, but humanity will rise to the challenge: Historically, looking at World War II as the prime example, we don’t act … Continue reading
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The case for optimism, cont’d: “The most decadent thing is fear itself”
Andrew Sullivan’s readers have been discussing whether or not America is now like late imperial Rome. One points out: When did we become decadent? When did the fall of our great society begin? The Rome comparison is a beloved cliche … Continue reading
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How to listen
I dove into this video without preamble, without reading preliminary descriptions, and found percussionist and composer Evelyn Glennie simply amazing. Glennie gives an inspiring talk — and spectacular performance — that winds up being not just about how to listen … Continue reading
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Why stereotypes need to die, cont’d
Because people who have English accents aren’t automatically smarter or more sophisticated than people with American accents, thank you very much. The main significant effect found in this study was that people who’d lived at least three months outside the … Continue reading
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Maya Beiser and the cello’s “endless possibilities”
TED has been giving a lot of love to cellists lately. (You’ll find no complaints here!) Here, Maya Beiser uses technology, voice, and dramatic physical performance to take the cello into exciting new territory: The pieces, commissioned for Beiser, are … Continue reading
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Farewell to the Big Man
In memory of Clarence Clemons, whose white-hot saxophone lifted many of Bruce Springsteen’s classic songs to transcendent heights. A huge loss for Springsteen, for his fans, and for great-hearted rock and roll. A 2009 interview with Jon Stewart here.
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On identity beyond ethnicity, cont’d: “I am a Japanese writer”
From Dany Laferrière’s novel I Am a Japanese Writer: The space police help identify you (Where do you come from?). Born in the Caribbean, I automatically became a Caribbean writer. The bookstore, the library and the university rushed to pin … Continue reading
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Why libraries matter, cont’d: “You feed the appetite for knowledge, and it creates more appetite for knowledge”
Craig Buthod, 2010 Librarian of the Year, talks to the hosts of The Takeaway about reinventing the Louisville library system for the digital age. An interesting, er, takeaway: the more new technologies the libraries embrace, the more people check out … Continue reading
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On being wrong, cont’d: The Book of Mormon
I so badly want to see this show. The nod to “I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music is brilliant. But here’s what’s truly funny about it: Everything the character sings about is an actual Mormon belief. What does … Continue reading
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