1. We're still reading Thomas Paine in my American Government course (I'm going to be looking ahead this weekend, but I may have to go off-script because there doesn't seem much else being discussed in the coming weeks), along with his chosen opponent, Rev. Charles Inglis (later the first Anglican Bishop in the New World). … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly Political History
Thoughts
Friday Flotsam: School and ‘One Piece’
1. At school I've more or less defaulted to lecturing, as trying to get the kids to engage hasn't been too profitable for most of the classes. Though oddly enough, turning to lecturing interspersed with questions has gotten a lot more interaction going, so perhaps it works out. 2. I ended up correcting the history … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: School and ‘One Piece’
Friday Flotsam: Corniness and ‘Shadows on the Rock’
1. Thinking of 50s-era educational shorts this week made me wonder: they're usually described as 'cheesy' or 'corny'. What does this mean? What constitutes corn? The heirs of Webster define it as "mawkishly old-fashioned : tiresomely simple and sentimental". Fair enough, but what is the positive contrary? Up-to-date, sophisticated, and rational, I suppose. Though that … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Corniness and ‘Shadows on the Rock’
Revolution Analogies
Sorry; again, it just keeps coming up! Today I happened to come across the following in an old comments section: “Imagine that a father gave his teenage son every liberty, so that the son was accustomed to making all his decisions for himself and living his life as he chose. Then suddenly one day the … Continue reading Revolution Analogies
Sunday Thoughts: The Pull from Outside
A few Sundays ago, I felt the 'pull from outside.' I won't say it was the first time, but it was the first time I gave it that name. I had just watched a video on the Spanish Civil War, which spoke of how much of the Spanish population in those days were dead-set against … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts: The Pull from Outside
Friday Flotsam: School, Carrolls, and Sword Fight
1. Made it through my second week of teaching. I'm still finding it extremely draining, and it's a struggle to get the kids to start discussing stuff in most of the classes (my one 12th grade class is the best in that regard, but alas is the shortest one). But it's something, and I've at … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: School, Carrolls, and Sword Fight
NC Commentary: Villain vs. Villain
My latest story commentary essay is up at Noble Cobra Magazine. Yes, I'm again talking about My Hero Academia, though this time I'm dealing with a part where it falls short by discussing its version of the "villain's rise to power" arc and comparing and contrasting it with what I think is a better done … Continue reading NC Commentary: Villain vs. Villain
Friday Flotsam: On Republics and Anime Girls
1. The purpose of government is to promote the common good. The great danger of any Republic is the loss of the sense of commonality between different parts of the populace. This, of course, can happen under any form of government, but it is a particular danger for Republics, because elected governments incentivize animosity and … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: On Republics and Anime Girls
Thomas Jefferson and Intellectual Humility
Note: This is a reconstruction of the post mentioned in this week's Flotsam: the one eaten by WordPress. Turns out I exaggerated a bit and the opening few paragraphs at least survived, though everything after the 'Council of Nicea' bit - that is, basically all of my own thoughts - is a reconstruction, and I … Continue reading Thomas Jefferson and Intellectual Humility
Sunday Thoughts: Charity, the King of Virtues
St. Francis de Sales describes Charity as "the king of virtues," which is attended upon and served by all the others. In his usual style, he likens it to the King of Bees, who never goes forth without being attended by his buzzing subjects (the good bishop was a big fan of Pliny and he … Continue reading Sunday Thoughts: Charity, the King of Virtues
Serpent's Den 