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
Thoughts
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
Friday Flotsam: Mostly ‘Oppenheimer’
1. I'm starting my job training in classical education Monday, so beginning a new phase of existence as you might say. 2. I saw Oppenheimer last night and I'm still settling on what I thought about it. It certainly leaves the viewer with a lot to think about, and it's a film that demands to … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Mostly ‘Oppenheimer’
Thoughts on ‘Unstoppable’
I've been meaning to check out Unstoppable for a while, the 2010 action-thriller starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pine. Now I have and it's about what I expected it to be; that is to say, a very cool, good-not-great piece of entertainment aimed squarely at the side of America that Hollywood generally tries to ignore. … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Unstoppable’
Thoughts on ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves’
There seems to be a common thread among people who watch Dungeons and Dragons: Honour Amongst Thieves, which is that it’s a lot better than either the marketing campaign or the premise would lead you to believe. As a matter of fact, it’s really quite a good film; not spectacular, but solid, engaging, and creative. … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves’
Friday Flotsam: New Job and Some Other Stuff
1. The first news is that as of this week I have a new job. Come August I'll be teaching with Regina Caeli Academy: a classical-education homeschool-hybrid where kids learn at home three days a week then come in for Socratic discussion two days. I'm taking on high school-level American History, US Government and Economics, … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: New Job and Some Other Stuff
Some Thoughts on ‘Anne of Green Gables’
I sometimes think that English teachers and professional writing gurus don’t read much, given how it seems that most of the great enduring classics eschew much of the advice they give. That is, unless they ever remember to say “make it interesting.” Rule one of martial arts is ‘don’t die’, rule one of writing is … Continue reading Some Thoughts on ‘Anne of Green Gables’
Friday Flotsam: Box Office, Generational Lag, Education
1. Dipping into box office news, I'm glad to see that the lingering waste product of a failed and canceled franchise starring a violent lunatic is failing hard at the box office, despite the desperate presence of an overpaid relic from the days of comparative cultural confidence. Likewise the latest offering of the studio that … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Box Office, Generational Lag, Education
Father Figures and Images of God
I happen to be reading/re-reading two very different Manga at the moment (didn't intend it that way, I just stumbled into it on discovering a new outlet): Silver Spoon and My Hero Academia. I've talked about both of these before, but if you're just joining us, Silver Spoon is a comedic slice-of-life series about a … Continue reading Father Figures and Images of God
Friday Flotsam: Life Stuff and ‘Merchant of Venice’
1. Talking with my counselor this week, we discovered that I may underestimate my own productivity. I'm not sure about that myself, but I'm starting to track it. Supposedly, the act of tracking behavior alone tends to lead to improvement, sort of a Heisenberg-Maximized-Potential Principle. 2. A couple weeks ago some idiot ran into my … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Life Stuff and ‘Merchant of Venice’
Serpent's Den 