Category Archives: Education

2 Higher Education Readings

Fenster writes. CS50x is not the new Acura model.  It is Harvard’s Introduction to Computer Science course, the one it offered free as part of its EdX initiative. CS50x is Harvard College’s introduction to the intellectual enterprises of computer science … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Letter from China: Google Translate

Fenster writes: The level of English comprehension among my Chinese students is far above the level of Chinese comprehension among American students of Chinese.  But it is not great, and I have been thinking about how to make my lectures … Continue reading

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Linkage

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Do you know more about science and technology than the average American? Take this 13-question quiz to find out. (I got 12/13. I couldn’t remember if it was hydrogen or nitrogen.) The Human Genome Project just celebrated … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Linkathons, Movies, Politics and Economics, Science | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Things I’ve Learned from World History

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: As I mentioned way back here, I’ve been avoiding television and radio in an effort to wean myself from idiocy. As part of that effort, I’ve been partaking of some of the Great Courses offered by The Teaching Company. … Continue reading

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Education, Philosophy and Religion, Politics and Economics | Tagged , , , , | 32 Comments

Anthropology Update

Fenster writes: Here is an interesting account of the controversies surrounding the anthropologist Napoleon Chagnon, famous for his studies of the fierce Yanamamo people of the Amazon jungle.  And here’s his page on . . . uh . . . … Continue reading

Posted in Education | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Blowhard, Esq. writes: God bless the straightforward writer, and God bless those with the ability to amuse, provoke, surprise, shock, appall. The purpose of literature is to Delight. To create or endorse the Scholastic is a craven desire. It may … Continue reading

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing, Education | Tagged , | 1 Comment

News from the Academy

Fenster writes: From the Chronicle of Higher Education: The interim dean of Saint Louis University’s law school is stepping down after making a series of controversial comments, saying that he is too politically incorrect for the job, according to the St. … Continue reading

Posted in Education | 6 Comments

Diversity Musing

Paleo Retiree writes: I’m gobsmacked on a day-to-day basis by how completely the country has devoted itself to the cause of “diversity.” As though it’s automatically and everywhere a Good Thing, if not the one and only Magic Cure to … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Education, Personal reflections, Politics and Economics | Tagged | 12 Comments

I Graduated From a Monkey Prison

Blowhard, Esq. writes: In 1972, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, the fourth installment in the series, was released. When the film begins, humans have enslaved the apes but eventually the apes rise up in revolution against their oppressors. There … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Education, Movies, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Getting the Best Out of People: Freedom v. Control

Blowhard, Esq. writes: Seth Roberts, formerly of Berkeley and now professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, decided to stop grading his students. He writes: The more freedom I gave my students, the more difficult it became to grade them. At … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments