Does anyone need any more than this?
July 28, 2012
July 23, 2012
School Stuff
Robert was asked yesterday to describe the overall goal he has in mind when deciding upon a school for his kids. He didn't give a very good answer. He'll try again.
It seems to Robert that an education should prepare kids to become creators. Creation, whether it be expressive (fine arts, literature) or systematic (ie, scientific, mechanical, organizational), is largely an irrational process. But living in modern day society (i.e., atomized, corporatized society) requires an organized rational mind. The goal, then, is to produce kids that can navigate through both spheres. To have them develop irrational strengths so that creation is possible. And also structured brains that can relate to people and organizations in modern life. Indeed, a rational mind is needed in order to identify and isolate the shortcomings of society, which can then be improved upon through creative problem solving.
The trick is to not become too lopsided. To not overweigh irrational faculties at the expense of mental organization. Conversely, to not become too rational. Too organized. To become locked within what Max Weber called the Iron Cage of rationality that prevents people and organizations from changing and advancing.
It also seems to Robert that there is an ordering and directionality aspect to this. If a person is to have a chance at developing irrational (i.e., creative) faculties, then irrational thinking needs to be developed in early childhood. It is much easier to develop a rationalized mind later in life. If the foundations of creative thinking are not acquired in childhood, before, let's say, age 12,, there is little hope in developing them later. The siren song of rationality, of organizations, is too difficult to resist later in life. It is too difficult to back up and learn creativity.
So, choosing a school is about finding a place that maximizes the chance that our children will be balanced creators. Able to navigate both worlds.
Now, if we can find a school that demonstrates a dedication to both rationality and irrationality, at an affordable price, and that is within 3 blocks of our house, then we're set.
It seems to Robert that an education should prepare kids to become creators. Creation, whether it be expressive (fine arts, literature) or systematic (ie, scientific, mechanical, organizational), is largely an irrational process. But living in modern day society (i.e., atomized, corporatized society) requires an organized rational mind. The goal, then, is to produce kids that can navigate through both spheres. To have them develop irrational strengths so that creation is possible. And also structured brains that can relate to people and organizations in modern life. Indeed, a rational mind is needed in order to identify and isolate the shortcomings of society, which can then be improved upon through creative problem solving.
The trick is to not become too lopsided. To not overweigh irrational faculties at the expense of mental organization. Conversely, to not become too rational. Too organized. To become locked within what Max Weber called the Iron Cage of rationality that prevents people and organizations from changing and advancing.
It also seems to Robert that there is an ordering and directionality aspect to this. If a person is to have a chance at developing irrational (i.e., creative) faculties, then irrational thinking needs to be developed in early childhood. It is much easier to develop a rationalized mind later in life. If the foundations of creative thinking are not acquired in childhood, before, let's say, age 12,, there is little hope in developing them later. The siren song of rationality, of organizations, is too difficult to resist later in life. It is too difficult to back up and learn creativity.
So, choosing a school is about finding a place that maximizes the chance that our children will be balanced creators. Able to navigate both worlds.
Now, if we can find a school that demonstrates a dedication to both rationality and irrationality, at an affordable price, and that is within 3 blocks of our house, then we're set.
July 21, 2012
July 19, 2012
July 17, 2012
Armstrong Amended Complaint
Here's Lance Armstrong's amended complaint against the USADA. Another cyclist going into the death throws of denial.
Usada Letter
Armstrong Amended Complaint
Usada Letter
Armstrong Amended Complaint
July 15, 2012
July 11, 2012
Swing Vote
Robert just read Michael Tomasky's review of The Swing Vote: The Untapped Power of Independents, by Linda Killian, which appeared in the June 21 New York Review of Books.
Interestingly, Tomasky reasons, obviously, that the number of presidential election swing voters is far far smaller than the number of people who register as independents. "Independents" and "swing voter"are not the same thing. Most independents do not vacillate in their party aligned voting over time. Only about 6 or 7 percent of the electorate are truly undecided. Tomasky cites a 2008 study by the Democratic Leadership Council that concluded that the group whose vacillations from one party to the other that have the most impact are white voters with at least a high school education, maybe some college, but no college degree.
This makes intuitive sense to Robert. These are folks who get battered about my the economy and have most reason to vote based on the economy. Yet they are not highly educated enough to care, even fleetingly, about the principles of policy. Hence, the small (perhaps negative) effect that Obama's declaration of support for gay marriage probably had on the polls.
Anyway, these are the folks Obama will speak to with every breath until November. Especially those in swing states and swing districts.
Interestingly, Tomasky reasons, obviously, that the number of presidential election swing voters is far far smaller than the number of people who register as independents. "Independents" and "swing voter"are not the same thing. Most independents do not vacillate in their party aligned voting over time. Only about 6 or 7 percent of the electorate are truly undecided. Tomasky cites a 2008 study by the Democratic Leadership Council that concluded that the group whose vacillations from one party to the other that have the most impact are white voters with at least a high school education, maybe some college, but no college degree.
This makes intuitive sense to Robert. These are folks who get battered about my the economy and have most reason to vote based on the economy. Yet they are not highly educated enough to care, even fleetingly, about the principles of policy. Hence, the small (perhaps negative) effect that Obama's declaration of support for gay marriage probably had on the polls.
Anyway, these are the folks Obama will speak to with every breath until November. Especially those in swing states and swing districts.
July 7, 2012
July 2, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
All Comments