Merry Chri$tma$ with Rev. Billy, the Erstwhile Calvinist

If you've seen Super Size Me, then you will want to go see this documentary. It opens at the River Oaks theatre in Houston on Dec. 7. Check it out. Read some reviews of the film here.

(HT: Brands of Faith)

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Phorum with (soon to be) Dr. Phil 4.0

In addition to bringing in your own articles to discuss, check out these items related to crowdsourcing. Read a wiki definition, and then read the original article on crowdsourcing by journalist Jeff Howe. Of course he has a blog, too. What are your thoughts about crowdsourcing? What would crowdsourcing education look like? Is it even possible?

Also, here's a link to a story about the Republican YouTube debate. How is this kind of technology transforming politics and campaigns?

Finally, let us know what you think about on-line learning from this story. How has on-line learning influenced your education thus far, and what kind of role do you anticipate it playing in your educational future?
Part 1
Part 2

Kant on Enlightenment

Follow the light here.

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High Voltage Conversation: Get Shocked

I first heard of Naomi Klein a couple of years ago when I viewed the documentary The Corporation. I don't recall Cornel West making an appearance, but Noam Chomsky does. I quickly took a look at her book No Logo, and found her observations keen, insights illuminating, and analysis precise and exact.

She's back now with a wonderful book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Downright amazing, and shockingly disturbing. Globalization isn't a vastly interconnected march to progress, opportunity, and wealth--unless you are able to pay for it--it is a road with complexities, obstacles, contradictions, and bewildering stories.

Spend some time with this one. We can all try to think a little more clearly. Check out a short video on the book here.

Leave us your thoughts and reflections.

Scientific Revolution and Phorum Phollow-up

This weekend you will read pp. 448-53 and 461-62. Be prepared to discuss on Monday.

Also, to phollow-up with the story on outsourcing disaster relief read here, and related to the Wal-Mart article listen to this show on remaking corporate images.

In other news, check out this computer symphony.

Phorum with (soon to be) Dr. Phil 3.0

For tomorrow's phorum, read here and here, and if you have time read this (this is the second time I've read an article on this topic).

As always, it should be phun-filled, phasinating, and at times, phunny.

Manic Monday, or Was the City Built on Absolutist Principles?

Although the title of this post is something of a throwback to the 1980s--one of the most interesting decades musically--you must draw the curtin on the past further back for tonight's reading: Take a tour of pp. 427-439, and be prepared to discuss (both verbally and in writing) questions on p. 410 dealing with Absolutism in Central, Eastern, and Northern Europe and with Limited Monarchy and Republics.

Also, read more about Peter the Great’s life here. Again, think in comparative terms about other absolutist leaders we’ve discussed.

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Podcasting the Past

You can listen to Friday's lecture (of Mr. Barber) about the 30 Years' War here. Remember, it may take a few minutes to download.

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Phorum with (soon to be) Dr. Phil 2.0

Read here first. And then here. You may also want to check this out from Democracy Now on 11/6.

I look phorward to enganging, enlightening, and hopefully phun-philled discussion as we assess the phacts of these articles in tomorrow's phorum. Ok, I'm now phinished with this post.