Beginning of the End: Of Books, Coffee, and Final Exams

As you seek to put all the pieces together here at semester's end, some concluding thoughts.

For helpful last minute study tips, see this humorous post on final exams, or a funny bald guy's podcast (puns included). Most relevant for class, check out a master teacher's thoughts on Peter the Great and a keen comparative look at Descartes and Bacon.

If you fall asleep while studying, hopefully you can avoid this, no doubt a hot topic of discussion for phuture phorums.

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On Staying Enlightened

Topics for Monday's discussion:
1. Chapter 17: pp. 493-98 (18th-century culture, society)
2. Chapter 18 (read about topics below)
a. Enlightened Absolutism in France, Russia, Prussia
b. balance of power
c. 18th century social structures

Chapter resources: Chapter 17, Chapter 18 (select a chapter)

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.