Wednesday, December 6, 2023

The Death of Expertise, and other problems...


The Death of Expertise explains a lot about our current social and political climate. Tom Nichols wrote this sobering book in 2017. Recent political discussions reminded me I'd always meant to read it. Wish I'd done so six years ago. It contains valuable lessons for the common person young and old, teachers and administrators in higher education, social media producers and consumers, journalist and their publishers, and of course experts who are not above mistake. An updated 2nd edition is due out in April 2024; I've pre-ordered my copy from our local bookseller. This copy is on the way to one of my favorite relatives...

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Another Important Read


I recently purchased and read a copy of "Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present" by scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat  I've heard several interviews with her lately and believe she's on to something to which we all must pay careful attention. While many are drawing parallels between our current political climate and 1930s Germany, Ben-Ghiat makes a compelling case that 1920s Italy may be more instructive. 

PS I bought my copy from Peregrine Book Company. If we want local we must buy local.

A hike to the summit of our local volcano

Vicky Hall and I had a hike up (and down) Glassford Hill midday Sunday. These remains of a 12-14 million year old volcanic eruption offer a 4.7 mile (7.5 km) round trip ascending (and descending) 900 feet (275 m) via seven or eight switchbacks..







Saturday, December 2, 2023

I've Been Away for a While

Trying to reduce my dependence on FB dopamine hits, so I thought I'd try some blogging again...

What I'm listening to these days


As we enter our angry, divisive 2024 presidential election year I've pruned my podcasts on both the left and the right, and added more science to the mix.

On The Media - Center left reviews of major news stories and how they're reported https://www.npr.org/podcasts/452538775/on-the-media 

Beg to Differ, with Mona Charon - Weekly roundtable of Center Right to Center Left news analysis https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/beg-to-differ/

The Reason Roundtable - Genuine Libertarians have a way of looking at the world that is frequently refreshing https://reason.com/podcasts/the-reason-roundtable/

The Bulwark Podcast, with Charlie Sykes - Sometimes shrilll centrist political news analysis https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/the-bulwark-podcast/

Conversations, with Bill Kristol - Center Right domestic and international political analysis https://conversationswithbillkristol.org/ 

Shield of the Republic - Center right analysis of international geopolitical issues https://www.thebulwark.com/podcast/shield-of-the-republic/

Thursday, December 3, 2020

The Rest of My Podcast Feed

The rest of my feed remains devoted to science, medicine (Covid-19), cognition, and religion...


Monster Talk: The Science Show About Monsters


In Research Of will eventually run out of In Search Of television episodes to evaluate, but for now it's good fun.


TWIV: This Week In Virology has been at it since 2008.  I look forward to not needing to listen to every episode...


CIDRAP Osterholm Update - Covid-19 is another solid source of Covid-19 science.

You Are Not So Smart offers deep dives into the psychology of human awareness, emotion, cognition, and decision-making.

Unbelievable, With Justin Brierly has been a favorite of mine for many years.

The Bart Ehrman Blog Podcast features readings from the blog hosted by my favorite biblical scholar.

Still Unbelievable, from Reason Press is put on by some of the folks who worked on our book of the same name.