Wednesday, February 10, 2010

“Philosophy talk show promotes deep thinking (San Francisco Chronicle)” plus 3 more

“Philosophy talk show promotes deep thinking (San Francisco Chronicle)” plus 3 more

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Philosophy talk show promotes deep thinking (San Francisco Chronicle)

Posted: 10 Feb 2010 12:28 AM PST

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They weren't there for live music or a rare performance. They were there to talk philosophy, specifically, to explore the subjects: "What Is a Wife?" and "Faces, Feelings and Lies."

The live audience at the Marsh Theater in San Francisco was part of a nationally syndicated weekly public radio show called "Philosophy Talk." Hosted by Stanford philosophy Professors John Perry and Ken Taylor, the show opens with the statement, "Radio that questions everything except your intelligence" and closes with, "Thank you for listening, and thank you for thinking."

"I drove from Palo Alto to be here today because I love the concept of encouraging people to think, and to think about controversial questions," said Sandra O'Neal, sitting in the darkened theater.

Aired in a handful of states and on nearly 50 radio stations, the show began six years ago and recently celebrated its 200th episode. Topics of discussion have included: what is art, how relevant is Jesus, what are words worth, can science explain consciousness, and where does morality come from?

"We think that you can philosophize about just about anything, and that people can be drawn in to reflect on society," said co-host Taylor, who was first captivated by philosophy in college, when he read David Hume's take on causation. "I feel strongly that our culture is debased because there is not enough deep reflection."

Perry, who has been teaching philosophy since 1974 and was drawn to the field in college when he read Plato's "Republic," said, "Philosophy is good for people. With our show, we try to ask whether an argument is good and a position cogent. And we try to do it with humor."

A look at wives

During the show's first segment, looking at the changing nature of a "wife," Marilyn Yalom, author of "A History of the Wife," joined Perry and Taylor onstage.

Topics of discussion included: How has the notion of a wife changed, and why become a wife? Is there still a subculture that believes a woman's place is in the home? How will gay marriages affect the term wife?

"Maybe we will get to a point where wife is not tied to gender," mused Perry. "Maybe there will be male wives and female husbands."

Taylor noted, "For thousands of years, husbands were dominant and wives were material property. Today, a contemporary wife is a husband's equal. Still, in many cultures, marriage is still about inequality and oppression."

Yalom said, "Wife is something of a controversial word. Has the ideal marriage taken hold? I've looked at the past 2,500 years and there has been enormous change. I see men carrying babies in frontal packs. Having said that, it's hard to get away from old rules. A lot of it has to do with whoever has the greater earning power."

The second episode looked at the concept, practice and detection of lies. Paul Ekman, a noted Bay Area psychologist who has pioneered the field of lie detection through the reading of gestures and expressions, joined the hosts. The discussion ranged from how to apply lie detection to airport security to how anyone can learn lie detection in an hour. Ekman also discussed how to control one's emotions to evade lie detection.

After the event, Perry and Taylor, who have worked together long enough that they come across as a well-timed comedy duo, said the show has steadily gained in popularity. Their Web site draws about 70,000 unique visitors per month, and past shows are downloadable.

"I had the idea for this show about 20 years ago," Perry said. "I asked a couple of people and it didn't happen. When Ken came to Stanford, he was very excited about it. He's not just a dreamer but a doer. I'm a dreamer and I occasionally do."

Success comes slowly

Taylor says, "We made an hourlong pilot around 2001 without having any idea what we were doing. The question on the pilot was, 'Would you want to live forever?' We shopped it around and finally one producer, Ben Manilla, who is our producer now, listened to it and invited us to lunch. The first thing he said was, 'Don't play this pilot for anyone, ever again.' "

With financial support from Stanford, the professors continued to pursue their dream. They were rejected by radio stations everywhere.

"We heard from a lot of producers that philosophy was not something people were interested in, and that we were derivative, like we were the car talk guys of philosophy," said Taylor. Finally, though, the producers at KALW in San Francisco took a listen and liked what they heard.

Taylor and Perry try to do 32 fresh episodes a year, with about a third of those before a live audience. A recent live show, held at a cathedral in Oregon and focusing on the subject of desire and its effects on the planet, drew 800 people the first night and 600 people the second night.

"There is an audience of people - sometimes huge, sometimes small - who hunger for something that invites them to reflect," said Taylor.

Perry, who remembers obsessing over questions about the existence of God and the role of free will even as a high school student, said, "The show has done better than we feared, but not as good as we hoped. But slowly and steadily we are making progress. The examined life is a good thing."

Philosophy Talk: A nationally syndicated public radio show co-hosted by Stanford Professors Ken Taylor and John Perry. 10 a.m. Sundays on KALW, 91.7 FM. The episodes "What Is a Wife?" and "Faces, Feelings and Lies," recorded at the Marsh, will air April 4. philosophytalk.org.

E-mail Julian Guthrie at jguthrie@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

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St. Louis Blues Team Report (USA Today)

Posted: 10 Feb 2010 01:17 AM PST

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"I've come in here with a mindset of making sure these guys understand that we want to correct as we go," Payne said. "We've got to win hockey games, but we also know things aren't going to go our way all the time and it's how you respond to those situations."

The perfect example came Tuesday night.

Blues goalie Chris Mason gave up five goals on 15 shots before being pulled in Monday's 5-2 loss to Colorado. But one night later, Mason was back in net against Detroit, and he responded with 39 saves in a 4-3 shootout victory over the Red Wings.

"I'm really thankful for the opportunity," Mason said. "(Monday) night was one of those nights where nothing seemed to go right. It was a tough game, but it was good to get back in there and kind of redeem yourself."

The decision to start Mason was especially unexpected because backup Ty Conklin, who finished up Monday's game strong, has two victories against Detroit this season, including a shutout.

"I've got all the belief in the world in Ty, but also wanted 'Mase' to know, 'Hey, it didn't go your way last night, but we need you to get back in there and have a healthy kick at it for us.' He responded well."

The Blues have two days off before playing host to Toronto on Friday.

BLUES 4, RED WINGS 3 (SO): After the Blues blew another third-period lead, RW Brad Boyes and RW T.J. Oshie saved the team in the shootout Tuesday.

The Blues led 3-1 with about 13 minutes remaining in regulation, but Detroit's Valterri Filppula and Pavel Datsyuk scored to tie the game 3-3.

The Blues allowed the Red Wings to gain a point in overtime, but Boyes and Oshie netted goals in the shootout, thus keeping the Blues from throwing away two points.

NOTES, QUOTES

—The Blues had a record of 17-2-6 when leading after two periods this season. Although they surrendered a 3-1 lead over Detroit in the third on Tuesday, the Blues didn't experience the "here we go again feeling" that had hit them so many times this year. "At times it's been like that this year, but tonight, I don't think it was like that," RW Brad Boyes said. "It was weird that third period. Obviously, we gave up the two goals, but in saying that, we still found a way to win, which is huge for us."

—LW Paul Kariya had 10 goals this season before Tuesday, but all 10 were on the road. Kariya's lack of production at home was getting more and more attention lately, but the veteran forward put the conversation to rest Tuesday with two goals in a 4-3 shootout win over Detroit. "It was good to get the win, first, but it was nice to get that monkey off my back at home," Kariya said. "I don't know what happened there, but it's behind (him). Hopefully, they start flooding in now."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Maybe we need to get less sleep the night before games." Blues winger Paul Kariya, after the team's 4-3 shootout win over Detroit Tuesday. The Blues returned home at 3 a.m. Tuesday, after playing the night before in Colorado.

ROSTER REPORT

:

GOALTENDERS: Chris Mason, Ty Conklin

DEFENSEMEN: Roman Polak, Erik Johnson, Darryl Sydor, Mike Weaver, Carlo Colaiacovo, Eric Brewer and Barret Jackman.

FIRST LINE: Paul Kariya-David Backes-T.J. Oshie

SECOND LINE: Andy McDonald-Keith Tkachuk-Brad Boyes

THIRD LINE: Alex Steen-Patrik Berglund-David Perron

FOURTH LINE: Brad Winchester-Jay McClement-B.J. Crombeen

PLAYER NOTES:

—G Chris Mason made 39 saves in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout victory, which came one night after Mason allowed five goals on 15 shots in a 5-2 loss to Colorado.

—LW Paul Kariya had not scored a single goal at Scottrade Center this season, but on Tuesday, he scored two in the club's 4-3 shootout victory over Detroit.

—LW Andy McDonald netted his 18th goal of the season Tuesday, extending his club lead. The point was McDonald's 36th of the season, reclaiming the team lead over RW Brad Boyes (35).

MEDICAL WATCH:

—No injuries.

Rage Against the Machine's lyrics and philosophy lacking (TCU Daily Skiff)

Posted: 09 Feb 2010 09:17 PM PST

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Editor's note: This column contains explicit lyrics.

I was in my car the other day when "Down Rodeo" by Rage Against the Machine came on the radio. There's no doubt these guys are talented musicians, but their philosophical consistency is lacking.

There were some lines in the song that made me chuckle: "A thousand years they had the tools/ We should be taking them/ Fuck the G-ride! I want the machines that are making them."

OK, not the funniest lines you've ever heard in a song. But what happens when we bring in another RATM song? "Fuck the Police," for instance. (Always with the F-word, these guys). I imagine you get the gist of "Fuck the Police" without me having to quote it extensively. The reason I chuckled at the line above is because this band, more than anything else I've come across, typifies the paradox of antiauthoritarian leftism.

In one song we hear lyrics blasting the police for exercising their brutal authority. In others, RATM gives prescient critiques of the established corporatist state that has infected U.S. government for a long time. They identify a callous and violent authority among us, and they reject it. This happens nowhere more clearly than in their song "Killing in the Name," another song aimed at police authority, where lead singer Zack de la Rocha shouts repeatedly, "Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me!" (Again with the F-word).

And yet their answer to excessive authority is, rather ironically, socialism. I'm not sure where they got the idea, but it's clear they suppose that government, once it seizes the means of production and distribution, will no longer squash resistance with violence. This is the great irony of the way leftists see themselves - as the enemy of the police state and a friend to the little man; yet, they seek to supplant a system of force and coercion with a more forceful system with even more authority over the lives of people.

Leftists crave authority. They would cast a net over all society. Do they really suppose it would not snare them with the rest? Police are only the most visible manifestation of that authority. If socialism comes, violent force must be its vanguard and the prison will be its citadel.

Does RATM actually suppose that they can put a government in control of the livelihood of its citizens and at the same time eschew the violent control on which the system counts for its existence? How will the central planners respond to "Fuck you! I won't do what you tell me!"? Something tells me it will not be with patient ratiocination.

Indeed, there is only one tool in the government's box - violence - and it is worn out with use. How does RATM propose we institute socialism? It must be with the pistol and the taser. It will be force-fed to us down the gun barrels of the boys in blue. Under no circumstances can one promote socialism or interventionism without validating the striking batons of the police and the violent crackdowns that will inevitably fall on dissenters with total indifference for suffering.

Sorry, RATM, but socialism and the police state are two sides of the same authoritarian coin.

Matt Palmer is a rhetoric and composition graduate student from Phoenix.


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Relevant Links (AllAfrica.com)

Posted: 10 Feb 2010 12:31 AM PST

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The Namibian (Windhoek)

Tileni Mongudhi

10 February 2010

FORMER Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) Chairman Ponhele Andrew Mbidi Ya France died in Windhoek on Monday night after a long fight against cancer.

Ya France also served as a Swapo Member of Parliament and President of the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW).

News of his death shocked those who had worked with him over the years.

Businessman Ranga Haikali, who served as NUNW secretary general under Ya France, told The Namibian that he was taken aback by the news, because according to his last chats with Ya France, he had been showing signs of recovery.

"My heartfelt condolences to the family and friends," Haikali said, adding that Ya France had made his contribution to the country in a humble way and stood firm in the interest of the workers.

"I thank God for gi-ving me the opportunity to have known him and learned from him; he is somebody who cannot be forgotten," Haikali said.

Despite his long career in politics, Ya France will mainly be remembered for his role as the NUNW president.

His time at the NUNW was the highlight of his political career, characterised by clashes with Government, Parliament and even Swapo.

At one point he took on Parliament for not consulting the masses while making laws affecting them. He was also vocal about what he called the slow pace of land redistribution.

He was also said to have been instrumental in keeping the NUNW affiliated to Swapo.

Ya France was born on January 8 1948 at Epuku in the Ohangwena Region. He held a Master of Science degree in philosophy and political science from the Karl Marx University in Germany.

He left the country in 1974 to join the liberation struggle and served Swapo in many capacities including being part of the team that worked for Voice of Namibia, the liberation radio station.

Ya France served as special advisor to the Minister of Veterans' Affairs until his death.

Other notable positions included chairperson of the NBC Board (2005 - 2009), Member of the National Assembly (2000 - 2005), President of the NUNW (1993 - 2000) and Chief Regional Officer of the Khomas Regional Council (1993 - 2000).

Ya France is survived by his wife, Frieda, and five children. The funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

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