Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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December at The Movies
Well folks, this is it. The last month of 2011. In which we are bombarded with dozens of movies and told each one is the best of the year. So which of the vast variety of films being released in December should make it on to your radar and which should you leave behind? Take a look at our preview below.
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“War on Terror is in Our Hands, Now. Literally”
British troops have taken to playing ‘War on Terror’ – the controversial multi-player quest to dominate the globe – in the field. Pete W, a Task Force MED in Afghanistan, shows off the morale-boosting package that’s had a mixed reception from those who have a sense of humour and those who don’t.
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Interview: a Guide For Visiting Palestine
Every day, Fred Schlomka’s Green Olive tour company picks up a car full of Jerusalem tourists and guides them through the Separation Wall into the Palestinian West Bank, visiting refugee camps, social enterprises and – in what’s been seen by some as a controversial move – settler communities. “Most tour companies offer a ‘Disneyland’ view of the country, from a Jewish or Christian perspective, often excluding information, experiences, and sites that conflict with their worldview” says Fred. “Green Olive Tours tries to offer a more comprehensive experience while gently advocating for a more humanistic and democratic perspective. The tours serve as a bridge between my political and professional work. Through traveling the West Bank almost every day I am able to monitor the situation and stay in touch with my contacts. Through offering tourists the opportunity to benefit from my experienced guides’ knowledge, and witness the impact of the Occupation, they often are motivated to become politically active when they return home. Some return as volunteers in the organizations we introduce them to”.
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News Corporation Ignominy: Some Scope For Celebration
It’s not enjoyable to see established, profitable publishers shut-down, context notwithstanding. But I’m delighted that the baying crowd has given itself a yardstick by which to measure its own ethical performance. Let me qualify: it’s not the appalling details of the hacking scandals so much as the general extent to which News Corporation employees were prepared to put their reputation on the line, which merits such extended analysis. Those decisions, taken in order to stay ahead of their competition, are what have exposed the ethical cost of prioritizing cash revenue so defiantly. Organizations like ProPublica and Spot.Us are leading the way for non-profit Journalism by putting their content first and developing communities around what they produce. But are there quality and impact benefits to feeling ‘coroporate’ as a publisher, that we’re in danger of leaving to algorithm-run social media sites and bloggers that mostly operate without any legally refined code of conduct?
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Digesting All Your Critiques in One Sitting
Want to know what the critics are saying about the latest books, films and plays? “The Omnivore” rounds up press reviews, bringing you a cross section of critical opinion. It’s basically the credible resource you’ve been looking for to quickly help you make an informed decision on whether or not to shell out on a particular dose of cultural stimulation.
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Confessions of Lethargy. Things You Find Yourself Surprised at Having to Actually Still do
In this modern age of technology-inspired convenience, it’s difficult to keep track of what’s not yet possible. Here are some completely legitimate examples of such confusion.
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Short Film: Londoners And Their Alone Time
Future Shorts is a wonderful short-film collective that you’re probably already aware of. This particular delight is the work of Marc Isaacs, who’s produced a range of documentaries for Channel Four and the BBC.
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Something Old, Something New: Cardboard Art in LA
Four large pieces on another wall display a range of events, from a journey into a small town, all the way to a bicoastal cityscape. The cityscape piece, in particular, captures attention by featuring a representation of the twin towers, an old pair of tennis shoes and a pink party, against the scratchy brown cardboard. Reinert explains that “there’s a relationship between New York and California … there is a language between the two cities and I wanted to capture that, our shared urban-American experience.” It comes as no surprise that this piece was created shortly after the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
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Long Beach Jazz Nights Give Home to a ‘Surprisingly Vibrant Community’
A rotating So Cal jazz lineup has taken residence Monday and Tuesday nights at McKenna’s on the Bay in Long Beach, Calif., making the Alamitos Bay-side restaurant a lot more hip in the last six months. The lineup includes three sets each night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Organized up by Anthony Shadduck, with […]
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Are You as Interested in Algorithms as They Are in You?
2011 showed flashes of brilliance. As the Occupy movements grappled with their disdain for autocratic legislation, it felt as if the protesters were battling with a few too many heads of the capitalist Hydra. Perhaps they could turn their attention to the mechanical beasts that lurk within their midst, known euphemistically as algorithms.
Got any book recommendations?