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Thread: Ben Franklin's World

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    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    Ugh, that was a painful read. Finished it all, along with "The Fountainhead." What a strange and unworkable philosophy she had. You have to wonder about the mental health of those who embraced it.

    I envy those like you with the ability to listen to and absorb podcasts and aural learning materials. Mr. Owl enjoys podcasts too. I'm far more visual. I really like the course I'm taking now, which is done via Zoom. The prof uses a combination of videos, Powerpoint sides, and lecture, along with the textbook. Lecture + visual seems to work well for me.
    I agree.

    While I enjoy audio learning while walking or exercising, the visuals of a video or graphic production enhance the experience.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PoliTalker View Post
    Hello ThatOwlWoman,



    I remember how boring I found history back in school. And it was scheduled after lunch for me, when the human body would naturally prefer a nap. That was truly a challenge to fight my instinctive biorhythms and stay awake.

    That's why I like the podcasts! It's like I'm back in history class, except now I don't get called out for falling asleep. I like to put them on when I go to bed. I have the computer set to auto-shut-off. I rarely hear the end of a podcast! It's GREAT. I learn a little, take my mind off everything from the day, and conk out.

    Then, the next night, I put the same episode on and advance it as far as I can remember from the previous night, start from there, and let it keep going. It's PERFECT!
    Somewhere along the way, high school history instruction became an exercise in rote memorizing of dates and names and the famous political deeds of kings, queens, emperors, and generals.

    The ancient Greeks, especially during and after Herodotus, considered the study of history to be a form of moral instruction.

    Modern university level historical instruction by talented professors makes history more of a humanistic story and imbued with the rich tapestry of political history, cultural history, economic history, history of science, and intellectual history.

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    Hello Cypress,

    Quote Originally Posted by Cypress View Post
    Somewhere along the way, high school history instruction became an exercise in rote memorizing of dates and names and the famous political deeds of kings, queens, emperors, and generals.

    The ancient Greeks, especially during and after Herodotus, considered the study of history to be a form of moral instruction.

    Modern university level historical instruction by talented professors makes history more of a humanistic story and imbued with the rich tapestry of political history, cultural history, economic history, history of science, and intellectual history.
    A good teacher makes all the difference.

    I had a physics professor that was awesome. It was like going to a show. He was so creative in his demonstrations!

    Concurrently, my chemistry professor was terrible, the worst. Rattled on and on faster than I could comprehend, acted annoyed when asked a question, and worst of all, gave a test at the end of each class on what had been discussed that day. Then, at the next class after the test, that was when he would go over the material and show how each problem was worked. First you get tested on it, then you are shown how to work the problems!

    Naturally, I learned way more physics than chemistry.

    Later, I found out chemistry was a weeder course for pre-med. The trick was: you had to be part of a study group and put in extra time before each lecture to 'advance-learn' the material on your own time. The pre-med students were usually part of a fraternity that was 'on the inside,' and had advance group knowledge of what was faced, set up their own 'classes' on how to take the weeder course.

    Silly me. I thought you go to class to learn, receive an assignment, do the work, learn how to work the problems, get taught, and THEN get tested on it.

    Oh, you definitely wanted to learn the material after your tests, regardless of how well you did. You'd see it again on the final. But the tests were part of your grade, so knowing it by the end of the course did not get you a good grade.

    Schools should be set up to first teach, then test. That's what people are paying for and expecting.

    That stuff was hard enough with making it even more difficult to learn.
    Personal Ignore Policy PIP: I like civil discourse. I will give you all the respect in the world if you respect me. Mouth off to me, or express overt racism, you will be PERMANENTLY Ignore Listed. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. I'll never read a word you write, even if quoted by another, nor respond to you, nor participate in your threads. ... Ignore the shallow. Cherish the thoughtful. Long Live Civil Discourse, Mutual Respect, and Good Debate! ps: Feel free to adopt my PIP. It works well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PoliTalker View Post
    Hello Cypress,



    A good teacher makes all the difference.

    I had a physics professor that was awesome. It was like going to a show. He was so creative in his demonstrations!

    Concurrently, my chemistry professor was terrible, the worst. Rattled on and on faster than I could comprehend, acted annoyed when asked a question, and worst of all, gave a test at the end of each class on what had been discussed that day. Then, at the next class after the test, that was when he would go over the material and show how each problem was worked. First you get tested on it, then you are shown how to work the problems!

    Naturally, I learned way more physics than chemistry.

    Later, I found out chemistry was a weeder course for pre-med. The trick was: you had to be part of a study group and put in extra time before each lecture to 'advance-learn' the material on your own time. The pre-med students were usually part of a fraternity that was 'on the inside,' and had advance group knowledge of what was faced, set up their own 'classes' on how to take the weeder course.

    Silly me. I thought you go to class to learn, receive an assignment, do the work, learn how to work the problems, get taught, and THEN get tested on it.

    Oh, you definitely wanted to learn the material after your tests, regardless of how well you did. You'd see it again on the final. But the tests were part of your grade, so knowing it by the end of the course did not get you a good grade.

    Schools should be set up to first teach, then test. That's what people are paying for and expecting.

    That stuff was hard enough with making it even more difficult to learn.
    The problem I found with those lower undergraduate chemistry and physics courses is there were 200 people to a class. The learning experience really should be limited to 25 people or less.

    Life has taught me that the questions are just as important as the answers. Maybe more so. If kids cannot answer the questions a professor poses, maybe the problem is not that the students are ignorant. Maybe the problem is the professor needs to do a better job framing the questions.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PoliTalker View Post
    Hello ThatOwlWoman,



    I remember how boring I found history back in school. And it was scheduled after lunch for me, when the human body would naturally prefer a nap. That was truly a challenge to fight my instinctive biorhythms and stay awake.

    That's why I like the podcasts! It's like I'm back in history class, except now I don't get called out for falling asleep. I like to put them on when I go to bed. I have the computer set to auto-shut-off. I rarely hear the end of a podcast! It's GREAT. I learn a little, take my mind off everything from the day, and conk out.

    Then, the next night, I put the same episode on and advance it as far as I can remember from the previous night, start from there, and let it keep going. It's PERFECT!
    That's kind of like those "Learn a foreign language while you sleep!" tapes they used to sell, remember those? That's a cool way to enjoy the podcasts. What you said about your post-lunch class is pretty much what happens when I try to listen to the podcasts -- zzzzz. lol What are you listening to right now?
    "Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals." -- Mark Twain

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    Hello ThatOwlWoman,

    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    That's kind of like those "Learn a foreign language while you sleep!" tapes they used to sell, remember those? That's a cool way to enjoy the podcasts. What you said about your post-lunch class is pretty much what happens when I try to listen to the podcasts -- zzzzz. lol What are you listening to right now?
    I just finished Episode 036.

    "In today’s episode, Abigail Swingen, professor of history at Texas Tech University and author of Competing Visions of Empire: Labor, Slavery, and the Origins of the British Atlantic Empire, leads us on an exploration of how colonists and British imperial officers viewed the colonies and their place within the British Empire during the late 17th and early 18th centuries."

    That was what prompted my comment that: "I am pretty much reaching the conclusion that this country was founded upon the pretense of a lot of ill intent, we broke away from the source of that, but the bad vibe remained and we have been trying to turn that energy around ever since."

    The British viewed the colonies as something to serve them, a subordinate source of profit; the colonists viewed themselves as equal to the UK. That's why it melted down.
    Personal Ignore Policy PIP: I like civil discourse. I will give you all the respect in the world if you respect me. Mouth off to me, or express overt racism, you will be PERMANENTLY Ignore Listed. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. I'll never read a word you write, even if quoted by another, nor respond to you, nor participate in your threads. ... Ignore the shallow. Cherish the thoughtful. Long Live Civil Discourse, Mutual Respect, and Good Debate! ps: Feel free to adopt my PIP. It works well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PoliTalker View Post
    Hello ThatOwlWoman,



    I just finished Episode 036.

    "In today’s episode, Abigail Swingen, professor of history at Texas Tech University and author of Competing Visions of Empire: Labor, Slavery, and the Origins of the British Atlantic Empire, leads us on an exploration of how colonists and British imperial officers viewed the colonies and their place within the British Empire during the late 17th and early 18th centuries."

    That was what prompted my comment that: "I am pretty much reaching the conclusion that this country was founded upon the pretense of a lot of ill intent, we broke away from the source of that, but the bad vibe remained and we have been trying to turn that energy around ever since."

    The British viewed the colonies as something to serve them, a subordinate source of profit; the colonists viewed themselves as equal to the UK. That's why it melted down.
    The idea of owing no fealty to a king or queen must have been a pretty novel concept for them, too, eh?
    "Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals." -- Mark Twain

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    1865 is a great podcast focusing on the assassination of Lincoln. It is an audio play and very engaging.

    American History Tellers and many of Wondery's history podcasts are also well-done.
    Last edited by Whythink; 04-08-2021 at 05:14 AM.

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    Hello ThatOwlWoman,

    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    The idea of owing no fealty to a king or queen must have been a pretty novel concept for them, too, eh?
    The United States was a monster of Britain's own creation. A thing to be admired and cajoled, controlled and used for a while, and then feared and kept at arm's length. It was like starting a wildfire and then having to run from it.
    Personal Ignore Policy PIP: I like civil discourse. I will give you all the respect in the world if you respect me. Mouth off to me, or express overt racism, you will be PERMANENTLY Ignore Listed. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. I'll never read a word you write, even if quoted by another, nor respond to you, nor participate in your threads. ... Ignore the shallow. Cherish the thoughtful. Long Live Civil Discourse, Mutual Respect, and Good Debate! ps: Feel free to adopt my PIP. It works well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by PoliTalker View Post
    The United States was a monster of Britain's own creation. A thing to be admired and cajoled, controlled and used for a while, and then feared and kept at arm's length. It was like starting a wildfire and then having to run from it.
    Isn't it interesting that as colonies we rebelled against the crown and made ourselves independent... yet on Jan. 6th, 2021 another group of self-styled patriots rebelled against the Constitution and the rule of law in an attempt to restore the crown and put a #TangerineTyrant on the throne?
    "Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals." -- Mark Twain

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    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    Isn't it interesting that as colonies we rebelled against the crown and made ourselves independent... yet on Jan. 6th, 2021 another group of self-styled patriots rebelled against the Constitution and the rule of law in an attempt to restore the crown and put a #TangerineTyrant on the throne?
    That might be the most ignorant comparison yet.

    Attempting to stop an elected president from taking office being equated to overthrowing a King.

    Whatever makes the treason feel justified.... but wow

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

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    Quote Originally Posted by Whythink View Post
    That might be the most ignorant comparison yet.

    Attempting to stop an elected president from taking office being equated to overthrowing a King.

    Whatever makes the treason feel justified.... but wow

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    So you support the insurrection? You would have been pleased if they'd managed to hang Pence and put the Toadstool back in our White House?
    "Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals." -- Mark Twain

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    Hello ThatOwlWoman,

    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    Isn't it interesting that as colonies we rebelled against the crown and made ourselves independent... yet on Jan. 6th, 2021 another group of self-styled patriots rebelled against the Constitution and the rule of law in an attempt to restore the crown and put a #TangerineTyrant on the throne?
    It is remarkable. We are a nation born of rebellion. This foundational part of who we are has been played-up for profit by unscrupulous and unpatriotic capitalists.

    The Jan 6th insurrectionists sincerely believed they were doing what was just in the spirit of people's opposition to tyrannical power. But I believe their perception is flawed and based on propaganda. It is well-known that great profits are available for those who peddle fear, and many of these operatives, including Trump, play up this angle to their distinct advantage.

    Numerous psychological studies have shown that people are more susceptible to advertising at a point in time when their emotions have just been raised. It is as if the cognizant abilities are momentarily placed on hold while the mind processes an emotional stimulus. This allows advertisers to utilize this trick of presenting something scary, and then immediately presenting a sales pitch. It is a very effective way to sell product.

    'Buy now while supplies last!'

    What could possibly be scarier than the prospect of losing the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States?

    This is a constant theme in anti-liberal programming.

    "Big government is going to control every aspect of your life!"

    "Liberals are going to tax you to death!"

    "Socialism will destroy everything in it's path!"

    These very scary prospects have been used to sell guns and survival equipment for the 'coming storm' of upheaval. And just recently we learned that one social media website used a spin-off of these themes to create a completely false narrative from a 'mysterious sympathetic government insider' named nothing more than the letter 'Q,' for the sole purpose of generating more web traffic in order to sell more, and generate more profit.

    Improperly regulated capitalism has a way of taking advantage of the unsuspecting to fleece them of their money.

    And if the country is pushed towards upheaval in the process?

    Those responsible will disavow any responsibility.

    They got theirs. The hell with you.
    Personal Ignore Policy PIP: I like civil discourse. I will give you all the respect in the world if you respect me. Mouth off to me, or express overt racism, you will be PERMANENTLY Ignore Listed. Zero tolerance. No exceptions. I'll never read a word you write, even if quoted by another, nor respond to you, nor participate in your threads. ... Ignore the shallow. Cherish the thoughtful. Long Live Civil Discourse, Mutual Respect, and Good Debate! ps: Feel free to adopt my PIP. It works well.

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    Quote Originally Posted by ThatOwlWoman View Post
    So you support the insurrection? You would have been pleased if they'd managed to hang Pence and put the Toadstool back in our White House?
    Nope, I am the ignorant one who misread your post.

    My bad.

    Sorry
    Last edited by Whythink; 04-10-2021 at 08:07 AM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Whythink View Post
    Nope, I am the ignorant one who misread your post.

    My bad.

    Sorry

    Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
    No problem, it happens. Stay well.
    "Conservatism is the blind and fear-filled worship of dead radicals." -- Mark Twain

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