Game of Thrones as Theory

“Commentary by foreign policy analysts on the first season of HBO’s Game of Thrones stressed its supposed underlying theme of political realism. Thus one writer claimed that the TV show and the George R.R. Martin novels on which it is based “clearly demonstrate the power of might over right,” and another agreed: “In this kind of harsh relative gains world, realpolitik should be the expected pattern of behavior.” But a closer look of Game of Thrones suggests a different take.”

Slavoj Žižek and Fredric Jameson on The Wire

“For Žižek, on the other hand, The Wire is ultimately not utopian or revolutionary enough. (It may be worth noting that Žižek considers Jimmy McNulty’s crazy fake-serial-killer scheme in Season 5 “totally ethical and brilliant.”)”

Modern as Yesterday

“How the culture evolved from Old to New.”

Six Things That Are Dead, According to Harold Bloom

“Celebrated literary critic Harold Bloom turns eighty-two this year and is still publishing and teaching. In his honor, I’ve compiled a list of six things he’s outlived.”

“Da Vinci’s Ghost”: Secrets of the world’s most famous drawing

“How Leonardo da Vinci captured the glory of the Renaissance in a single image”

Why Is San Francisco So Liberal?

“It all began with a few sailors and a bottle of booze.”

NexNote: I love ‘Frisco.

George Steiner, a certain idea of knowledge

“Literature, philosophy, science: today, our tools for understanding the world are developing separately, regrets the renowned intellectual and humanist. However, culture remains a saving grace, particularly in Europe. Excerpts.”

Everyday Microethics

“In search of a rationale to avoid making any New Year’s resolutions, I was glad to see that Princeton University Press has issued a book called The Virtues of Our Vices: A Modest Defense of Gossip, Rudeness, and Other Bad Habits, by Emrys Westacott, a professor of philosophy at Alfred University.”

The Unleashed Mind: Why Creative People Are Eccentric

“Highly creative people often seem weirder than the rest of us. Now researchers know why”

Apocalypse Soon

“Prophecies of impending doom — based on hard science as well as Scripture — abound. Where does our appetite for retribution come from? “

Sex and Disabilities: Do You Know How to Communicate?

“Pop culture has created a view, both in the kink world and the vanilla (non-kinky) world, of partners who are perfect in every way, both mentally and physically. There are stereotypes, everyone has their own views, and then reality sets in. It doesn’t matter if you’re vanilla or kinky; everyone has their own uniqueness and quirks. Disabilities, both neurologically and physically, do not discriminate against one’s sexual orientation or preferences.”