Archive for February, 2010
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
If high-school government class taught us anything, it’s that getting bills passed through Congress is a game of numbers: The bill with the most votes wins.
Turns out it’s not that simple. These days, the polarized state of American politics means that major bills need at least 60 votes to avoid an inevitable filibuster by the opposition.
Political scientist Gregory Koger’s new book, Filibustering: A Political History of Obstruction in the House and Senate, addresses the institutionalization of the filibuster — and describes congressional loopholes by way of which fast thinking and hard work can beat the numbers. Koger teaches American politics at the University of Miami. He joins host Terry Gross for a conversation about what has happened to simple majority rule.
Listen to Koger discuss the filibuster in an interview with Terry Gross
Posted in US GOV: Constitution Primer, US GOV: The Judiciary, USH: Constitution & Early Years | No Comments »
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
Who are the most influential figures in American history? The Atlantic recently asked ten eminent historians. The result was The Atlantic’s Top 100—and some insight into the nature of influence and the contingency of history. Was Walt Disney really more influential than Elizabeth Cady Stanton? Benjamin Spock than Richard Nixon? Elvis Presley than Lewis and Clark? John D. Rockefeller than Bill Gates? Babe Ruth than Frank Lloyd Wright?
The List
Methodology & Analysis
Posted in USH: Post AP Ideas | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
Here are some of our favorites. Please leave a comment below and share yours. Cheers!
Maria Peligro (Mexican)
Dolores Burrito (one at Rosa Luxembourgplatz and one at Wittenbergplatz)
Cafe do Brasil (the have the best buffet I’ve ever had…in my life! Tues-Thurs?)
SUMO (Japanese)
3 MOMS (Vietnamese)
Ixthy’s (Korean Imbiss in overwhelmingly religious environment)
Madang (Tasty Korean without all the Jesus propaganda)
Ron Telesky’s Canadian Pizza
Bejte Ethiopia
Le Cochon Bourgeois (Though prohibitively expensive French fare, the best food I’ve had in Berlin)
Le Cocotte (very good, affordable French food)
Ousies (tasty Greek fare, lively environment)
Weinstein (best German cuisine I’ve had?)
Italian Resaturants:
Bar Centrale
Knofi (also has a cute market across the street)
Osteria No. 1 (pretty garden in rear that backs up to Viktoria Park)
Posted in Berlin | 5 Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
I teach you the Übermensch. Man is something to be surpassed. What have you done to surpass mankind? –Nietzsche
Analyze the following sources and come to our next session with written responses to the questions below.
Required Sources:
Optional Sources:
Response Questions:
1. Define and describe the concept of the ubermensch.
2. Apply the definition and description from #1 to characters throughout history, both real and imagined. Think: Omar from The Wire, Kurtz from Heart of Darkness, Tyler Durden in Fight Club, Dexter, etc.
3. Assess the functions and dysfunctions of the pragmatic applications of the ubermensch philosophy.
4. How does Judge Holden personify the Nietzsche’s ubermensch?
Posted in Philosophy Society | No Comments »
Monday, February 1st, 2010
This is far from an exhaustive list, but after a couple of years here, I figure that I should at least begin to compile a list [for Andrea]. These are some of the MySpace pages of some Berlin-based artists that I’ve seen and liked:
If you’ve found a Berlin-based artist that you recommend, please post a comment below.
17 Hippies (mostly acoustic French-American-German neo-folk something or other)
Pescadores de Ventanas (all over the place)
Eb Davis Band (blues and soul. Bobby Bland style)
Terrence Bowery Band (soul)
Reggie Moore (jazz piano)
Mike Russell (hollow-body, G. Benson guitar jazz-soul)
Tom Blacksmith & The Soulminers (poppy, playful blues)
DJ Mark Hype (spins old soul records)
Posted in Berlin | 3 Comments »