Category Archives: Civilization

When The Levee Breaks

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “When The Levee Breaks”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mail “Disasters,” Jonathan Chait writes, “are inherently political, because government is political, and preventing and responding to disasters is a primary role of the state.” Rachel Maddow echoed Chait for the last few nights … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, climate change, Mitt Romney | 2 Comments

Cheating Isn’t Cheating When the British Do It

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Emilia1956

Share the post “Cheating Isn’t Cheating When the British Do It”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mail The British love to paint the Americans as sore losers and whingers, but BBC’s coverage of the 2012 London Olympics proves that their sports coverage is just as puerile, … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, Kulturkampf, Olympics, Sports, United Kingdom | 36 Comments

The Metropolis

Posted on August 4, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “The Metropolis”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailThe eleventh episode of The Age of Uncertainty, John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 BBC TV show about the history of economic thought, is about one of my favorite subjects: the city as engine of economies and civilizations.

Posted in Civilization, Saturday Afternoon TV | Leave a comment

Land and People

Posted on July 28, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Land and People”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailThe tenth episode of The Age of Uncertainty, John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 BBC TV show about the history of economic thought, is an examination of poverty and inequality. Pay special attention to his observations about Mexico, … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, Poverty, Saturday Afternoon TV | Leave a comment

Morning Awful: The Song of the Norse

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Morning Awful: The Song of the Norse”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mail There is a common misconception that environmental activism is all about saving the planet and the animals and the rain forests. In reality, it is all about the human environment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, climate change | Leave a comment

The Big Corporation

Posted on July 21, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “The Big Corporation”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailThe ninth episode of The Age of Uncertainty, John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 BBC TV show about the history of economic thought, is still startling — despite the (mostly bad) changes that have come to American … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, Economics | 1 Comment

Morning Awful: Tea Party Cars

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Morning Awful: Tea Party Cars”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailI have written many times about the car mandate, and its role in disempowering American workers as well as climate and pollution issues. I have also touched on the role of the John … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, Kulturkampf, Morning Awful, Transportation | Leave a comment

The Fatal Competition

Posted on July 14, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “The Fatal Competition”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailThe eighth episode of John Kenneth Galbraith’s 1977 BBC TV show about the history of economic thought is my favorite, and probably ranks among the most important hours in the history of television.

Posted in Civilization, Economics, Saturday Afternoon TV | Leave a comment

Judging Dredd

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Judging Dredd”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mail While taking a vacation recently, I managed to let the new Judge Dredd trailer slip by unnoted. You can see now why I waited for the broad vista of the mega-city to appear before making … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, cyberpunk, Science Fiction | Tagged Judge Dredd | Leave a comment

Morning Awful: Where the Jobs Are

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Morning Awful: Where the Jobs Are”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mail I rarely share Huffington Post links anymore, but Peter Goodman has written a lengthy post on a topic near to my heart. I have written before about the car mandate, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Civilization, Morning Awful, Transportation | 1 Comment

Confederacy of Dunces

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Matt Osborne

Share the post “Confederacy of Dunces”FacebookTwitterGoogle+PinterestLinkedInDiggStumbleUponE-mailApproached by sea, Fort Sumter is an unimpressive structure. Nearby Isle of Palms has larger houses. When Major Anderson withdrew his undermanned United States Army garrison to this structure in 1861, they found it alarmingly … Continue reading →