Comments for The Do It Yourself Scholar http://diyscholar.wordpress.com Explore the best in free web learning. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:49:57 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The truth about the Roman gladiator by Tony Wentworth http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/the-truth-about-the-roman-gladiator/#comment-863 Tony Wentworth Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:49:57 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=1999#comment-863 Great info here on this site. Here's my contribution! The best school for Gladiators was to Lentulo Battiato, from which came the now world famous Gladiator Spartacus. Great info here on this site. Here’s my contribution!

The best school for Gladiators was to Lentulo Battiato, from which came the now world famous Gladiator Spartacus.

]]> Comment on Closing the achievement gap by cronos telfer http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/closing-the-achievement-gap/#comment-839 cronos telfer Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:22:00 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/closing-the-achievement-gap/#comment-839 To an approximation, you can only learn by reading classics such as books by Jane Austen. The only way to learn to read is by reading. People who don't read and who fail the school system, are correct in seeing it as a "huge conspiracy" designed to ensure that many people are not interested in book learning - this way they will fail in thge system, giving us a "stratified society" which includes huge mass of people available to do poorly paid work. I am not arguing against reading, or against school - only pointing out that there are disfunctions in our society. To an approximation, you can only learn by reading classics such as books by Jane Austen. The only way to learn to read is by reading.

People who don’t read and who fail the school system, are correct in seeing it as a “huge conspiracy” designed to ensure that many people are not interested in book learning – this way they will fail in thge system, giving us a “stratified society” which includes huge mass of people available to do poorly paid work.

I am not arguing against reading, or against school – only pointing out that there are disfunctions in our society.

]]> Comment on Doubt and the New Testament by richard mullins http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/doubt-and-the-new-testament/#comment-838 richard mullins Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:11:53 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=2225#comment-838 "Their descriptions of a meeting in Jerusalem--a major council in Acts versus a small, informal gathering in Galatians--also differ quite a bit". But couldn't a "major council" also be a "small, informal gathering"? Major may mean e.g. "annual general meeting". But maybe only 10 people turned up and they had a relaxed chat over coffee and biscuits. “Their descriptions of a meeting in Jerusalem–a major council in Acts versus a small, informal gathering in Galatians–also differ quite a bit”.

But couldn’t a “major council” also be a “small, informal gathering”? Major may mean e.g. “annual general meeting”. But maybe only 10 people turned up and they had a relaxed chat over coffee and biscuits.

]]> Comment on News flash: Plato makes sense! by richard mullins http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/idea-of-the-week-1/#comment-837 richard mullins Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:02:28 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/idea-of-the-week-1/#comment-837 In the 1960's I had difficulty completing a course - I was finding the maths very difficult in 3rd year, and didn't devote enough time to Philosophy I, and failed it (twice). Bill Sparkes gave me 0/10 for my essay on Plato's theory of forms, which was a rant saying that there cannot be a theory of forms. I now think that Plato's forms make sense as constructions of the mind. Something I saw today on the web, but haven't followed up yet, is that in today's terms "plato's theory of forms" is "abstract algebra". Rather than look for certainly I think that language is a digital code that uses figures of speech, such as hyperbole and metaphor. An example of Plato's theory, I think, is the world view we carry with us - this is a virtual reality model. I also think the theory is exemplified by the depth one finds in the world, when one's brain is in a good state (e.g. meditation, falling in love, exercise). maybe the theory of father sun and holy ghost is a theory of brain molecules such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine. In the 1960’s I had difficulty completing a course – I was finding the maths very difficult in 3rd year, and didn’t devote enough time to Philosophy I, and failed it (twice). Bill Sparkes gave me 0/10 for my essay on Plato’s theory of forms, which was a rant saying that there cannot be a theory of forms.

I now think that Plato’s forms make sense as constructions of the mind. Something I saw today on the web, but haven’t followed up yet, is that in today’s terms “plato’s theory of forms” is “abstract algebra”.

Rather than look for certainly I think that language is a digital code that uses figures of speech, such as hyperbole and metaphor.

An example of Plato’s theory, I think, is the world view we carry with us – this is a virtual reality model.

I also think the theory is exemplified by the depth one finds in the world, when one’s brain is in a good state (e.g. meditation, falling in love, exercise). maybe the theory of father sun and holy ghost is a theory of brain molecules such as endorphins, serotonin, dopamine.

]]> Comment on Doubt and the New Testament by Mattias Adolfsson http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/doubt-and-the-new-testament/#comment-795 Mattias Adolfsson Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:06:50 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=2225#comment-795 Love his lectures Love his lectures

]]> Comment on About Dara by Phill B http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/about/#comment-774 Phill B Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:45:25 +0000 #comment-774 Hi Dara. I am about to venture into your blog and explore the opportunities. Probably will need your assistance until I get legs, Cheers Phill Hi Dara. I am about to venture into your blog and explore the opportunities. Probably will need your assistance until I get legs, Cheers Phill

]]> Comment on Guide to iTunes U by Jason http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/guide-to-itunesu/#comment-771 Jason Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:33:26 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?page_id=464#comment-771 Power Search for iTunes U: http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearch?media=iTunesU Power Search for iTunes U:

http://ax.search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSearch.woa/wa/advancedSearch?media=iTunesU

]]> Comment on 10 new free courses at Yale by Anne is a Man http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/10/26/10-new-free-courses-at-yale/#comment-711 Anne is a Man Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:05:59 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=2190#comment-711 Yes indeed. I have begun the European History course by James Merriman and gave an initial review today: http://anneisaman.blogspot.com/2009/10/modern-western-history-in-podcasts.html Yes indeed. I have begun the European History course by James Merriman and gave an initial review today: http://anneisaman.blogspot.com/2009/10/modern-western-history-in-podcasts.html

]]> Comment on Thousands of free books in your pocket by Dara http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/thousands-of-free-books-in-your-pocket/#comment-708 Dara Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:25:39 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=2177#comment-708 I don't usually allow commercial plugs, but this one looks interesting. Kirtas digitizes books for large university and public libraries, and then offers to sell public domain books to you and me for $1.95. If you can't find the public domain book you want on Gutenberg or Amazon, Kirtas looks like a good bet. See this<a href="http://www.kirtas.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&catid=6&Itemid=70" rel="nofollow"> press release</a> for more info. I don’t usually allow commercial plugs, but this one looks interesting. Kirtas digitizes books for large university and public libraries, and then offers to sell public domain books to you and me for $1.95. If you can’t find the public domain book you want on Gutenberg or Amazon, Kirtas looks like a good bet. See this press release for more info.

]]> Comment on Thousands of free books in your pocket by Todd Whiting http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/thousands-of-free-books-in-your-pocket/#comment-704 Todd Whiting Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:36:25 +0000 http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/?p=2177#comment-704 KirtasBooks.com has more than 800,000 books available. Books that haven't been digitized yet. They will "Digitize on Demand". When you order a book they will digitize it, and either send you a download link, paperback or hardcover re-print depending your order. For an idea of their quality check out this month's FREE READ, "The House of the Vampire" available as either PDF or EPUB download. KirtasBooks.com has more than 800,000 books available. Books that haven’t been digitized yet. They will “Digitize on Demand”. When you order a book they will digitize it, and either send you a download link, paperback or hardcover re-print depending your order.

For an idea of their quality check out this month’s FREE READ, “The House of the Vampire” available as either PDF or EPUB download.

]]>