Culture

Why ‘Young Hearts’ Tend Toward Socialism 0
- Culture
- June 28, 2019
The common clichés about “kid socialists” are now well-embedded in the American imagination. The path is well-worn: young person attends college, reads Karl Marx in Sociology 101, buys Che Guevara t-shirt, attends progressive protests, supports socialistic candidates, and, eventually, grows up. That’s a bit of an oversimplification, of course. But it’s also a bit of
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Christianity and the Big Bang 0
- Culture
- June 28, 2019
I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “The Big Bang Theory: God spoke, and ‘Bang!’ it happened.” The implication was clear: in addition to being the least funny sitcom ever made, the Big Bang Theory is an attack on religion, an attempt by scientists to step outside their proper sphere and disprove once and
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Down With Yoga, Up With Baseball 0
- Culture
- June 27, 2019
Not long ago, a former boss suggested I take up yoga to reduce stress. Soon thereafter, an old friend noted the positive effects that yoga had had on him. Then someone at church praised yogic meditation and breathing exercises. I don’t doubt the usefulness of Eastern meditation. Yet my gut reaction to this craze might
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Two Thumbs up for the Trades 0
- Culture
- June 27, 2019
Last week I was strolling through a park beside the French Broad River when I met a former student, a young woman whose fiery personality and humor had always enlivened classroom discussions. With her was a handsome young man whom I assume she is dating. When I asked him what sort of work he did,
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Global Capitalism Makes Your Hipster Minimalism Possible 0
- Culture
- June 27, 2019
The family-owned barbecue truck at Porcfest was doing a bang-up business. I stood in line and finally ordered my plate of meat. In years past, most vendors at this event processed Bitcoin for purchases, even as far back as 2011, when the idea of magic Internet money seemed goofy. All these years later, its inability to scale
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Spotting Doublethink in Ourselves 0
- Culture
- June 26, 2019
George Packer has a good review essay of a new book about the George Orwell novel 1984. Excerpt: We stagger under the daily load of doublethink pouring from Trump, his enablers in the Inner Party, his mouthpieces in the Ministry of Truth, and his fanatical supporters among the proles. Spotting doublethink in ourselves is much
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