A bit from the chapter I'm writing: Capitalism plays to what is most insidious in human ‘nature’: competitiveness, acquisitiveness, instant gratification, tribalism. It’s fundamental mandates, the profit motive; economies of scale; the price mechanism; inelasticity of demand… allow this game. The game derives from its character. Capitalism is not programmed for altruism. It is, and … Continue reading Ch 5: Human nature — The hierarchy of needs
A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book
ANCIENT GREECE: The Other Runner (The story) A little cloud of dust and a hubbub, boys calling to each other, the unmistakeable sounds of a school yard brawl. Diemeter wandered across, not so fast that the boys would notice him and call it off… And thus, a slight figure amongst older boys he’d hoped would … Continue reading A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book
Must be getting old
I've taken to re-reading old loved titles, boys' own yarns such as H. Rider Haggard's Quartermaine novels and others, such as Stuart Cloete's Rags of Glory. Some I am rediscovering my affection for; others not so much. Here is my review of: The H. Rider Haggard Omnibus: 50 Novels and Short Stories (Halcyon Classics) (Kindle Edition) Despite … Continue reading Must be getting old
The beguiling sins of Industrial Capitalism
It seems to me that Industrial Capitalism deserves a tome (popular in style and tone) cataloguing its beguiling sins. By Industrial Capitalism I mean that invidious, factory-based, technologically-innovative, profit-driven, labour-exploiting form which grew up in Europe (first in the United Kingdom) and later the USA, out of various Industrial Revolutions. And this catalogue of sins? … Continue reading The beguiling sins of Industrial Capitalism
Gapminder – what a great resource
Many an IDEAS FESTIVAL wants people to think about 'the way we think, eat, move, build, care, communicate and share information'. Gapminder.org is a phenomenally useful site and resource, particularly for Years 9- 12, though with opportunities to be employed even in the upper primary Years. Gapminder's primary focus is on using statistics to explore developmental … Continue reading Gapminder – what a great resource
Top 10 teachable novels – a list of sorts
Here's my list (the order is not important.) Tomorrow when the war began. For year 9 or 10. Students, even reluctant readers, respond to this book and it would be eminently teachable given that there is now a recent film. Holes: Easy reading, big themes; an apparently simple book but the result of skilled writing - for … Continue reading Top 10 teachable novels – a list of sorts
Book Drum – Great for the new Australian curriculum in English
Within the new National Curriculum for English, the opening sentence beneath the heading - Year 9 Achievement Standard - is: "By the end of Year 9 students listen to, read and view a range of spoken, written and multimodal texts, recognising how events, situations and people can be represented from different perspectives, and identifying stated and implied meaning in texts." Book Drum (www.bookdrum.com) … Continue reading Book Drum – Great for the new Australian curriculum in English
Fishing and fiction
Fishing & fiction have any number of connections for me. Let's begin with the mundane; seven letters, the f beginning... Fishing is associated with exaggeration, with hyperbole, with slow tension, sudden climax and resolution, ecstatic or aggrieved. And the tellers of fishing tales: John Gierach, whose fish are as long as a leg, Hemingway's … Continue reading Fishing and fiction
HisTorY
Started work on a series of short stories with learning activities linked to the new Australian curriculum for History (with English links and activities as well). Used PRESSBOOKs - an excellent e Publishing platform, intuitive and easy to use. Three stories with activities added so far, one for Ancient India and the Indus river Valley civilisation for Year 7, one for … Continue reading HisTorY
Music I like
Just figured I'd promote the bass solo on this lovely 10CC live version of Feel the Benefit... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x95-bMwhX_8
Inkstained fingers 