Alexander Schmid Podcast

In this lecture, we (a) review the shared perspective of St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure, (b) outline how Solomon can be above all natures in perfection, if even perfectly made men (Adam and Christ) be included in that category, and (c) we speculate on the notion of resurrection in the context of Virgil's "Aeneid" Bk. VI (6).

In this conversation with Dr. Richard Bartle, Mr. Wes Schantz and I discuss the creation of virtual worlds, the difference between playing and designing a game, and whether the goal of developing a better world, rather than simply bettering the world, is possible.

Richard Allan Bartle, Ph.D., co-wrote the first virtual world, MUD ("Multi-User Dungeon"), in 1978, thus being at the forefront of the online gaming industry from its very inception. A former university lecturer in Artificial Intelligence, he is an influential writer on all aspects of virtual world design and development. As an independent consultant, he has worked with almost every major online gaming company in the U.K. and the U.S. over the past 20 years. Richard lives with his wife, Gail, and their two children, Jennifer and Madeleine, in a village just outside Colchester, England. He works in virtual worlds. (From: https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Virtual-Worlds-Richard-Bartle/dp/0131018167/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1549457942&sr=1-1&keywords=designing+virtual+worlds)

In this episode of Conversations at the Leaky Cauldron, Ms. Sarah Miller, Mr. Wesley Schantz and I conclude the fourth installment of the Harry Potter series. Specifically, we consider (a) Voldemort's merits as an evil antagonist, (b) what the nature of good and evil are in relation to games and choice, and (c) how Christian imagery and symbolism map onto the conflicts in the Harry Potter Universe.

In this lecture, we (a) observe the recklessness of both Polyphemos and Odysseus, (b) meet Aiolos and his strange family and receive from him a strange gift, and (c) meet the lawless and savage Laistrygones.

In this lecture, we (a) introduce the basic theme (shared perspective) and speakers (St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Bonaventure) of the sphere, (b) speak to Dante's increasing clarity of sight/judgment, and (c) consider why these teachers extol the virtues of the lives of others and not their own.

In this episode of Side Quests, Mr. Wes Schantz and I discussed (a) the huge materia in the underwater reactor, (b) the space-flight in Rocket Town, and (c) what precisely the function and essence of an Role-Playing Game is.

On this episode of Recurrent Events, Mr. Wes Schantz and I consider the recent (18 Jan. 2019) UTLA (Union of Teacher's of Los Angeles) teacher walk-out. We specifically wonder, (a) what were the specific demands of the teachers, and what problem were they trying to solve, (b) were their demands borne simply of love for children or also of envy or resentment (at their low pay), and (c) what is at the heart of inequalities in education?

Articles and Resources Mentioned:

1) https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/01/28/teachers-strike-charter-schools-union-power-not-students-column/2694201002/

2) https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-lausd-teachers-strike-20190128-story.html

3) https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=ac29fd2e-c5ec-4c04-86a8-c1eabf6808b9

4) https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/districtprofile/overview/XL?cti=PgTab_OT&chort=1&sub=MAT&sj=XL&fs=Grade&st=MN&year=2017R3&sg=Gender%3A+Male+vs.+Female&sgv=Difference&ts=Single+Year&tss=2015R3-2017R3&sfj=NL

5) https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl?cost1=9%2C500.00&year1=200701&year2=201701

6) https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-edu-lausd-strike-accelerated-school-20190114-story.html

7) https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-1466_2b3j.pdf

8) Information on Proposition 13 (1978): https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-prop-13-changes-20181017-story.html

9) Additional information on state vs. district funding: https://www.ppic.org/publication/financing-californias-public-schools/

As we continue on our epic journey through the fantasy worlds of our youth, Ms. Sarah Miller, Mr. Wes Schantz, and I consider some of the finer points of Harry's most recent adventures: (1) What is the source of evil in the wizarding world and the primary world itself? (2) What is the meaning of the newly minted summoning charm and the idea of "summoning" evil or good into the world? And (3) what exactly is the relationship between muggles and wizarding folk?

In this return-episode of The Great Men podcast, Mr. Oscar Ortiz and I are joined by Mr. David Oldham to discuss Plutarch's "The Life of Caesar". Below are just a few of the topics we discussed:

The Life of Julius Caesar

Caesar as a boy

Captured by pirates

Gave speeches

Hunted them down and crucified them

Caesar as a Student

Said to have been as gifted as any at rhetoric but that he chose the sword over letters; how does greatness differ for a man of action vs. a man of the intellect (Cicero or Aristotle)

Caesar crying at the achievements of Alexander

Caesar as public man and giver of gifts to the public

Caesar as conqueror of Gaul

Vercingetorix paraded about Caesar’s dais before sat at his feet

Caesar as Emperor

The Death of Caesar

The Revenge of Caesar

His remaining works and deification

In this lecture, we hear Odysseus recount his tale of meeting (a) the Kikones of Ismaros, (b) the devastating Lotus Eaters, and (c) the man-eating Cyclops, Polyphemos!