Max Weber was a groundbreaking social theorist from about 100 years ago.   He is most known for his view that the “Protestant work ethic” is a major factor that drives Western economic and cultural success.   It’s complicated stuff, so I’ll list several links now, and keep this post at the top of the website all week and add other links as I find them.  I’ll also try to add some links about the basics of sociology.

Weber entry in Stanford Philosophy Encyclopedia

Aboutsociology.com entry on Weber

What is Sociology?

For my part, I just read a great book on the history of the political Left in America.  It was very critical of what it says the far Left has done to social science in the past few decades, and hits sociology pretty hard.  I’ll be available to talk about that after Jim gives his presentation, but I don’t think it merits a separate presentation.

If you haven’t been showing up on Friday nights, I hope you have a good excuse. It’s possible that you’re attending wild concerts and getting out of the city, in which case I see and can we please swap roles one of these weeks. However, if you’re just sitting around and accomplishing nothing, you need to come out to CFS. We also sit, but the exacerbation of your cinema awareness is our main priority. (And hey, if you’re already attending and unhappy with the way we young Execs run things– my we never told them how to rig their Canon ProShot to a 45’ mizzenmast, DARN —then we recommend that you simply stay in bed and exacerbate yourself.)

This week, we’re showing “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, which is as delightfully high concept as it sounds. The 2004 film stars Angelina Jolie and her fellow robots, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow (she was in Shakespeare in Love) and Jude Law (he was in his kid’s nanny).

Furthermore, we’ll be showing your work from the November challenge, which asked you to employ slow motion in a short film. You had a month to find people who move and blink at alarmingly low speeds or otherwise invest in editing software. Now we want to see what you’ve assembled. Conveniently, this week’s workshop is on Editing.

So please step out of your strange netherworld and we’ll do some definitive hanging out and some primo noggin content will be distributed.

Messieurs,

Cette soirée du samedi  5 décembre a été créée pour vous  permettre de vous retrouver entre copains Francophones/ faire plus ample connaissance/partager un repas/boire un verre  … L’afgso n’a pas encore eu l’occasion d’organiser une telle soirée …ce qui nous parrait une peu suspect…néanmoins nous réitérons l’éxpérience et espérons que quelques uns d’entre vous …des Hommes,  sauront en profiter. Les intéressés seront mis en contact quelques jours avant l’évènement.

Guest Speaker: Scott Murchison, 180 Project Youth

Date: December 1, 2009

Time: 7a – 9:15a Keeley the Katerer

Topic: “True Love and Opportunity”

Please Note: We request a $10 donation to help cover the cost of this event
and a continental breakfast is provided. However, this suggested donation
should not limit anyone’s attendance at this event.

Scott Murchison is the founder and current Chairman of 180 Project Youth based In Lee, Maine. Scott founded 180 with his wife April and a few of there church family members in October 2007 as a way to meet the teens in their community with whom they would otherwise not come in contact.

The Objective of 180 Project Youth is to provide an environment where young people can feel comfortable letting their guard down and create an opportunity to love them and speak into their lives from a position of trust and security.

The mission statement for 180 Project Youth is, “A place to be who you are and become who you are created to be.”

Scott was saved at the age of 32, along with his wife, on the same day, but in separate places, through a major upset in there lives. This became the biggest blessing they never hoped for. Out of years of drug abuse and living in the dark comes a transformed heart and a desire to meet kids on the road to those dark places and help them see a different path.

Afler trying to get involved in the typical church youth group, the founder of 180 Project Youth realized that we can’t expect the kids who need Christ the most to wark through our doors. Instead, we need to create opportunities to offer them true love where they are, for who they are.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Keeley the Katerer, Warren Avenue, Portland, ME

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The IMA Chicago Chapter is pleased to invite you to attend our monthly membership meeting.

December’s presentation will be on the topic of Enterprise Risk Management and presented by Dr. Mark Frigo.  A detailed biography of Dr. Frigo can be found by clicking the following:

We’re doing lighting.

and watching Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas (1984)

Friday the 13TH! 6pm. Room 435 St Pat`s, around the corner from rm 400

Oooh

I’ll just repeat the links I gave the first time we were going to give this topic, plus a new one I found the other day:

1.  Wiki/Cambrian explosion.

2.  Brief description from a U.K. university.

Also, I found this the other day: Scienceblogs.com.  It’s a group of about 40-50 blogs related to physical, life, other sciences.  Click on “choose a blog” and a list of some interesting sounding ones.  Two of the interesting-sounding ones to me are cognitive daily and  startswithabang.

Another Hallowe’en has passed, and really– are we any wiser? Are we any closer to one another or to an age of reason? Did Hallowe’en put a stop to swine flu or shut down Farmville, wherever that is? No. Then what was it, if not a panacea for society’s woes? Hallowe’en was a night for moping around in our unpopular, unflattering Homsar costumes, for being ignored by both the naughty firefighter and the naughty police officer– and again the next day on ‘Missed Connections’– and for eating the chocolates we found in the laundry room, rarely bothering to extract the Advil caplets. Simply put, Hallowe’en was another defeat.

We will try to facilitate a rebound from this disappointment by bringing you one of the few honest “hidden gems” of the decade. This Friday, Film Society screens George Washington, the debut film of David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express). Likened to Days of Heaven (Roger Ebert) and the writing of William Faulkner (A.O. Scott), Washington is the story of a group of small-town kids attempting to cover up– and come to terms with– a fatal accident. A matter of interest is that this film was made for approximately no dollars. Green talks about it here and here.

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker without gold bullion for parents, you’ll want to see this one. It should help you develop your plan to make an (equally) original, mesmerizing film on a budget of lint and toenail clippings.

Scott

I’ve posted on this, so not much to add, except please come.  I’ll give a brief (really)intro and then Jim will address the issue his way, and then the usual chaos will ensue.

As a refresher, I wanted to do this topic because I think the moral bases of our political beliefs tend to get shoved aside in the group in favor of antiseptic arguments based on appeals to self-interest or “reason.”  I’m probably the worst offender, too, maybe because I have such a robust background in political minutia.  But we all do it.  Maybe it’s just a bunch of guys being uncomfortable with emotional appeals, or maybe it’s our way of keeping the debate friendly by not seeming to attack other people’s values. 

Hey, that would be all to the good in most groups devoted to politics or religions.  In a meeting of the social democrats or an Ayn Rand fan boy club, members’ core values don’t need to be made explicit because the values are all shared.  That’s why the people are there.  But, with our ideological diversity, it just lmits us not to be upfront about it.  So, let’s spend an evening shining a light on morality and politics. 

A’s I’ll explain on Thursday, I think it’s especially important to be clear about our value differences now, because, for the first time in 25-30 years, the nation’s political values may be about to be redefined away from the conservative frame that has ruled for a generation towards a more liberal version.

Finally, be thinking about your political values and what someof the common terms we throw around really mean to you–and what you think they might mean to others; e.g., freedom, patriotism, personal responsibility, Christianity, family values, community.

Two alterations to our November schedule.

Nov 12:  “Understanding the Cambrian Explosion” replaces “Understanding the Philosophy of G. Vico” which moves to Nov 19.  We wanted Norm to be able to do the Cambrian topic.

Nov 19:  “Understanding the Philosophy of G. Vico” replaces “Is Language Instinctive,” which will be dropped.

Nov 27:  Back on schedule.

Norm had to cancel.  Gary wants to talk about modern Turkey, the topic we mistakenly put on the schedule on a holiday.   Other topic ideas, anyone? 

Here are a few links to basic info about the country:

State Dept Backgrounder: Turkey

CIA World Fact Book:  Turkey

NYT article from yesterday on Turkey and the West

Update:  A think tank paper on Turkey’s Future and U.S.-Turkish relations

Guest Speaker: Rob Marshall, Noted Maine Author

Date: November 3, 2009
Time: 7a – 9:15a Keeley the Katerer

Topic: “Overcoming Fear”

William Shakespear once said, “Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”

As leaders, and especially as Christians, our goal is to live a life that exemplifies faith. But too often we find ourselves caught up in, and even driven by, the same fears that grip those around us. In this day when fear is taking hold of so many, our desire should be to learn to trust in God no matter what the circumstances may be. Unfortunately, like many things, that’s easier said than done.

When we look at the topic of fear from a biblical perspective, we are given hope and clear direction. By looking to God and His Word, we can become people of faith who will show others the blessings of a life fully given to, and completely trusting in, God.

For more than twenty years, Rob Marshall has worked in computer software finding and solving problems. Today, he takes this experience and follows his true passion of teaching. Rob’s mission is helping people discover their true desires and create the pathways they need to realize them. He gives his audience a new perspective on their purpose in life and shows them how to fulfill it. It’s a powerful message of hope and faith that works.

Rob Marshall is the author of, “Taking On Goliath – How To Unleash The David In All Of Us.”

He resides in Maine with his wife Dana.

Please Note: We request a $10 donation to help cover the cost of this event
and a continental breakfast is provided. However, this requested donation
should not limit anyone’s attendance at this event.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

Keeley the Katerer, Warren Avenue, Portland, ME

Positive 89.3 FM, Freeport, ME

Stay in Touch With CLIMB

Sign up for e-mail alerts of upcoming CLIMB meetings, content, and announcements.

More Video Resources

Catch a glimpse of past CLIMB speakers.

It’s that time of year, where we get our respective Grindhouse trailers together to show for our Halloween Double-Feature.

That’s right, whip up your fake trailers and we’ll show them before and between our double features.

Our first film of the night will be:

It’s quite a trip to see, so all of your should check it out.

Our second feature is yet to be determined but will be a grim treat for sure.

Come costumed (encouraged!) or not to room 400 St. Pat’s at 6pm sharp.

There will be snacks and drinks for sale in the “foyer”.

COMING IN NOVEMBER: Filmmaking workshop and funded short preliminaries.

Expect another fascinating presentation from Norm.  As for homework, I’m clueless. But, here are a few links that might help us understand what Norm is saying.

 1.  Wiki.   

2.  Brief description from a U.K. university. 

For those of you who are visiting this website for the first time, our meetings usually focus on politics or philosophy or religion (see lists of past topics, above, FAQ, About Us, etc).  But we try to have a meeting every schedule on a science or history topic,

We’re back with another Taiwanese Contemporary Film.
This Week it’s Orz Boys (2008)

We’re starting at 6pm, in room 435.

Be there.

Also Next week we have the Halloween Double Feature. With YOUR Trailers. Make one. Show it. And enjoy the carnage.

Carl will give a presentation to open. I’ve asked him to post something on the blog to give a hint of where he wants to go on this topic.

For the next two weeks we’ll be showing a couple contemporary taiwanese films in association with the Film Studies department (of course) and TECO (the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office http://taiwan-canada.org)

Next Week we show the film: Orz Boys (2008)

Coming up October 30th: HALLOWEEN Double Feature with YOUR grindhouse trailers

In November: WORKSHOPS!

FACEBOOK tinyurl.com/carletonfilmsociety

EMAIL carletonfilmsociety@gmail.com

Here are a few links to the basics of Hinduism. Since I know nothing about this topic, I cannot vouch for their reliability or quality, unlike some of the political/public policy links I give you.

1 ReligionFacts’s Hinduism entry: Many opics, beliefs to history to practices.

2. An on-line, gigantic encyclopedia of philosophy’s entry on Hinduism

3. BBC website topic, Hinduism:

4. About.com’s Hinduism 101:

Gary said he would try really hard to get us a speaker or at least someone who practices the religion.

We have a meeting this week. Normal time, normal place.
It’ll be laid back, and you’ll get to vote on a movie from a choice of a few super cool ones your execs will bring.

We will also take part in witty banter I’m sure.

If you’re out of town, enjoy it. You won’t miss much… or will you?

If you need any ideas for your trailer:

It’s as good a gimmick as any for a film franchise

All roads to solving our national problems lead through (ugh) Congress, so this is a really important topic. I know a lot about the institution, too. But debating Congress’ ills can get technical fast and testy even faster. So, here’s what I’m going to do.

First, I’ll keep my remarks fairly brief and at a high level of generality. You can ask me to drill down on various details during the discussion.

Second, since the reality of Congressional dysfunction is so obvious, I won’t try to argue the problem: (1) perennial gridlock and partisan paralysis, and (2) special interest corruption. Instead, I’ll focus on the causes of “the broken branch” (a book title) and possible solutions.

Preview:

• A lot of this is less Congress’ fault than it is a reflection of the growing dysfunction of our political system at large. Polarization, ideological divisions, scorched-earth politics, the permanent campaign—these are broader problems that get reflected in our elected legislature as much as they get magnified by it.

• Congress was designed to make sudden, major change hard to achieve, especially the Senate. The institution’s many rules and procedures, both formal and informal, make it even harder. There are ways around most of these bottlenecks, but they are seldom-used and unwieldy.

• I’m sorry, but we can’t diagnose why Congress is dysfunctional without examining the outsized role that one of our two parties—the GOP—has played in this recent, sorry history. The fault is shared by both parties, but not equally. Facts are stubborn things, but I’ll try to be respectful.

I don’t have any good, pithy articles to link to this week. You seldom see this topic summed up in any one place. See you all there.

“Is SETI and the Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe Money Well-Spent?” I may not be there, pending instructions from the Home World. But, seriously, folks, a few thoughts on this.

First, let’s remember to be respectful to any UFO true believers that show up.

Second, here’s some cool information from the SETI.org website. Notice that the FAQ says that NASA’s SETI program was cancelled in 1993, and even then it was only 0.1% of NASA’s budget! Today’s SETI is a non-profit foundation that gets money from private sources (but still including NASA). I could not find a line item in the federal budget for “SETI,” so any project monies would be buried somewhere in there.

1. SETI homepage and Mission Statement
2. SETI FAQ: Very interesting!

Lastly, um, maybe it would be a good evening to reestablish our practice of discussing current events after the main topic. Afghanistan, perhaps? Iran’s nuclear program? Intelligent life here on Earth?

Amenez vos CDs de chansons françaises. Faites-nous savoir quel fromage/bouteille de vin vous comptez partager.

Nous avons du vin, pas le paysage!

L’adresse exacte de nos hôtes sera communiquée aux intéressés 2/3 jours avant l ‘évènement.

RSVP asap et à tout bientôt notez le changement du vendredi pour le SAMEDI.

Quand:
Sat Oct 10 6:30pm – 9:30pm Eastern Time
Où:
chez Cécile et Fred – Adams Farm