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The coming week is looking very busy indeed; next Sunday I am convening The Philosophy Forum with Adam Ford speaking on transhumanist philosophy, which will be the last formal session of the year. I have been approached by people at St.Michael's to run a programme next year on philosophy, so we shall see how that eventuates - certainly after convening the forum at the Unitarians for seven years there's enough material. On Tuesday will be making what is almost an annual address to the Melbourne Atheist Society on The Pragmatic Limits of Scientism in New Atheism, which is a title only confrontational to those atheist entrapped in a positivistic mindset (conveniently have just finished Habermas' Between Facts and Norms). On Wednesday will be speaking at Linux Users of Victoria on MMORPGs and Linux which will include both a historical journey, along with plenty on technical design.
I'm feeling somewhat affected by the death of Lou Reed (was rather delighted by the compilation of painful interviews). Although I was a big fan of his music (solo and The Velvet Underground) in my 'teens, it has been a number of years since I've paid him much attention. But let's face it, he was a true rock legend; artistic, insightful, passionate, cynical, poetic - there just isn't enough adjectives, and it showed on the enormous influence that he and VU had on the rise of alternative music over the past four decades. I struggle to pick a favourite from his wide repertoire; I'm Waiting for the Man, Heroin, All Tomorrow's Parties, Sad Song, Perfect Day, Satellite of Love, Walk on the Wild Side, The Blue Mask - there is just so much to choose from. Yes, it is no surprise that a hard drinking, heavy drug-taking rock star has died. It's "a triumph of modern medicine" as he put it, that he made it to 71. But I still find that the world is a poorer place without him.
I'm feeling somewhat affected by the death of Lou Reed (was rather delighted by the compilation of painful interviews). Although I was a big fan of his music (solo and The Velvet Underground) in my 'teens, it has been a number of years since I've paid him much attention. But let's face it, he was a true rock legend; artistic, insightful, passionate, cynical, poetic - there just isn't enough adjectives, and it showed on the enormous influence that he and VU had on the rise of alternative music over the past four decades. I struggle to pick a favourite from his wide repertoire; I'm Waiting for the Man, Heroin, All Tomorrow's Parties, Sad Song, Perfect Day, Satellite of Love, Walk on the Wild Side, The Blue Mask - there is just so much to choose from. Yes, it is no surprise that a hard drinking, heavy drug-taking rock star has died. It's "a triumph of modern medicine" as he put it, that he made it to 71. But I still find that the world is a poorer place without him.
