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Some Heroes

paulgraham.com

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Re: Some Heroes

#31

Post by Alex3917 »

dood wrote: post #22
Alex3917 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From what I hear, most modern asian religions scholars believe the Tao was a satire.

Where do you hear that? Got a link?

My asian religions prof. spent a bunch of years of her life studying the text and she was telling us this. Apparently some people still think it's an esoteric text, but they are in the minority.

Unfortunately I don't have any references to back it up, and none of the translations I have sitting in front of me mention it in the forward. And of course it's impossible to find anything via Google only because there are so many parodies of the Tao Te Ching itself.

There must be academic journals on the study of taoism, but I am having trouble finding any just searching online. I can try emailing her and asking for a cite if you'd like though.

Re: Some Heroes

#32

Post by dood »

Alex3917 wrote: post #31
dood wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you hear that? Got a link?

My asian religions prof. spent a bunch of years of her life studying the text and she was telling us this. Apparently some people still think it's an esoteric text, but they are in the minority. Unfortunately I don't have any references to back it up, and none of the translations I have sitting in front of me mention it in the forward. And of course it's impossible to find anything via Google only because there are s…

If it isn't too much trouble, I'd be very interested to hear more about that. I'm no scholar, but I find Taoism and the Tao Te Ching fascinating. I would understand it being partly satirical of prevailing thought, whilst being esoteric, but it being a simple satire would be quite amazing to me. Perhaps the esoterism is an artifact of translation/interpolation ;)

Re: Some Heroes

#33

Post by astine »

Alex3917 wrote: post #2

"I used to read a lot of novels when I was younger. I can't read most anymore, because they don't have enough information in them." This is a good one to add to the list of things not to say on a first date. And if it does somehow come up, at least have enough sense not to follow it with "I also don't read biographies/memoirs because I consider them fiction." /Don't ask

I'm asking ;D

Re: Some Heroes

#34

Post by webmaven »

if what you want in novels is more info, you might give Stephenson's Baroque Cycle a try.

Regarding the Spitfire, have you ever watched the 1942 movie 'The First of thew Few'?

Re: Some Heroes

#35

Post by rglovejoy »

I like P.G. Wodehouse's stories; I'm quite a bit less impressed with his activities during World War 2.

Wodehouse was in France when the Germans invaded in 1940. He was interned as an enemy alien by the Nazis for a year. The Germans were able to persuade him to make some light-hearted radio broadcasts intended for American (but not British) consumption, in exchange for his release from internment. Many Britons (including A.A. Milne) never forgave him for this, though Evelyn Waugh and George Orwell defended him.

After the War, Wodehouse found that he could not live in England and moved to the U.S., where he became a citizen in 1955.

Re: Some Heroes

#36

Post by maximilian »

gms wrote: post #30

I never comment on Paul Graham essays, but I'll make an exception and say that I really liked this one. It felt like it came from the heart.

I also usually don't comment because the other comments are often so biting. I really enjoy reading about what influences people and their histories. Opinions about subjects without clear answers can be interesting to read, but always leave one feeling slightly at odds with the writer. Its almost that if written correctly, opinion pieces should have at least something that you don't agree with. In good situations, this initiates a discourse around that point, but often online this just leads to trolling by commenters - which never leads to good things.

Re: Some Heroes

#37

Post by sage_joch »

I was hoping to see Feynman on this list (especially after reading the two qualities that these people had in common). Good read, though.

Re: Some Heroes

#38

Post by DaniFong »

icky wrote: post #17

> Reading The Nude is like a ride in a Ferrari. Just as you're getting settled, you're slammed back in your seat by the acceleration. Before you can adjust, you're thrown sideways as the car screeches into the first turn. His brain throws off ideas almost too fast to grasp them. Apparently it reads just like Snow Crash. ;-)

That's just what I was thinking.

Re: Some Heroes

#39

Post by marrone »

edw519 wrote: post #6

My favorite Jack Lambert story: 1977 Pro Bowl. AFC defense - 8 Pittsburgh Steelers and 3 players from other teams on the field at the same time. Jack Lambert, the middle linebacker and captain, was calling out defensive signals using the Steelers' proprietary lingo. One of the other players asked, "What should we do?" Lambert replied, "Stay out of our way." Second favorite Jack Lambert story: When accused by a refere…

yeah, I thought it was a cool to find a football player on that list, and a Steeler as well
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