A quarter of secondary schools in Southend are falling behind the required standard, the education watchdog says.

Of the 12 schools in the area, Ofsted rates one as inadequate, its lowest mark, while two require improvement, as of 30 September.

Its latest figures list five as outstanding and four as good.

The regulator visits all new schools, including academies, within three years of opening.

Inspectors judge them on categories including the quality of teaching, personal development and welfare, the effectiveness of the leadership and pupils' achievement.

Schools requiring improvement will be inspected again within 30 months, while those rated inadequate now face mandatory conversion into academies, funded directly by central government.

In Southend, there are 52 schools registered with Ofsted including primaries, one of which is rated inadequate while six require improvement meaning 13% overall are below standard.

This is, though, in line with the 15% average for the East of England.

Across England, 20% of all schools were classed as outstanding, 66% good, 10% requires improvement and 4% inadequate.

But with more than 1,000 "outstanding" state schools going without an inspection in a decade, the National Education Union warned this did not accurately reflect the quality of education they offer.

Dr Mary Bousted, the union's joint general secretary, said: "The fact that some schools haven't been inspected for over 10 years demonstrates that the information Ofsted provides is misleading at best and may be downright wrong.

"This is yet another reason that Ofsted is past its sell-by date."

The Department for Education recently announced it will consult on plans to remove the exemption for outstanding schools, a move Ofsted says it welcomes.

"This is something that Ofsted has long argued for, so we're pleased the Government has made this announcement," said a spokeswoman for the regulator.

"Routine inspection assures both parents and schools that the quality of education on offer is of a good standard.

"In the interim, inspectors can and do go into outstanding rated schools if necessary.

"We have powers to inspect at any time if we have concerns about the standard of education, or if there is a safeguarding concern."

A DfE spokeswoman added: "This Government is committed to providing world-class education for all students and, where a school is judged as inadequate by Ofsted, the Department will not hesitate to step in and ensure that swift improvements are made so that all children at the school can receive the education they deserve.

"The gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed considerably in both primary and secondary schools since 2011.

"Teachers and school leaders are helping to drive up standards right across the country, with 85% of children now in good or outstanding schools compared to just 66% in 2010."

See more here:
1 in 4 Southend secondary schools 'falling behind' national standards - Echo

It was clear this offseason that GM Elton Brand built the Sixers with a specific ideain mind.

He wanted his team to be a gargantuan defensive bully. The Sixers have bought into it, with just about every player stating the teams goal of wanting to be the No. 1 defensive outfitin the NBA.

The biggest concern seemed to be their lack of three-point shooting with the departure of JJ Redick. Unfortunately for Brett Brown, his team did little to quell those concerns.

A rough shooting preseason was capped by a 7-for-27 performance in a listless 112-93 loss to the Wizards Friday night(see observations).

When asked about it before the game, Brown thought the storyline was overblown.

I think it's not as big of a problem as maybe the marketplace does, Brown said pregame. I think that we have shooters here. Are they at the standard of JJ Redick? No. But if that's the bar, well, it's pretty high. And so I think as you go through the list of players, although you're not seeing like a high volume, low 40 percent type of high-volume threes at such a pretty high percentage you're not seeing that on the roster. But I still have confidence that we have a team that can shoot. Will that be our identity? No. Will it be needed? Yep. But I think that we're a better shooting team than what I sense the marketplace thinks.

The numbers dont help Brown here.

Al Horford and Mike Scott both shot over 40 percent from three. None of the other main rotation players even shot league average not including Ben Simmons immaculate 1 for 1.

Josh Richardson (33.3), Tobias Harris (25), Joel Embiid (22.2), Matisse Thybulle (26.7) and James Ennis (12.5) contributed to the Sixers shooting a paltry 31.7 percent from three this preseason.

Even given those numbers and the especially poor performance Friday, Brown is still standing by his claim.

I stand by my comment, Brown said postgame. I think that we have better shooters than the marketplace believes. Those comments, my comments, aren't well supported when you look at the statistics in the preseason, but I do think that. I still think that and it's stuff that we need to believe in that and not shy away from it. I don't want to at all and we won't shy away from it. I think that the attention that we have given to offensive rebounding may help ease some of those misses if we can do what we hope to do from that perspective. But I think that we have better shooters then we have shown in the preseason.

Brown does have a point in that aforementioned players have shot much better throughout their NBA careers than theyve shown through five preseason games.

But it has to be considered a legitimate concern. The Sixers are sort of bucking trends by trotting out their huge, defensive-oriented roster, but they recognize that shooting is still a must.

In the second quarter Friday, the Wizards went to a zone defense. Its not the first time the Sixers have seen that this preseason and, after how poorly they managed it Friday, it likely wont be the last. The obvious caveat is that it was a flat performance by the Sixers in general. They definitely had the feel of a team just going through the motions as a date with Boston on opening night looms.

The ball movement at times has been excellent and its led to some great looks. To a certain extent, the shots just didnt fall in the preseason.

I think the looks have been good, Harris said. I think we'll just continue to find each other's own games and where we want those looks from beyond the arc. It's obviously early too in preseason of games where we've been able to get some good looks. Some of them haven't fallen, but they'll continue to come with time and just us figuring out where each other needs the ball, wants the ball with threes we want to take, and I think the more we hunt the threes, the better off we are to be able to shoot it at a higher percentage.

The Sixers are going to hang their hats on the defensive end, but theyll need to shoot at least a little to get where they want to go.

Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

Read more from the original source:
Sixers will hang their hat on defense, but those shooting questions haven't gone away - NBCSports.com

Half of secondary schools in Swindon are falling behind the required standard, the education watchdog says.

Of the 12 schools inspected in the area, Ofsted rates two as inadequate, its lowest mark, while four require improvement, as of 30 September.

Its latest figures list none as outstanding and six as good.

In Swindon, there are 86 schools registered with Ofsted including primaries, six of which are rated inadequate while 14 require improvement meaning 25 per cent overall are below standard.

This is above the 17 per cent average for the south west.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson said: Myself and Robert Buckland continue to work and support our fantastic local schools and the dedicated staff.

Swindon has had its challenges, in part because of Labours unfair funding formula, but thankfully recent announcements to significantly level up funding and the addition of a number of brand new schools including the Great Western Academy and The Deanery shows our children will have the best chance of fulfilling their potential.

Ofsted visits all new schools, including academies, within three years of opening.

Inspectors judge them on categories including the quality of teaching, personal development and welfare, the effectiveness of the leadership and pupils achievement.

Schools requiring improvement will be inspected again within 30 months, while those rated inadequate now face mandatory conversion into academies, funded directly by central government.

Across England, 20 per cent of all schools were classed as outstanding, 66 per cent good, 10 per cent requires improvement and 4 per cent inadequate.

But with more than 1,000 outstanding state schools going without an inspection in a decade, the National Education Union warned this did not accurately reflect the quality of education on offer.

Dr Mary Bousted, the unions joint general secretary, said: The fact that some schools havent been inspected for over 10 years demonstrates that the information Ofsted provides is misleading at best and may be wrong. This is yet another reason that Ofsted is past its sell-by date.

A DfE spokeswoman added: "Teachers and school leaders are helping to drive up standards, with 85 per cent of children now in good or outstanding schools compared to 66 per cent in 2010."

Continue reading here:
Half of Swindon's secondary schools fail to impress Ofsted inspectors - Swindon Advertiser

Posted on Oct 18, 2019

Nic Redfern, Finance Director, KnowYourMoney.co.uk

The traditional workplaceculture today is a far cry from what it was even a decade ago. Arguably, one ofthe most significant shifts that has taken place is workers changing attitudestowards flexible working.

Flexible working is anarrangement whereby workers enjoy more freedoms in terms of how long, where, andwhen they work. There are plenty of reasons why this has become an attractiveproposition, be it reducing the number of hours spent commuting between homeand the workplace, to fitting work around ones personal and familycommitments. And importantly, the option to work from home one or two days aweek, or to shift working hours to better fit a personal schedule, has become akey consideration for people when exploring their job options.

With the world of workchanging, this presents an opportunity for businesses to better support theneeds of their workers. So how can companies adapt to this trend and makeflexible working work better for both employees and their employers?

How strong is the allure of flexible working?

To uncover professionals attitudes towards flexible working, Know Your Money recently conducted a survey of more than 2,000 UK adults in full-time or part-time employment, which explored some of the major changes that are shaping the future of work.

The standout takeaway fromthe research is that employees are seeking greater control over certain aspectsof their working lives even if it means making certain sacrifices. Almosthalf (49%) of the people we surveyed said they would be in favour of a four-dayworking week, even if it meant they would have to take a 20% pay cut. Three-quarters(75%) would also be in favour of a shortened working week if they still had tocomplete their current number of weekly working hours in fewer days.

Meanwhile, just over 70% ofUK employees consider flexible working (in terms of hours and location) as veryimportant to their overall job satisfaction, with women placing a higheremphasis on this than men. What these findings ultimately show is that workersfeel their employers have not yet caught up with the flexible working trend,despite strong inroads being made in recent years to promote change.

Why should businesses take flexible working seriously?

Businesses seeking to acquire,and retain, top talent must consider how they can offer a more supportiveworkplace environment. Indeed, most employees will have commitments outside ofthe world of work from childcare to looking after elderly relatives, or evensimply pursuing other interests which cannot always fit around thetraditional 9 to 5 schedule.

The business case forflexible working has also been demonstrated time and time again. The CharteredInstitute for Personal Development (CIPD), for instance, recently releasedguidance on flexible working, noting that in many cases it has led toimprovements in motivation, creativity, mental wellbeing and productivity levels.

How can businesses support the needs of theiremployees?

First and foremost, itsimportant to be open-minded to the mutual benefits linked with flexible workingpatterns, while also acknowledging the logistical barriers that exist within anorganisation which might prevent employers being able to seek out flexiblearrangements. The responsibility has now shifted onto employers to offerflexible working options and ensure that the people they employ arewell-equipped to carry on their activities regardless of when or where they areworking. Of course, implementing such change will differ based on profession.

Its difficult to talk aboutflexible working without also recognising the important role that technologyplays in enabling remote working. Smartphones, tablets and laptops with accessto online data storage, shared file services, emails and electronic resourcesnow mean that a significant majority of office-based tasks can be completedalmost anywhere so long as an internet connection is to hand.

As more and more workers demandwork flexibility, its essential that companies invest to ensure they have theonline systems in place for their employees to operate outside the remit of theoffice. This isnt limited to physical devices, but also extends to softwaresolutions like Slack which enable connectivity allowing employees tocommunicate effectively and share data as and when they need to.

Ultimately, the main goal of flexible working is to help employees achieve a better work-life balance. And theres no denying that this is becoming a priority for many of the countrys workers. As demonstrated from the Know Your Money research, workers are open to flexible working arrangements that strike the right balance between required hours in the office and the opportunity for remote working.

Here is the original post:
The flexible working revolution has arrived heres why business need to adapt - HR News

Ma Anand Sheela, former close aide of Rajneesh, on Sunday opened up about the way of life at Rajneeshpuram, a utopian city for the controversial gurus followers in rural Oregon in the US, and how she still follows the communal lifestyle. Sheela, who is on her first India visit in 34 years, spoke with filmmaker Karan Johar at The Conversation, organised by Humans For Humanity in association with Sipping Thoughts.

Sheela worked as the personal secretary of Rajneesh, popularly known as Osho, from 1981 through 1985 and managed Rajneeshpuram. Sheela, who recently came to limelight as the central figure in Netflixs 2018 docu-series Wild, Wild Country, said contrary to popular perception, sexuality was never misused in both of Bhagwans communes Pune and Rajneeshpuram. There was no misuse of sexuality in our commune in Pune or in Rajneeshpuram. We talked about sexuality openly. Its like when you are attracted to somebody, you express your attraction, she said.

Also read: Wild Wild Country review: Netflixs unbelievable inside look at Oshos sex cult will haunt you for days

One message which I want to give to everyone present here is to be yourself; I am me and will always remain like this. I have learnt to live communal lifestyle from Bhagwan Rajneesh, she added.

Sheela, 69, is known for wearing her heart on her sleeves and when asked whether she had unrequited love for Rajneesh, she said the guru was also very much in love with me.

... You should see some of the photographs and see how he looked at me. And the way he said Seela... Sharing an anecdote, Sheela recalled an evening she spent with Rajneesh as he watched the classic Umrao Jaan, featuring Rekha and Farooq Shaikh.

There was a poetry on love in it. We finished our work and then Bhagwan said, Seela, come sit here. I sat with him and he explained every word of that poetry to me. It was divine, she said.

When Karan pressed to know the nature of their relationship, Sheela counter-questioned the filmmaker if he was curious about the physical aspect of their equation.

Also read: Oshos controversial secretary and Wild Wild Country star Ma Anand Sheela in her most honest interview ever!

There was no sex with Osho. Our relationship was not sexual. The integrity mattered because I was already drowning in him... she said.

Rajneesh was famous for advocating a more open attitude to human sexuality and when the director asked if she personally believes in his theories of free sex, Sheela had an interesting answer.

Not just me, but I think everybody believes in it secretly. They want freedom from their relationships and enjoy themselves. In 1986, after a fallout with the guru, Sheela pleaded guilty to attempted murder and assault for her role in the 1984 Rajneeshee bio-terror attack. She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and paroled after 39 months and moved to Switzerland.

Sheela then married Swiss citizen Urs Birnstiel, a fellow Rajneesh follower. She settled in Maisprach, Switzerland, where she bought and managed two nursing homes.

Sheela, who addressed Rajneesh as my lover, said she had no regrets in life.

Im living whatever Ive learnt from Bhagwans communal lifestyle where you compliment one another and I cared for Bhagwan in his commune, I care now for my own disabled people.

I created these homes because I was missing my parents and if people want to see it as redemption then I must need redemption, take it and move on. In 1984, Sheela initiated attempts to murder Rajneeshs caretaker and girlfriend, Ma Yoga Vivek, and his personal physician, Swami Devaraj (real name George Meredith), because she believed they were a threat to him.

When Karan asked what she would say to Rajneesh if given a chance to meet him one last time, she said, I would tell Bhagwan, You went with the wrong people who drugged you. And you shouldnt have allowed it and you were too smart for that... But it was his choice. Sheela is in the country till October 25.

Follow @htshowbiz for more

First Published:Oct 01, 2019 10:48 IST

See more here:
Oshos controversial aide Ma Anand Sheela recounts how the guru loved her, explained Umrao Jaans poetry... - Hindustan Times

A few years ago, I wrote a piece in this space all about the road signs, bumper stickers and other pieces of priceless wisdom I gathered while out of town on vacation. Similarly, I recently returned from a fall holiday after visiting our nations tiniest state Rhode Island.

While traveling to any number of historic places and centuries old seaports, I once again decided to jot down some of the sage advice both funny and profound I witnessed in old country stores and cafs, public pubs and tiny taverns as well as country inns where I stayed. Heres a sampling of the discoveries I made along the way.

In a rural restaurant somewhere between an obscure village and the city of Newport, a hand-painted poster suggested Be a pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown and be sweet on the inside. About the same time, on an old truck that looked like it must have seen much better days bore a bumper sticker which read: I wish Morgan Freeman narrated my life.

In a downscale wine shop, a sign declared: You may call it boxed wine we call it Cardboardeaux. Cute, dont you agree? In that same store, another sign really hit home: I have a good heart, but this mouth

Browsing a charming used book store I enjoyed this bit of advice hanging above the counter: Whisper I love you to a butterfly. It will fly to Heaven and deliver your message.

Then in a decades old (my favorite kind) antique shop with an equally old proprietor I noticed this statement which was hand-written on a piece of cardboard richly expressing the owners attitude: Due to unfortunate circumstances, I am awake.

Since Halloween was rapidly approaching, I was reminded of that fact with signs such as If you cant fly with the big girls, stay off the broom. Or how about When the witches go riding and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, tis near Halloween.

Then no one could miss the massive poster decorating the front window of a candy store cleverly announcing: Trick or Treat, Bag of Sweets, Ghosts are walking down the Street. And in that same shop I laughed when I sighted this posting: Free Flying Lessons BYOB (that would be bring you own broom).

In a hotel laundry, I chuckled when I saw this bit of reasoning: Wouldnt it be great if we could place ourselves in the dryer for 10 minutes and come out wrinkle-free and three sizes smaller?

One of the things I love most about traveling, especially to New England, is the abundance of colonial history to be found almost everywhere. Posted above the front door of a delightful 18th century tavern I noticed this quote: If not in haste, do stop and taste. You bet I did.

And speaking of history, after visiting the birthplace of American painter Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) whose famous portrait of George Washington has appeared on the dollar bill for decades, I was impressed with the iron marker on the side of the old house: He yearned to portray our greatest citizen. His portraits embody the wisdom and dignity of Washington

So, during my trip I managed to fill my notebook with so many more nuggets of inspiration as well as thoughts about how to live and to behave such as: Be the reason someone smiles today. Or In a world where you can be anything, be kind. And although I dont recall where, I liked this posting: Dream without fear, love without limits.

I suppose it goes without saying, reason and enlightenment are everywhere. All you have to do is look.

Continued here:
Look for the signs of reason, enlightenment | Lifestyle - Herald Zeitung

Complex orchestras werethe rage during the 18th century. It would be nearly two centuries before Camila Cabello's metal beam-melting pop would become the de facto soundtrack to life for anyone with a pulse. Last night (October 12), Cabello gave theEnlightenment Age a taste of spice with her performances of "Cry For Me" and "Easy" onSaturday Night Live.Wearing two beautiful dresses, she contrasted the fashion of thenand yesterday. And it's so much better today.

Can you imagine walking into a bar on an 80-degree day and having to watch dozens of people sweat under thick layers of clothes? Even onstage, Cabello looks like she's wearing a dress that could house three people. In the midst of a crowded bar, she sings "Cry For Me" with conviction. Everyone comes together to perform an elaborate ballroom-like routine that looks hot literally. It's fun for three minutes, but just thinking about seeing this happen back in the day before house fans were a thing can give you a serious bout of anxiety.

Cabello's performance of "Easy" was much simpler. She shed the layers for a stunning white dress and stunned the crows with a vibrant performance backed by a powerful guitar. It was everything you can imagine, and more. Most importantly, it wasn't stuffy.

Check out Cabello's performances up above.

See more here:
Camila Cabello Time-Traveled To The 18th Century In An Enlightenment-Era SNL Performance - MTV.com

In a recent article for Current Affairs, Nathan Robinson describes Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker as the most annoying man in the world because Pinker is the type of person who constantly insists hes Just Being Reasonable while he is actually being extremely goddamn unreasonable. Although Robinsons article was a bit harsh in tone, it gestures at something very real: were in the midst of an epidemic of intellectuals, almost entirely white men, who claim to embody Reason and Rationality while flagrantly and habitually succumbing to the same tribalistic tendencies that they identify as the Ultimate Enemy.

My own experience with Pinker and his ilk exemplifies the problem. Last January, I published an article here at Salon that summarized some extremely detailed criticisms that I wrote of Pinker's book "Enlightenment Now!" More specifically, I examined a few pages in the books Existential Threats chapter, one line or passage at a time, since my own research focuses on existential threats (that is, threats to civilization and humanity) and thus I have some knowledge of the topic.

Although Pinker is widely known, or at least was at one point, as a clear-headed, objective intellectual of the highest caliber, his chapter on existential threats was overflowing with quotes taken out of context, misrepresented ideas, false dichotomies, blatantly inaccurate claims, poor reasoning, dubious citations, condescending straw-man attacks and cockamamie ad hominems. If the chapter had been a first-year undergraduate term paper, and if the professor were an exceptionally easy grader who habitually dished out As for poorly researched papers, Pinkers chapter might have received a C.

(The popularity of poor scholarship seems to be on the rise, incidentally. Just consider the egregious mistakes made by Jared Diamond in his most recent book, "Upheaval.")

What was most telling, though, was the response to my article. For example, the founding editor of Skeptic magazine, Michael Shermer, tweeted this in response to my critique:

Where @RichardDawkins had his fleas (The Dawkins Delusion etc.), @sapinker has his cockroaches (the oleaginous Phil Torres desperate for attention), artfully squashed here:

Shermer then linked to a blog post by Jerry Coyne, which contained a response from Pinker. Before getting to that, though, Shermers tweet is notable for a couple of reasons. First, not only does it contain a personal attack, but the personal attack is overtly uncivil. Thats a bit humorous given that Shermer, as well as Pinker, are famous for accusing progressives, especially those who care about women and people of color, of incivility. For example, in May of this year, Pinker tweeted:

Are you concerned about the growing illiberalism, incivility, intellectual conformity, and repression of debate in today's universities? Join us at the meeting of the society set up to encourage viewpoint diversity and constructive debate on campuses. Ill be giving the keynote.

But Pinker did nothing to call out Shermer for his patently crude, puerile behavior, which has also included calling people he disagrees with (seriously) namby-pamby bedwetters and (seriously) losers. This is perhaps unsurprising when one realizes the Pinker has unwaveringly supported Shermer despite multiple women accusing Shermer of sexual harassment, assault and even rape. To my knowledge, Pinker has made no effort to contact any of Shermers purported victims. And why would he? What does truth have to do with standing by your comrades? Instead, Pinker has repeatedly de-emphasized the issue of rape in society and college campuses by tendentiously pointing to opinions that support his preferred views rather than by honestly examining the totality of evidence, which gives a quite different perspective. All of this is very worrisome, tribalistic behavior. But it gets worse.

Back to the blog that Shermer references. The particular post was published by Jerry Coyne, a biologist at the University of Chicago who has become something of Pinkers bulldog, defending him against any and all criticisms no matter what, with (almost) no questions asked. One of the most recent examples is Coyne coming to Pinkers defense after a picture emerged of Pinker with Jeffrey Epstein, the child sex-trafficker who recently killed himself in a New York jail cell.

Coyne quickly dismissed criticisms of Pinker hanging out with Epstein as mere slander and character assassination, writing that suggestions that Pinker should have known better disturbed me so much since Pinker is a friend whose character I respect. The problem is that Pinker appears in the photo with Epstein and he tweeted out an affidavit defending Epstein after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes, which happened in 2008. That is inexcusable and gross but not to Coyne, whose allegiance is rooted not in evidence but loyalty.

So it should be no surprise that Coyne tore into my critique of the existential threats chapter, inaccurately calling it a hit piece. Indeed, by any reasonable account, the article was a substantive critique of shoddy scholarship. In fact, I was in touch with four scholars or writers whose work Pinker misrepresents within just a few pages of the chapter. All of them were unhappy with the quality of Pinkers work, so its not like this was just me being a grump.

For example, the political economist Eric Zency, whom Pinker incorrectly describes as an engineer, was livid that Pinker had used a line from one of his papers to mean the exact opposite of what Zency had intended. In an email to me about Pinkers misuse of his quote, Zency remarked, How this guy managed to become a public intellectual in fields so far removed from his expertise is something to wonder at. I agree.

Pinker also wrote a response to my critique, but it only further justifies the view that Pinker is or has become, sadly an ideologue who cant acknowledge when hes wrong. Just consider that the second sentence of his response makes an ad hominem claim that Im trying to make a career out of warning people about the existential threat that AI [i.e., artificial intelligence] poses to humanity. Since ['Enlightenment Now'] evaluates and dismisses that threat, it poses an existential threat to Phil Torress career.

This is obvious nonsense. First of all, the same thing could be said about Pinker: Since his career these days is based on claiming that things have been going quite well for humanity, convincing people that AI poses an existential threat itself could be seen as an existential threat to Pinkers reputation. How Pinker and Coyne both missed this obvious flaw suggests that they werent wearing their critical-thinking hats. The aim of Pinkers comment was to discredit a critique without having to engage with its substance.

Once again, I contacted four scholars or writers who affirmed errors in a small handful of pages in Pinkers chapter. I have no doubt that if someone were to find the same problems in a chapter written by, say, Reza Aslan or Linda Sarsour, both of whom are loathed by the Pinker-Coyne crew, theyd be hailing the critique as proof that Aslan and Sarsour are intellectual frauds.

Pinker then defended one of his most flagrant mistakes: classifying a computer scientist at UC Berkeley, Stuart Russell, as someone who isnt worried about AI. The exact opposite is true! Pinker then doubled down, insisting that his description of Russell was accurate, even though Russell himself told me in an email, which I quote in my article, that hed seen this [mention in Pinker's book] and I agree its an incorrect characterization. So, you have Pinker on one side refusing to acknowledge that he incorrectly characterized a person who says he has been incorrectly characterized. This led Julia Galef, a notable effective altruist who hosts the Rationally Speaking podcast and has knowledge of the relevant issues, to tweet:

Im frustrated Steven Pinker wont admit an error in Enlightenment Now.Summary:- Pinker names Stuart Russell as an expert whos skeptical of AI risk- Someone points out that's exactly backwards; Russell is one of the main experts warning about AI risk- Pinker doubles down

She concludes that the point is its bad that Pinker got this fact wrong and wont admit it. This encapsulates the central problem: Pinker and his ilk dont acknowledge errors when they make them; they are ideologues rather than truth-seekers, willing to bend the facts, launch personal attacks and censor critics to win debates. At exactly the moment in history when we need true intellectual leadership, people who exemplify intellectual honesty and integrity, the most, we get stubborn tribespeople.

But the problem is hardly confined to those mentioned above: Shermer, Coyne and Pinker. Consider another Intellectual Dark Web (IDW) luminary, Sam Harris, one of the most famous atheists in the world because of his book "The End of Faith." Previously, I never had any reason to believe that Harris was racist but I do now. He has spent a massive amount of time and energy defending Charles Murray, author of "The Bell Curve," which argues that black people are inherently inferior to white people.

Over and over again, ad nauseam, Harris has used his large platform to suggest that Murray isnt a junk scientist peddling cowardly racist memes, but someone whos been victimized by those anti-truth progressives. Even more, Harris apparently believes Murrays claim that blacks are genetically dumber than whites. In a podcast with Josh Zepps, Harris opines the following with a wholly unjustified degree of epistemic confidence:

As bad luck would have it, but as youd absolutely predict on the basis of just sheer biology, different populations of people, different racial groups, different ethnicities, different groups of people who have been historically isolated from one another geographically, test differently in terms of their average on this measure of cognitive function. So if youre gonna give the Japanese and the Ashkenazi Jews, and African Americans, and Hawaiians youre gonna take populations who differ genetically and we know they differed genetically, thats not debatable and you give them IQ tests, it would be a miracle if every single population had the same mean IQ. And African Americans come out about a standard deviation lower than white Americans. A standard deviation for IQ is about 15 points. So, if its normed to the general population, predominantly white population for an average of 100, the average in the African American community has been around 85.

In other words: black people are dumber than white people. Why? Because of genetic evolution, meaning that IQ is in the genes and the genes of white people are, well, just plain better. What a bold stance, especially amid the ongoing rise of white nationalism in the U.S. and Europe!

In all seriousness, the irresponsibility of being a public intellectual with a large following and spouting unsupported claims with the sort of certainty you might expect from someone reciting the second law of thermodynamics is shocking. If Pinker is annoying, as Robinson claims, then Harris is intolerably obnoxious, constantly demeaning people for not being Rational and Reasonable while simultaneously making anintellectual fool of himself with claims like those above.

Other examples could be adduced, but I dont have an extra 20,000 words to spare. The point is that the entire IDW movement is annoying. Its really, really annoying its champions misrepresent positions without their (mostly white male) audience knowing, and then proceed to embarrass the opposition. They embrace unsupported claims when it suits their narrative. They facilely dismiss good critiques as hit jobs and level ad hominem attacks to undercut criticism. And they refuse they will always refuse, its what overconfident white men do to admit making mistakes when theyre obviously wrong. I am annoyed, like Robinson, mostly because I expected so much better from the most popular intellectuals of our time.

Read more:
Steven Pinker, Sam Harris and the epidemic of annoying white male intellectuals - Salon

Many Americans take for granted, even idealize, the ideal of personal autonomy: they call it independence, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, not being a burden, not taking hand-outs, taking care of their own, standing on their own two feet, and freedom. The American myth is that autonomy is achievable and that its the most honorable lifestyle there is. Many Americans unconsciously accept that people are by nature autonomous individuals. But autonomy is a myth, not a reality.

Autonomists think that people can live entirely by the fruits of their own efforts, not relying on outside people or society. They imagine that they can interact with people solely as they choose, entering into relationships and leaving them whenever they want to, not being a burden to them or having them be a burden in return. They believe that they are entirely in control of their thoughts and choices, that they direct their wills, and that their true moral guidance comes from their own hearts.

This mythology is not a new thing for most (though not all) Americans. To some extent our geography has shaped it. Historically weve had the sense that theres always new land out there, waiting to be subdued, where men are men and women are tired. Theres room never to have to be part of a neighborhood. When those mythic Americans, the pioneers, saw the chimney smoke of a new neighbor on the horizon, they could move farther out and wrest an independent living from the land, with no revenuers or government agents breathing down their necks. Of course this is no longer true, if it ever was, but the mythology of autonomy remains with Americans today.

Morrison Residence, Nebraska. Library of Congress.

Philosophy has also shaped our mythology. Many of the earliest and most influential European settlers arrived during the intellectual ferment of the Enlightenment. Enlightenment philosophers held, and the common people absorbed, the ideas that there was not a personal god, that mankind was perfectible by its own efforts, and that through reason and science we could break the bonds of oppressive religious, governmental, and personal relationships. In fact, some of the philosophers believed that the interdependence of people was what created evil in the world, that perfectly detached people would be perfectly good. Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau even abandoned his own (illegitimate) child to be raised in a convent, feeling that the smothering interdependence of father and son would distort the childs psyche and prevent his growing up free. (Whose freedom was Rousseau concerned with?)

Rousseau. Library of Congress.

We tend to forget that there was always tension in America between individualistic and collective ways of thinking, between mountain men and barn raising, between lighting out for the frontier and being part of an established community. In the memory of autonomists, the American Revolution seemed to reinforce the convictions that independence and self-determination were the supreme good and were achievable by our own efforts. According to the mythology, the Civil War, too, was fought over the issue of independence of states rights or personal independence from slavery. Although the Civil War might more properly be seen as a contest of the cooperative life of the Northern towns versus the so-called autonomous life of the Southern landowner, in which the Northern way of cooperation won, nonetheless autonomists see the war as a struggle for personal freedom. And so the myth of self-reliance continues until today.

But no matter how they boast, no one is living the autonomous life that they idealize. Even the few who look like theyre self-sufficient really arent. The survivalist hunts his own meat and tans the hide, but did he smelt the ore to make his guns and traps? Homesteaders raise both food and buildings, but they didnt plant the trees that they cut down for lumber, nor did they mine the iron for the nails. In fact, they didnt give the trees the power to grow or place the raw materials in the earth. They we all rely on provisions from outside ourselves for life.

Cabin in Montana. Library of Congress.

Autonomists typically claim that theyve worked for all they have, that theyve never taken a hand-out from anyone, but they arent telling the strict truth. They may have started their own business, but they didnt make the economy or customers or infrastructure that made the business possible. They didnt create and raise and educate the human capital that keeps their business running. And ironically, not only do they rely on others for their success, but others rely on them to provide something they need and pay the autonomists money that they need to maintain their business. Even autonomists are part of a web of giving and receiving, not an isolated entity.

One barrier that autonomists erect to preserve their illusion of autonomy is money. If I pay you, I dont have an interdependent relationship with you. You arent another person, youre an employee, or a nursing home attendant, or a shopkeeper. I can pay you to look after me when I want you to and go away when I dont, and then well never be a burden to each other. But paying for food, education, care, services, and goods doesnt make people autonomous. It just moves the relationship they have with the providers of goods and services a little farther away.

Even our thoughts are not autonomous. All people are products of their culture, time, and place. Consider Ralph Waldo Emerson, an undeservedly popular American essayist and contemporary of Henry David Thoreau, the ultimate guru of autonomy. In his essay Self-Reliance, Emerson writes, Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. Absolve you to yourself, and you shall have the suffrage of the world. In other words, dont let anyone or anything affect your thinking, but rely only on yourself. The big joke is that now, 150 years later, graduate students are writing dissertations on where Emerson got his ideas, because they understand, if he didnt, that no one develops in a vacuum.

Ralph Waldo Emerson. Library of Congress.

We are fooling ourselves if we think that individual independence is the mark of personal and evolutionary success. We evolved not by the Randian competition of individuals but by the development of interdependent social networks. Our most extraordinary evolved trait makes that clear: language. If we were meant to be autonomists, we would look like sabertooth tigers or sharks; instead, we are small and weak on our own, but with the means for complex cooperation and community, we have become the intelligent, flexible species we are today. Its time to debunk this mythology of autonomy and consider the nature of our true relationships with the world and each other.

Teaser photo credit: Our manifest destiny. Library of Congress.

Read the original here:
The Myth of Autonomy - Resilience

The International Culinary Center (ICC) is honored to announce the return of Korean Temple Food Guru and Cookbook Author, Wookwan, following her first successful cooking class in 2018 at the New York City culinary school. Wookwan will travel from Korea to introduce the techniques of temple cuisine to a global audience of ICC's current Professional Culinary and Pastry Arts students, bringing with her the first-of-its kind English-language cookbook on temple food, Wookwan's Korean Temple Food: The Road to the Taste of Enlightenment.

During this visit, Wookwan will share the techniques, beauty and benefits of temple cuisine with aspiring chefs and future leaders of the culinary industry through a 30-minute lecture and 1.5 hour hands-on cooking class. Through this class, ICC students will discover the excellence of Korea's fermentation techniques, rooted in over 1700 years of history, and understand how to apply the practice to their culinary education. After the hands-on cooking session, students will have the opportunity to enjoy the delicious cuisine through a tasting and review of the traditional dishes prepared.

Dishes prepared in the cooking class will include:

- Fermented Barley Chili Paste

- Chili Paste Pancake with Corn

- Spinach Porridge with Ginkgo Nut and Pine Nut

In addition, Wookwan will prepare four more dishes to taste:

- Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf

- Pickled Cucumber

- Kelp Crisps with Sticky Rice

- Lotus Snack

Through this partnership, the International Culinary Center and Wookwan are proud to recognize the importance of ingredients and respecting where they come from, as well as promoting global cooking techniques-key principles in the teachings of both ICC and Wookwan.

About the International Culinary Center:Founded by the late Dorothy Cann Hamilton as The French Culinary InstituteTM in 1984, the International Culinary Center (ICC) is a global leader in professional culinary, pastry and wine education in New York City with graduates from more than 90 countries. The renowned six-month Total ImmersionSM program has produced such talents as Bobby Flay, David Chang, Dan Barber, Joshua Skenes, Christina Tosi and 15,000 more under the guidance of deans including Jacques Ppin and Jacques Torres. ICC's mission is to train the next generation of culinary leaders and innovators, providing students with the credentials, confidence and connections to chart a successful career anywhere in the world.

About Wookwan, Korean Temple Food Guru and Cookbook Author:Born in Korea, Wookwan entered the Yaksusa temple in the Gwanak Mountains under the teaching of the Venerable Jeonghwa in 1988 to become a Buddhist nun. As a certified master of Korean temple food and the Director of the Mahayeon Temple Food Cultural Center in Korea, she not only shared the techniques of temple food in her home country, but has also been invited to share the beauty of temple cuisine at workshops and festivals all over the world including New York, London, Madrid, and Hong Kong. With her mindful approach to food as a spiritual practice, Wookwan believes that all of the varied flavors of nature come together to become the taste of enlightenment. To share this with the world, Wookwan continually studies and creates recipes that emphasize the nourishment of mind, body, and soul.

HAMILTON Will Hold A Fan Performance on October 31 With All Tickets Available For $10 Via Lottery For the second year in a row, Hamilton will host a special fan performance on Thursday, October 31 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway, with al... (read more)

Breaking: Ethan Slater, Gavin Lee & More Will Reunite to Film SPONGEBOB for Nickelodeon Following a critically lauded run on Broadway, members of the original award-winning Broadway company of The SpongeBob Musical: Live On Stage! will re... (read more)

Quiz: Which Broadway Show About Gods Are You? Bring on the monsters because The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musicalis officially open on Broadway! We're celebrating Camp Halfblood coming t... (read more)

MOULIN ROUGE To Head To The West End in 2021 The blockbuster Broadway hit, Moulin Rouge, will be heading to the West End in 2021!... (read more)

BWW Photo Exclusive: Adam Pascal Stars In THE MUSIC MAN At 5-Star Theatricals Tony nominee Adam Pascal stars as Professor Harold Hill in the first show of the 5-Star Theattricals2019-2020 season, THE MUSIC MAN.... (read more)

Continued here:
Korean Temple Cuisine Is Coming To NYC - Broadway World