Hi everyone,
I chose these photos because, well, I’m a bibliophile, and that’s my closet. I imbibe mostly books on history, change/development, technology, and a smattering of fiction (mostly sci-fi), design, psychology, and philosophy.
Speaking of text…
I took this course because I stumbled upon Ong in ETEC 511 (Foundations) after thinking to myself “Language is a technology!” and sought out literature on which to base a research paper (I opted instead to take on Heidegger’s “The Question Concerning Technology” which was lots of fun, and lots of rereading). I’ve also read Postman’s “Technopoly” (referenced in our course materials) and Jeremy Rifkin’s “Empathic Civilization” (argues along the lines of Ong, in addition that we’re in a race against time with our resource use vs. becoming better as humans), Winograd’s “Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design” (which deals with AI, but broaches that topic by devoting 1/3 of its theoretical framework to linguistics)…All of these have given me a strong taste for the text. Now here’s an entire course on the topic. What are the chances?
I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Toronto with my wife and 15 month old bebe. He’s cute, and I really dig him. I’ve read him many passages from my historical tomes, but he prefers a book called “Hug” (here’s a reading from an adorable kid who happens to…not be mine, it’s YouTube, long-live the hypertext) which is about a chimpanzee infant that wants a hug from its mother. I like that text, and we reread it every night after his bath.
I’m sincerely looking forward to this course and learning with you, my peers and my instructor.
Chat soon,
Mackenzie
Carri-Ann Scott
May 14, 2018 — 2:29 pm
Hi, MacKenzie.
All my grandchildren loved the book ‘Hug’! And your bookshelves look as overladen as mine. Kindred spirits. I look forward to learning with you, and from you. It seems that you have a lot to share.
Carri-Ann
mackenzie moyer
May 21, 2018 — 1:36 pm
Hi Carri-Ann,
I’m looking forward to reading with another book addict :).
Mackenzie
mackenzie moyer
May 22, 2018 — 1:52 am
PS: I wonder if you could list some of your favourite non-fictions for me? Books heavy with history, psychology, philosophy, and the like are my favourites.
Carri-Ann Scott
May 23, 2018 — 1:49 pm
I will admit that my non-fiction reads have been sparse for the past 5 years at least. Taking back-to-back degrees will do that to you. My favs with a history bent are a bit junky, Tom Clancy because I love the military side of his work, Michael Chreighton – especially his medical thrillers and some selected works of Stephen King. Have you read his book 1963? It is NOT his usual horror genre. More fictional history.
Ken Lees
May 14, 2018 — 4:25 pm
Good Afternoon from the West Coast!
My name is Ken Lees and this is my fifth ETEC course and I am really enjoying the challenge of trying to be a master.
I look forward to growing and learning with you!
Respect,
Ken
mackenzie moyer
May 21, 2018 — 1:37 pm
Good afternoon sir!
I’m likewise enjoying the challenge and also look forward to growing and learning with you.
Mackenzie
steve campbell
May 15, 2018 — 1:18 pm
Nice to meet you MacKenzie.
Impressive reading list, makes me think I need to up my game ;-). Looking forward to working and learning with you.
Steve
Anonymous
May 22, 2018 — 1:22 am
There are an infinite number of books to read, so I feel like one can never read to much. That may be the addiction talking though, haha.
I’m looking forward to working and learning with you as well.
-Mackenzie
Alicia Lok-Malek
May 16, 2018 — 4:40 pm
Enjoy bebe…they grow fast!! Mine are in their last years of high school and I miss just holding them for hours.
Looking forward to insights from your reading list.
Anonymous
May 22, 2018 — 1:29 am
He’s growing super fast, and I definitely heed this advice. I enjoy being with and love him more than anything, cuddles at any given opportunity. Also: what kind of super learners are they, eh? Such wellsprings of energy and tenacity, certainly inspirational.
Looking forward to learning with you,
-Mackenzie
george backhouse
May 18, 2018 — 2:24 pm
Hi MacKenzie,
Nice to meet you!
I couldn’t help but notice Mary Beard’s SPQR amongst the books on your shelf. I am quite fond of her work, myself.
I followed the link to “Empathetic Civilisation”. It’s some really intriguing stuff! You’ve set me on a path.
If there is anything else in this line that you would recommend, please don’t hesitate to pass it along.
Looking forward to working with you in this course!
George
mackenzie moyer
May 22, 2018 — 1:40 am
Enjoy that path! Rifkin has some interesting words on the 4th industrial revolution, a term I didn’t hear before him (I read him last year). There are loads of videos on the topic by both him and others. The (yearly) World Economic Forum is a good bet.
Two books that stand out for me, and which are at odds with Rifkin (at least indirectly) and complement his view are: (1)”1491: New revelations of the Americas before Columbus” and (2) “Stolen Continents: 500 years of conquest and resistance in the Americas.” These two books have shifted my views more than any other in the past few years.
Also looking forward,
-Mackenzie
(1)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1491:_New_Revelations_of_the_Americas_Before_Columbus
(2)https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103295.Stolen_Continents
mackenzie moyer
May 22, 2018 — 1:51 am
Here’s a third that you may find interesting, it also had a big impact on me: “Empire of cotton: A global history.” (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20758057-empire-of-cotton?from_search=true)
The 1st and 2nd books are indirectly related to technology, and more to the impacts of disease on the technological capabilities of entire peoples. This book directly treats technology, as cotton necessitated some technological breakthroughs (both inventions and processes).
In terms of readability, the all three books had me hooked, but the order in which they’re listed is from least to most dry (at least what I think may be the case for others, I devoured them quickly because the topics were so interesting).
Cheers,
Mackenzie
EdPawliw
May 21, 2018 — 2:09 pm
Hi Mackenzie
I can relate to your child preferring ‘Hugs” to the classics. It’s funny how they latch onto a favourite and want it read to them over and over to the point they can even recite it word for word, but still want it read to them. Just wait until he gets old enough for the Captain Underpants series. Talk about your classic (potty) literature!!
Enjoy your son as much as you can. They grow up sooooo fast.
Looking forward to working with you this term.
mackenzie moyer
May 22, 2018 — 1:43 am
Hahaha, potty literature, love it. I’m definitely looking forward to that stage, but am also feeling the “slow down you’re growing to fast” emotions. I remember the kindergarten students I taught had memorized a series of books and could recite them cover-to-cover. Very impressive, couldn’t do that myself!
That’s one thing I thought of when reading about oral cultures, and how this entire process happens so naturally. Our species is intriguing.
Looking forward as well,
Mackenzie