Roger Travis is a classics professor who really likes video games and believes there are many connections between the writings of Plato, Homer, and other ancient Greeks and video game design. I have some issues with his thesis but it does make for interesting reading. His latest post compares Plato’s allegory of the cave and video games his point being that much like those trapped in the cave, players believe the games they’re playing and the actions they take in them effect the real world, when all they are is an imitation. Heady stuff.
PZ Meyer’s comments on the new website set up by the Templeton Foundation: BioLogos. The site’s, and the foundation’s, mission is to reconcile faith and science. PZ Meyer rightly accuses the new site of being full of emotional tripe and little that actually helps build a bridge between the two. This post demonstrates how the problem of evil existing isn’t the problem for atheists as it is for theists.
Cory Doctorow, co-creator of BoingBoing and science fiction writer, shows how and why the Entertainment industry’s lobbying and greed is also its downfall. I don’t know if I agree with this entirely. I think despite a creator’s best efforts people will take free if they can get it, especially when it is so much more convenient than the alternative. Link
XKCD’s comic on twitter and the swine flu
Lastly, a small post by former Computer Games for Windows editor Jeff Green about all the time he has now that he’s given up World of Warcraft (not to mention money!)
Expect the next part of my Camus re-read in a few days!
