Rolf Strom-Olsen

Ep. 06 Curtis Yarvin Knows a Thing or Two about Race (among other things) While Our Students Are Sleeping: a Podcast about Theory and Politics

@reedvanschenck.bsky.social and I popped another red pill and suffered mild neurological damage by reading more Curtis Yarvin. This time, we look at his views on climate change, Keynesianism, and race - and how they are surfacing as policy.

rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/ep-06-curt...

Thank God you don't like curling...

Ep. 05 Curtis Yarvin's History Lesson While Our Students Are Sleeping: a Podcast about Theory and Politics

Did you know the American Revolution was a bad thing, or that the US Civil War was about distinct but legitimate moral orders? @reedvanschenck.bsky.social and I explore Curtis Yarvin’s take on history. Also: Cyndi Lauper makes a surprise appearance. rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/ep-05-curt...

Ep. 04 Curtis Yarvin Takes a Red Pill While Our Students Are Sleeping: a Podcast about Theory and Politics

Reed @reedvanschenck.bsky.social and I have been reading Curtis Yarvin for our podcast so you don't have to. The first part looks at all the reasons why you should be thankful for that. rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/ep-04-curt...

Great article from my friend Can Öztaş on “rakı diplomacy” (or lack thereof).

turkeyindepth.com/article/563

My day started with a lecture on Carl Schmitt, followed by a 2 hr romp through the Italian Renaissance, and now I’m ending it with a nice table wine, listening to Strauss and reading a bit of Bunin. #MiddleAgeFriday

Carl Schmitt's Concept of the Political While Our Students Are Sleeping: a Podcast about Theory and Politics

In our latest podcast episode, @reedvanschenck.bsky.social and I look at Shmitt's "The Concept of the Political" and explore how his idea of the Friend/Enemy dynamic is increasingly relevant to the volatile polarization in our modern democracies. rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/179403645?

Climbing into the 1% in the Age of Capitalist Excess You can steal millions of dollars if you work for the right people, apparently.

I've written up some thoughts about a curious story that reveals the economics of late-stage capitalism.

rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/climbing-i...

Probably easier than watching a movie, since that requires some cognitive effort of interpretation and judgment.

Reason over Rhetoric America goes nuts so the rest of us don't have to

rolfstromolsen.substack.com/p/reason-ove...

From a Canadian perspective, America seems to be really working hard to cast itself, inexplicably, as a bad-faith actor. Cui bono?

Appropriate that this dog-catches-car asshattery is 5 years to the day (+1) since the UK showed how to self-own by leaving the EU.

Mark Carney est le meilleur candidat pour chef d'un parti - quel qu'il soit - que nous ayons vu depuis une génération.

I started doing this last semester. I require students to fill out a statement that asks them to specify if they have used AI, and if so how. In my experience, students are honest and forthright, and the information is helpful in assessing their work. In short, highly recommended practice!

My Year in Books A resolution to read more fiction has had a salubrious effect.

I read some good fiction this year. Here are the highlights.
open.substack.com/pub/rolfstro...

Things Run AMOC Yes, things are bad. But take some solace in the fact that they'll get worse.

open.substack.com/pub/rolfstro...