Did Coffee Fuel the Age of Enlightenment? - Steven Johnson

seamoremonster Says:

Dec 9, 2011 - Thanks for that. As someone who thinks beer preceded bread...and that coffee accelerated enlightenment...I'm putting this book on my list...

classicallady Says:

Dec 9, 2011 - Makes two of us. Thank you for sharing this great video.

PhantomAct Says:

Dec 11, 2011 - Sponsored by Starbucks...

Xasew Says:

Dec 11, 2011 - @seamoremonsterExcept that there were no conservatives or liberals back then. At least not in the sense in which those words are used today.

geek49203 Says:

Dec 15, 2011 - And not to mention that those you think are "liberals" would be decried as "Consevative" today.

seamoremonster Says:

Dec 15, 2011 - Ben Franklyn?...talking revolution and science...nah...he'd still be a liberal..

juliaisafilmbuff123 Says:

Dec 17, 2011 - Now we need a drink to usher in an age of socialism/solidarity.

LexPhilogus Says:

Dec 29, 2011 - Franklin was a very reluctant supporter of separation and was for the most of his life quite proud of what the British Empire had accomplished. The American revolution was a conservative revolution to restore traditional British values in the former colonies. He was actually quite conservative.

seamoremonster Says:

Dec 29, 2011 - I find it hard to believe that rejecting a monarchy at that time was conservative. I find it hard to believe that after years of feudalism and papal domination that separation of church and state was conservative. I find it hard to believe that Franklin's "Advice to a Young Man on Why He Should Seek the Favours of Older Women" conservative. Nah...sorry don't believe it. Sounds like another Conservative re-writing history to suit their own ideology.

LexPhilogus Says:

Dec 30, 2011 - You need to brush up on your British History my friend. Britain had effectively made the monarchy toothless after the Cromwellian revolution and this trend progressed. The Hanoverians were basically figure heads, so opposing monarchy from a clean slate was hardly ground breaking.Benjamin Franklin was not a radical at all and supported Britain as best he could up to the end, although he did have some classical liberal views.

seamoremonster Says:

Dec 30, 2011 - Somebody forgot to tell George and East Indian Trading Company. Most of the Found Fathers were reluctant to pull the plug on Mother England...they had the sense to know it was a big step. Franklin...may not have been a radical but he certainly wasn't a Tory...it's all relative.

doobersmanster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - How you can say that Thomas Jefferson,Franklyn and Payne were modern day Liberals shows how Ignorant you are. The sense of the word has changed. Liberal today means a person that is for Slavery,Socialism, Marxism and having sex with animals and a conservative stands for Family, Balanced budgets, Freedom of thought and actions and free enterprise through private property.

seamoremonster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - I can easily say that because I'm educated. You think it was conservative two hundred years ago to be against the Monarchy? You think it was conservative to legislate separation of church and state? Even today conservative pricks are trying to convert our democracy into a theocracy. I'm ignorant? You can generally tell when someone is bone achingly ill educated and ignorant when they accuse others of being ignorant because they lack the intellectual rigour to understand.

doobersmanster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - You are so smart...I wish that I could be like you...haha Go make out with a gerbal..COMMUNIST! To think that our founding fathers were not more theocratic and Godly (except for the occasional Paine in the Liberal) Is stupid. My point was, which you missed entirely (must be from all your education-that is worthless by the way-) Is that the term Liberal back then means something different then it does today. Now Liberals are just Communists slaves and perverts :P

seamoremonster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - You have to read books, study and get your pig ignorant head out of your stupid ass. You need to travel further than your backyard and listen to other opinions besides your hick lay preacher. You call anyone you disagree with a "communist". You're quite content to call yourselves "Christian" and let your own people die because they lack proper medical care. Then you let your corporate masters tell you anything else is "socialIsm".  You're brain washed by Madison Ave.

seamoremonster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - Oh...and by the way asshat...a little message for you and the rest of your tea-bagging loonies...."There's no progress in being Backward."...And being "Backwards" is what Conservatism is.

doobersmanster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - Asshat...did you just call me a asshat? hahaha..well I can say I have been called everyname under the sun on here but never asshat..I'll give you a b+ for creativity..:) At least a liberal is good for something..making me laugh...have a great day:)!! Oh by the way..you know nothing about me.

seamoremonster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - I can only surmise by what you write what you are like. But I have to admit...I am surprised that you have shown a sense of humour...all is not lost! A sense of humour usually indicates some intelligence. You have a good day as well. Take Care.

doobersmanster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - Thank you so much for that wonderfully insultive compliment...I just wanted you to know how much what you think about me means...Hahaha,and don't assume things about people,you have no idea about. Not many people have read as much as I have..I have not had a TV for over 17 years for the specific purpose of reading and improvinfg my mind..maybe I can recommend a book for you to read,The Pensees by Pascal..also I have been around the world twice.Godbless you:)

seamoremonster Says:

Jan 13, 2012 - I'm not assuming anything. I'm assessing the content of your comments and what you say. Eg, calling me a communists. Education is worthless? Like the sage says..."Those who are self educated are taught by an idiot." Believe me when your country is being taken over by corporations that communism is the least of your worries. Pascal...1642...Catholic Philosopher? And you think the Founding Fathers were conservative? Anyway, good day to you.

doobersmanster Says:

Jan 14, 2012 - yeah that dude..I still think your asshat comment was the best:)..I told a bunch of people about the asshat thing and I am going to spread it around everywhere and see if I can make asshat a catch word...hahahhaa..It is so funny..

mrken001 Says:

Jan 28, 2012 - So children were drinking alcohol too?

SuicidalNun Says:

Feb 22, 2012 - I've never heard of anything coffee+Enlightenment related. Extremely interesting! I want to read his book. I just came back from a literature conference and the panels were so dry. 90% of the presenters simply read their paper, a self-important trait picked up in grad school. My three cohorts and me were amongst the only ones who had a "real" presentation in my mind. Basically, this guy is a great speaker, something missing amongst "intellectuals."

sjf440 Says:

Mar 18, 2012 - you suck! :P

seamoremonster Says:

Mar 18, 2012 - Oh...wow! I'm shattered! What a comeback...what a wit...what a vast vestige of satirical comment. My god...you're so clever! Are your form Mississippi? We're you parents brother and sister? Are your grandfather and father the same person? Do you have two heads? Do your knuckles drag the ground? Do you drool?